The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle on time "all Rafale"
He may be the same as it was last year, Charles de Gaulle has never been so powerful. With the decommissioning of Super Etendard Modernized (SEM) in July, the three naval aviation fighter fleets (11F, 12F, 17F) now aligning all of the Rafale.
For the first time since its commissioning in 2001, the French aircraft carrier, which will begin its next deployment in the end, is going to leave, as regards the embedded hunting, 'all Burst "mode.
More than doubling military capacity
The staff plans to deploy normally two fleets on the Charles de Gaulle, 24 aircraft, with a capacity offensive considerably greater than what the building previously projected, with an air group (GAE) still mixed compound during his last mission (November 2015-March 2016) of 8 and 18 Rafale SEM (record hitherto for the latter). "24 Rafale is in the equivalent of 48 SEM. Put simply, the military force of aircraft carriers is doubled capacity weapons carriage and even multiplied since the Rafale multi-mission and has a combat capability incommensurate with its predecessor, "said an officer .............
An aircraft capable of all missions
Extremely versatile, the Rafale has 12 operational hard points and a payload capacity of about 10 tonnes instead of 5 for Super Etendard. Obviously more modern, but also faster, and stealth maneuvering, further increased with longer, the new French fighter has the distinction can perform all types of missions and be designed to be at the highest level in all areas of fight. nuclear deterrence, air defense, anti-surface warfare, ground attack, intelligence, refueling ... The Rafale Marine, with an arrestor hook and a strengthened process for catapult-launchings, implements a wide range of weapons : ASMPA nuclear missile, air to air missile Mica EM / IR, anti-ship missile Exocet AM39, Scalp EG cruise missile up to six laser-guided bombs (GBU 12, 22, 24, 49) or arms air-ground modular (AASM), rockets baskets, a 30mm cannon ... While production aircraft delivered since the end of 2012 (from the M39 to the navy) are equipped with the active antenna radar RBE2 EASA, the Rafale, Spectra with the self-defense system, can carry a Damocles targeting pod, a Reco NG reconnaissance pod and extra cans in his "nanny" function of other devices refueling.
The F3-R standard in 2018
The commissioning of a new standard, the F-3R is expected in 2018. As part of this program, launched in late 2013, the Rafale will see its air to air capabilities, extended air-to-ground and air-sea. It will notably implement the Meteor air superiority missile and the new Talios targeting pod. The RBE2 and the Spectra system will be improved, as well as the link 16, and the Rafale integrate the Mod IFF 5. Dassault Aviation is also working on integrating a AGCAS (Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System) to ensure the safety of drivers entered at low altitude at commitments on targets of opportunity.
42 Rafale operational next year
To date, the Navy has 42 Rafale, of the 46 delivered since 1999 (M18, M22, M24 and M25 have been lost accidentally between 2009 and 2012). The modernization program of the first 10 aircraft, operated at standard F1, will end next year with the flotilla back the last device. This fleet allows you to arm the three fleets of naval aviation and the posting of 3 devices available squadron transformation of Saint-Dizier. However, taking into account the maintenance periods, the needs for training young drivers, attrition and course of military operations, the Rafale Marine Park is actually very limited, given that in wartime the Charles de Gaulle is designed to carry more than 30 aircraft (36 announced at the time of its release), which would leave almost no reserves.
More than two control devices in
Especially as the fourth installment of the Rafale program normally has more than two aircraft in the Navy version of the M47 and M48, which will probably not be delivered until 2020/2021 given the mobilization of Dassault factories to provide programs export (Egypt, Qatar and India may soon). And, for now, no Rafale is provided in the fifth and final tranche of the program, which should cover 45 aircraft to achieve the format set by the last White Paper on defense either 225 fighters for the Air Force and naval aviation
