Dassault Rafale - Updates and Discussion

Innominate said:
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.

frenchies are 5 years late but hey better late thn never, oui?
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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)
 
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Optimist said:
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
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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)
 
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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.


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.
 
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