The French Rafale Fighter Aircraft

eaf-f16

New Member
Mod edit: It's been sorted.

Its Rafale not Rafael. Just check out all the official sites from dassault, french MoD, AdA etc.. You are definitely wrong on that.
The Rafale can't use the AIM-9X, ASRAAM or AMRAAM as these weapons are not integrated into the aircraft. You can integrate them, but this hasn't been done. The Meteor is not yet integrated either as it is still under development!
Sorry, I have to say my only source is the very unreliable Wikipedia. I thought I read it somewhere reliable. Anyways I will continue my search for source. My apologies.

Edit: I found a source on the Rafale being able to carry the Meteor missile even though it's still a long time until it enters service.

http://www.mbda-systems.com/mbda/site/FO/scripts/newsFO_complet.php?lang=EN&news_id=157
 

swerve

Super Moderator
Sorry, I have to say my only source is the very unreliable Wikipedia. I thought I read it somewhere reliable. Anyways I will continue my search for source. My apologies.

Edit: I found a source on the Rafale being able to carry the Meteor missile even though it's still a long time until it enters service.

http://www.mbda-systems.com/mbda/site/FO/scripts/newsFO_complet.php?lang=EN&news_id=157
Rafale is planned to be able to carry Meteor, when Meteor enters service, but that is years away. Rafale is not being used for Meteor development firings (all Gripen, AFAIK), & I think that no integration work has yet been done.

As for other missiles - well, any AAM could, in theory, be integrated with any fighter. But nobody would normally say "F-15 can fire Mica" because it's theoretically possible to integrate it. That would be reserved for aircraft on which it's been integrated. If integration is underway, or even expected or planned, one could say "X will be able to fire Y". But IIRC there are no plans to integrate AIM-9X, Asraam or any other IR missile with Rafale. I can only imagine it happening if a customer requested it & was willing to pay for it, or insisted on as a condition for buying Rafale.
 

eaf-f16

New Member
Rafale is planned to be able to carry Meteor, when Meteor enters service, but that is years away. Rafale is not being used for Meteor development firings (all Gripen, AFAIK), & I think that no integration work has yet been done.

As for other missiles - well, any AAM could, in theory, be integrated with any fighter. But nobody would normally say "F-15 can fire Mica" because it's theoretically possible to integrate it. That would be reserved for aircraft on which it's been integrated. If integration is underway, or even expected or planned, one could say "X will be able to fire Y".
That's what I said but it says in the article that Rafale already carried out a successful A2A missile test. Anyways I thought (not sure) that the AMRAAM, AIM-132 and AIM-9 have been cleared for use on the Rafale, was I wrong in saying this?:confused:
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
I just meant that the Rafale can integrate them
How can they integrate them when they haven't even gone through the certification process? They can't even promote interchange and interoperability without going through a certification process. (and that means US involvement - and where would dassault get the critical software and requisite buss details??)

Considering that MICA was developed as a separate solution - and in real terms a competitor to AMRAAM, then US participation is dubious and optimistic (at best). MICA only has a common skeleton - it has no commonality on the interconnects.

AIM9-X is a similar issue to the above.
 

eaf-f16

New Member
How can they integrate them when they haven't even gone through the certification process? They can't even promote interchange and interoperability without going through a certification process. (and that means US involvement - and where would dassault get the critical software and requisite buss details??)

Considering that MICA was developed as a separate solution - and in real terms a competitor to AMRAAM, then US participation is dubious and optimistic (at best). MICA only has a common skeleton - it has no commonality on the interconnects.

AIM9-X is a similar issue to the above.
I corrected myself though on the AMRAAM compatibility in the previous post (my only source was Wikipedia :( ). Anyways thanks for the info gf0012-aust.
 

Scorpion82

New Member
That's what I said but it says in the article that Rafale already carried out a successful A2A missile test. Anyways I thought (not sure) that the AMRAAM, AIM-132 and AIM-9 have been cleared for use on the Rafale, was I wrong in saying this?:confused:
The Rafale carried environmental rounds of Meteors just to gather data about vibration etc. on the aircraft and for the missile it self. The Rafale is not able to communicate with the missile for the moment. Once development and integration work is done the missile will be used.

The AIM-9, ASRAAM and AMRAAM are not integrated into the Rafale. Integration requires FCS tweaks, integration into the weapons system itself and can easily last a couple of month. Dassault offers the integration of such weapons for export customers, but they have to pay for it as the AdA/MN use their own weapons (MICA IR/EM). Integration is not just a matter of hanging the weapon on the aircraft's pylon.
 

eaf-f16

New Member
The Rafale carried environmental rounds of Meteors just to gather data about vibration etc. on the aircraft and for the missile it self. The Rafale is not able to communicate with the missile for the moment. Once development and integration work is done the missile will be used.

