Air fan 415, june 2013:
10 pages devoted to Rafale and CEAM (center of military aerial experimentation). Sum up (don't have the courage to scan):
CEAM has completed testing of Rafale F3.3 and F3.3' and is currently testing the new electronic antenna:
Standard F3.3
- Improved L16: better fluidity, targets transmitted are directly integrated into the weapon system. Each new Rafale standard will bring L16 improvements.
- Improved firing control for GBU 22/24.
- MMI improvements.
- Bugs fixed (F3.3')
Others improvements tested:
- Integration of ITT4949 Leaky Green (nightvision binoculars)
- Reco-ng v6 for better reliability.
Deliveries :
- 13 F1 (2 B and 1 C are still used for tests and developments , 10 being upgraded to F3)
- 48 F2 (now upgraded to F3)
- 59 F3 (the last one was C144 delivered in May)
- 60 F3-04T [only C137 and B339 have been delivered to date]
AESA:
- Daily tests since October 2012
- Spectacular gains: detection range doubled, wider field of scanning, increased resistance to jamming and decoy systems.
- Same interface for the crew (same symbology).
- The exact number is classified but production RBE2 AESA have more than 1000 modules.
- Perfect reliability (no failure in 6 months of intense testing)
- The replacement of the passive antenna takes two hours, without tests and without software modifications.
- 6 Rafale AESA will be delivered in 2013, a package of 4 aircraft will go to EC 1/7 Provence, 2 other devices will end tests.
- AESA Rafale and PESA Rafale will work in cooperation , AESA Rafale working as a mini AWACS by transferring targets via L16.
- New air/air configuration requested : 8 MICA or 6 MICA/2 METEOR or 4 MICA/4 METEOR
Roadmap:
- F3R standard, planned for 2018, is under developement
- Dassault is planning a mid-life renovation in the 2020s and a Rafale NG from 2030:
Mid-life renovation: new weapons, improvement of passive sensors and radar, densification of data exchanges (tactical data, images, videos). Improved discretion. Interaction with UCAVs...
Rafale NG: New design, reduced RCS, reduced drag. 9T engines. Sensors integrated into the fuselage. DIRCM laser turrets to blind incoming infrared missiles...
COURTESY-OLYBRIUS
THANK U FOR THE INFO MATE