Meteor integration on Rafale completed

The last live firing of the long range Meteor Missile was performed by the Rafale B301 on April, 6 2017
This 4th test concludes the integration of the Missile on the Rafale.
The CEAM will now have the responsability to write the operational procedures for using it.

The Meteor is expected to enter operational service with the French Air Force and Navy in 2018 on the new Rafale F3R standard.

MK-82 bomb integration on Rafale

The 250 Kg MK-82 bomb is being integrated on the Rafale. The first firings were performed on Mark 14, 2017 at the Captieux firing range.

Source : http://www.defense.gouv.fr/

Qatar, First flight of Rafale EQ01

©JP Dewam

Merignac, March 27, 2017
The First single seater Rafale for the Qatari Air Force made its first flight from The Bordeaux-Merignac airfield.

First Sniper flight on the Rafale

©Swingwing / defensaero

2017/03/21, Istres air base, France
The flight trials of the Lockheed Martin Sniper Advanced targeting pod have started on the Rafale C101. The american pod is integrated for the Qatari Rafale.

Source : http://www.defens-aero.com/

Rafale F4 standard launched

Paris, March 22nd 2017, French defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced that he had authorized the development of the Rafale F4 standard. The first Rafale F4 should be delivered in 2025 but some of the features of this new version will be available as early as 2023.

The key improvements would be the following: 

• Improved net-centric capabilities (New data links, satcom)
• RBE-2 AESA upgrade 
• SPECTRA upgrade
• OSF IRST (New IR channel for the OSF)
• M88 engine upgrade (AB thrust > 8 T)
• Mica NG missile integration
• AASM missile upgrade

Le Drian also confirmed that a 5th production tranche should be ordered during the next LPM (Multi-year military procurement plan)

sources:
https://www.portail-aviation.com/
http://www.defensenews.com/
https://www.flightglobal.com/
http://www.air-cosmos.com/
http://www.defense.gouv.fr/


Previous Rafale standards contents                          

• LF1 standard (2000/05/01)
• R550 Magic 2
• F1 standard (2001/12/01)
• 30M791 gun A2A modes
• Mica EM
• SPECTRA                            
• F2.1 standard (2005/12/01)
• Hadrware update
• MDPU
• MIDS-Link16
• Upgraded SPECTRA
• OSF
• Sensor fusion
• SCALP
• MICA-IR                            
• F2.2 standard (01/06/2006)
• SBU-38
• Upgraded SPECTRA
• Obsolescences updates
• F3.0 standard (01/07/2008)
• Hardware update
• Long range MICA-IR modes
• High resolution Radar MAP
• Upgraded IFF
• SLPRM V4-2
• F3.1 standard (2009/06/01)
• Common F3 software for retrofited F2 and F3-O aircrafts
• F3.2 standard (2010/03/01)
• Full LGB capability
• Damocles-MP
• GBU-12/22
• SBU-64
• 30M791 gun A2G modes
• AM39 block 2 mod 2
• ASMP-A
• AREOS recce pod
• F3.3 standard (2012/01/01)
• MIDS-Link16 upgrade
• RBE-2 AESA
• OSF-IT
• DDM-NG
• New MFD
• Improved HUD transparancy
• Upgraded IFF
• F3.3' standard (2013/05/01)
• GBU-24
• AESA antenna compatibility with tranche 1, 2, 3 aircrafts
• F3.4+ standard (2014/12/01)
• MGRS format GPS data input
• Updated HUD safety symbology and warning
• New take off abortion warning (max brake energy capability)
• Real time ground following mode switch (radar-digital mapping)
• F3R standard (2018/10/01)   
• Meteor
• Talios LDP
• AGCAS
• IFF mode 5/S
• Link 16 upgrade
• RBE-2 PESA upgrade
• SPECTRA upgrade
• AREOS pod upgrade
• Full SBU-54 integration
• AASM fuse programmation upgrade
• GBU-16 integration
• NARANG refueling pod                           

Qatari official camo

Courtesy of Jarod from AIrdefense.net

Video, Super-Etendard farewell

The super-Etendard has been officialy retired on July 12th 2016 after 38 years of active service in the French Navy (42 years since its first flight)
To celebrate this (sad) event, Angel offers us this beautiful homage to the sailors who served on this superb machine.
It is worth noting that the retirement of the Super-Etendard happened the same month as the very first trials of the nEUROn UCAV with the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier...



From now on, the only fighter jet operated by the French Navy is the Rafale M F3.