Dassault Rafale - Updates and Discussion
- Thread starter Domobran7
- Start date
Let's hope the UAE gets cosy with the incoming Trump admin and restarts negotiations for F-35.
Imo Israel is unlikely to veto the sale.
With some luck, the UAE delivery slots for Rafale might pass on to us.
But GOI needs to get its act together and stop this farce of starting another MRFA tender.
Imo Israel is unlikely to veto the sale.
With some luck, the UAE delivery slots for Rafale might pass on to us.
But GOI needs to get its act together and stop this farce of starting another MRFA tender.
With the T-REX program, Safran is working on a 9-ton variant of the M88 engine for the Rafale F5
By Fabrice Wolf 27 November 2024
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
The news surrounding the Rafale F5 programme has been multiplying in recent days. After the naval version of the new version of the French fighter was confirmed a short while ago, along with a programme to acquire 12 of these aircraft for the French Navy, as part of the 6ᵉ Tranche from 2030 to 2034, another crucial piece of information has just emerged.
It comes, once again, from the very active Var MP Franck Giletti, rapporteur for the Air Force mission and vice-chairman of the National Assembly's defence committee. In a question to Safran CEO Franck Saudo, the latter confirmed that discussions were under way with the DGA to produce a new version of the M88 engine for the Rafale F5 programme.
Dubbed the T-REX program, this version should enable the engine to deliver up to 9 tonnes of thrust with afterburner, representing a 20% increase in thrust. This is a decisive step forward for the M88 engine, which is just as welcome for the development of the Rafale as it is for maintaining Safran's skills as a complete engine manufacturer for military aircraft.
The Rafale F5, the best time to introduce a major evolution of the M88
Every day, the 2024-2030 Military Planning Law shows its limitations in responding to heightened international tensions and the new global arms race.
The M88, Safran's masterpiece whose performance is often misunderstood
The evolution of the M88 engine has been envisaged for many years. As far back as the late 2000s, Safran and Dassault considered increasing the power of the M88 to 8.5 or 9 tonnes, to meet the requirements of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi considered the M88's 5 tonnes dry, and 7.5 tonnes with PC, to be insufficient for a 25-tonne aircraft.
The Rafale F5, the design of which was launched a few months ago, for entry into service in 2030, specifically involves changes to the airframe to accommodate the new detection, communication and digital processing equipment.
In fact, the arrival of the F5 version, and this divergence, represents a unique opportunity to upgrade the M88 to a more powerful version.
The T-REX programme, not planned in the 2024-2030 LPM, but essential for both the Rafale F5 and Safran
In addition to the opportunity offered by the evolution of the F5 airframe, another factor has recently added to the chances of seeing this 9-tonne M88 emerge. During hearings held by the French National Assembly's Defence Committee, we learned that the recent postponements announced for the SCAF programme have threatened Safran's ability to maintain its skills in this area.
By Fabrice Wolf 27 November 2024
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
The news surrounding the Rafale F5 programme has been multiplying in recent days. After the naval version of the new version of the French fighter was confirmed a short while ago, along with a programme to acquire 12 of these aircraft for the French Navy, as part of the 6ᵉ Tranche from 2030 to 2034, another crucial piece of information has just emerged.
It comes, once again, from the very active Var MP Franck Giletti, rapporteur for the Air Force mission and vice-chairman of the National Assembly's defence committee. In a question to Safran CEO Franck Saudo, the latter confirmed that discussions were under way with the DGA to produce a new version of the M88 engine for the Rafale F5 programme.
Dubbed the T-REX program, this version should enable the engine to deliver up to 9 tonnes of thrust with afterburner, representing a 20% increase in thrust. This is a decisive step forward for the M88 engine, which is just as welcome for the development of the Rafale as it is for maintaining Safran's skills as a complete engine manufacturer for military aircraft.
The Rafale F5, the best time to introduce a major evolution of the M88
Every day, the 2024-2030 Military Planning Law shows its limitations in responding to heightened international tensions and the new global arms race.
