Posted on 03/23/2017 7:45:03 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Addressing the growing domestic and international demand for the French fighter aircraft, Dassault and the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) will soon begin a six-year development phase of the next-generation Rafale F4. The French Minister of Defense, Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, authorized the start of development of the next generation variant of the Rafale. The aircraft will introduce new capacities empowered by the modern missile and engine technologies.
The new variant will follow the Rafale F3-R currently in development and scheduled to complete the qualification testing next year. Dassault now produces Rafales to fulfill French orders for 180 aircraft, along with sales of 78 more aircraft for Egypt and India. The French Air Force could order additional 45 as it phases out older Mirage 2000 aircraft. The first fully equipped F4 aircraft are expected to enter service in 2025, though certain functions will be available in 2023. It will be part of the fifth production tranche (2019-2025), delivering on French and export orders.
Since France plans to maintain the Rafale with its air and naval air forces at least through 2040, the French Ministry of Defense invests in the continuous modernization and upgrading of the aircraft. €1 billion were allocated for the development of the current variant – F3-R, which will integrate the Meteor, MBDA’s new extended-range air/air missile. Relying on a new AESA radar fitted to the aircraft the Meteor will be able to engage aerial targets from ranges exceeding 100 km. In the air/ground domain, the F3-R variant will be cleared to carry the new target designation pod PDL-NG from Thales. Other upgrades include the installation of an upgraded Link 16 terminal, improved – Mod 5 compatible IFF and buddy refueling pods for the French Navy’s Rafale N.
Rafale Pilot using the Fighter Sphere tablet. Sphere is an integrated Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) that greatly reduces pilot workload dealing with important but non-critical tasks during pre-flight and in flight. Photo: Dassault Aviation by P. Sagnes.
Given its role replacing Mirage 2000 variants currently in service, Rafale F4 will likely include weapon integration modifications to include new variants of air/air Mica, Scalp and the nuclear cruise missile ASMP-A (currently deployed exclusively on Mirage 2000N). However, due to the relatively short span of the program, it is likely to focus mainly on capabilities based on software and limited hardware upgrades.
Further, into the future, the program could introduce significant airframe changes, as part of the Rafale’s mid-life modifications. These upgrades could include cockpit redesign or introduction of low-observability modifications to better position this 4.5 generation fighter against modern and future fighters.
“The F4 standard will incorporate operational experience feedback and enable continuous improvement of the RAFALE to be maintained. It will reinforce the national skills and technological capabilities essential for preparing the development of the next generation of combat aircraft”, stated Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. “I am also delighted that the Defense Ministry underlines the need to continue with the acquisition of the Rafale, beyond the 4th tranche currently in production, in order primarily to meet the needs of the French Air Force,” Trappier added.
The Rafale entered service with the French Navy in 2004 and with the French Air Force in 2006. With more than 30,000 flight hours in operations, it has proven its worth in combat in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq, and Syria. Beyond France (180 aircraft ordered) the Rafale was ordered by Egypt (24), Qatar (24) and India (32).
Rafale B delivered to Egypt seen here in flight. Photo: Dassault Aviation – A. Pecchi.
Look pretty last gen to me.
Am I being too critical?
When I say that, it doesn’t look quite as sleek as other aircraft out there right now, and we’re talking another seven years before it goes into production.
By that time, it will look like a little more like last gen than next gen.
Remember, it was a canard that killed John Denver.
Just sayin’.
I knew it!!!! See! See! LOL /s
Hated to see the guy go like that.
I thought those were fairly nice little aircraft too, but didn’t one of the company officials die in one of them too?
I thought it was a rule of thumb that you could have canards or stealth, but not both.
I dunno about the canard being at fault. More like bad decisions, a bunch of them, starting with flying while medically disqualified. It was a continuation of lack of impulse control and bad decision making in his personal life.
I read here on FR the Denver’s model had dual tanks and to switch tanks the pilot had to twist his body to flip a switch behind him.
Thus, maybe my argument against canards is itself a canard.
LOL Could be.
I loved him on The Muppet Show.
Look pretty last gen to me.
Am I being too critical?
You’re right. It sure ain’t an F-22.
Thanks for the note.
The F4 was the Phantom.. Worked on the C, D, and E’s..
Thanks for the link. I see your point but the F-22 is an amazing plane and looks it.
We can only imagine what is in the works and already being tested.
I wasn’t trying to denigrate the F-22. It’s an amazing aircraft, and it’s certainly my favorite.
My point was that the French aircraft won’t even look as good as it did 19 years later.
Yes, we can only imagine. Building off the F-22, it certainly does cause one to think big things.
I’m still waiting for the reveal of the aircraft that replaced the SR-71 Blackbird.
I think the Aurora does exist. We were having regular sonic booms here in Southern California during what was considered to be the test phase of the replacement.
I see the trail of (what I consider to be) a pulse drive over the skies of Southern California quite often. I’ve taken photos of them.
Sorry, I missed your point.
I agree on the Aurora.
I knew a guy who lived in the boonies of Nevada in the 70’s and early 80’s who would see what they called “arrowhead” planes. They were the different Stealth planes.
“I see the trail of (what I consider to be) a pulse drive over the skies of Southern California quite often. I’ve taken photos of them”.
That’s cool.
I wonder what the small plane that stays in space for a year or so at a time does. Probably anti satellite. spying, etc.
It wasn’t the canard that killed him. It was the lack of preflight checks, which would’ve told him he forgot to fill the gas tank.
CC
High drag sucker..............
Thank you.
The knowledge base on FR is deep.
How about noticing the plane creating the contrail, then you might have something.
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