Rafale

Dassault Rafale is a twin-engine multirole fighter aircraft developed in France as part of an effort to consolidate and replace several specialized aircraft in the French Air Force and Navy. The manufacturer classifies it as an "omnirole" platform—capable of performing a wide range of missions, from air superiority and ground strikes to nuclear deterrence. The first prototype took flight in the 1980s, and the aircraft entered operational service in the early 2000s, first with the Navy and later with the Air Force.

The Rafale features a delta wing design, which renders it inherently unstable from an aerodynamic standpoint. However, this instability is harnessed to improve maneuverability through the use of a fly-by-wire flight control system, making it one of the most agile aircraft in its class. It incorporates composite materials to reduce both weight and radar cross-section. The pilot operates in a state-of-the-art cockpit equipped with multifunction displays, night vision systems, a hands-on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) control layout, voice command capabilities, and a multifunctional helmet-mounted display system. A key component of the aircraft is the SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, along with the RBE2 radar featuring an active electronically scanned array (AESA), complemented by OSF (Optronique Secteur Frontal) electro-optical sensors.

The aircraft is produced in several variants, with the primary ones being the single-seat Rafale C and the two-seat Rafale B for the Air Force, as well as the Rafale M for naval operations from CATOBAR-equipped aircraft carriers. The Rafale’s armament includes a wide array of guided air-to-air missiles, bombs, and air-to-ground munitions—including SCALP cruise missiles and AASM precision-guided bombs. A standard feature is the GIAT 30 mm internal six-barrel cannon.

France remains the primary operator of the Rafale, although it has been exported to a number of international customers, including Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, and Croatia. In export competitions, it frequently competes with the Eurofighter Typhoon—a project in whose early stages France was also involved before pursuing the Rafale independently. Modernization of the Rafale continues, and the French Armed Forces plan to operate the aircraft well into the mid-21st century.

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