The M88, Safran's masterpiece whose performance is often misunderstood
The evolution of the M88 engine has been envisaged for many years. As far back as the late 2000s, Safran and Dassault considered increasing the power of the M88 to 8.5 or 9 tonnes, to meet the requirements of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi considered the M88's 5 tonnes dry, and 7.5 tonnes with PC, to be insufficient for a 25-tonne aircraft.
The Rafale F5, the design of which was launched a few months ago, for entry into service in 2030, specifically involves changes to the airframe to accommodate the new detection, communication and digital processing equipment.
In fact, the arrival of the F5 version, and this divergence, represents a unique opportunity to upgrade the M88 to a more powerful version.
The T-REX programme, not planned in the 2024-2030 LPM, but essential for both the Rafale F5 and Safran
In addition to the opportunity offered by the evolution of the F5 airframe, another factor has recently added to the chances of seeing this 9-tonne M88 emerge. During hearings held by the French National Assembly's Defence Committee, we learned that the recent postponements announced for the SCAF programme have threatened Safran's ability to maintain its skills in this area.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Rafale Marine F5 and naval combat drones, the French Navy will enter the 6ᵉ generation as early as 2035
By Fabrice Wolf 27 November 2024
France is therefore going to develop, alongside the land-based versions of the Rafale F5 and its combat drone, a Rafale Marine F5 and a naval version of its combat drone, to replace the oldest Rafale Ms, which have reached the end of their potential, as well as to equip the Airborne Group with a 6ᵉ generation capability, certainly ahead of the phase of the other major Western navies.
That, at least, is what Defence Committee deputy Franck Giletti said in his recent report on the evolution of French air power. This announcement, which was expected and comes as no real surprise, is part of a major effort by the French Navy and the Ministry of the Armed Forces to adapt military naval power to the new geopolitical realities and naval technologies, which have been developing very rapidly for several years.
What are the advantages of this new capability for the French Airborne Group? Is it adapted to future needs and new threats? And how will the French Navy evolve in response to the increasing number of theatres of engagement and the accelerating pace of military technology?
Contents
12 Rafale Marine F5s and naval combat UAVs to equip the French aircraft carrier(s) by 2035
On the sidelines of the Euronaval 2024 air show, the French Ministry of Defence announced that the Groupe Aérien embarqué on the Charles de Gaulle nuclear aircraft carrier would also be equipped with the new Rafale F5 standard, as well as its own combat drone.
This information came as something of a surprise. Until now, the French authorities had systematically refused to raise the possibility of a new Rafale M order, even to replace the oldest and most worn-out aircraft, due to the harsh environment and conditions of use for the airframes.
In fact, there was little alternative for the French Navy other than to confirm the next order for Rafale Marine F5s, both to support the onboard nuclear component with the arrival of the new-generation ASN4G supersonic missile, successor to the ASMPA-R, and to control the new combat drones, which are also being developed simultaneously in land and naval versions, like the Rafale.
We now know that 12 of these aircraft are expected to be ordered as part of the 6ᵉ tranche of Rafales for the French Air Force, for deliveries expected shortly after 2030.
Will the French Navy be the first to have a 6ᵉ generation naval aircraft in the West?
The arrival of the Rafale Marine F5 and its combat drone, within the French naval air forces, will certainly bring about certain capability and structural upheavals. Thus, the format of 12 aircraft, seems perfectly suited to the creation of a fourth on-board fighter flotilla, specialised for the implementation of these new capabilities, as is the case with the 12F flotilla, specialised in air defence.
....
Rafale Marine F5 and naval combat drones, the French Navy will enter the 6ᵉ generation as early as 2035
By Fabrice Wolf 27 November 2024
France is therefore going to develop, alongside the land-based versions of the Rafale F5 and its combat drone, a Rafale Marine F5 and a naval version of its combat drone, to replace the oldest Rafale Ms, which have reached the end of their potential, as well as to equip the Airborne Group with a 6ᵉ generation capability, certainly ahead of the phase of the other major Western navies.
That, at least, is what Defence Committee deputy Franck Giletti said in his recent report on the evolution of French air power. This announcement, which was expected and comes as no real surprise, is part of a major effort by the French Navy and the Ministry of the Armed Forces to adapt military naval power to the new geopolitical realities and naval technologies, which have been developing very rapidly for several years.
