Nice long article of Rafale-M

From Jane’s Navy International.
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Date Posted: 03-Oct-2003

JANE’S NAVY INTERNATIONAL – NOVEMBER 01, 2003

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Squall from the sea
Darren Lake
Additional reporting Craig Hoyle JDW Aviation Editor
London

The Dassault Rafale M carrier-borne strikefighter has been in limited service with the French Navy since 2001. Darren Lake reports on how the aircraft will evolve to provide the Aeronautique Navale with a potent air defence and strike capability out to 2040.

Twenty years ago, France departed a five-nation European programme for a future fighter aircraft. It did so for two main reasons: first, that its prospective collaborative partners were unwilling to accept French demands for design and industrial leadership: and second, France wanted a smaller and lighter aircraft which, as well as serving the needs of the Armee de l’Air, could also be adapted for operations off the deck of its new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.

The Aeronautique Navale (Aeronavale) required this new multirole fighter to replace its existing inventory of venerable F-8(FN) Crusader interceptors and Super Etendard strike aircraft. The new aircraft was also required to contribute to France’s nuclear deterrent carrying a sub-strategic standoff missile.

This was in contrast to the air-superiority bias of the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. And so in July 1985 France took the difficult, but necessary decision to go it alone, leaving the other four nations to press ahead with the Eurofighter programme. A national solution, led by French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation, would instead yield a new combat aircraft capable of meeting both air force and navy requirements from the turn of the century until around 2040. And so Rafale (‘squall’) was born.

Rafale variants

While the French Navy’s requirements have in many ways conditioned the conception and design of Rafale, the Aeronavale will in fact receive only 60 aircraft (roughly 20% of France’s total planned purchase of 294 aircraft). Original plans had called for 84 naval variants to be produced, but this offtake was scaled back in 1996.

France’s early plans called for the development of three distinct versions of a fighter in the 22t-plus category. Two of these would be pursued for the Armee de l’Air – the single-seat C and two-seat B variants – while the navy would take delivery of a single-seat variant dubbed the Rafale M. Commonality between the three platforms would be extensive, with the two single-seat systems, for example, expected to share 80% of their components at the airframe and system levels.

The naval and air force variants would feature only minor design changes, such as the addition of a strengthened nosewheel capable of withstanding the stresses of catapult launches and carrier landings. A number of other capabilities would be introduced, with the aircraft optimised for embarked operations – for example, its lengthened forward undercarriage would enable the fighter to be launched in a more nose-up attitude, removing the need for a ski-jump.

Changing operational requirements and the experience of the French military in fighting the 1999 Kosovo campaign led to a revision of these service needs, and most notably to the addition of a fourth variant, the two-seat Rafale N, to the airframe’s existing maritime stable. Again featuring a high level of commonality with the Armee de l’Air’s B version, this would benefit from the addition of a weapon system operator (WSO) in the aircraft’s rear crew position.

In common with other two-seat fighter designs such as the Typhoon, Boeing’s F/A-18F Super Hornet and the Block 60 F-16, future operations of the Rafale B and N could see the aircraft’s pilot concentrate on the deployment of beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, while the rear-seat WSO will simultaneously manage the deployment of air-to-surface munitions. Other roles expected of the aircraft will include reconnaissance and anti-ship operations.

Only approved for development and production in December 2002, the Rafale N will represent the majority of the navy’s Rafale order, with 35 aircraft to be built alongside 25 single-seat Ms. This late preference to acquire two-seat fighters was also mirrored by a revision to the Armee de l’Air’s planned order book for the aircraft, which will now total 139 Bs and just 95 Cs.

Operational activity

It is more than slightly ironic that France’s efforts to field a domestically developed fighter have borne fruit before those of the collaborative project that it walked out of. While the four remaining Eurofighter nations are just starting to take delivery of their first aircraft, France already has more than two years’ experience in operating production examples of its Rafale M.

Ten of these are now in limited service with the with the Aeronavale’s Flotille 12 (12F) squadron. The unit reformed with the new aircraft in May 2001 and declared initial operating capability with the type in October 2002. This followed the aircraft’s seven-month deployment aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle from December 2001, to participate in training in the Indian Ocean.

It was not long, however, before the aircraft was called on to support the US-led Operation ‘Enduring Freedom’ against Afghanistan in the wake of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US mainland. France’s lone carrier remained in the region for part of this campaign, and its Rafales conducted their first combat air patrols in co-operation with the US military. Seven Rafales were embarked during these operations, in addition to 16 Super Etendards and two E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning and control aircraft.

Operations of the Rafale to date have taken tested the aircraft’s current capability in the air-defence role, where the type offers a loiter time of over three hours. While the navy has yet to conduct its first aerial engagement with the new aircraft, it has already amassed considerable experience in operating the design.

