Above. A 3 Rafale armed with MICA missile takes off from St. Dizier to a mission
training trap (Photo: Securança & Defesa)

Rafale: a current view

Mario Roberto Vaz Carneiro

The prospect of the Brazilian Government's decision regarding the purchase of its new fighter aircraft (the F-X2) has had an interesting effect on public opinion. At least in the recent past, there is news that a program for purchase of military employment has so mobilized public opinion and national media.
The finalists - American, Swedish and French - spare no effort in promoting the advantages of their respective models. Although the selection of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is not vital to the survival of Boeing as a producer of defense systems, Americans have at stake in the issues of prestige and geopolitical influence - especially when one considers the context of the discovery of new and substantial reserves of oil and gas in parts of Brazil, which would allow the U.S. less dependent on the reserves of troubled Middle East.
The French also take into account the two factors mentioned, even as a counterforce to the influence of the United States. However, in industry are much more at stake than the Americans, for a Brazilian shipment - even if the medium - would mean much in terms of saving jobs and continued activity of the very sophisticated segment of the production of combat aircraft and their subsystems.
Geopolitical influence is not an area in which the Swedes are concerned, but the choice of the Gripen NG would bring significant savings Brazil coffers officers from Sweden, with the dilution of the development costs of new variant of its game. Furthermore, a possible order would be a great Brazilian "push" the export possibilities of fighters from both France and Sweden.
The President of the Republic and Minister of Defense has enthusiastically declared their preference for French. However, observing the more restrained as the Rafale International dealt with these statements, one would assume that there is no sure if this meant a boost to their intentions or whether, conversely, had the opposite effect.
The parameters for us to take a decision about a purchase as envisaged are numerous and widely varying, not fitting the description in the scope of this text. The fact is that the three aircraft are quite capable, and each has its strengths. Thus, without engaging in simplistic analysis that lead to this or that choice, this article aims to give readers an updated view of the French proposal and its aircraft, the Rafale.
To begin, it is a description of how you set up the structure that produces the Rafale. The holding GIMD, controlled by the Dassault family, has 50.55% of Dassault Aviation (EADS has 46.20%, while the remaining 3.13% are private). Dassault Aviation owns 60% of the Rafale GIE (Thales and SAFRAN have each 20%) - noting that the GIMD has 26% of Thales. So it turns out that the Rafale is deeply rooted in four giants of the French aerospace industry: Dassault (cell), Thales (avionics) and SAFRAN (engines by SNECMA) and EADS (arms). This aspect is a positive point for the French proposal.
The size of Dassault Aviation may be appraised by the value of its revenue in 2008: a total 373 million, of which 66% from exports. By end 2008, the company had a backlog of almost 6 billion, of which more than 1 billion was accounted for by the military.
In France, cell production Rafale is divided over several sites of dAssaut as Argentuil parts (secondary), Argonay (flight controls), Pitiers ( "canopy", fireworks and canards), Martignas (wings) and Mérignac ( final assembly, and work in the line of flight - that which has an area of 137.000m2, 1,300 employees work). Istres are conducted flight tests, and Cazaux tests to arms. Dassault has the capacity to produce up to 25 Rafale year, but the current rate of production is 11 aircraft every twelve months.


Above. Eric Trappier, vice president of Dassault Aviation: cautious response, but showed total commitment to the task of making the next Rafale fighter FAB (Photo: Securança & Defesa).

The Rafale was designed and developed to be the only fighter high performance of France, operating in both the Armée de l'Air (AdA, the French Air Force) and the Naval Aviation (French Naval Aviation). For that was designed to perform tasks efficiently air-air and air-ground recognition, and it can perform in-flight refueling of other Rafale, using a "buddy pack. Currently the AdA still uses the Mirage 2000-5 and Mirage 2000D, but as for increasing the amount of delivered Rafale, the Mirage will be gradually turned off.
So far has been contracted to produce 120 aircraft, a task that should be completed by 2012. Already delivered 78 aircraft (27 for the Navy, 49 Air Force). From 2012 the standard will be introduced F3, with AESA radar (the first production example will be ready in 2011), new early warning system for missiles and FSO (Front Sensor Optronics). The F3 will operate with the AMRAAM air-to-air medium-range Meteor. The total production planned for the French Army is 294, of which 60 for the Navy and 234 for the Air Force.
All that talk here will refer to the Rafale C / B the AdA operates since 2004, and reached operational in 2006. The version of Aeronavale differs primarily by having landing gear and reinforced structure to withstand stresses resulting from the operation on aircraft carriers.

