Rafale fighter jets on F3-R standard put into operational service.

On March 8, 2021, the operational commissioning of the Rafale F3-R combat aircraft was decided by Admiral Pierre Vandier, Chief of the Navy Staff and Air Force General Philippe Lavigne, Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Army. The modernization of combat aviation capabilities is one of the priorities of the LPM. As such, 2.7 billion euros are devoted, over the 2019-2025 period, to the development of the new Rafale standards.

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Rafale fighter jet equipped with METEOR missiles (Picture source: French Air and Space Army)

This operational commissioning comes at the end of the development and distribution within the two armies of the tactics for using the new capabilities of the omni-role aircraft allowed by this standard, in particular those provided by the METEOR long-range air-to-air missile and the TALIOS land target laser designator.

The pair formed by the AESA RBE2 radar and the METEOR long-range missile allows the Rafale to have air superiority whether it is to carry out strikes at all times in depth, for support to troops on the ground or even the treatment of opportunity goals.

This new version of the Rafale will continue to carry the Enhanced Medium Range Air-to-Ground Missile for airborne nuclear deterrence missions.

Now capable of using the TALIOS high-resolution laser designation pod, capable of producing images in both the visible and infrared domains, the Rafale F3-R will benefit from greatly improved capabilities to ensure intelligence, acquisition, tracking and target designation. In particular, the Rafale will have new capabilities for tracking more efficient fixed or mobile targets, an automatic detection capability for moving targets, as well as a new man / machine interface to facilitate its use.

The Rafale F3-R will also have an improved ground attack capability with this standard. It will now be possible to manage ammunition flight time, laser illumination and in-flight weapon tuning, particularly for Terminal Laser Guided Modular Air-Ground Arming .

It will also be safer: an automatic ground collision avoidance system. It is an ultimate protective function designed to prevent the risk of collision with the ground.

From 2022, the Rafale will still have new capabilities with the F4 standard. In particular, it will have innovative connectivity solutions to optimize network combat, improved radar and frontal sector optronics sensors, a helmet sight capability and new integrated weaponry such as the Mica NG air-to-air missile and air weaponry. - modular floor of 1000 kg.

The modernization of combat aviation capabilities is one of the priorities of the LPM. As such, 2.7 billion euros are devoted, over the 2019-2025 period, to the development of the new Rafale standards (Picture source: French Ministry of Armies)

SUMMARY OF CAPACITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RAFALE STANDARD F3-R

- Sustainability of the air superiority capacity with:

· the METEOR missile and a robust radar (including in a dense electronic warfare situation);
· an improved Spectra electronic warfare system;
· a strengthened alert capacity vis-à-vis adverse threats.

- Improved resilience against GPS jamming.

- Accelerate the decision-making loop and preserve interoperability.

-Improved ability to identify and designate targets on the ground with the integration of the new laser designation pod (TALIOS).

- Sustainability of in-flight refueling capacity by integrating a new generation nacelle (NARANG).

- Integration of the GBU16, 500kg laser guided bomb.

- Improved flight safety with the integration of an automatic anti-collision with the ground system.

- Improved support system with faster and more accurate fault diagnosis.