Viseur de casque, connectivité, puissance de feu… Comment le Rafale 4.1 s'élève vers la haute intensité
Helmet sights, connectivity, firepower... How the Rafale 4.1 rises to the high intensity
This new standard brings improvements and new capabilities, such as the Scorpion helmet sight and a greater modular air-to-ground weapon capability.
A second F4.1 standard aircraft will be delivered in the next few days, after which the two new generation Rafales will be tested by the pilots of the 1/30 Côte d'Argent squadron.
The operational introduction of this new standard for all the Rafales of the French Air Force and Space Force is envisaged by 2025.
Don't look for any difference: in appearance, the Rafale 4.1 is exactly the same as the current version, the F3-R. The hull is identical," confirms Colonel Christophe, Director of Experiments at the CEAM (Centre d'Expertise Aérienne Militaire), "but it's as if you had taken an old smartphone and downloaded the latest version of the software.
Based at BA 118 in Mont-de-Marsan (Landes), the CEAM took delivery of the very first Rafale 4.1 standard on 2 March. This Rafale B of an old standard had previously been sent to the flight test centre of the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) at Istres, which carried out the software transformation. But what does this new version bring to the aircraft?
More firepower from a distance
This version 4.1 brings many improvements, notably to the radar and the self-protection system that protects the aircraft against electromagnetic threats from the outside [Rafale's fire control protection and avoidance system, Spectra]," explains Colonel Christophe. We also have new capabilities, such as the Scorpion helmet sight [developed by Thales], which can point to targets directly with the helmet, just by looking at them. Today, this is done with cockpit interfaces and screens, but now you just have to turn your head to point at targets, in the air or on the ground. This system works via a sensor integrated into the visor, which can see as far as aircraft sensors can see.
Another new feature is the weaponry.
We will be able to use modular air-to-ground weapons [AASM] with a capacity of one tonne, whereas the aircraft can currently only carry a 250 kg AASM bomb. In its current version, the Rafale can carry a one-tonne bomb, but only a GBU-24 (Guided Bomb Unit). The GBU-24 is an American manufacture with a much shorter capacity," explains Colonel Christophe. The AASM is a propelled weapon, which allows for deeper extensions, which will therefore offer greater firepower at a distance.
Having aircraft connected to each other, to drones, to satellites...
The aim of this F4 standard is also to provide new technological building blocks in terms of connectivity. To put it simply, until now our aircraft have been working in isolation," continues the director of experiments. Now, the aim is to have aircraft that work in a connected manner, with other aircraft, drones, satellites... We will also have aircraft capable of guiding the weapons of other aircraft, of putting together the electronic warfare systems of several aircraft. The more we move towards high intensity, and this is what the Ukrainian theatre is showing us, the more we have to adapt our tools, which means working together to have connected sensors and process information in real time.
After receiving this first aircraft "retrofitted" to the F4.1 standard, the CEAM will receive a second one in a few days,
but this time a new one, straight from the Dassault factory. This one, in addition to its new version, will have new capabilities and new wiring," said Colonel Christophe. The pilots of the 1/30 Côte d'Argent Fighter and Experimental Squadron will carry out numerous flights with these two aircraft until this summer. Then comes the "adoption" stage. That is to say that all the fighter squadrons of Mont-de-Marsan will in turn fly with this F4.1 standard to make it their own. However, they will not yet be able to go into combat with it.
Around one hundred Rafales to be upgraded
By the end of 2023, the CEAM will complete its recommendations to the General Staff, which will give or not give the green light to have a first "operational capability" with the F4.1 standard. Only at this stage will we be able to launch this new standard in a theatre of operations. The operational launch of the Rafale's full spectrum is expected for the end of 2024, beginning of 2025, according to Colonel Christophe. We are talking about updating the hundred or so Rafales of the French Air Force and Space Agency, in addition to the expected delivery of 40 new aircraft that are to leave the factory. The aim is to have a single fleet with this F4.1 standard.
Other versions are expected. This F4 standard is divided into three sub-categories:
4.1, 4.2 and 4.3," explained Colonel Christophe. We will be able to talk about a 'technological leap' once the entire F4 standard has been adopted. And the story will certainly not end there, since there is already talk of an F5 standard, which could make the transition before the arrival of the Scaf, the Air Combat System of the Future, which is supposed to enter service in 2040, but which may be delayed.
