Dassault Aviation, Military aircraf

"The origins of the RAFALE can be traced to joint discussions between European nations taking place in the early eighties. But in the wake of the tri-national Tornado program which had put the most emphasis on air-to-surface functions, it soon appeared that the prime requirement of participating nations other than France was predominantly on the air-to-air side. The French Forces wanted a balanced multi-role aircraft that would be able to replace 7 types of aircraft around 2000-2010

- air defence missions
- reconnaissance missions
- precision strike/interdiction with conventional weapons (air-to-ground attack)
- nuclear strike

These needs were taken into account from the conception; thus it enabled the engineers, using all the new technologies, to conceive an aircraft which goes beyond objectives of each mission. Versatile and better in everything, RAFALE is truly effects multiplying.

The RAFALE has exhibited a remarkable rate of survivability during latest main French Air Force and Navy operations thank to an optimized airframe and a wide range of smart and discrete sensors. It is slated to be the French armed forces' combat aircraft until 2040 at least." ... more

"The RAFALE is available as a single seater and as a two-seater in its land (C,B) variant and as a single-seater in its carrier capable (M) variant, featuring 80% commonality between them, with a single basic platform and mission system.

Airframe - materials - flight controls

RAFALE features a delta wing with close-coupled canards. In-house research in computational fluid dynamics has shown the specific benefits of close coupling between the wings and the canards: it ensures a wide range of CG positions for all flight conditions as well as benign handling throughout the flight envelope. This is key to the RAFALE carrying capability, high alpha performance and range performance. Every effort has been made for the sake of tactical flexibility to obtain balanced performance between subsonic and supersonic regimes, either in heavy or lighter air-to-air configurations. Thus, RAFALE’s range, for all operational mission spectrum, is increased by 20% compared with the MIRAGE 2000’s.

Longitudinal stability is moderately negative with a fly-by-wire digital control system. The system is quadruple redundant with three digital channels and one separately designed analog channel. Design independence between channels is pivotal in preventing fatal flaws simultaneously affecting several channels due to software misconceptions. This is a unique feature derived from a more than one million flight hours in-house experience in full fly-by-wire (i.e. without any mechanical back-up) without any accident caused by the FCS. Moreover, Terrain Following modes allow the RAFALE to fly automatically very low and unobserved whatever the weather conditions, optimising its survivability.

Minimising the RCS has also been a design driver in order to make stealth tactics possible. Most of the stealth design features are classified but some of them are clearly visible such as the serrated patterns on the trailing edges of the wings and canards.

Dassault Aviation has a long praised tradition of designing sturdy airframes that sustain over 30 years of operation without heavy structural retrofit. Thanks to a Dassault Aviation unique know-how in finite element modelisation, the RAFALE airframe fatigue is monitored with a gauge-free concept. The operational Mirage 2000 fleet daily demonstrates the relevance of this concept." ... more

Smart and discrete sensors

"Dassault Aviation - K. Tokunaga1- The RBE2 AESA radar The first and most important sensor of the RAFALE is obviously its new generation THALES RBE2 radar with its active electronically scanned array (AESA). The AESA radar is the future of Air Defence.
The Rafale AESA radar is the most advanced fighter radar in its category.
The AESA brings superior detection and tracking range, electronic scanning agility and the ability to track targets in or out of the search domain, and very high resolution ground mapping with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) modes.
The Rafale AESA radar also allows very low altitude flying above uncharted terrain in autopilot-coupled modes in blind conditions.

In those circumstances when absolute discretion is the most relevant factor, RAFALE can rely on several other sensor systems:

2- The Front-Sector Optronics (FSO), developed by THALES and SAGEM, is completely integrated within the aircraft and can operate in the optronic wavelengths. This passive sensor is completely discrete.

3- The SPECTRA electronic warfare system, jointly developed by THALES and MBDA, provides the aircraft with the highest survivability assets against airborne and ground threats.

4- The real-time data link allowing communication not only with other aircraft, but also with fixed and mobile command and control centres.

5- For those missions requesting the use of it, RAFALE can also rely on the DAMOCLES optronic/laser designation pod.

