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2018-12-02

Rafale: An Arsenal Full of Advanced Weapons

From day one, air dominance has been a must in modern warfare to ensure air-to-ground and air-to-sea operations are conducted safely and efficiently. Indeed, to implement combat effectiveness and critical technologies effectively, military aviation remains the most strategic weapon existing today.

We see from the defence strategies adopted by nations seeking to maintain a leading role on the world stage that, in the course of asymmetrical and counter-insurgency conflicts, air forces stand at the forefront of military campaigns. Hence, the Rafale’s “Omnirole” profile has come to constitute the key capability approach for an increasing number of governments.

In fully complying with the modern requirement to carry out the widest range of roles with the smallest number of aircraft, the Rafale participates in permanent “Quick Reaction Alert” (QRA)/ air-defence/air sovereignty missions. It also provides power projection and deployments for external missions, deep strike missions, air support for ground forces, reconnaissance missions, pilot training sorties and nuclear deterrence duties.

The Rafale deploys outstanding load-carrying capability and an advanced mission system to carry out air-to-ground and air-to-air attacks or interceptions during the same sortie. Simultaneous actions, such as firing air-to-air missiles during low altitude penetration phases, give a clear demonstration of the true “Omnirole” capability and outstanding survivability provided by the Rafale.

The mission system of the Rafale has the potential to integrate a variety of current and future armaments as, with its 10-tonne empty weight, the Rafale is fitted with 14 hard points (13 on the Rafale M), five of them capable of drop tanks and heavy ordnance. Its total external load capacity is more than nine tonnes (20,000 lbs.), while the Mil-Std-1760-compliant store management system provides easy integration of customer-selected weapons.

With laser-guided bombs and 2500 rounds/min NEXTER 30M791 30 mm internal cannon available on both the single and two-seater model, the Rafale has been cleared to operate the following weapons:

MICA Air-to-Air Missile

The Rafale multi-mission air-to-air missile system has had its latest versions introduced to the Mirage 2000-5 combat aircraft in a dual role within visual range (WVR) and beyond visual range (BVR).

HAMMER Air-to-Ground Series

Fitted with INS/GPS or INS/GPS/IIR (imaging infra-red) guidance kits, and with the option of the upcoming INS/GPS/laser guidance kit, the Highly Agile and Maneuverable Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) is both modular and rocket-boosted as an air-to-ground precision-guided weapon series. Sagem’s system offers guide and range augmentation kits that adapt to existing bomb bodies, so that the AASM Hammer can offer a new family of precision-guided air-ground weaponry.

With a range greater than 60 km, the AASM Hammer missile provides Rafale with the significant operational advantage of conducting very precise ground strikes at any time of day or night against fixed and mobile targets.

Next-Gen SCALP

SCALP long-range stand-off missile’s sophisticated mission planning system offers operators a highly flexible deep-strike capability where, after launch, the Storm Shadow/SCALP missile descends to a low cruising altitude powered by a turbojet engine.

Fitted with the acclaimed BROACH penetrator and warhead, the Storm Shadow/SCALP has the ability to select both direction and dive angle of attack to engage a variety of targets effectively, such as control centres, hardened aircraft shelters, runways, buildings and bridges, SAM Systems and ships in port.

EXOCET Anti-Ship Missile

The Exocet AM39 is the airborne version of the Exocet anti-ship missile family. In fact, Exocet provides a complete family of all-weather heavy anti-ship missiles suitable for every type of carrier.

When being launched from strike aircraft, Maritime Patrol Aircraft and helicopters, it can achieve a range of up to 70 km, enabling the Rafale to keep enemy air defences within range. The missile can also be launched under the target ship radar coverage when carrying out a low-altitude attack.

METEOR Air-to-Air Debut

Meteor is the next generation of Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) systems designed to revolutionise air-to-air combat in the 21st century. Meteor’s stunning performance is achieved through its unique ramjet propulsion system – solid fuel, variable flow, ducted rocket. This ‘ramjet’ motor provides the missile with thrust all the way to target intercept, providing the largest No-Escape Zone of any air-to-air missile.

Moreover, in being equipped with both impact and proximity fuses, the Meteor ensures total target destruction, with lethality maximised via fuses and a fragmentation warhead that detonates on impact or at the optimum point of intercept. Having been developed by a group of European partners led by MBDA to meet the needs of the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden, the Rafale B301 has now successfully completed two tests of the BVRAAM Meteor.

Combat Proven Rafale

The Rafale is the ‘poster child’ transformational fighter for air forces confronting the requirement of ‘doing more with less’ in an ever-changing strategic and economic environment. the Rafale is designed for air superiority, precision strikes with HAMMERS and laser-guided bombs, deep strike with SCALP cruise missiles, Intelligence, Surveillance, Tactical Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) and Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance(SCAR).AASM/HAMMER precision-guided modular air-to-surface armaments, PAVEWAY laser-guided bombs and the 30 mm cannon were employed on many occasions, scoring direct hits with remarkable precision.

Reference Text/Photo:

www. dassault-aviation.com

www. mbda-systems.com

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