RAFALE to be F3-PLUS by 2012 METEOR still unavailable 2017

[A.V.]

It has taken France some time to get the Rafale fighter's multi-role capabilities into the field, but with that task now winding up, attention is starting to shift to introduce a far-reaching round of upgrades.

Developers are targeting the so-called F3 Plus standard for fielding around 2012. The emphasis is not so much on doing anything new, but on doing everything better. Upgrades are planned for the radar, targeting pod, optical sight system, and electronic warfare suite. The engine, also, is due for improvement, mainly to reduce its life-cycle cost.

French needs aren't the only factors driving the enhancements. Equally important, if not more, is the interest of the French government and prime contractor Dassault to finally secure an export order for Rafale - the only exportable western fighter currently on the market having failed to secure such a deal. In addition to on-going competitions in Brazil, Switzerland and India, the Rafale is being marketed aggressively in the Middle East, particularly the United Arab Emirates.

As part of the upgrade roadmap, France is looking to add new weapons to Rafale. Among them is the ramjet-powered MBDA Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile. The problem is that there's no firm budget or timeline, at this point, for when the weapon may be in inventory, says Stephane Reb, project manager at French armaments agency DGA. Meteor may not become operational on Rafale before 2017.

France also is looking to enhance air-to-ground capabilities, with risk reduction work now underway to integrate a laser-guided version of the AASM powered bomb, with a test shot due next year.

The biggest capabilities upgrade, however, is likely to be to the Thales radar, with the introduction of an active electronically scanned array. It is due to be ready in 2012, having already undergone significant development work. Low-rate AESA production began in November, will full-scale production to begin by year-end.

The radar will greatly expand the range and number of targets a Rafale fighter can track. It should also dramatically lower operating and maintenance costs.

Other major features in the development pipeline include the Damocles XF targeting pod enhancement. It should improve short and medium-range imagery, without degrading long-range performance. The XF also will include a datalink to provide ground forces with full motion video from the pod.

The optical site system, the OSF, is being improved by boosting processing (the OSF-IT standard) to allow the introduction of new software and target-tracking features. The Specter electronic-warfare suite also is being enhanced, mainly with the upgrade of the DDM missile warning system to the "NG" configuration. The DDM-NG is an imaging infrared system.

Meanwhile, Rafale continues its regular rotations to Afghanistan to support combat forces there. When the French air force made its debut there, just before the last Paris air show, missions were still flown from neighboring Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Since then, Rafales have been deployed to Kandahar, where they share the operational burden with Mirage 2000s and Super Entendards.

Paris 2009 Special Report by AVIATION WEEK

 

[luckyy]

anybody having idea on campititive comparision between METEOR v/s indian ASTRA..

 

[A.V.]

anybody having idea , how METEOR is better then india ASTRA..

sir , one of the reason the rafale has chances to win the MRCA is because of the meteor now you can see for yourself how good that is

about the technical parameters i can give you the explanation but we already have a thread on this section about comparing various bvr missiles there you can get the full comparision with of the various platforms provided by the US,RUSSIA,MBDA INDIA AND CHINA

 

[Dark Sorrow]

If Meteor will not be operational till 2017 then I belive it lost its chance. Many countries would have operational Ramjet powered BVR like R-77M1(Russia), ERAAM(USA), Astra(India), etc. hence its major market(US,India,UK,etc.) will be gone and it will also face severe competetion from these missile for sale.

 

[p2prada]

Weapons are not the most important. We can still integrate R-77 and Astra on the Rafale. not to mention, any new version of BVR coming out of Russia for the PAKFA program.

 

[Arjak]

are you sure that r77 can be integrated on the rafale,prada??? btw,modifications will mean more time,for the already late mmrca deal

 

[p2prada]

Yes, we have already integrated R-27, R-73 and R-60 with the Mirage-2000.

Mods this thread must be merged with the MRCA thread.

 

[John]

F-3 wont even be ready for fielding by 2012 i wonder how much it will impress during trails, besides looking at how much the Saudis paid $32 billion for 72 EF T-2 including weapons and service, i am sure Rafale F-3+ will cost just as much atleast and not to mention we will customize it . Rafale is pretty much done for.

 

[A.V.]

yes, we have already integrated r-27, r-73 and r-60 with the mirage-2000.

Mods this thread must be merged with the mrca thread.

this thread is specially opened to discuss rafale the mrca thread is becoming too big and integrates a lot of different views this is a rafale only thread

 

[p2prada]

Is the $32bill official or some journo guesstimate?

 

[Yusuf]

Its not $32 Billion. Its GB£4.43 for the aircrafts. Rest for armaments and life cycle maintenance costs. What other armaments its going to buy for the rest of the money to add up to $32Billion is not known.
This thread is for the discussion of the Rafale. So lets not talk of the Saudi purchase of the Typhoon. There is a thread for that.