The slow death of the mother of all tenders. Dassault "Rafale". Multirole fighter. (France) Raphael fighter

Dassault Rafale is a French 4th generation multi-role fighter aircraft developed by Dassault Aviation. This machine is a completely French project - engines, weapons, avionics, as well as own production and is currently the last aircraft created without American or other foreign help. Development of the Rafale aircraft began in 1983, 2 years before France officially withdrew from the program to create a promising European fighter FEFA, which was later called Eurofighter 2000. Rafale, like the Eurofighter, is intended for use as a strike fighter-bomber and interceptor , capable of performing air superiority and air defense missions, as well as bombing ground targets.

In 1983, Dassault developed an experimental combat aircraft, Avion de Combat Experimentale (ACX), as part of a national program. France withdrew from the EFA project due to the fact that its armed forces, and especially Navy, wanted to get a compact and lightweight car, the weight of which was about 8 thousand kg. The ACX demonstration prototype weighing 9.5 thousand kg was being completed at that time. It first flew on July 4, 1986 and helped test the aerodynamic design, characteristics, configuration, system remote control, as well as a design with extensive use of composite materials for the Avion de Combat Tactique project.

The ACX was later renamed Rafale A. It was initially powered by two General Electric F404-GE-400 bypass turbojet engines. After 460 test flights, which included landing on the deck of the aircraft carrier Clemenceau (touch and go-around), one engine (left) was replaced with the SNECMA M88-2, which was developed specifically for the Rafale.

The Rafale fighter was made according to the “duck” design, has a mid-mounted delta wing, with a high-mounted front horizontal tail. The wing is equipped with two-section slats and single-section elevons.

The main material for the wing is carbon fiber. The ends of the consoles and the fairing at the junction of the wing and fuselage are made of Kevlar; the slats are made of titanium alloys. 50% of the fuselage is made of carbon fiber; Aluminum-lithium alloys are used for the side casing panels. In total, in the Rafale airframe design, composites account for 20% by area and 25% by weight. As a result, the weight of the airframe decreased by 300 kilograms.

A deck-based version of the fighter was developed for the French Navy, designated Rafale M. It is distinguished by a reinforced chassis and airframe design, the presence of a brake hook under the rear fuselage, a built-in retractable ladder, and so on. The Telemir system is installed at the end of the keel, which ensures the exchange of data between the aircraft carrier's navigation equipment and the aircraft's navigation system. As a result of all modifications, the Rafale M fighter became 500 kg heavier than the Rafale C.

Rafale aircraft are equipped with landing gear manufactured by Messier-Dowty. On Rafale modifications C and B, the main supports have one tire each, and the front one has two tires. On the decked Rafale M, the front support is self-orienting. When towing, it rotates almost 360 degrees.

On Rafale fighters, all supports are retracted forward. All wheels are equipped with carbon brakes manufactured by Messier-Bugatti.

On single-seat Rafale C and M, the cabin is equipped with a Martin-Baker Mk.16 ejection seat, which ensures safe exit of the aircraft on the ground when parked. The lantern opens to the right on side hinges. In the control cabin, the instrument panel houses three digital LCD multifunction displays. In the center is a tactical display that serves to display flight and navigation information and information received from various sensors. On the sides there are displays displaying information about the operation of engines, hydraulic, fuel, oxygen and electrical systems, as well as other equipment.

The Rafale's power plant is two Snecma M88-2E4 bypass turbojet engines. The thrust of each is 4970 kgf (in afterburner mode - 7445 kgf). For Snecma, developing the M88 engine was quite a difficult task. The customer needed an engine capable of operating reliably during maneuverable air combat and during a high-speed breakthrough of the air defense system at low altitude. Those. the requirements included a long service life, low fuel consumption in various flight modes and a high thrust-to-weight ratio. Snecma chose a twin-shaft engine, which was later to become the ancestor of the third generation of French-made engines.

The M88 engine development program officially began in 1986. In February 1989, the first bench test of the engine took place, and in February 1990, flight tests began on the demonstration Rafale A. Final certification occurred in 1996.

To obtain an engine with high performance, the developers used various advanced technologies in the engine design. For example, compressor disks were made monolithically with blades in the turbine design high pressure Monocrystalline blades were used, and powder technology was used to manufacture turbine disks. The engine design uses ceramic coatings, a low-emission combustion chamber and composite materials. The creators of the turbofan engines were tasked with ensuring the minimum possible thermal signature of the fighter and reducing smoke in order to reduce visual signature.