What are the advantages of this new capability for the French Airborne Group? Is it adapted to future needs and new threats? And how will the French Navy evolve in response to the increasing number of theatres of engagement and the accelerating pace of military technology?
Contents
- 12 Rafale Marine F5s and naval combat UAVs to equip French aircraft carriers by 2035
- Will the French Navy be the first to have a 6ᵉ generation naval aircraft in the West?
- Significant export potential for the Rafale M F5 and its combat drone
- The extension of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the French Navy's sights
- The challenge of increasing and multiplying naval threats
- The French Navy will have to evolve rapidly in terms of both format and capabilities
- Conclusion
12 Rafale Marine F5s and naval combat UAVs to equip the French aircraft carrier(s) by 2035
On the sidelines of the Euronaval 2024 air show, the French Ministry of Defence announced that the Groupe Aérien embarqué on the Charles de Gaulle nuclear aircraft carrier would also be equipped with the new Rafale F5 standard, as well as its own combat drone.
This information came as something of a surprise. Until now, the French authorities had systematically refused to raise the possibility of a new Rafale M order, even to replace the oldest and most worn-out aircraft, due to the harsh environment and conditions of use for the airframes.
In fact, there was little alternative for the French Navy other than to confirm the next order for Rafale Marine F5s, both to support the onboard nuclear component with the arrival of the new-generation ASN4G supersonic missile, successor to the ASMPA-R, and to control the new combat drones, which are also being developed simultaneously in land and naval versions, like the Rafale.
We now know that 12 of these aircraft are expected to be ordered as part of the 6ᵉ tranche of Rafales for the French Air Force, for deliveries expected shortly after 2030.
Will the French Navy be the first to have a 6ᵉ generation naval aircraft in the West?
The arrival of the Rafale Marine F5 and its combat drone, within the French naval air forces, will certainly bring about certain capability and structural upheavals. Thus, the format of 12 aircraft, seems perfectly suited to the creation of a fourth on-board fighter flotilla, specialised for the implementation of these new capabilities, as is the case with the 12F flotilla, specialised in air defence.
....
Rafale f-5 might be a serious challenger to the f-15EX and typhoon tranche 5. With the new m-88 and rbe2xg it will be perfect.
The aim of the Rafale programme management is to ensure that the latest version of the Rafale is always perfectly suited to the threats it is likely to encounter at the time it is examined.
Now the question is to what extent will the airframe be modified? And if there are no major modifications, that could potentially signal the inadequacy of the current engine.
The Russians and Chinese seem to want to hijack the 6th gen term for near-space fighters.
Rafale Jet to Detect Targets 100 Times Faster with New AI-Infused Talios Pod
Thales has upgraded its Talios targeting pod with artificial intelligence that will enable the Rafale fighter jet to detect targets 100 times faster than the current human-dependent system by automating imagery analysis.
Since it entered service in 2018, the Talios reconnaissance and targeting pod has steadily added new functions to enhance operational value. And starting with the Rafale standard F4.3 in 2026, its deep learning algorithms will be capable of searching for objects of interest in a given zone 100 times faster than the current system that involves sending the captured imagery to ground control which in turn provides target data to the pilot.
Operational Deployment by 2026
Thales first presented the potential of the AI to the French armed forces in 2018, and a contract was awarded in December 2023. The new AI function is expected to enter service in 2026 with the arrival of the Rafale standard F4.3, and will be the first function on board the Rafale to make such intensive use of deep learning technologies.
This latest innovation is one of the most important developments so far by cortAIx, the artificial intelligence accelerator set up by Thales to leverage the Group's extensive AI expertise and build ground-breaking solutions for the armed forces, aircraft manufacturers and other operators of critical systems, a Thales release said.
On-board image analysis in real time
The AI installed in the pod scans the combat zone, automatically analyzing the images captured and telling the pilot what it's detected. By pre-selecting objects of interest, it reduces the cognitive load on the pilot, but the decision to engage a target remains the pilot's responsibility at all times.
Importantly, because the AI is installed in the pod itself – despite physical challenges related to temperature, vibration and energy consumption – it provides information in real time as the mission unfolds.