“The 12F squadron is not yet operational; it is still testing the aircraft and its environment, including its ability to maintain the aircraft, both at Landivisiau [air base in Brittany] and aboard the Charles de Gaulle,” said SIRPA Marine Chief Capt Christophe Prazuck. Embarked operations of the Rafale M have so far demonstrated the type’s ability to sustain up to 300 flying hours per year in the carrier environment, according to Dassault.

In time, France’s carrier will sail with a maximum air wing of up to 40 aircraft, comprising the Rafale M/N, Super Etendard Modernisé ground-attack aircraft, E-2C Hawkeye and support helicopters. The vessel is currently undergoing a period of scheduled maintenance at its homeport of Toulon, and is expected to take to sea again during November 2003. 12F’s aircraft are currently operating from Landivisiau, awaiting their next opportunity to go to sea.

The Rafale will be much more than an interceptor, however, and from later this decade will boast a full air-to-surface and anti-ship strike capability for use in future contingencies. This will allow the navy to replace its two remaining squadrons of ageing Super Etendard Modernisé aircraft with Rafale-equipped units, in 2007 and 2010.

The Aeronavale’s initial 10 aircraft were delivered to the service in the so-called F1 software configuration, which offers a basic air-defence capability. The F1 standard enables the Rafale M to carry out its duties armed with MBDA’s MICA EM (active radar-guided) and Magic 2 air-to-air missiles.

Deliveries to the service will resume from 2005 at a rate of six aircraft per year in the F2 configuration, which will add new capabilities in the air-to-air and ground-attack roles. The aircraft now with 12F will be upgraded to this standard from 2008, according to current plans. However, the potential of the F2 system will be demonstrated as early as 2004, when it will be tested by 12F aircraft assigned to the Charles de Gaulle for its next period at sea.

Final deliveries of the Rafale M/N will be made in 2012 in the future F3 standard, which will further expand the aircraft’s sensor capabilities and weapons flexibility.

The Armee de l’Air has so far taken delivery of just five Rafale B/Cs, and is waiting on the availability of the multirole F2 software standard before it fields the aircraft in frontline squadron service from 2006.

Weapons range

Development work is already under way by French industry, the military and the Délégation Générale pour l’Armement procurement agency to prepare F2 software, which will add a range of weapon types including MBDA’s SCALP-EG air-launched cruise missile, Sagem’s AASM range of precision-guided bombs and the MICA IR (infrared/heat-seeking) medium-range air-to-air missile. The F2 system will achieve operating capability in mid-2006 and receive a full release to service in 2008, according to the Armee de l’Air, which will be the first to operate the standard.

The Rafale M could be cleared for operations with the standoff SCALP-EG weapon as soon as 2004, having already undergone embarked trials. The more than 250km-range design is already in UK service as the Storm Shadow. The Royal Air Force deployed 27 of the weapons during Operation ‘Iraqi Freedom’ earlier this year.

Looking further ahead, the F3 standard will add advanced reconnaissance capabilities, and weapons such as MBDA’s AM39 Exocet anti-ship missile and its developmental ASMP-A air-launched nuclear missile.

Trials conducted in December 2002 saw a Rafale M operate with a mechanical model of the ASMP-A to record vibration and stress readings of the weapon. The aircraft flew 12 sorties from the Charles de Gaulle over a seven-day period with the model carried on its centreline. “The results from this campaign were successful,” according to an MBDA release. The new weapon will have a maximum range of around 500km, and will augment the navy’s current nuclear strike force. This comprises four strategic missile submarines assigned to its Strategic Oceanic Force, and a number of Super Etendards equipped with the baseline ASMP system.

Among the reconnaissance systems under consideration for use at this point are Thales’ Damocles laser designation pod, which will offer the aircraft a full day-and-night laser-guided bombing capability, and a planned Reco-NG system. Damocles is already being procured to equip the Super Etendard Modernisé, but could also see use with naval Rafales until the next-generation pod is available for use.

An F4 standard is also now envisioned, according to Sqn Ldr Michel Dupont, Assistant Rafale Programme Manager for the Armee de l’Air. This is expected to add MBDA’s Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile to the aircraft, and possibly a new anti-radiation missile for use during future suppression of enemy air defence tasks. A next-generation supersonic anti-ship missile could also be introduced at this time, although Capt Prazuck says that “we are not in the process of defining and developing a new anti-ship weapon at this time”. France halted development of an air-launched Anti-Navire Futur weapon system over two years ago.

