Dassault Rafale - Updates and Discussion

[Bon Plan]

An F-15C Eagle fighter from the USAF's 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron (85th TES) carried out the first fire of an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile guided by the infrared search and track system (IRST), successfully shooting down a QF- 16. The event took place on the 05th of August.

https://www.aeroflap.com.br/en/USAF-f-15c-fires-first-aim-120-missile-guided-by-irst/

frenchies are 5 years late but hey better late thn never, oui?

You are partially wrong.
This fire was made with a MICA NG.
But another same kind of fire, with a legacy MICA, was made in 2007 using another Rafale radar.

Where is the IRST in a serially produce F15C ? How many F15 are in this config now ?
(in fact just a trial)

 

[Bon Plan]

Lock on after launch missiles cued by IRST or HMS, have been around for a while now, but it's good to see France entering the tech
Have they got a date on the new radar, the last I heard it was going to be pushed out to 2035, that should improve things

A MICA fired by a Rafale on a target in its 180° hit his target in 2007. But the target was designated by another Rafale.
(nearly 20 yars ago.... you are late Bro)

 

[Sixer]

Rafale has the ability to guide MICA without radar emission with its Front Sector Optronics (FSO). IRST alone cannot generate fire control solution as they cannot measure distance. French cleverly introduced a laser range finder in Rafale's FSO. So FSO is actually more than simple IRST present on other 4th gen aircrafts. Which enables it to generate fire control system solution upto 40km (maximum range of the laser range finder) this is barely BVR.

What USAF has for sometime is gen next stuff.

IRST Legion POD feature world class sensor and more importantly advanced data link that enables it to connect with other legion pod flown in the formation. So it is actually able to triangulate target's precise 3D location by collaborating with other legion pods and generate passive fire control data. More importantly, not limited by any laser range finder. And able to provide weapon quality track at 50nm in optimal condition. USN super Hornets also has similar capability.

https://share.google/IsWQRZYjnLKcjJHlU

French might introduce this capability with Rafale F 4.3 iteration as well as true collaborative engagement as they planned enhanced sensor fusion and an indigenous intra-flight high bandwidth secure data link. Then you might see two IRST sensors on two Rafale working in similar fashion and not limited by laser range finder.

However, with existing Link 16, Rafale is not there yet.

 

[Innominate]

You are partially wrong.
This fire was made with a MICA NG.
But another same kind of fire, with a legacy MICA, was made in 2007 using another Rafale radar.

Where is the IRST in a serially produce F15C ? How many F15 are in this config now ?
(in fact just a trial)

Legion is a plug and pay all F-15's have legion capability and right now only 40 legion exist so 40 F-15's can be deployed with legion. Btw F-35 has this capability.

 

[Amarante]

September 1, 2026

What if Egypt ordered another 24 Rafales?​

Cairo could order an additional 24 Rafales from Dassault Aviation. Egypt would then possess a fleet of nearly 80 French fighter jets.

After a quiet period due to financial difficulties, Egypt appears to intend to resume its arms procurement. According to our information, the country recently sent a Request for Proposal (RFP)—a call for proposals in both technical and commercial terms—to France, specifically to Dassault Aviation, for the purchase of 24 additional Rafales. Contacted by *La Tribune*, the aircraft manufacturer declined to comment. By the end of 2026, Cairo will have a fleet of 54 active fighter jets delivered by Dassault Aviation—aircraft ordered in two batches (24 in February 2015 and 31 in May 2021). In total, should it confirm its interest, the Egyptian Air Force would possess a fleet of nearly 80 Rafales (78).

The second edition of the El Alamein International Air Show, taking place from September 8 to 10, 2026, at El Alamein International Airport, could offer clues regarding Cairo's willingness to rapidly modernize its active fleet—currently estimated at over 200 F-16s out of the 240 originally ordered. Some airframes are aging, particularly those delivered between 1982 and 1985 (42 F-16 Block 15s), as well as those delivered between 1986 and 1988 (40 F-16 Block 32s) and between 1991 and 1995 (47 F-16 Block 40s). Egypt represents significant potential for Dassault Aviation, as a portion of this fleet will need to be replaced.

Chinese disinformation campaign

Regardless of the outcome, this RFP is very good news for two key reasons. Egypt might once again place its trust in Dassault Aviation to renew part of its combat aircraft fleet. Above all, the Chinese disinformation campaign regarding the Rafale’s capabilities versus the J-16—launched following the second "Eagles of Civilization 2026" Sino-Egyptian exercise held in August—clearly failed to sway the Egyptians. This disinformation campaign supports a Chinese sales push in the combat aviation sector that has been underway in Egypt for several months... (paywall)

 

[Optimist]

A MICA fired by a Rafale on a target in its 180° hit his target in 2007. But the target was designated by another Rafale.
(nearly 20 yars ago.... you are late Bro)

That isn't LOAL, but the new mica ng is LOAL, Why you guys need to BS is beyond me

Same with the Radar, the new one has been pushed to 2035
"The Thales Group RBE2-XG is a next-generation Gallium Nitride (GaN) Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar scheduled to equip the Dassault Aviation Rafale F5 standard around 2035."