This overcomes the need for a datalink to send imagery to a ground station, because everything happens on board the aircraft. In addition, this AI is capable of spotting small objects in the images, enabling the pilot to remain at a safe stand-off distance from any potential threats. All of which speeds up the tempo of operations because the pilot is kept informed about the tactical situation in real time.
Co-engineered with operational personnel
The AI developed for the Talios pod draws on several years of R&D and was trained on vast numbers of examples sourced from sovereign imagery databases compiled by Thales during test flights or provided by the French armed forces. In addition, thanks to an in-house innovation lab called Image'Inn, operational personnel were placed in realistic situations to test different scenarios and fine-tune the user interface. Thanks to this co-engineering approach with end users, the new function has been developed well ahead of operational deployment.
Towards collaborative combat
The longer-term significance of the AI installed in the pod will be felt in the era of collaborative combat, which will rely on data exchanges between the different assets deployed in the theatre as part of sixth generation fighter project. Given the huge volumes of data generated by all the sensors, the AI will play an essential role by only extracting and transmitting relevant information, overcoming the danger of saturating communication systems.
Thales has upgraded its Talios targeting pod with artificial intelligence that will enable the Rafale fighter jet to detect targets 100 times faster than the current human-dependent system by automating imagery analysis.
Since it entered service in 2018, the Talios reconnaissance and targeting pod has steadily added new functions to enhance operational value. And starting with the Rafale standard F4.3 in 2026, its deep learning algorithms will be capable of searching for objects of interest in a given zone 100 times faster than the current system that involves sending the captured imagery to ground control which in turn provides target data to the pilot.
Operational Deployment by 2026
Thales first presented the potential of the AI to the French armed forces in 2018, and a contract was awarded in December 2023. The new AI function is expected to enter service in 2026 with the arrival of the Rafale standard F4.3, and will be the first function on board the Rafale to make such intensive use of deep learning technologies.
This latest innovation is one of the most important developments so far by cortAIx, the artificial intelligence accelerator set up by Thales to leverage the Group's extensive AI expertise and build ground-breaking solutions for the armed forces, aircraft manufacturers and other operators of critical systems, a Thales release said.
On-board image analysis in real time
The AI installed in the pod scans the combat zone, automatically analyzing the images captured and telling the pilot what it's detected. By pre-selecting objects of interest, it reduces the cognitive load on the pilot, but the decision to engage a target remains the pilot's responsibility at all times.
Importantly, because the AI is installed in the pod itself – despite physical challenges related to temperature, vibration and energy consumption – it provides information in real time as the mission unfolds.
This overcomes the need for a datalink to send imagery to a ground station, because everything happens on board the aircraft. In addition, this AI is capable of spotting small objects in the images, enabling the pilot to remain at a safe stand-off distance from any potential threats. All of which speeds up the tempo of operations because the pilot is kept informed about the tactical situation in real time.
Co-engineered with operational personnel
The AI developed for the Talios pod draws on several years of R&D and was trained on vast numbers of examples sourced from sovereign imagery databases compiled by Thales during test flights or provided by the French armed forces. In addition, thanks to an in-house innovation lab called Image'Inn, operational personnel were placed in realistic situations to test different scenarios and fine-tune the user interface. Thanks to this co-engineering approach with end users, the new function has been developed well ahead of operational deployment.
Towards collaborative combat
The longer-term significance of the AI installed in the pod will be felt in the era of collaborative combat, which will rely on data exchanges between the different assets deployed in the theatre as part of sixth generation fighter project. Given the huge volumes of data generated by all the sensors, the AI will play an essential role by only extracting and transmitting relevant information, overcoming the danger of saturating communication systems.
I think that the M88 with 9t of thrust will fit in the Rafale F5. The Rafale could already accept an M88 with 8.3 t of thrust without modifying the aircraft and with current technology if the air force had chosen to increase thrust instead of improving maintenance, when we went from the M88-2 to the M88-4. That's the halfway point that we've covered without modification. For me, the other half will be to improve the engine's thermo-propulsive efficiency, which requires an increase in the temperature of the combustion gases and therefore an increase in the temperature to which the materials can be subjected.
