Uma pequena contibuicao para o Prick
O esboco do Rafale D ficou HORRÍVEL
History
The Dassault Rafale was ordered (as Avion de Combat Tactique, ACT) to replace the French Air Force Jaguars and (as Avion de Combat Marine, ACM) French Navy Crusaders and Super Etendards. The first flight of the Rafale A prototype (F-ZJRE) was 4 July 1986. 867th and final sortie was flown 24 January 1994. Production launch officially authorised, 23 December 1992 (and 31 December 1992 for M88-2 power plant). The first Rafale B and Rafale M were ordered 26 March 1993 and the first production aircraft (Rafale B No. 301) flew 24 November 1998 and made its 'inaugural' (official) first flight 4 December. It was transferred to the CEV at Istres in early 1999, for development of the F2 production standard. First production Rafale M (No. 1) flew at Bordeaux 7 July 1999. The Rafale programme had by then accumulated over 4,000 sorties.
A test airframe, in Rafale M configuration, was delivered to CEAT at Toulouse for ground trials 10 December 1991. Between 17 December 1991 and 2 March 1993, it completed 10,000 simulated flights, including 3,000 catapult take-offs and 3,000 deck landings. The structural validation of the Rafale airframe was achieved 15 December 1993.
The French Air Force preference was switched to the operational two-seat (pilot and WSO) derivative of the Rafale C in 1991. It was announced in 1992 that 60 per cent of the procurement was to be two-seat, although 16 aircraft were deleted from the requirements at this time. The procurement target was later further reduced. The two-seat version of the naval Rafale was announced in September 2000.
Funding constraints and French government demands for cost reductions resulted in suspension of the Rafale programme in November 1995 and temporary blocking of most 1996 funds. Plans were simultaneously abandoned for three progressively more sophisticated service standards of the Rafale (Standard Utilisateur0, 1 and 2) and replaced by a common French military standard and an export parallel, although three basic software standards (F1 to F3) will phase-in operational capabilities. Work on production Rafales was temporarily halted in April 1996. On 22 January 1997, Dassault and the French defence ministry agreed on a 48 aircraft multiyear procurement (1997-2002) in return for a 10 per cent cost reduction, effectively relaunching the programme. This initiative lapsed with the change of government after June 1997, but was reinstated in January 1999, with firm orders for 28, plus 20 options, covering deliveries between 2002 and 2007. A contract was awarded in January 2000 for the development of the F2 Standard Rafale, representing the first capability upgrade.
The first production aircraft was completed late 1998, a second and third (No. 302 and M1) were delivered to the CEV trials unit late 1999/early 2000, M2 and M3 to Landivisiau naval air station, December 2000. The first naval squadron, 12 F, was formed 18 May 2001 and achieved planned strength of 10 Rafales in September 2002. The first operational carrier deployment by four aircraft (M2 to M5) aboard FS Charles de Gaulle was 21 to 29 May 2001. Delivery of the 80th aircraft is due in 2008, the 140th in 2011. Final (294th) French delivery is due in 2020.
Versions
Rafale A
Technology Demonstrator, powered by two General Electric F404-GE-100 turbofans due to the unavailability at that time of the M88 turbofan engine. Empty weight 9.5 tonnes. Used in may 1987 in simulated carrier approaches (no traps) on the carrier Clemenceau.
Rafale B
Originally planned as a two-seat, dual-control version for the French Air Force. 3 to 5 per cent higher cost than the Rafale C. This version is being developed into a fully operational variant for either pilot/WSO or single-pilot combat capability. The first two are assigned to the CEV.
Rafale C
Single-seat combat version for the French Air Force. This version was first flown 16 April 2003. Equipped with Thomson-CSF/Dassault Electroniques Radar á Ballayage Electronique-2 (RBE-2) radar, tail mounted Spectra RHAWR and larger canard wings behind the cockpit. The 30 mm gun was replaced to the starbord side.
Rafale D
Original configuration from which the production versions were derived. Now 'Rafale Discret' (stealthy) is the generic name for French Air Force versions.
Rafale M
Single-seat carrierborne fighter, serial numbers begin at 1. Navalisation weight penalty is 610 kg (1,345 lb). This version has 80 per cent structural and equipment commonality with the Rafale C and 95 per cent systems commonality. Navy's financial share of the French programme was cut in 1991 from 25 to 20 per cent.
The initial operational software standard for the Rafale M, designated F1, permits air defence missions against multiple targets using Magic and radar-homing version of MICA, and self-defence is provided by the Spectra system. The F2 standard will apply to both naval and air force Rafales delivered from late 2004 and combine F1 with air-to-ground radar modes and the ability to launch IR-guided MICA, SCALP and AASM weapons as well as an OSF electro-optics suite and MIDS datalink. This shloud be operational in 2006. Funding for F2 development was granted 31 December 1998. The first stage of F2 is OSF, SCALP and standard air-to-surface ordnance. The first production aircraft, M1, was on loan to Dassault for F2 integration. The last of the 35 single-seat naval Rafales is to be delivered in 2008. In the same year (operational 2009), the F3 standard (development launched January 2003) provides full capabilities to naval and air force Rafales, including air-to-sea attack, AM39 Exocet and ASMP-A weapons, refuelling and reconnaissance pods, and a helmet-mounted display. The unspecified and unfunded F4 standard is envisaged for 2010, but early naval aircraft will all have been upgraded to F2 and F3 by 2008. The Meteor AAM and an associated electronically scanned radar antenna are key elements of F4.
Rafale N
Two-seat, dual control, naval version, which was also known briefly as Rafale BM. This version was announced in September 2000 and development and production contracts were placed December 2002. The prototype, No. 16, shloud be ready for trials in 2006. There is a requirement for 25 aircraft within the overall Navy purchase. The first production aircraft to be ready in 2008, with the final delivery in 2012. This aircraft costs 5 per cent more than a single-seat M. It is also 250 kg (551 lb) heavier, but carries 260 kg (573 lb) less internal fuel. It has 85 per cent commonality with the three previous versions. The deletion of the internal canon replaces 200 litres (52.8 US gallons or 44.0 Imp gallons) of fuel lost with the addition of the second seat.
Rafale R
Initial studies launched by the procurement agency DGA in late 1997, into a stealthy sensor pod which would allow Rafales to replace Mirage F-1CRs and naval Super Etendards in the reconnaissance role. However, the French government declined to provide its share of funding in February 2003 and the industrial partners abandoned the programme in the following month.
Rafale Mk 2
Export version, under active consideration by 2000, featuring an active antenna radar and M88-3 engines of 88.3 kN (19,850 lb st) each. Available from 2006. This version has conformal tanks and the Damoclès laser target designator. Development cost were estimated in 2001 as Euro1.3 billion. A joint venture was agreed in January 2001 by Dassault, Thales and SNECMA. This version was offered to South Korea (but eventually not selected).
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