A multi-stage approach was used to create the engine.

On single-seat fighters Rafale C and M, 5900 liters of fuel are stored in the internal tanks, and on two-seat Rafale B - 5300 liters. On 5 of the 14 external suspension units it is possible to accommodate external fuel tanks of various capacities. Fuel tanks with a capacity of 1250 liters are suspended on 4 underwing units, and on the central one - with a capacity of 2000 liters.

Rafale aircraft are armed with a 30-mm Nexter DEFA 791B cannon with a rate of fire of 2,500 rounds per minute. Ammunition - 125 armor-piercing incendiary tracer cartridges OPIT with a bottom fuse.

Missile weapons consist of:
- air-to-air missiles: AIM-9, AIM-132, AIM-120, MICA, Mazhik II, MBDA Meteor;
- air-to-surface missiles: Apache, Storm Shadow, AM.39, AASM, ASMP with a nuclear warhead.

Tests and combat use

The experimental Rafale A fighter made its first flight in July 1986. The first aircraft in the Rafale C variant (single-seat fighter-interceptor) took off in May 1991, and the first carrier-based Rafale M aircraft, intended for arming French aircraft carriers, took off in December of the same year. According to the serial production plan, 86 and 235 aircraft will be delivered to the French Navy and Air Force, respectively.

The first combat use of the Rafale took place in March 2007 during the NATO operation in Afghanistan. In addition, these aircraft, starting from March 2011, were used in the NATO operation in Libya against Gaddafi’s troops.

The operation of the Rafale was not without incident.
On December 6, 2007, a Rafale B modification fighter carrying out a training flight, flying from the Saint-Dizier air force base, crashed at 18:30 near the village of Nevik (central France). The cause of the crash was a failure in the fly-by-wire flight control system. Captain Emmanuel Moruse - the pilot of the plane was killed.

On September 24, 2009, two Rafale M modification fighters, 30 kilometers from the city of Perpignan, fell into the Mediterranean Sea as a result of a collision. The accident occurred at 18:10, during the return of the vehicles to the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. The cause of the disaster, according to the Accident Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Defense, was human factor. The pilot of one fighter, captain second rank Francois Duflo, was killed. The pilot of the second, captain of the third rank Jean Beaufil, ejected.

On November 28, 2010, a Rafale M modification fighter, returning to the Charles de Gaulle, fell into the Arabian Sea after completing a combat mission to support coalition forces in Afghanistan. The accident happened 100 kilometers off the coast of Pakistan. The reason was a technical malfunction. The ejected pilot was picked up by a rescue helicopter.

On July 2, 2012, a French Rafale carrier-based fighter crashed during a training exercise. The incident occurred in the Mediterranean Sea with a vehicle based on the Charles de Gaulle. The pilot ejected and was picked up by an American helicopter. Joint exercises of French and American aircraft carriers were carried out in the Mediterranean.

The Rafale is in service with the French Air Force and Navy.
The Air Force accepted the aircraft into service in 2006. As of 2012, 38 Rafale B and 37 Rafale C vehicles were accepted.

The navy adopted the Rafale M in 2004. As of 2012, there were 36 aircraft.

In addition, Rafale won the Indian tender and took part in tenders for the supply of fighters to Brazil and the UAE. On January 31, 2012, Rafale won the international MMRCA tender

Modifications:
Rafale A – experimental demonstration Rafale. It was slightly larger and heavier compared to the Rafale C/M aircraft. It was equipped with a pair of F404-GE-400 engines with a thrust of 6800 kg (16 thousand pounds), on their basis the M88 engine was developed.
Rafale B – two-seater, ground-based. It was ordered as a training version of the Rafale C, with all functionality retained.
Rafale C is a multi-role land-based combat aircraft. Originally designated Rafale D, renamed in 1990. The French Air Force requested 250 aircraft in single and double versions.
Rafale M is a carrier-based single-seat multi-role aircraft. Similar to the Rafale C, but equipped with a landing hook, as well as a modified nose strut with variable length. The Navy requested 86 vehicles.