There are years of progress in this area that the M88 has not exploited. For example, the ADAMANT programme aims to increase the turbine inlet temperature from 1850° Kelvin to 2100° Kelvin... on the M88.
For the same technology, the airflow must be increased. If I make a rough calculation of the improvement in efficiency with temperature, I can see that an M53 pushes at 95 KN with 92 Kg/s and a temperature of 1600° K, i.e. 1.033 KN for 1 Kg/s, whereas an M88 pushes at 75 KN with 65 Kg/s and a temperature of 1850° K, i.e. 1, 154 KN for 1 Kg/s, so 250°K gives a 0.121 KN improvement in efficiency compared with air mass and 250° K should improve this efficiency by a further 0.121 KN to 1.275, giving a thrust of 82.875 KN for 65 Kg/s. It's not 90 KN, but we know that the M88 could go up to 83 KN without any modifications, which means that the air intakes can absorb 83 KN/1.154 = 72 kg/s of air and by applying the new efficiency to this available air we get 72*1.275 = 91.8 KN. So 90 KN is certainly feasible.
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L’Agence de l’innovation de défense s’allie avec Safran et l’ONERA pour développer des matériaux de turbines haute performance
Defence Innovation Agency joins forces with Safran and ONERA to develop high-performance turbine materials
Updated: 04/03/2021 - Direction: AID
The ADAMANT research project (Accelerated Development of Alloys and Multilayer Systems for Application to New Turbines) aims to create new high-performance turbine materials and accelerate their development for the military propulsion of future combat aircraft. ADAMANT brings together the French Ministry of Defence via the Defence Innovation Agency (AID), the Office National d'Etudes et de Recherches Aérospatiales (ONERA) and Safran in the form of an ‘industrial chair ’1, a public-private partnership research instrument that is particularly well suited to the project. AID is contributing €3.2 million.
ADAMANT, a partnership research project to meet major technological challenges
The materials used in the hottest modules of aircraft engines must be designed to be as resistant as possible. This is particularly true of turbine discs and blades, which are subject to high mechanical stress and, if they break, could compromise the integrity of the engine or even the aircraft. In addition, improving the thermo-propulsive efficiency of engines requires an increase in the temperature of the combustion gases, which in turn requires advanced optimisation of the mechanical behaviour of materials at high temperatures. It is therefore crucial to design better-performing and more reliable materials for the parts of future engines, in particular to reduce maintenance costs, but above all to ensure aircraft safety.
These challenges apply in particular to the propulsion system, whose performance in terms of thrust, reliability, range and cost will be decisive in achieving operational superiority. Significantly increasing thrust compared with that of the Rafale's M88 engine means higher temperatures: around 2100 kelvins2 (1826.85 degrees Celsius) at the turbine inlet, i.e. 250 kelvins (250 degrees Celsius) higher than those of the M88. This is a very significant gap that needs to be bridged within a very tight timescale if we are to meet the programme deadlines and the technological leaps required compared with the current engine, which needs to be acquired quickly. The levels required cannot be achieved with current technologies and materials.
In order to meet this challenge, ONERA and Safran, already partners in research and technology in the field of engines for military aircraft, have proposed to the French Ministry of Defence the creation of a structuring project, via an industrial chair, based on co-financing by the partners of the work, which will mainly be carried out within ONERA's Materials and Structures Department (DMAS).
This industrial chair will act as a driving force to accelerate innovation, promoting the use of research results by companies for the benefit of end customers.
The key objective is to develop new materials that can withstand very high temperatures in a very short space of time.
Turbine discs with their blades Credit: SAFRAN
The core of the ADAMANT project lies in the development of new metal alloys and multilayer systems for high-temperature applications on turbine blades and discs. It relies on innovative accelerated methods based on numerical metallurgy. The aim is to achieve levels of technological maturity and proof of concept within a timeframe compatible with the introduction of the materials developed in the NGF engine demonstrator. Numerical metallurgy is a pillar of this project, with the aim of finding optima that traditional technical means and expertise cannot discover in an acceptable timeframe.
