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Naval
Forces News - France |
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French
Navy Evaluated the Future F3R Standard of the Rafale with Meteor Missiles |
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From 1st to 4th December 2014, pilots of the French Navy Naval Aviation
Practical Experimentation Center (centre d’expérimentations
pratiques de l’aéronautique navale - CEPA) participated
in the first evaluation campaign of the Rafale's future F3R standard.
This campaign allowed the French Navy to test the fire control of the
new MBDA Meteor long range air to air missile in an operational context
(while in flight) and to propose improvements to the system.
Thanks to the range of the Meteor missile and the detection range of
the new active electronically scanned array (AESA) RBE2 radar, Rafale
F3R will have an unmatched interception capability.
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The Rafale
M during the evaluation campaign with the French Navy's CEPA, seen here
with 2x Meteor, 2x MICA EM, 2x MICA IR (at the wingtips) and a Scalp
cruise missile. Thanks to the reach of the Meteor missile and the detection
range of the new active electronically scanned array (AESA) RBE2 radar,
Rafale F3R will have an unmatched interception capability. Picture:
French Navy
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Compared to the
latest F3 standard currently in service, the future F3R standard will
also allow the Rafale M to carry the new laser designation pod in
its air to ground missions and a new refueling pod essential in operations
around the CSG (carrier strike group).
The first Rafale M F3R is expected to enter operational service with
the French Navy around 2020.
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