Thales technologies onboard the Rafale
The Omnirole Fighter
The Rafale is the most advanced combat aircraft of its generation, delivering multi-mission capability that ensures its war fighting relevance beyond 2040. This highly agile fighter from Dassault Aviation is equipped with cutting edge technologies that make it fast deploying, selfsupporting and combat effective, all within a limited size. The Rafale draws on sophisticated onboard electronic systems to carry out a wide range of missions day or night and in all weather conditions.
Thales provides equipment and systems – including avionics – that together account for approximately one third of the total value of each Rafale.
The Rafale integrates the largest and most modern range of sensors by means of the multisensor data fusion concept that allows the pilot to access global situation awareness and make well-informed tactical decisions. This data fusion process links all sensors via the Modular Data Processing Unit (MDPU) to make the Rafale a truly network centric warfighter.
This multi-sensor capability draws on the Active Electronic Scanning Antenna RBE2 Radar, Spectra electronic warfare system, Front-Sector Optronics, the Damocles optronic multi function pod, and the AREOS new optronic stand-off recce system, among others.
Rafale, with its omnirole capabilities, is the right answer to the capability approach. It fully complies with the requirement to carry out, with a reduced number of aircraft, a wide range of missions: quick reaction alert/air-defence/air sovereignty missions, power projection and deployments for external missions, deep strike missions, air support for ground forces, reconnaissance missions, pilot training sorties and nuclear deterrence duties.
Breakthrough Thales technologies can be found throughout this superior aircraft, from its cockpit to its warfare system. With an architecture designed for full scalability, these systems ensure the Rafale will continue to be at the cutting edge of warfighting innovation.
Thales and Detection
AESA RBE2
The largest sensor onboard the Rafale is the new generation Thales AESA RBE2 radar. The RBE2, Europe’s first Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, takes combat system performance to a new level. It replaces the conventional antenna and its mechanical steering system, and has allowed for greater reliability with respect to previous-generation radars.
The RBE2 will give the Rafale the capability to track all targets in the radar field of view,
irrespective of the relative location between targets and host aircraft. Other operational
benefits include the detection of targets with low radar reflectivity and improved high quality ground imaging. The RBE2’s high performance air-to-air detection will make it possible to detect smaller targets and to detect them earlier.
The industrialisation phase for the RBE2 was launched in 2006. Final validation of software functions is expected to end in the first quarter of 2010, with delivery of the radars to Dassault Aviation.
Front-Sector Optronics
Thales’s Front-Sector Optronics (FSO) system is fully integrated into the Rafale to provide covert long-range detection and identification, high-resolution angular tracking and laser range-finding for air, sea and ground targets. Operating in optical avelengths, this sensor is immune to radar jamming.
The FSO contributes to air situation awareness and reinforces the Rafale's capabilities to operate in severe environments. Lasers for measuring target distance give the sensor highprecision 3D localisation capabilities. Its near-visible waveband capability is especially valuable with its narrow field for identifying possible targets in situations where visual contact is required by the Rules of Engagement or during quick reaction alerts.
Thales and Electronic Warfare
Spectra
The Rafale is equipped with the Spectra electronic warfare system, giving the aircraft a multispectral threat warning capability against hostile radars, missiles and lasers. This system is fully integrated into the Rafale for excellent survivability against air and ground threats.
Spectra also contributes to passive tactical situation awareness, all-weather long-range
detection, identification and location of threats, within a short response time. The system’s cutting-edge defensive measures are based on combinations of omni-directional AESA jamming, multi-band decoying and evasive manoeuvres, as well as on state-of-the-art technologies such as Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) signal processing.
Spectra’s angular location on the aircraft allows it to locate ground threats, to target them for destruction with precision-guided munitions, or to avoid them. Its threat library – which can be defined, integrated and updated on short notice by users in the home country – is instrumental to this performance. As operations unfold, protection onboard the Rafale can be continuously and fluidly enhanced using the system.
Thales and Mission Systems
Modular Data Processing Unit (MDPU)
Enough growth potential has been built into the Rafale to ensure that its design maintains warfighting relevance for several decades. The Modular Data Processing Unit (MDPU) is the cornerstone of this avionics/ weapon upgradeability. Its modular architecture makes for a system that is highly adaptable, allowing straightforward integration of new avionics or new ordnance.
Sensor data fusion draws on the computing power of the MDPU to process data from the AESA RBE2 radar, the Front-Sector Optronic system, the SPECTRA system, the IFF, the missile seekers and the data-link (L16 or custom).