The ADAMANT Chair pools materials databases, implements artificial intelligence techniques and specific machine learning and data mining algorithms, as well as high-throughput characterisation experiments. It will enable the formalisation of an accelerated development approach and specific decision-making tools, without neglecting the fundamentals: alloy development and transformation, microstructural, physico-chemical and mechanical characterisation, bench experiments representative of real conditions, modelling and simulations. The success of this project will depend on combining the scientific expertise of metallurgists, chemists and mechanics with that of specialists in new digital methods. In this respect, ADAMANT is a major tool for developing skills in the field of hot materials, an essential area for national and European strategic autonomy in terms of combat aviation.
Defence Innovation Agency joins forces with Safran and ONERA to develop high-performance turbine materials
Updated: 04/03/2021 - Direction: AID
The ADAMANT research project (Accelerated Development of Alloys and Multilayer Systems for Application to New Turbines) aims to create new high-performance turbine materials and accelerate their development for the military propulsion of future combat aircraft. ADAMANT brings together the French Ministry of Defence via the Defence Innovation Agency (AID), the Office National d'Etudes et de Recherches Aérospatiales (ONERA) and Safran in the form of an ‘industrial chair ’1, a public-private partnership research instrument that is particularly well suited to the project. AID is contributing €3.2 million.
ADAMANT, a partnership research project to meet major technological challenges
The materials used in the hottest modules of aircraft engines must be designed to be as resistant as possible. This is particularly true of turbine discs and blades, which are subject to high mechanical stress and, if they break, could compromise the integrity of the engine or even the aircraft. In addition, improving the thermo-propulsive efficiency of engines requires an increase in the temperature of the combustion gases, which in turn requires advanced optimisation of the mechanical behaviour of materials at high temperatures. It is therefore crucial to design better-performing and more reliable materials for the parts of future engines, in particular to reduce maintenance costs, but above all to ensure aircraft safety.
These challenges apply in particular to the propulsion system, whose performance in terms of thrust, reliability, range and cost will be decisive in achieving operational superiority. Significantly increasing thrust compared with that of the Rafale's M88 engine means higher temperatures: around 2100 kelvins2 (1826.85 degrees Celsius) at the turbine inlet, i.e. 250 kelvins (250 degrees Celsius) higher than those of the M88. This is a very significant gap that needs to be bridged within a very tight timescale if we are to meet the programme deadlines and the technological leaps required compared with the current engine, which needs to be acquired quickly. The levels required cannot be achieved with current technologies and materials.
In order to meet this challenge, ONERA and Safran, already partners in research and technology in the field of engines for military aircraft, have proposed to the French Ministry of Defence the creation of a structuring project, via an industrial chair, based on co-financing by the partners of the work, which will mainly be carried out within ONERA's Materials and Structures Department (DMAS).
This industrial chair will act as a driving force to accelerate innovation, promoting the use of research results by companies for the benefit of end customers.
The key objective is to develop new materials that can withstand very high temperatures in a very short space of time.
Turbine discs with their blades Credit: SAFRAN
The core of the ADAMANT project lies in the development of new metal alloys and multilayer systems for high-temperature applications on turbine blades and discs. It relies on innovative accelerated methods based on numerical metallurgy. The aim is to achieve levels of technological maturity and proof of concept within a timeframe compatible with the introduction of the materials developed in the NGF engine demonstrator. Numerical metallurgy is a pillar of this project, with the aim of finding optima that traditional technical means and expertise cannot discover in an acceptable timeframe.
The ADAMANT Chair pools materials databases, implements artificial intelligence techniques and specific machine learning and data mining algorithms, as well as high-throughput characterisation experiments. It will enable the formalisation of an accelerated development approach and specific decision-making tools, without neglecting the fundamentals: alloy development and transformation, microstructural, physico-chemical and mechanical characterisation, bench experiments representative of real conditions, modelling and simulations. The success of this project will depend on combining the scientific expertise of metallurgists, chemists and mechanics with that of specialists in new digital methods. In this respect, ADAMANT is a major tool for developing skills in the field of hot materials, an essential area for national and European strategic autonomy in terms of combat aviation.