The AIM-9, ASRAAM and AMRAAM are not integrated into the Rafale. Integration requires FCS tweaks, integration into the weapons system itself and can easily last a couple of month. Dassault offers the integration of such weapons for export customers, but they have to pay for it as the AdA/MN use their own weapons (MICA IR/EM). Integration is not just a matter of hanging the weapon on the aircraft's pylon.
I realize that that's why I asked if they had been cleared/certified for use on the Rafale. Anyways thanks for the info.
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
(my only source was Wikipedia :( ).
Hence why we make loud noises about quoting it as a reference point.

Wiki is best used as a last resort, and as an act of declared desperation. ;) The problem with Wiki is that its self managed - and anyone can thus turn into an internet author with minimal management... If the authors are one eyed enthusiass or platform dilettantes, then its value as an information source can be compromised.
 

kato

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Rafale is not being used for Meteor development firings (all Gripen, AFAIK), & I think that no integration work has yet been done.
Mmm, not really:

Rafale has flown with the "ground handling training" version of Meteor (to test in-flight characteristics with identical weight, dimensions and aerodynamic shape to the real missile). This was done even before the Gripen firing tests, and before the same missiles were tested on (British) Eurofighter.

Unlike the "Meteor Avionics" test version, the "ground handling" version does not interface with the computers of the carrier aircraft, and only provides a "dummy" for aerodynamics tests.

These "dummy" tests have been performed both by land-based and carrier-based Rafales.
So-called "Environmental Data Gathering" (EDG) missiles for tests have also been flown by Rafales, especially to measure stress on the missile during carrier operations.

The full Meteor version will have to be changed for the Rafale anyway due to a different (one-way) datalink on the aircraft. I don't think the alternate datalink unit for the Meteor (for compatibility with Rafale) even exists yet, only the two-way datalink used with Gripen and Eurofighter.

(above see also Jane's Missiles and Rockets 2005)

Some of the above, in addition to stating the planned integration on Rafale can also be found in this press release by MBDA from 2006.

Sidenote: Dassault has so far never integrated the AMRAAM into any of its aircraft; they offered integration on some Mirage 2000-5 export tender, but that was never realized. ASRAAM integration capability theoretically exists with Dassault, as they've sold the UAE Mirage 2000-9 with that. Similarly, the necessary technical specs for AIM-9 integration of course exist at Dassault (several Mirage versions integrated Sidewinder). However, the US would of course need to approve any integration work - or at least eg Raytheon, since the ToT (technical specs) already happened for eg AIM-9.
 

eaf-f16

New Member
Hence why we make loud noises about quoting it as a reference point.

Wiki is best used as a last resort, and as an act of declared desperation. ;) The problem with Wiki is that its self managed - and anyone can thus turn into an internet author with minimal management... If the authors are one eyed enthusiass or platform dilettantes, then its value as an information source can be compromised.
That's why I didn't use it and posted a different source instead. Though I'm still lacking a source for the AIM-9, ASRAAM and AMRAAM being certified for the Rafale. From what is being said on here they haven't been certified.
 

Satorian

New Member
Wiki is best used as a last resort
On the contrary, I think it is a good starting point, but should also always be used just as one. One of the most valuable things about Wikipedia is the collection of links to the sources, where the real research begins.
 

eaf-f16

New Member
On the contrary, I think it is a good starting point, but should also always be used just as one. One of the most valuable things about Wikipedia is the collection of links to the sources, where the real research begins.
Yes, but it listed no links where it mentioned the AIM-9, ASRAAM, and AMRAAM in the armaments section in their Rafale article:unknown .
 

Preceptor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Wiki is best used as a last resort...
On the contrary, I think it is a good starting point, but should also always be used just as one. One of the most valuable things about Wikipedia is the collection of links to the sources, where the real research begins.
The point about Wiki being a "last resort" is in terms of use as a source to reference. Nothing wrong at all to use Wiki as a starting point when researching or investigating something, and then using sources to verify what was found on Wiki or to get more specific questions to answer on a topic. What the preference is to Not see, is someone stating something found in Wiki as a fact, because as mentioned, anyone can edit Wiki.

