Dassault Rafale : Learn more about the Indian Air Force's new Omnirole strike platform

[Stephen Cohen]

http://tejasmrca.weebly.com/military-aviation/dassault-rafale

Learn more about the Indian Air Force's new Omnirole strike platform

Key Features of the Rafale

1. Spectra Electronic Warfare suite

The SPECTRA integrated electronic warfare suite provides long-range detection, identification and accurate localisation of infrared, electromagnetic and laser threats. The system incorporates, radar warning, laser warning and missile warning receivers for threat detection plus a phased array radar jammer and a decoy dispenser for threat countering.

The angular localisation performance of the sensors makes it possible to accurately locate ground threats in order to avoid them, or to target them for destruction with precision guided munitions.

2. AREOS



AREOS (Airborne REcce Observation System) is the much bigger podded system carried on the centerline of French Rafales and Mirage 2000s. It is qualified for flight up to 600 knots, and can withstand the shock of carrier operations. For greater flexibility and coverage, the optics move fore-and-aft within the head of the rotating pod.

The pod provides dual-band imagery from low, fast flights or from high-altitude stand-off ranges and can cover 10,000-sq-km-per-hour from 20,000 feet.

It also provides video in both the infrared and visible spectrum, the video is the same resolution and range as the still images, although the field-of-view is narrower. AREOS can switch rapidly between the two modes

3. Communication Navigation identification suite

Secure State of the art communication, navigation and identification capabilities of Rafale fighter jet including ECCM and IFF and hardened tactical data links to provide a net centric approach in the airspace.

4. Damocles Multifunction Targeting Pod and TALIOS

The Damocles is a 3rd generation targeting pod, modular, eye-safe laser, high performance pod selected by the French Air Force for its attack fighter aircraft fleet. It provides Laser designation function provides a day/night smart weapons guidance capability, Full suite of sensors for navigation and air-to-air target identification roles, Mid-wave infrared sensor performs effectively in warm and/or humid conditions and provides day/night small target recognition at medium range as well as a long-distance reconnaissance capability andFLIR imagery is displayed in the pilot’s head-up display.

The F3R Standard Rafales will start integrating the Talios pod as per the expected 2018 timeline

Talios is the first optronic targeting pod to cover the entire decision chain, from intelligence through to neutralization. Compared with the in-service Damocles, Talios has a much-improved sensor suite in three bands: mid-wave infrared, near infrared (best for penetrating haze) and high-definition color video. It also has a longer-range laser. The optical system has a much wider zoom range for long-range identification and—at its widest setting—situational awareness.

Thales has focused on expanding the targeting mission to intelligence gathering. The new pod has been conceived with network-centric warfare in mind. Troops on the ground can receive images from Talios-equipped aircraft. Enhanced precision should help prevent killing civilians. The display provides a collateral damage assessment mode, superimposing fragmentation and blast envelopes over the target image.

5. AESA RBE-2AA

The RBE-2AA provides All-aspect look-up and look-down detection and tracking of multiple air targets for close combat and long-range interception, in all weather and in severe jamming environments. It has the Ability to track targets in, or out of the search domain, bringing the ultimate advantage in air combat.

It also allows Real time generation of three-dimensional maps for terrain-following above uncharted terrain in blind conditions as well as Real time generation of high resolution 2D ground maps for navigation updates and detection, identification and designation of ground targets,

6. Frontal Sector optronics (FSO)

The FSO allows for multichannel IR "Track While Search", 3D visual tracking and localization of ground targets at long range along with air to air surveillance and localization for both IR and visual identification.

Operating in the optronic wavelengths, and cued by the aircraft's active and passive sensors it is immune to radar jamming and it provides covert long-range detection and identification, high resolution angular tracking and laser range-finding for air, sea and ground targets.

7. Advanced Man Machine Interface (MMI)

Providing a very easy to use pilot interface (MMI), combining the “Hands on Throttle and Stick” (HOTAS) control concept with touch screens.

It relies on a highly integrated suite of equipment with the following capabilities:

• 
  
  
  • For short-term actions, head-up flying using a wide-field-of-view holographic “Head-up Display” (HUD),
  • For medium and long-term actions, analysis of the tactical situation as a whole (the “big picture”), using a multi-image “Head-Level Display” (HLD). The HLD picture is focused at the same distance as the HUD picture to allow fast eye transitions between head-up and head-down displays and the external world’s view,
  • Management of system resources via the left and right colour touch screens.