After 170 flights between 2012 and 2022, the Neuron combat drone demonstrator, designed under the prime contractorship of Dassault Aviation, is to return to service. The aim is to test technologies for the future combat drone that will accompany the Rafale in the early 2030s.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsosakis said the current fleet of 24 Rafales is ‘sufficient,’ reversing earlier plans to acquire up to 12 more jets.
So current Rafale is underpowered... WHO KNEW?!? I did! Same engines since it entered service and has gotten fatter.
digging into the CEMAAE hearing:
you'll find quite a few details about the Rafale F5 and its engines:
The F5 is another Rafale. This new aircraft is to carry the ASN4G, the future hypersonic missile - its speed will exceed Mach 5 - and hypervelocity, which will have manoeuvring capabilities throughout the flight. This represents a real technological breakthrough.
The Rafale F5 will have to carry this heavy missile. It will therefore require a new engine, conformal fuel tanks, as well as improved radar detection, connectivity and electronic warfare countermeasures.
Its successor, the Scaf, will carry the final version of this missile, with the range we asked for.
The F5 is not only synonymous with new integrated technologies and a larger wingspan. It also means the conformal fuel tanks needed to carry an M88 engine with greater thrust. Safran's work in this area will also be useful for the future Scaf aircraft due in 2040. Let's not forget that the ability to build, in a sovereign manner, engines with high thrust determines the entire fighter aircraft.
[About financing]
It's still unclear. It wasn't provided for in the LPM, because we asked Safran to make the Rafale F5 manoeuvrable with ASN4G. I think this is essential. So if we have to make savings elsewhere in the Rafale programme, we will do so to ensure that we benefit from this engine.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
you'll find quite a few details about the Rafale F5 and its engines:
The F5 is another Rafale. This new aircraft is to carry the ASN4G, the future hypersonic missile - its speed will exceed Mach 5 - and hypervelocity, which will have manoeuvring capabilities throughout the flight. This represents a real technological breakthrough.
The Rafale F5 will have to carry this heavy missile. It will therefore require a new engine, conformal fuel tanks, as well as improved radar detection, connectivity and electronic warfare countermeasures.
Its successor, the Scaf, will carry the final version of this missile, with the range we asked for.
The F5 is not only synonymous with new integrated technologies and a larger wingspan. It also means the conformal fuel tanks needed to carry an M88 engine with greater thrust. Safran's work in this area will also be useful for the future Scaf aircraft due in 2040. Let's not forget that the ability to build, in a sovereign manner, engines with high thrust determines the entire fighter aircraft.
[About financing]
It's still unclear. It wasn't provided for in the LPM, because we asked Safran to make the Rafale F5 manoeuvrable with ASN4G. I think this is essential. So if we have to make savings elsewhere in the Rafale programme, we will do so to ensure that we benefit from this engine.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
So F4 will be the last true Rafale fighter jet, right?digging into the CEMAAE hearing:
you'll find quite a few details about the Rafale F5 and its engines:
The F5 is another Rafale. This new aircraft is to carry the ASN4G, the future hypersonic missile - its speed will exceed Mach 5 - and hypervelocity, which will have manoeuvring capabilities throughout the flight. This represents a real technological breakthrough.
The Rafale F5 will have to carry this heavy missile. It will therefore require a new engine, conformal fuel tanks, as well as improved radar detection, connectivity and electronic warfare countermeasures.
Its successor, the Scaf, will carry the final version of this missile, with the range we asked for.
The F5 is not only synonymous with new integrated technologies and a larger wingspan. It also means the conformal fuel tanks needed to carry an M88 engine with greater thrust. Safran's work in this area will also be useful for the future Scaf aircraft due in 2040. Let's not forget that the ability to build, in a sovereign manner, engines with high thrust determines the entire fighter aircraft.
[About financing]
It's still unclear. It wasn't provided for in the LPM, because we asked Safran to make the Rafale F5 manoeuvrable with ASN4G. I think this is essential. So if we have to make savings elsewhere in the Rafale programme, we will do so to ensure that we benefit from this engine.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
F5 & F4/F3 will be more like F18 SH & F18.
Les Émirats arabes unis pourraient cofinancer le T-Rex, le futur moteur du Rafale
The United Arab Emirates could co-finance the T-Rex, the Rafale's future engine