Naval Rafales have 13 hard points, and can carry a maximum load of more than 9,000kg. Five of the aircraft’s stores points are wet stations, suitable for carrying external fuel tanks or heavy ordnance. The aircraft shares the air force’s Giat Industries-supplied Defa 791B 30mm cannon, though this will not be integrated with the two-seat N variant to enable space to be freed up for additional fuel storage.

While it has an unrefuelled radius of action of over 1,000nm in the penetration role, the Rafale has a fixed but removable refuelling probe to support longer-range sorties. The navy’s aircraft have already received clearance to operate with tankers using the US Navy-standard hose-and-drogue system, and have also conducted trials with a buddy-buddy refuelling tank carried on the aircraft’s centreline. A Rafale M has already refuelled another Rafale and a Super Etendard during trials of this system.

Key systems

In concert with the introduction of new weapon and sensor systems, the availability of the enhanced software standards will also bring out the full mission capabilities of the Rafale airframe and its systems over the coming years. In addition it will also enable the aircraft to assume a variety of extra roles, such as its possible use as a flight controller for a number of unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs). This concept is being considered by the Armee de l’Air as a future capability.

The full utility of the Rafale will be achieved through the fusion of sensor data from a number of aircraft systems, primarily its RBE2 radar, front sector optronics (OSF) sensors and Spectra electronic warfare (EW) suite. Situational awareness and other command-and-control information will be relayed using Link 16 (enabled by a Multifunction Information Distribution System terminal). Taken individually, these systems offer an impressive capability, but Dassault officials say that it is only once this complex data fusion has been achieved that they will deliver their warfighting edge.

Developed by Thales, the Rafale’s RBE2 electronically scanned array fire-control radar can currently identify 40 tracks, and target up to eight of these at any time in the air-to-air mode. In addition to tracking multiple airborne targets, the system will also be able to provide ground maps for navigation and targeting tasks, detect and track multiple maritime targets, and produce three-dimensional maps for terrain-following flight. This capability is, in time, expected to enable the aircraft to sustain low-altitude flight in ‘hands-off’ mode down to a height of around 100ft above land and 50ft over water. This will assist in the deployment of key future weapon systems, such as anti-ship missiles.

Thales Optronics and Sagem are co-developing the Rafale’s OSF system, which features TV and passive IR search-and-rack sensors and an eye-safe laser rangefinder. These will enable the crew to identify airborne, maritime and ground targets visually from standoff range and to deploy advanced weapon systems under jamming conditions. The system will also support the crew in conducting battle damage assessment tasks. Self-defence will be achieved using the MBDA/Thales Spectra EW system, which incorporates a precise threat-location capability for use against airborne and ground-based threats. The design also incorporates an electronic countermeasures suite to protect its host aircraft against a variety of threats.

The extensive use of composite materials is of benefit in reducing aircraft weight and corrosion – factors that will lead to each Rafale achieving some 7,000 flight hours during its operational life. Dassault estimates that this will see each aircraft have a service life in the region of 30 years.

Prospects for additional sales of the navalised Rafale beyond those 60 to be built for the Aeronavale are not encouraging. The aircraft was one of a number of types evaluated by the UK in the formative stages of the latter’s Future Carrier Borne Aircraft (FCBA) programme, but was always regarded as a rank outsider. It came as little surprise when the UK in early 2001 identified the Joint Strike Fighter as its preferred FCBA solution.

India is also reported to have shown interest in the naval Rafale in connection with its requirement for a new carrier-borne fighter. However, many observers suggest that this is simply to gain leverage with Russia in price negotiations for the purchase of the carrier Admiral Gorshkov and MiG-29K Fulcrum fighters.

On the domestic stage, France’s planned construction of a sister ship for the Charles de Gaulle is not expected to lead to a follow-on order for the Rafale. Operations of the projected ‘Porte Avions 2’ are expected to start from 2014.

“There will not be any more aircraft in the navy,” Capt Prazuck told JNI. The service will sustain one air group equipped with Rafales, Hawkeyes and helicopters, and this must be capable of meeting all operational and training requirements. Capt Prazuck notes that both carriers could be deployed simultaneously in the future, for example with one deployed operationally and the second in use for training purposes or on build-up with a fighter presence embarked.

Beyond the Rafale

Early operational experience suggests that France’s unique requirements will be ably met for many years to come by one of the most potent fighters now entering service anywhere in the world. In its naval guise aboard the Charles de Gaulle, the Rafale is already enabling the French Navy to conduct global power-projection operations, and to hold court with the US Navy.

However, Rafale is almost certain to be among the last generation of manned combat aircraft indigenously produced to meet a purely national requirement. In 1985 the French government felt able to bear the cost and interoperability issues associated with undertaking a national rather than collaborative programme.

Cost alone makes it unlikely that such a decision could be made next time around. Rather, the US-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and pan-European interest in collaborative Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle developments point the way to the future.