Rafale BR
As might be expected, the vice president of Dassault, Eric Trappier, was cautious in his statements during the visit of author to Dassault. This is fully justified, since in the final stage of a competition so fierce, any false declaration can lead to major losses.
However, the Executive confirmed that, in accordance with the laws in France, the authorization for transfer of technology it is only the executive branch, and must precede any business proposition. In the case of negotiating with Brazil, the authorization for the export of aircraft and its systems has already been granted, and the manufacturer advises that the same was done with the transfer of the technologies involved. Brazil also market any possible exports of aircraft in Latin America, which, at least in principle, would have no practical effect in the short to medium term, for reasons relating to availability of resources by countries in the area.


Above. View from the production line of the Rafale in Mérignac, near Bordeaux. The current pace is 11 copies a year (Photo: Dassault Aviation).

The French proposal includes offsets ( "offsets") equivalent to 160% of the commercial contract, and presented 67 projects already formalized with the 38 companies / entities. Some of the names involved on the Brazilian needs no introduction, and probably will take active part whatever the winning bid. Is the case, for example, Embraer, Atech, CTA / ITA (development of an engine for UAV), Condor, Omnisys, etc..
With respect to Embraer, if the Rafale is the chosen BR, France promises to support the program of the KC-390. Dassault be involved in the development wing of the coffin, in digital systems at a workshop in the development of flight controls and self-protection, while Thales Avionics participate in the KC-390, proposing a technological level similar to the Airbus A380.
Among the sectors in which France would transfer technology to Brazil are: UAVs, stealth, composite materials, interoperability, integration into Network Centric Operations, optronics, software of radar, digital flight control, etc.. It would also be developed national capacity with regard to key technologies in the engine, and the "expertise" on the M88 engine would be passed so that Brazil had complete autonomy maintenance.
As requested by the Air Force Command, the French proposal includes 28 single-seat and eight two-seaters, said executives Rafale International, the Brazilian aircraft will be exactly equal to the AdA, excepting only items that Brazil specifies otherwise.
Of course, the rate of national production of the aircraft will be negotiated according to the number of planes that are actually purchased, but for 36 copies the idea would be that the first six were all made and assembled in France (including procedures for acceptance and delivery ) with the monitoring / training 20 to 30 technicians / engineers Brazilians. The remaining 30 would have their final assembly in Brazil: the components are produced in France and brought by air to the Embraer's facility in Hawk Peixoto, where there is a final assembly and acceptance procedures and delivery. Obviously, the index of nationalization of the aircraft would increase with time, more than their exact values were not disclosed. Taking the signing of the contract as ground zero, the production of the last BR Rafale would be completed in 3 months to 7 years.
Asked about the recent collision between the Naval Aviation Rafale, Dassault executives reported that it is too early to issue a definitive conclusion, since the investigations are ongoing. They confirmed, however, in a preliminary way the Naval Aviation has revealed that apparently there was human error.


Above. Typical payload missions in Afghanistan: cannon and four bombs AASM
(Photo: Sirpa / Cyril Amboise).

In Combat
The two squadrons of the Armée de l'Air equipped with the Rafale is the 1 / 7 "Provence" and 1 / 91 "Gascogne", both based in St. Dizier (BA113). The first is a fighter unit and also makes the conversion to the operational model, while the 1 / 91 is the nuclear (currently shared with the Mirage 2000D, but eventually will be fully assumed by the Rafale). There are currently 36 in St. Dizier Rafale, 70% of which are two seaters. The reason for the numerical superiority of two-seaters is partly explained by the fact that the aircraft responsible for the use of nuclear weapons are all two-seaters.
The 1 / 7 was the first squad to reach the overall level of operation with the Rafale, and is currently (October 2009) 32 pilots, with 26 graduates and six in the conversion process. In addition to young pilots, the squadron received for conversion to the Rafale pilots have already experienced, but from other units operating jets, and also Official Weapons Systems with experience in Mirage 2000D / N, to fit the Rafale. The unit also regularly trains pilots for the 1 / 91, and occasionally pilots the Navy, the Center for Flight Testing and Pilot School of Evidence.


Above. Rafale of 1 / 7 "Provence" is directed to your "shelter", with four GBU-12 laser-guided, under the wings (Photo: Sirpa / Cyril Amboise).

