Dassault Rafale - Updates and Discussion

But the new-generation SEAD weapons like RudraM-1 is also designed for much higher accuracy and complete DEAD of IADS/SAM C3I. That's why we have put an active MMW seeker for it to track the SAM radars even once they've switched off. So a desired result is achieved via more accuracy resulting in less saturation/volumes. Thus, these new gen anti-radiation missiles differ quite a lot from their predecessors.

I am sure the French anti-radiation SEAD missile won't be any less capable than our NGARM.

PS: This admission by the French about Rafale needing SEAD missile nay also be an admission that "active stealth" isn't a guarantee like F-22/F-35's 'passive stealth' against modern AI backed AESA radars🤷‍♂️

The idea behind SEAD is to force the enemy to act a certain way so it provides a brief window of opportunity for a particular mission. It's no different from providing suppressive fire.

In military science, suppressive fire is "fire that degrades the performance of an enemy force below the level needed to fulfill its mission".

The issue with SEAD is it's almost entirely dependent on the level of competence of the enemy. If the enemy is very competent, most SEAD missions will fail. Using saturation attacks as a tactic to "defeat" a SAM site is basically all about spray and pray. The French method to use a glider is just to overwhelm the enemy radar to force a shut down. Numbers saturates the radar's resources, speed reduces the enemy's ability to react. The goal is the same for both, but the latter tactic is more expensive due to the use of an expensive powered missile.

So SEAD does not replace DEAD. And DEAD depends entirely on the level of your own competence relative to the enemy.
 

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UAE could end up doing the same, if all 80+20 jets are built up to F5 standards.
Even if the Drone is expected in 2033, the F5 will finally be ready in 2030: the official website of the French Ministry of Defence has published information to this effect:

Rafale standard F5 : premières commandes notifiées aux industriels

Direction : Ministère des Armées / Publié le : 09 octobre 2024

Rafale F5 standard: first orders notified to manufacturers
Direction : Ministère des Armées / Published on : 09 October 2024

Expected in 2030, the Rafale F5 aims to improve the operational capabilities of the French Air Force, both for conventional missions and for FAS missions related to nuclear deterrence, in response to rapidly evolving threats. Following on from the F4 standard, which had already introduced innovations in connectivity and data processing power, the F5 takes these advances even further by becoming the second generation of connected fighters.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

The approach for the UAE is the same as for the Indian ISE for the first 36 Rafale delivered to you: your Rafale were built to be materially compatible with the final version, but the aircraft delivered were not capable of all the planned functions, only those that had already been developed, and when deliveries were completed 6 years later we retrofitted all the aircraft with the ISE. It's the same now, in 6 years' time we'll be retrofitting all the aircraft. When you know all the equipment in a standard, it only takes 2 months to draw up a wiring diagram.
 
Even if the Drone is expected in 2033, the F5 will finally be ready in 2030: the official website of the French Ministry of Defence has published information to this effect:

Rafale standard F5 : premières commandes notifiées aux industriels

Direction : Ministère des Armées / Publié le : 09 octobre 2024

Rafale F5 standard: first orders notified to manufacturers
Direction : Ministère des Armées / Published on : 09 October 2024



Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

The approach for the UAE is the same as for the Indian ISE for the first 36 Rafale delivered to you: your Rafale were built to be materially compatible with the final version, but the aircraft delivered were not capable of all the planned functions, only those that had already been developed, and when deliveries were completed 6 years later we retrofitted all the aircraft with the ISE. It's the same now, in 6 years' time we'll be retrofitting all the aircraft. When you know all the equipment in a standard, it only takes 2 months to draw up a wiring diagram.

So does that mean UAE will take their first jet in 2027 as before? Or just wait for F5 in 2030?

The same with the IN's jets too?

It doesn't make sense to give up on F5 for just a few years' wait. 80+20+26 is a pretty sizable number.

There's Indonesia too; 2026-30 for the first 42.
 
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So does that mean UAE will take their first jet in 2027 as before? Or just wait for F5 in 2030?

The same with the IN's jets too?

It doesn't make sense to give up on F5 for just a few years' wait. 80+20+26 is a pretty sizable number.

There's Indonesia too; 2026-30 for the first 42.
I made the comparison with ISE: those had hardware modifications: towed jammers and jammers in the tail which required cabling modifications, and additional equipment to extend Spectra in low and high bands in addition to software modifications to manage all that optimally. Did we wait until 2022 (when everything was ready) to start deliveries? No, we delivered ISE-capable aircraft that were installed in 2022 at the end of the deliveries.
 
I made the comparison with ISE: those had hardware modifications: towed jammers and jammers in the tail which required cabling modifications, and additional equipment to extend Spectra in low and high bands in addition to software modifications to manage all that optimally. Did we wait until 2022 (when everything was ready) to start deliveries? No, we delivered ISE-capable aircraft that were installed in 2022 at the end of the deliveries.

Yeah, but F5 is not merely an enhancement. ISE only took care of missing technologies, it did not replace existing tech.

If UAE takes deliveries of F4 Rafales with RBE2 AESA in 2027, then will those jets get an upgrade to RBE2 XG in 2030?
 
Yeah, but F5 is not merely an enhancement. ISE only took care of missing technologies, it did not replace existing tech.

If UAE takes deliveries of F4 Rafales with RBE2 AESA in 2027, then will those jets get an upgrade to RBE2 XG in 2030?
In 2027, the RBE2 XG multi-channel receiver will be available, as well as the main GaN antenna, and in 2030 we'll just need to add the other multi-function antennas around the aircraft to have a complete RBE2 XG. Of course, the areas where these antennae will be placed must already be planned, as they will have to be transparent to the frequencies used... nothing impossible.
 
In 2027, the RBE2 XG multi-channel receiver will be available, as well as the main GaN antenna, and in 2030 we'll just need to add the other multi-function antennas around the aircraft to have a complete RBE2 XG. Of course, the areas where these antennae will be placed must already be planned, as they will have to be transparent to the frequencies used... nothing impossible.

Okay, if the main hardware in 2027 will be the same as what's going into F5, then the upgrades are a lot simpler.
 
Okay, if the main hardware in 2027 will be the same as what's going into F5, then the upgrades are a lot simpler.
Yes it's the software which will be late.
The village falls asleep and the #LoupsGarous wake up...

Tonight, the #Rafale comes out of its lair, not to eat the villagers, but to give us a never-before-seen image of a full moon, captured by a Talios pod.