6- Furthermore, the AREOS recce pod, allows day and night photography at all altitudes, with the capability of instantaneous transmission in flight of the photos to a ground station." ... more

"Introduced in operational service by the French Air Force in 1984, in its air defence variant (Mirage 2000 C and B), the Mirage 2000 is praised by all its operators. The quality and the safety of its flight control system, as well as its ease of maintenance raised it at the top of the world references in this field.

These qualities, associated to an extreme ruggedness led Dassault Aviation and its partners to proceed further with their aircraft weapon system, taking into account the emergence of new operational needs and the availability of new technologies.

In 1986, another version called Mirage 2000 N, came to operational service, to fulfill the nuclear missions. With the version called Mirage 2000 D both two versions answered a specific very low altitude penetration need of the French Air Force. Both featured twin-seat configuration and terrain-following radar.

The export version that followed was mainly based on the single-seat concept of the French Mirage 2000 C version. In order to broaden the operational spectrum of the aircraft, air-to-surface capabilities were added, often specific to customer needs.

Because it offers many advantages in terms of overall ownership costs and performance, the multirole concept has been retained for the evolution of the Mirage 2000 family.

In July 1998, during an international exercise in eastern Europe, several French Mirage 2000 have demonstrated their capability to operate from narrow, lightly prepared roads, without even having to use their braking chute. Deployed in many operational theatres, the Mirage 2000 has become a world reference in terms of availability, maintenance and evolutivity. Its interoperability with NATO aircraft and its efficiency are combat proven. " ... more

The most advanced version in the Mirage 2000 familly
"The Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 is a new-generation advanced multirole combat aircraft, descending from the Mirage 2000 lineage, already proven under operational conditions with the air forces of eight countries.

Operational experience, especially within multinational forces, has shown the need for an increased fuel capacity and firepower. This requirement has been fulfilled with the introduction of the Mirage 2000-5 in operational service in 1997.

As new markets were conquered by the Mirage 2000-5, the users of the earlier versions became interested in the aircraft new capabilities. New Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 aircraft complete existing fleets, and operational aircraft are modernised to gain the same operational capabilities.

The Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 incorporates new technologies and functionalities often derived from the experience gained in the RAFALE aircraft development. The Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 is ideally suited to interception and air superiority missions.

The Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 is entirely suited to high-altitude interception operations at high supersonic speeds (Mach 2.2 at 50,000ft) thanks to its aerodynamic qualities and its engine, thus allowing it to counter high-performance hostiles. Thanks to a new external load configuration, with air-to-air missiles fitted on the side fuselage hardpoints, the new aircraft offers a much-enhanced firepower.

With these new characteristics, the Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 offers outstanding multirole capabilities and ranks among the best in its category, as demonstrated by its success on the export market. The Mirage 2000-9, ordered by the United Arab Emirates, belongs to the family of the new Mirage 2000-5 Mk2, purchased by Greece." ... more

The Mirage 2000-9, advanced multi-role combat aircraft, is the last version ever produced of the Mirage 2000 family.
"Adopted by nine air forces worldwide, 550 Mirage 2000 are currently in service, logging over 1,540,000 flying hours.
Operated in a wide variety of environment ranging from deserts to humid tropical countries, including polar and high-elevation area, deployed in many international training exercises and engaged in various fields of operation, the Mirage 2000 is a world reference in terms of availability and maintenance. Its interoperability and its performance have been well proven in combat.

Mirage 2000-9: the most advanced version in the Mirage 2000 family
The Mirage 2000-9 design has taken advantage of this huge feed-back experience from the onset of the program to improve the aircraft, the navigation and weapon system, and to implement new functionalities.

As an example, operational experience especially within multinational forces, has shown the need for an increased fuel capacity and firing power.

This requirement has been fulfilled, among others, with the introduction into operational service within UAE AF & AD (United Arab Emirates Air Force & Air Defense) of the Mirage 2000-9, which is a significant upgrade from the previous versions of the Mirage 2000-5 series.

The Mirage 2000-9 integrates
- the additional operating capabilities specified and tailored by the UAE AF & AD,
- together with a lots of new technologies
- and functionalities directly issued from the experience gained from the RAFALE aircraft development." ... more