The average annual flight each pilot is 180 hours per year. The 1 / 7 maintains two Rafale permanently alert (QRA) in Mont de Marsan, with two pilots and five mechanics. In addition, regularly participates in exercises in France and other countries (including the "Red Flag" in 2008).
During the visit of the author, the commander of 1 / 7 has some interesting information regarding use of the Rafale in Afghanistan ( "Operation Serpentaire"), where 1 / 7 has sent detachments of three times: 2007 (May-July), 2008 (February-May) and 2009 (January-June). In these 13 months, were flown 2500 hours. The air effort includes three French Rafale (with 5 riders) and three Mirage 2000D (six pilots), based in Kandahar. According to the commander of the "Provence", in 2009 the Rafale flew 850 hours in 260 missions, having no mission was canceled because of problems with the aircraft. The availability was 96%.
Each mission employs a Mirage 2000D (with two GBU-12 bombs over a cocoon of marking targets) and Rafale (4 GBU-12 or AASM). This is because the Rafale is not yet integrated with the cocoon of marking targets by laser, and it depends on the presence of the Mirage. The missions are on average 4-5 hours, and made an average of three in-flight refueling.
The gun is considered quite suitable for use in counter-insurgency, since its effects are somewhat scattered and a short burst (typically about 20 shots) can be used as a warning that a particular sector or building must be evacuated, as the next be fired at the target itself - so to minimize the "collateral damage".
The GBU-12 is a pump from America, guided by laser. The atmospheric conditions prevailing in Afghanistan, however, make the designation of targets by a laser action ineffective for about 3 months per year. Already the AASM, produced by France, is a Mk.82 with GPS guidance, and is used in greater numbers than the Rafale the GBU-12. It means it can be set at a vertical trajectory in the final stretch, which eliminates any error in determining the altitude of the target, something very important in mountainous regions. The AASM has a rocket engine, which greatly increases its reach. This feature, however, is not used in Afghanistan. There, it is only used as a glider, because its use AM longer ranges would eventually generate interference with overhead activities in nearby areas. Rafale would be possible to launch up to six AASM a single pass against six different targets, and update the position of any of the different points of impact with the use of onboard sensors.


Above. Rafale in flight, with three additional tanks, two air-air missiles Mica and six laser-guided bombs (Photo: Sirpa / Anthony Jeuland).

From 2010, the Rafale is already using the Damocles pod (which has the resources and infrared laser), and the crew will have Night Vision Goggles, which will allow that, unlike the case at present, the Rafale to designate their own targets and carry out night missions.
The commander of 1 / 7 declared that since "Operation Anaconda" (where 5 helicopters were lost and suffered over 30 casualties), no ground operation in Afghanistan can do without air support. In fact, they are kept in Afghan airspace at least six fighters in the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Simulation
In St. Dizier park is the Center of Formation des Équipages Rafale (Training Center crews of Rafale), and some comments are of particular interest due to the fact that if the Rafale win the competition FX-2, there is to be trained the first Brazilian drivers. The Center has four "cockpits," using real components of the weapon system of the Rafale, including electronic warfare system SPECTRA. Each cockpit can be modified at a time (to represent the single-seat variant AdA and Naval Aviation, or the "cockpit" rear). There are also 300 PCs, connected on four networks and four servers dedicated to tactical virtual media (air-air and air-ground, etc..).
The Center for Simulation of Rafale is fully operational since December 2008. In it, the crew can be trained in complex missions with up to four drivers acting simultaneously on the same "world" by participating in missions to patrol the Combat Air attack (with AASM and SCALP), close air support (with AASM, GBU-12 and cannon). And it's a complex tactical situation, which may involve up to 50 equipment for different types (AWACS, fighter - friends and enemies), 80 anti-aircraft missiles or ships, etc.. The server simulates tactical missiles: air-air and surface-air and air-air path, probability of impact, "replay", radar contact, interference, Command and Control, REVO, Link 16, IFF, building missions for close air support and "debriefing" of impacts, simulation of trains with military and civilian vehicles, etc..

Conclusion
The Rafale will be a worthy heir to a long line of French jet fighters, which includes names like Ouragan, Mystère, Super Mystere, Mirage III, Mirage F1 and Mirage 2000 - and is justifiably proud of the aerospace industry in the country.
The three finalists in the competition F-X2 represent the state of the art in terms of Western fighters, and the "road map" of the evolution of each will ensure that Brazil has a fleet effective fighter over the next 30 years. If, of course, considerations and political interference and / or budget will not hinder or even derail the necessary steps.

Original in Portuguese
http://www.segurancaedefesa.com/Rafale_nova_visao.html

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"Las Malvinas fueron, son y ser¨¢n Argentinas"

d'accord!
My thoughts exactly!
LOL

Thanks for posting this.

Thunder Supports Rafale

http://rafale.freeforums.org
http://rafale.freeforums.org/rafale-vs-f-16-aerodynamics-compared-t69.html