8. Modular Data Processing Unit

Various sensors onboard also requires powerful mission control computer which can create perfect data fusion for the pilot and enable him to carry out multiple missions in the same sortie or reconfigure his aircraft for next mission in the shortest span of time.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

Maintaining the rafale
One of the biggest advantages of Rafale is that it has a fully automatic monitoring system that reduces turnaround time and minimizes the use of ground equipment. Dassault has also developed a single test bench capable of dealing with all electronic LRU that needs to be replaced. Which means that instead of an overhaul, the LRUs can be tested on the system without taking them out of the aircraft. If a problem is found, the LRUs can be replaced very easily without much time loss.

Even for the Engines which is modular, the monitoring system indicates the module that has a problem and is easily swapped for another replacement module without much downtime and the hassle, hence overhauls over a fixed period of time is unnecessary.

Rafale is also expected to be self-supporting, requiring no external test benches for flight line or rear echelon maintenance. That is why it has a very low operating cost, and low ground crew training requirements. Rafale requires no complete airframe or engine depot level inspection throughout its service life.

 

[Khafee]

@Taygibay Could you do a write up, or point to a link, that spells out the difference between the French, Egyptian, Qatari and Indian Rafales?

Regards

 

[Stephen Cohen]

Dassault Rafale, the Stealth fighter you never knew it was.

Rafale is officially said to have a frontal RCS of about 0.1m2 and comes under the category of Low observable (LO) aircraft. But with the aid of SPECTRA which can perform “active cancellation”—receiving a radar signal and mimicking the aircraft’s echo exactly one-half wavelength out of phase so the radar sees almost nothing, the RCS is reduced to about 0.06m2.

But it doesn’t stop there. Dassault has admitted that a new upgrade package is almost ready for operations which would further decrease the RCS of Rafale to that of a Sparrow! Called DEDIRA (Demonstrateur de Discrétion Rafale / Descreet Rafale Demonstrator) it aims to improve the SPECTRA suite on the F3R version of Rafale. This program is linked with another one called INCAS (Intégration de Nouvelles Capacités à Spectra) which deals with the integration of GaN modules in RBE2 and SPECTRA suite along with GaN modules incorporated ‘smart-skins’ for all-passive day/night and all weather long-range detection and targeting capability involving all passive sensors available to sensor fusion.

The DEDIRA program will further improve the active stealth aspect of SPECTRA to bring down the frontal RCS of Rafale close to 0.0006m2. For reference, the unofficial frontal RCS of Raptor is 0.0001m2 without active cancellation, which is a Very Low observable (VLO) aircraft. DEDIRA is already integrated on a test Rafale numbered B301.

Rafale F3Rs DDM NG Missile approach warning system

The DDM NG stands for Détecteur De Missile de Nouvelle Génération which basically tranlates into New Generation Missile Detector and it's a passive IR missile approach warning system (MAWS). There are two such missile warning sensons on the Rafale.

The DDM allows the Rafale to detect the exhaust plume of a missile at a given range passively, that is without any electronic emissions from the Rafale which would give out it's position to the adversary. When the missile threat is detected the DDM-NG initiates a decoying sequence to confuse and dodge the missile, 4 upward firing chaff-flare dispensers help fooling and dodging the incoming missile.

The DDM NG incorporates a new infrared array detector which enhances performance with regard to the range at which a missile firing will be detected, offers improved rejection of false alarms and gives an angular localisation capability which will be compatible with the future use of Directional Infra Red Counter Measures (DIRCM). With two sensors, each equipped with a fish-eye lens, DDM NG provides a spherical field of view around the aircraft. The DDM NG missile detector program was launched at the end of 2007. This missile warner entered the flight test program beginning in summer 2009 and delivering the first live imagery in March 2010. The first DDM NG units entered service in 2012 with the 60 French Rafales ordered in December 2009.
With the DDM NG and Rafale F3R, the IAF would have it's first MAWS equipped combat aircraft in service.

The Spectra suite

The significance of the location of the SPECTRA antennae on the Rafale

Due to the complexity of the SPECTRA integration, we start to simplify the Rafale’s signature: the aircraft is designed so that its untreated radar signature is concentrated in a few strong "spikes," which are then "attenuated" by the selective use of RAM. The collections of these few strong spikes are the "model" of Rafale.

Second it would be nice to cancel the reflected radar signal. The original incoming signal from the radar will be reflected from the spikes. Each spike will produce an individual reflection with its own, often unique, amplitude and phase. The return signal, picked up by the radar, would look somewhat chaotic, consisting of background noise and "spikes". By removing these "spikes" from the radar screen the aircraft may blend in with the background noise, which is normally ignored by the radar operators. If you look at where the SPECTRA active antennae are located, surprisingly they are close to areas that can generate spikes.