Damocles Optronic Pod
The Thales Damocles multifunction targeting pod draws on its laser designation function to give the Rafale full day and night laser-guided weapon capabilities. Damocles is interoperable with all existing laser-guided weapons and provides outstanding performances for long-distance recognition.
Damocles makes use of an embedded digital recorder to provide tactical reconnaissance with post-flight image analysis. The pod includes a forward-looking infrared navigation module that provides an image presented to the pilot in the cockpit. An infrared sensor also operates on Damocles in the mid-wave infrared band, allowing the system to retain its effectiveness in warm and/or humid conditions.
AREOS system
The AREOS Reco NG (Airborne and Reconnaissance and Observation) system is designed to meet a full spectrum of global operational requirements onboard the Rafale and withstand diverse weather conditions and scenarios. This pod integrates state-of-the-art digital technology both in its sensor and detector solutions, and its real/deferred time transmission capability.
AREOS reduces cycle times for detection, decision and action so as to more quickly meet evolving mission demands. AREOS’s operational automatic imagery collection modes allow it to be easily integrated onto single seat aircraft, such as the Rafale.
Mission debriefing system
Thales supplies the mission debriefing system onboard the Rafale. This system simultaneously displays the aircraft’s trajectories in two- and three-dimensions via eight video displays and one audio emitter. It also depicts the movements and whereabouts of other aircraft involved in the same mission, as well as of air-to-air missiles fired. The misión debriefing is in service with the French Air Force.
Thales and Communication, Navigation, Identification (CNI)
CNI suite
Thales provides the full Communication, Navigation, Identification (CNI) suite – including voice communications, Tactical Data Link, landing and radio navigation systems and Identification Friend and Foe functions - onboard the Rafale. The digital radio transceivers allow the Rafale to manage plain voice, secure voice, data link and image transmission modes for Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface communications in VHF and UHF bands.
Tactical Data Link
Thales has developed a complete range of Tactical Data Link (TDL) solutions. Onboard the Rafale, these solutions offer a secure source of tactical data, including situation awareness, command & control, electronic warfare, orders and reports, flight pass and fighter-to-fighter information. Among other key players in combined air operations, this data is used with fellow aircraft in the formation, airborne and surface command and control centres, forward air controllers, etc.
Identification Friend-or-Foe Combined Interrogator Transponders
Thales TSB 2500 IFF is a family of Combined Interrogator Transponders that are fully
compliant with civil (including mode S), NATO (including mode 4/5) and/or national secure modes (NSM). The Rafale is equipped with an E-Scan version, which includes an Antenna Control Unit (ACU) for electronically steering the antenna.
Thales in the Cockpit
Thales supplies Dassault with most of the displays for the cockpit. For short-term actions, the Rafale pilot relies on the holographic head-up display (HUD), with a wide-field-of-view (30°x22°), for head-up flying. For medium and long-term actions, the multi-image head-level display (HLD) allows analysis of the global tactical situation through its 20°x20° screen. The HLD picture is focused at the same distance as the HUD picture to allow for fast eye transitions between head-up and head-level flying and the external world's view.
Thales and Electrical Systems
Thales is a world reference for variable frequency power generation and has integrated this technology onboard the Rafale to reduce the aircraft’s weight and maintenance costs.
Variable frequency technology is characterized by better efficiency than constant frequency technology traditionally used on aircraft. The system takes mechanical power from the engine of the aircraft and transforms it into electricity to power systems onboard, such as the Rafale’s electrical flight control systems.
Thales and Training & Simulation
Thales, Sogitec and Dassault Aviation have together successfully developed two pilot
training centres to support the training of Rafale fighter pilots. The French Air Force and Navy rely on the Saint-Dizier Rafale simulation centre in Eastern France to train pilots for this prestigious aircraft and in 2009 added a second Rafale simulation centre at the Landivisiau naval air base in North-western France. The two simulation centres will soon be networked so they can carry out joint training missions.
The simulator cockpits recreate a realistic environment for the pilot. Rafale pilots can perform individual or crew missions in a complex tactical environment including aerial combat using data link (L16), ground attack, in-flight refuelling, aircraft carrier launches, deck landings and taking into account the evolution of weather conditions.
Thales and Support
Thales also provides services for the Rafale, reducing life cycle costs for the aircraft and ensuring that each system onboard remains efficient and effective. Thales’s long life and easy through-life support is forged through its world-class ILS (Integrated Logistic Support), obsolescence management, supply chain optimisation, as well as rapid repair and overhaul.
Rafale Thales