Is it known if all former F2 Rafale M are already converted to F3 standard. The aircraft shown in the picture is a former F2 example. Quite nice one for that matter. MN site states MTOW with 24t instead of 24.5t.

Scorpion, Karman is the German name fot the inventor of the encester of the wing-fuselage blended area.

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_von_K%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n

He designed first fairings to make the junction wing-fuselage less draggy.

Ultimately all fighters came to use them and the even developed with new benefits like reduced RCS, increased internal volume, lower transonic dragwave etc.

So their extention is well where these boxes are embeded, this is not the back of the aircraft.

Understood thanks.

Source is Armee de l’Air. 😎

Granted.

Btw. are there any information about the chaff/flare loadout? The vertical firing dispensers are for flares and it looks like the are 40 in total (if there is one flare for each “hole”). It was said the chaff dispensers were used in the M2k-5 as well and there it were 112 in total IIRC.

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What I wanted to know is what role would be exactly envisaged for such an aircraft? As a pure AA sensor platform it would probabley be to unflexible. A “multirole” sensor platform would be more viable. The question is how effective would the sensors be, given the certainly limited size of such UAV/UCAV. Would it be a real gain over a fighter like the Rafale? With true stealth characteristics it’s certainly going to be more survivable and might operate more forward.

Apparently good news. Has it been reported what’s the composition of these 60 aircraft (split between B/C/M)?

I think it should be reasonable that the empty weight of Rafale B today is around 10.3 t, or maybe a little more, according to the statement of the UK test pilot.

That is also stated in the data sheet, which states Rafale B on top, albeit the 4.7t fuel load figure refers to the single seater. It is interesting as it’s not the first time we read such figures, albeit official sources contradict that and state lower figures.
Janes stated an empty weight of 10450 kg for the Rafale B in its 2004 edition of the worlds military aircraft.
Also interesting is this older article from 1999:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/1999/06/23/53125/combat-ready.html

The empty weight of the aircraft was 10,000kg

Then we have the “Last 1999 report Test:” where I just could find forum links, but no link to the original article. Nevertheless it states:

With 2 Magic II acquisition rounds, 2 MICA EM fakes and one 1250L supersonic tank under the fuselage, our weight is 16400 kg.

Quite similar to the recent report from P. Collins, just with 4 AAMs attached bringing the weight up to 16.4t instead of 16.1t.

Then we have the swiss document from Rafale International which states 10220 kg.

It’s fair to point out that the weight figures from these test reports were for Rafale B test aircraft (B01/301 & 302) all of which are likely to be heavier due test instrumentation and ofcourse it includes the fluids etc, or basically everything you need to fly the aircraft.

Another interesting point is the fuel load of the B modell which is stated with 4300 kg by Dassault, while the MoD document posted by Dare states 200 l less than the single seater. Using the standard ratio this would mean the internal fuel load is 4540 kg (from 4700 kg, albeit we know its 4750 kg for the single seater).

It’s also interesting that the fuel load figure in those data sheets in the recent report from PC and the swiss document seems to indicate a single seater. So they are either mixing up C/B or something else…

Basic weight = Empty weight equiped, same as for the Rafale Switzerland PDF.

The article states:

Our take-off mass was 16.1t (10.8t basic and 5.3t fuel) carrying one supersonic fuel tank centreline.

And in the data sheet (Rafale B):

i would like to have the knowledge of Fonk, i don’t sadly!

That’s probabely the reason why you stated you are Sampaix at the time were you cheered your former alternate ego Lordassap, who denied to death that he was Sampaix. Err you I mean. Quite confusing to yourself isn’t it?