Rafale : STOBAR compatible

News revealed by Mer et Marine.com :

After several simulations conducted by Dassault, the Rafale is able, with no modification, to take-off from a ski-jump carrier.

Obviously, they have something in mind for the Indian Navy, since India is the only country equiped with such a carrier to which we would sell Rafale.

© WorldMaritimeNews.com

Weapons integration update

Today, Jean-Marc Tanguy learned us that the Armée de l'Air is experimenting single-pilot procedures for the GBU-24 with the Rafale.

 

This work should be finalized in the coming days.

While some questioned the weapons integration works on Rafale, several articles in previous months revealed that GBU-49, AM-39, and GBU-24 integration were in fact quite advanced...

So, both GBU should be in service or will be in a few days, and we are still waiting for the qualification firing of AM-39.

Meanwhile, the Armée de l'Air talks about the first evaluation firing of the ASMP-A by a Rafale, after a 5 hours long flight, refueling, terrain following, etc. Successful, of course.

It is worth considering that while our first nuclear strike aircraft relied on 30 minutes of Mach 2 cruise to succeed, Mirage 2000N relied on terrain following, and Rafale improves this with a credible self-defence capability : while carrying its ASMP-A, Rafale still brings 6 Mica.

The Neu-Neu is now active

Today, during the morning, the General Jean-Paul Palomeros reactivated the legendary EC 2/30 Normandie-Niemen, on the Mont-de-Marsan airbase.

The Rafale is the squadron's twelfth fighter type, after Yak-1, Yak-3, Yak-9, De Havilland Mosquito, P-63 King Cobra, F-6F Hellcat,  P-47 Thunderbolt, SE-535 Mistral, SO-4050 Vautour, and Mirage F1C and F1CT.

http://rc230-normandieniemen.com/

Reminder :
http://rafalenews.blogspot.fr/2012/04/normandie-niemen.html

MMRCA, Indian Air Force Chief visits Rafale facilities

Air Chief Marchal N.A.K Browne, (Left).in front of a Su-30MKI

Livefist reports that Air Chief Marchal N.A.K Browne is currently visiting various Dassault and French Air Force facilities in France :
He will most notably visit the following locations:

• St Dizier Air Base (BA113), home of 3 Rafale squadrons (Provence, Gascogne and Aquitaine)
• Istres Air Base (BA125), French Flight test center.
• Cognac Air Base (BA709), French Air Force Flight school and Harfang Drone.
• Rafale assembly line in Merignac.

He is also intended to meet high representatives of the French Ministry of Defense :

• Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (Recently nominated as part of the government of President François Hollande), 
• Armed Force Chief, Admiral Edouard Guillaud
• Defense procurment Agency (DGA) Director, Laurent Collet-Billon
• Air Force Chief, General Jean-Paul Palomeros

India has selected the Rafale as its next Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft  (MMRCA) last January 31st. The deal for an initial order of 126 jets is expected to be signed at the end of 2012.

Also read: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

Rafale C 135 delivered

Rafale C135 ©Jagueli

The 35th Rafale C has been delivered to the French Air Force (St Dizier Air Base) on May 10
The C136 should follow shortly.
The C137 is also already flying but as it will be the first Production Rafale with the RBE-2 AESA, the delivery should take a bit more time.

Source : Delta Reflex (as usual ;)

Spring readings

The dictionnary of Deterrence by Philippe Vodka-Gallien, Marines Editions (in French)
An outstanding piece of work with more than 300 entries dealing with every aspects of the nuclear weapon : Historical, technical, political and cultural analysis, nothing is forgotten. This 384 pages book is of course covering the nuclear role of the Rafale and the ASMPA missile within the French Air Force and Navy. A must read for who wants to have a global and detailed view on this vast subject.

Air Fan issue N°400 : A special issue with tons of Rafale infos (French Air Force and Navy in Libya, and CEAM)

Raids Aviation,issue N°1 : A new French magazine about military aviation with a Nice article on the Charles de Gaulle's aircrafts

Rafale Solo Display, New web site

The support team. @ Paul Marais-Hayer

The Rafale Solo Display team has a new web site !

We can learn on their blog that the 2012 program has been validated on May 9, and that the demo was presented to the French Air Force Chief, General Palomeros, on May 10.







The team is the same as last year :

• Pilot, Captain Michael Brocard
• Coach, Captain Cedric Ruet
• And 4 engineers from the ESTA (support squadron of the Air Base 113)

Also, don't forget to check the 2012 calendar. 3 inflight demos are planed out of France :

• July 7-8 : RIAT, Fairford, UK
• August 12 : 100th Anniversary of the Russian Air Force, Zhukovsky Air Base (Moscow), Russia
• September 14 : Sanicole Air Show, Belgium