Dassault Rafale, RIAT 2016 ©Nigel Key
ROLE
Multirole Fighter.
FIRST FLIGHT
4 July 1986.
The Dassault Rafale is a twin-engine, delta wing multirole fighter designed by Dassault Aviation.
The delta wing is combined with an active close-coupled canard to maximise manoeuvrability. The Rafale is an unstable aircraft and uses digital fly-by-wire controls to enable stable flight.
The canards are also used to reduce speed for landing achieving 132 mph (213 km/h).
The Rafale M has reinforced landing gear, arrestor hook and ‘jump strut’ nose wheel for aircraft carrier landings.
The Rafale is unable to fold its wings to reduce storage space; however it was intended for use on the larger Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered carrier which is considerably larger than previous carriers.
Although not a stealth aircraft, the Rafale has a reduced radar cross-section due to a reduced tail fin, specifically shaped fuselage, wings, trailing edges, canards and optimally positioned air inlets and the use of composite materials.
The cockpit is highly digitised including ‘direct voice input’ allowing numerous commands to be carried out by voice. A head-up display system also gives the pilot information minimising the pilot’s distraction.
The flight computer can overrule the pilots input and automatically recover the aircraft if necessary.
The Rafale is fitted with a Martin Baker 16F ‘zero-zero’ ejection seat which can be deployed at zero speed and zero altitude. An oxygen generating system is also fitted which eliminates the need to carry bulky oxygen cylinders.
PRODUCTION
The Dassault Rafale was produced from 1986, with over 200 built.
ENGINES
2 x Snecma M88-2’s, producing 22,500 lbf.
34,000 lbf (with after burners).
ARMAMENT
1 x 30mm GIAT autocannon
20,900 lb (9,500 kg) Missile/Pod load
The Rafale was produced for both The French Air Force and the French Navy and was introduced in 2001 becoming operational in 2006.
The Rafale has been used in combat over Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria.
| Crew - 1 or 2 |
| Length - 50ft 1in (15.27m) |
| Wingspan - 35ft 3in (10.8m) |
| Height - 17ft 6in (5.34m) |
| Empty Weight - 22,708lb (10,300kg) |
| Max. Weight - 54,013lb (24,500kg) |
| Max. Speed - 1,320 mph (2,124 km/h) |
| Range - 2,302 miles (3,704km) |