-Preceptor
 

10ringr

Defense Professional
Verified Defense Pro
I just meant that the Rafale can integrate them I didn't mean that they already had them on it. Anyways I apologize for misspelling the Rafale's name and saying you misspelled it. Learn to keep your anger in check in the future:rolleyes: .
One of the wiser mods here sez in his profile something like never attribute to malice what can easily be explained by stupidity. The F15's record is something like 105 to 0 and it's been updated since it's advent into American forces since the 70's. So you can compare all you want, which by the way is something we're not supposed to do but remember that you are still using the F15 as the bar for all of the claims you make and with good reason. Hutch
 

eaf-f16

New Member
One of the wiser mods here sez in his profile something like never attribute to malice what can easily be explained by stupidity. The F15's record is something like 105 to 0 and it's been updated since it's advent into American forces since the 70's. So you can compare all you want, which by the way is something we're not supposed to do but remember that you are still using the F15 as the bar for all of the claims you make and with good reason. Hutch
It wasn't me who started the F-15 vs. Rafale comparison! BKNO is the one who said that the Rafale makes "a cold meal out of legacy fighters". He also went on to say that it was "on par with Typhoon", now that I don't believe is true. The F-15 is 30 year old plane now you can't expect it to stay ahead for ever even with upgrades.
 

Satorian

New Member
Yes, but it listed no links where it mentioned the AIM-9, ASRAAM, and AMRAAM in the armaments section in their Rafale article:unknown .
The it only has the value of a rumour and should not be interpreted and presented as fact, because, as Preceptor stated, everybody can edit it on a whim.
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
:nono

Can we get this back on topic now that we've overdone the "he says, she says" debate...?
 

10ringr

Defense Professional
Verified Defense Pro
It wasn't me who started the F-15 vs. Rafale comparison! BKNO is the one who said that the Rafale makes "a cold meal out of legacy fighters". He also went on to say that it was "on par with Typhoon", now that I don't believe is true. The F-15 is 30 year old plane now you can't expect it to stay ahead for ever even with upgrades.
You seem to be under the impression that you are comparing stone knives and bear skins to electronic warfare. This is simply not so, while systems have been upgraded and avionics and radars are better they are still working with the same basic principles with the exception of a more integrated style of warfare championed by mainly the US. The SU37 is still basically a SU27 with some nice upgrades but it's still the same basic tech and the F15 will give a good account for itself against anything mainly because of the progression of avionics, advanced radars, missile development, thrust vectoring etc. As long as you have such advances you could send up a Cessna with a BVR missile and win a fight, this is a fun example but you get the point. It's going to be much cheaper and effective to design and produce air to air missiles to manage the threat then to attempt to match the US advantage in both resources and R & D. Besides, outside of the fact that the Typhoon and other fighters are high performance they do nothing to take advantage of Stealth and that is presently the only way to have an offensive first strike capability that the US has insisted on having. Hutch
 

eaf-f16

New Member
You seem to be under the impression that you are comparing stone knives and bear skins to electronic warfare. This is simply not so, while systems have been upgraded and avionics and radars are better they are still working with the same basic principles with the exception of a more integrated style of warfare championed by mainly the US. The SU37 is still basically a SU27 with some nice upgrades but it's still the same basic tech and the F15 will give a good account for itself against anything mainly because of the progression of avionics, advanced radars, missile development, thrust vectoring etc. As long as you have such advances you could send up a Cessna with a BVR missile and win a fight, this is a fun example but you get the point. It's going to be much cheaper and effective to design and produce air to air missiles to manage the threat then to attempt to match the US advantage in both resources and R & D. Besides, outside of the fact that the Typhoon and other fighters are high performance they do nothing to take advantage of Stealth and that is presently the only way to have an offensive first strike capability that the US has insisted on having. Hutch
Apparently USAF thinks it's not important to have TVC (except when it comes to the F-22) . I don't think they're interested in AESA radars for the F-15's either. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the AESA radar integrated in the F-15 only for use in Singapore and will only enter limited service in USAF?:confused: Or will they upgrade all of the F-15's with AESA's?

Are the Rafale's in service with the French Air Force/Navy all going to be upgraded with AESA's when it's released?
 
A

Aussie Digger

Guest
Apparently USAF thinks it's not important to have TVC (except when it comes to the F-22) . I don't think they're interested in AESA radars for the F-15's either. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the AESA radar integrated in the F-15 only for use in Singapore and will only enter limited service in USAF?:confused: Or will they upgrade all of the F-15's with AESA's?

Are the Rafale's in service with the French Air Force/Navy all going to be upgraded with AESA's when it's released?
Yes the USAF is interested in AESA for it's F-15 fighters but it doesn't seem a huge priority.

Up to 178x F-15 series fighters will receive the APG-63(v2) AESA radar in USAF service however as outlined here:

http://www.pacaf.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123061452
 
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