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Rafale Dassault
Rafale
Multi-Role Fighter

DESCRIPTION:
Instead of proceeding with the Eurofighter project, France decided to develop its own advanced next-generation fighter, the ACX, later to become the Rafale. The design incoporates canards and a fly-by-wire control system for exceptional maneuverability as well as radar-absorbant paint and more rounded surfaces to improve stealth. The Rafale C is a single seat attack fighter for the Air Force while the Rafale M is a navalized version designed to operate from French aircraft carriers. Current plans call for 94 one-seat and 140 two-seat aircraft to be built for the Air Force and 86 for the Navy. The Rafale is intended to replace the Air Force's Mirage III, Mirage 5, Mirage F.1, Jaguar, and Mirage IVP as well as the Navy's F-8 Crusader and Super Etendard.
Data below for Rafale C
Last modified 14 November 1999

HISTORY:

First Flight (Rafale A) 4 July 1986
(Rafale C) 19 May 1991
(Rafale M) 12 December 1991

Service Entry

2002 (?)

CREW:

(Rafale C, Rafale M) one: pilot
(Rafale B) two: pilot, systems officer

ESTIMATED COST:

unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root unknown

Wing Tip unknown

DIMENSIONS:

Length 50.21 ft (15.30 m)

Wingspan 35.77 ft (10.90 m)

Height 17.54 ft (5.34 m)

Wing Area 494 ft² (46.00 m²)
including canards?

Canard Area

unknown

WEIGHTS:

Empty 19,975 lb (9,060 kg)

Normal Takeoff 33,200 lb (15,060 kg)

Max Takeoff 47,400 lb (21,500 kg)

Fuel Capacity internal: 1,405 gal (5,325 L)
external: 1,745 gal (6,600 L)

Max Payload

17,635 lb (8,000 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant two SNECMA M88-3 afterburning turbofans

Thrust

39,116 lb (174.0 kN) with afterburner

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: 1,320 mph (2,125 km/h) at 36,090 ft (11,000 m), Mach 2.0
at sea level: 864 mph (1,390 km/h), Mach 1.135

Initial Climb Rate unknown

Service Ceiling 65,000 ft (19,810 m)

Range typical: 1,000 nm (1,850 km) [interceptor mission]
1,180 nm (2,185 km) [low-level attack mission]
ferry: 2,000 nm (3,705 km)

g-Limits

+9.0 / -3.6

ARMAMENT:

Gun one 30-mm DEFA 791B cannon

Stations twelve external hardpoints and two wingtip rails

Air-to-Air Missile MICA

Air-to-Surface Missile ASMP nuclear weapon, AS.39 Exocet, AS.30

Bomb 227/1000 kg LGB bombs

Other

rocket pods, ECM pods

KNOWN VARIANTS:

Rafale A Aerodynamic prototype slightly larger and heavier than final production models, used GE F404 engines while the M-88 was under development

Rafale B Two-seat attack fighter/trainer, originally intended as a trainer only, but now envisioned as the primary production model

Rafale C One-seat attack fighter

Rafale D Slightly smaller and lighter version of the Rafale C employing greater stealth features

Rafale M Carrier-borne single-seat fighter, slightly heavier than Rafale C due to addition of arrestor hook and strengthened landing gear

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD: none

KNOWN OPERATORS: French Air Force
French Navy

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

Rafale

SOURCES:

Dassault site

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 309.

FAS Rafale site

Isby, David C. Jane's Fighter Combat in the Jet Age. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1997, p. 175.

Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 98-99.

Paul Nann's Military Aviation Photo Gallery

Spohrer, Jennifer and Frase, Tuesday. Jane's Combat Simulations: ATF Gold Users Manual. San Mateo, CA: Electronic Arts, 1997, p. 9.28-9.31.

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DESCRIPTION: Instead of proceeding with the Eurofighter project, France decided to develop its own advanced next-generation fighter, the ACX, later to become the Rafale. The design incoporates canards and a fly-by-wire control system for exceptional maneuverability as well as radar-absorbant paint and more rounded surfaces to improve stealth. The Rafale C is a single seat attack fighter for the Air Force while the Rafale M is a navalized version designed to operate from French aircraft carriers. Current plans call for 94 one-seat and 140 two-seat aircraft to be built for the Air Force and 86 for the Navy. The Rafale is intended to replace the Air Force's Mirage III, Mirage 5, Mirage F.1, Jaguar, and Mirage IVP as well as the Navy's F-8 Crusader and Super Etendard. Data below for Rafale C Last modified 14 November 1999
HISTORY:
First Flight	(Rafale A) 4 July 1986 (Rafale C) 19 May 1991 (Rafale M) 12 December 1991
Service Entry	2002 (?)
CREW:	(Rafale C, Rafale M) one: pilot (Rafale B) two: pilot, systems officer
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	unknown
Wing Tip	unknown
DIMENSIONS:
Length	50.21 ft (15.30 m)
Wingspan	35.77 ft (10.90 m)
Height	17.54 ft (5.34 m)
Wing Area	494 ft² (46.00 m²) including canards?
Canard Area	unknown
WEIGHTS:
Empty	19,975 lb (9,060 kg)
Normal Takeoff	33,200 lb (15,060 kg)
Max Takeoff	47,400 lb (21,500 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: 1,405 gal (5,325 L) external: 1,745 gal (6,600 L)
Max Payload	17,635 lb (8,000 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	two SNECMA M88-3 afterburning turbofans
Thrust	39,116 lb (174.0 kN) with afterburner
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 1,320 mph (2,125 km/h) at 36,090 ft (11,000 m), Mach 2.0 at sea level: 864 mph (1,390 km/h), Mach 1.135
Initial Climb Rate	unknown
Service Ceiling	65,000 ft (19,810 m)
Range	typical: 1,000 nm (1,850 km) [interceptor mission] 1,180 nm (2,185 km) [low-level attack mission] ferry: 2,000 nm (3,705 km)
g-Limits	+9.0 / -3.6
ARMAMENT:
Gun	one 30-mm DEFA 791B cannon
Stations	twelve external hardpoints and two wingtip rails
Air-to-Air Missile	MICA
Air-to-Surface Missile	ASMP nuclear weapon, AS.39 Exocet, AS.30
Bomb	227/1000 kg LGB bombs
Other	rocket pods, ECM pods
KNOWN VARIANTS:
Rafale A	Aerodynamic prototype slightly larger and heavier than final production models, used GE F404 engines while the M-88 was under development
Rafale B	Two-seat attack fighter/trainer, originally intended as a trainer only, but now envisioned as the primary production model
Rafale C	One-seat attack fighter
Rafale D	Slightly smaller and lighter version of the Rafale C employing greater stealth features
Rafale M	Carrier-borne single-seat fighter, slightly heavier than Rafale C due to addition of arrestor hook and strengthened landing gear
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	none
KNOWN OPERATORS:	French Air Force French Navy
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Dassault site Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 309. FAS Rafale site Isby, David C. Jane's Fighter Combat in the Jet Age. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1997, p. 175. Munro, Bob and Chant, Christopher. Jane's Combat Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1995, p. 98-99. Paul Nann's Military Aviation Photo Gallery Spohrer, Jennifer and Frase, Tuesday. Jane's Combat Simulations: ATF Gold Users Manual. San Mateo, CA: Electronic Arts, 1997, p. 9.28-9.31.