MOBILITY ENGINEERING Produced by SAE Media Group
MOBILITY ENGINEERING

Fighter Jet Armaments

MBDA
Les Plesis Robinson, France
+33 1 71 54 10 00
www.mbda-systems.com

Admiral Pierre Vandier, Chief of Staff of the French Navy, and Air Force General Philippe Lavigne, Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force, jointly approved the entry into operational service of the Rafale F3-R fighter jet. The upgrading of the French combat aircraft capacities ranks high on the list of priorities of the French military expenditure plan (LPM), which provides for a 2.7-billion euro investment in the development of the new versions of the Rafale over the 2019-2025 period.

The French Navy and the French Air and Space Force are now authorized to make operational use of all the capacities that are developed around the F3-R standard, which is already installed in half the French fleet and will eventually be installed on all Rafale aircraft in service. Both forces now have a world-class multi-role fighter aircraft at their disposal capable of operating in the most contested environments. The decision also applies to the Rafale aircraft of the GAE (carrier air wing) operated from aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle, or those of the French Air and Space Force that are deployed from the forward air base in Jordan within the framework of operation Chammal.

The entry into operational service is the culmination of a process, which within both armed forces consisted of determining and disseminating the applicable operating tactics defined for the new capacities of the multirole aircraft, as made possible by the F3-R standard, and particularly those offered by the long-range air-to-air Meteor missile and the TALIOS land-based target designator. The combination of the AESA RBE2 radar and the long-range Meteor missile gives the Rafale the air superiority it needs for beyond visual range engagements in all weather, as required for handling a wide variety of targets. The new version of the Rafale will continue to carry the enhanced medium-range, air-to-ground missile (ASMPA) as part of airborne nuclear deterrence missions.

The F3-R Rafale is now capable of using the TALIOS high-resolution laser designation pod, which can generate images in both the visible and infrared ranges and will benefit from largely improved capacities that will enable it to perform intelligence and target acquisition, and tracking and designation missions. In particular, the Rafale will feature new and more efficient fixed or moving target tracking capacities, as well as an automatic moving target detection capacity and a new human-machine interface that will make it easier to use.

In the new standard, the Rafale F3-R will also offer an enhanced ground attack capacity. It will now be possible to control the munition flight time, the laser illumination and the in-flight weapon settings, including for the terminal laser guidance AASM (modular air-to-ground weapon system). The Rafale F3-R will also feature an automatic ground collision avoidance system (AGCAS) that will make it safer. The AGCAS is an ultimate protection function designed to prevent any risks of ground collision.

From 2022 onwards, new capacities will be added to the Rafale, with the F4 standard. The aircraft will include innovative connectivity solutions offering enhanced networked combat operation capabilities. Enhanced radar sensors and forward optronics will also be added, as well as a helmet-mounted display and new integrated weapons, such as the air-to-air MICA NG missile and the modular 1000-kg air-to-ground weapon.

For Free Info Click Here 

Topics:
Aeronautics Aerospace Aircraft Aviation Cameras Directed Energy Weapons, Detection, and Targeting Electronic Warfare Imaging Lasers & Laser Systems Military aircraft Military vehicles and equipment Missiles Munitions Surveillance and Security Threat Location, Targeting, & Surveillance Unmanned Air Vehicles/Systems (UAV/UAS) Vehicles

More From SAE Media Group

Aerospace & Defense Tech Briefs
High-Speed Data Cables for Fighter Aircraft
Aerospace & Defense Tech Briefs
The Effect of Failing to Recapitalize the B-52H Defensive Avionics System on Future Operations
Aerospace & Defense Tech Briefs
Electronic Warfare System
Aerospace & Defense Tech Briefs
sUAS-Based Payload Development and Testing for Quantifying Optical Turbulence
    Magazine cover
    Aerospace & Defense Technology Magazine

    This article first appeared in the September, 2021 issue of Aerospace & Defense Technology Magazine.

    Read more articles from this issue here.

    Read more articles from the archives here.

    Top Stories

    INSIDERRF & Microwave Electronics

    Feature Image University of Rochester Lab Creates New 'Reddmatter' Superconductivity Material...

    INSIDERElectronics & Computers

    Feature Image MIT Report Finds US Lead in Advanced Computing is Almost Gone - Mobility...

    INSIDERRF & Microwave Electronics

    Feature Image Air Force Performs First Test of Microwave Counter Drone Weapon THOR - Mobility...

    INSIDERDefense

    Feature Image Navy Selects Lockheed Martin and Raytheon to Develop Hypersonic Missile -...

    INSIDERSoftware

    Feature Image Boeing to Develop Two New E-7 Variants for US Air Force - Mobility Engineering...

    NewsManned Systems

    Feature Image Tesla’s FSD Recall Impacts AV Industry - Mobility Engineering Technology

    Webcasts

    Trending Stories

    INSIDERResearch Lab

    Feature Image Air Force Performs First Test of Microwave Counter Drone Weapon THOR

    ArticlesAerospace

    Feature Image Single Event Effects in High Altitude Aerospace Sensor Applications

    NewsEnergy

    Feature Image Fuels to Transition the Global Legacy Fleet