In the press : Latin aero N°4

Latin Aero N°4  is reviewing the latest improvement of the Rafale F3O-4T :

AESA radar
DDM-NG (new generation missile detector)
Meteor miisile
AM-39 bl2 mod2 missile
OSF IT

Laser version of AASM passed its last qualification test

PR Release from Safran/Sagen :

On December 12, 2012, French defense procurement agency DGA successfully carried out the last qualification firing test of the AASM modular air-to-ground missile developed and produced by Sagem (Safran), in its laser terminal guidance version (NATO designation: SBU-54 Hammer).

The success of this firing test culminates the qualification phase of the laser version, allowing Sagem to start delivery of the first production-standard AASM Laser weapons to the French air force and navy, for operational deployment in 2013.

The last firing test was carried out at the DGA’s missile range in Biscarrosse, using a Rafale fighter operated by the DGA’s Flight Test department at the Cazaux air base.

The target was an all-terrain vehicle. Remotely piloted, it was illuminated by the aircraft’s Damocles pod during the final seconds of the AASM’s flight. The vehicle was traveling at different speed, reaching 50 km/h at the time of impact, when it was more than 15 km from the Rafale. The weapon was launched from the aircraft at an extreme off-axis angle of 90° and hit the target at an oblique angle.

Using its powerful algorithms for detection and flightpath slaving to the laser point, plus its excellent agility, the AASM hit the target with an accuracy of less than a meter. This performance qualified the complete laser firing system under typical conditions, with the target illumination being carried out by the aircraft firing the weapon.

This new GPS/inertial/laser version further expands the AASM family, which already counts two other versions qualified on Rafale: GPS/inertial and GPS/inertial/infrared. It features a laser seeker in place of the infrared imager on the latter version, and also has tracking algorithms which are activated during the terminal phase.

The AASM SBU-54 Hammer marks an operational breakthrough in relation to current precision air-to-ground weapons. It is capable of engaging moving land targets, or high-speed agile marine targets, with accuracy to within a meter¹, especially during opportunity strikes, as proven during recent conflicts.

http://www.safran-group.com/

Video, 11F anniversary clip

Video, Vishnu Som flies the Rafale Part II

This is the second part of the the Indian TV show "Higher, bigger, faster" about the Rafale.

Vishnu visits the base of Saint Dizier and the 3D design facility in Paris.

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/bigger-higher-faster/the-story-of-the-rafale/257581

Video, Vishnu Som flies the Rafale

This is the complete video of the Indian TV show "Higher, bigger, faster" dedicated to the Rafale. The Indian journalist Vishnu Som, had the opportunity to fly the Rafale at the Istres Air base. During the flight which last more than 1 hour, he was demonstrated the omnirole capability of the aircraft, performing laser guided and gps simulated A2G strikes, A2A interception as well as very low altitude maneuvering in fully automated  terrain following mode.

Flying the Dassault Rafale

Stay tune for the next episode (Rafale over Libya)

nEUROn first Flight

The UCAV demonstrator nEUROn made its mainden flight this saturday, 1st December. Developped by 6 European countries (France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweeden and Switzerland) the project was initiated in 2003 by France in order to maintain and expend the R&D capabilities of the French military aerospace industries regarding stealth and fully autonomous flight of a combat aircraft.

Lead by Dassault aviation, responsible for the project management, final integration and stealth features, the European partners were assigned tasks corresponding to their domain of expertise :
The main fuselage was made by Saab, the wings by EADS casa, the rear fuselage and engine exhaust by HAI, the weapon bay by Alenia and the weapon system interface by Ruag.

Today's flight, which lasted 25 min, was the first of a serie of 80 that will take place in France, Sweeden and Italy during the next 2 years.

The chase plane which followed the nEUROn during its first flight was a Rafale B that can be breefly seen on that video