To remove these spikes from the aircraft, when painted by a radar, it transmits a signal which mimics the echo that the radar will receive from the spikes, but one half-wavelength out of phase, so that the radar sees no return from them. The advantage of this technique is that it uses very low power, compared with conventional EW, and provides no clues to the aircraft's presence; the challenge is that it requires very fast processing. This fast processing is demonstrated by SPECTRA.


Rafale Payload

Seen here are the SCALP EG land-attack cruise missile in the front, two GBU-24 Paveway III 2000lb LGBs right behind the SCALP, the M791 30x150mm cannon besides GBU-24s, two RPL-711 2000l drop-tanks, a SBU-38 500lb GPS/INS guided smart munition on the left, a Mk.82 500lb free-fall bomb and a MICA EM missile BVRAAM on the right, at the back we can see four GBU-12 Paveway II 500lb LGBs.

Under the fuselage of the aircraft we can see the Damocles LDP and on the wingtips are a MICA IR missile and a MBDA ACMI Pod. Underwing we can see two RPL-711 drop tanks and four SBU-54 GPS/INS/IIR or SBU-64 GPS/INS/SALH guided smart-munitions on the AT 730 triple ejector rack.

An IAF source said India-specific Rafale aircraft will be able to carry 10 tons of weaponry. The current capacity is 9.5 tons so this could mean improved M-88 engines.

Rafale carrying the SCALP-EG cruise missile and MICA-IR air to air missiles

 

[malikahmed91279]

What a beauty ,but it's a devil against us

Shaheen vs beast

 

[Stephen Cohen]

What a beauty ,but it's a devil against us

That is True ; Rafale is an awesome FREAK

No wonder India is looking for Over 200 Rafales
That Both IAF and IN combined

India really got Lucky

But to India's CREDIT we selected Rafale --when Nobody else was Interested
and became the FIRST customer

That gave Rafale a HUGE boost in International Fighter Aviation Markets

And soon it was raining contracts on Dassault Aviation

 

[malikahmed91279]

That is True ; Rafale is an awesome FREAK

No wonder India is looking for Over 200 Rafales
That Both IAF and IN combined

India really got Lucky

But to India's CREDIT we selected Rafale --when Nobody else was Interested
and became the FIRST customer

That gave Rafale a HUGE boost in International Fighter Aviation Markets

And soon it was raining contracts on Dassault Aviation

200 planes, cost around 35 to 40 billion,

 

[RIP Pak LAW]

Stunning plane and the capabilities it brings with itself.

 

[malikahmed91279]

I'm a new member, but studying IDF and PDF from a while, don't know much about planes but basic specifications

 

[P@nThEr]

200 planes, cost around 35 to 40 billion,

It will be ordered in batch like done with MKIs,not all at a time.If first batch is delivered then Dassault can expect order for next batch.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

200 planes, cost around 35 to 40 billion,

That will be spent Over 15 Years ; it is perfectly DoAble for us

 

[RIP Pak LAW]

But to India's CREDIT we selected Rafale --when Nobody else was Interested
and became the FIRST customer

That's because its very very expensive plane. Only likes of Arab countries can afford it. India made to wait for years just because of pricing issue and even then the plane numbers have been cut down a great deal. Though nevertheless plane is deadly and worth every penny.

 

[malikahmed91279]

I don't know much about Indian air force, but I love to see their air force like this,
300 mki,
200 rafale,
200 f-16 or grapin, (if they help to build homemade tejas aviation like aesa radar,)
300 tejas,
Thats makes 1000 planes,with forth generation advantage,
Fgfa on the way,depend on iaf requairement ,

 

[Stephen Cohen]

That's because its very very expensive plane. Only likes of Arab countries can afford it. India made to wait for years just because of pricing issue and even then the plane numbers have been cut down a great deal. Though nevertheless plane is deadly and worth every penny.

The Delay in the finalisation of the Contract was because of
Indian Bureaucratic Pig Headed ness

They wanted HAL to make such complex planes AND then Dassault to
take and give Guarentees for SUCH planes

And Dassault was Not in control of HAL

HAL is a Government Company

So That was an Unheard of ABSURDITY

Now Dassault will MAKE these planes in INDIA

A new JV Company will be formed with RELIANCE Industries( a BIG Conglomerate)
with The Management Control being in Dassault's Hands

But IAF wants MANY more Rafales and with Indian Navy
too falling for Rafale's charms the Total number will cross 200

 

[HariPrasad]

The biggest plus point of Rafale is Spectra active cancellation system. India has got it configure it according to Indian needs and that is a big cost of the 36 rafale deals. Many software changes are made to Integrate non french systems. Out of some 8.6 bn USD deal for rafale, about 5bn USd is for weapon and India specific changes. Plane costs less than 100 mn USD.