Flight- specifications Rafale:
Crew – 1-2 people;
Aircraft length – 15.3 m;
Height – 5.3 m;
Wing span – 10.9 m;
Wing area – 45.7 m²;
Weight empty plane– 10000 kg;
Normal take-off weight – 14710 kg;
Maximum take-off weight – 24500 kg;
Payload weight – 9500 kg;
Fuel weight – 4700 kg;
Fuel mass in outboard fuel engines – 6700 kg;
Engine – 2 two-circuit turbojet SNECMA M88-2 with afterburner;
Dry engine weight – 897 kg;
Maximum thrust – 5100 kgf for each engine;
Afterburner thrust - 7500 kgf for each engine;
Gas temperature in front of the turbine – 1577 °C;
Maximum speed – Mach 1.8 (1900 km/h);
Combat radius (in the fighter-interceptor version) - 1093 km;
Combat radius – 1800 km
Service ceiling – 15240 m;
Rate of climb – 305 m/s.

Victor Belyaev

Continuation. Beginning No. 9/2009

The Rafale fighter is equipped with an avionics complex (total weight 720 kg), consisting of several various systems, integrated with each other in order to provide the pilot with the maximum possible information about the tactical situation. This process involves the RBE2 airborne radar, the passive optoelectronic and thermal imaging forward looking system (OSF) and the Spectra electronic radar system. All received data is analyzed in a single computer and displayed on the main tactical display on the dashboard. The passive OSF system, not subject to external influences, has higher angular resolution than radar. On the other hand, radar provides more accurate range determination and can track a larger number of targets. The Spectra system, by analyzing the operation of the enemy's radar, can accurately determine the coordinates of the target. Comparing all the data received from various sensors makes it possible to more accurately identify the nature of the threat and its location. Avionics on the Rafale fighter takes on a significant part analytical work, taking the pressure off the pilot and allowing him to pay more attention to completing the task at hand. A multi-channel weapons control system can simultaneously combat air and ground targets, for example, an on-board radar is involved in detecting and suppressing ground targets, and the FSO system searches for and tracks air targets.

The Rafale fighter became the first in Europe to receive the Thales RBE2 (Radar and Balayage Electronique 2) multi-mode airborne radar with a passive phased array antenna (PFAR) as part of its equipment. The Thales company managed to obtain a relatively small radar capable of detecting targets at a considerable distance. The small dimensions of the radar made it possible to place it under the nose cone of the Rafal aircraft, which has small dimensions. The RBE2 radar and its electronics can withstand high shock loads when landing an aircraft on the deck of an aircraft carrier. Flight testing of the RBE2 station began in July 1992 at the Dassault Aviation Mister 20 flying laboratory. First, five aircraft took part in the flight testing of the radar, which took place in Istra: three Mister 20 flying laboratories and two Mirage fighters. 2000. Then they were joined by the experienced Rafale B01 and M02 fighters, and then by the Rafale Ml, B301 and B302 production aircraft. The first production set of RBE2 radars was delivered in October 1997. On Rafale fighters that meet the F1 standard, the stations provide only work on air targets. Appeared on F2 standard fighters limited opportunity use radar to detect stationary ground targets, and on F3 standard aircraft they will become fully multi-mode.

The terrain following system in 1999 allowed flight over land at an altitude of at least 150 m. By 2002, this altitude was reduced to 90 m. Over water, the aircraft can fly at an altitude of 30 m. In the future, the flight altitude over land will be reduced up to 30 m, and above water - up to 15 m.

The RBE2 radar can detect targets at long distances and simultaneously track up to 40 air targets (flying at different altitudes, including those against the background of the earth's surface) in any weather and in conditions of strong radio interference. After processing the information received, the station identifies eight priority targets against which air-to-air missiles are used, in particular MICA missiles with an active radar guidance system. All eight missiles are launched at 2 s intervals. After this, the radar continues to track the remaining 32 targets, while simultaneously adjusting the flight of the missiles. Tests have shown that maneuvering air targets can be destroyed with the help of PFAR.

When performing a mission to destroy ground targets, the RBE2 radar provides accurate navigation in flight at low and high altitudes, search and tracking of stationary and mobile targets, determining the range to them, as well as flight following the terrain. In the latter case, the station forms on the display a three-dimensional image of the terrain ahead of the aircraft, which must be overcome. Thus, the electronic scanning system plays a role in improving the operational safety of an aircraft in low-altitude, high-speed flight.

Thales RBE2 radar with PFAR

Ball-shaped fairing of OSF system sensors in front of the cockpit of the Rafale C fighter

Container with RECO-NG reconnaissance system

Thanks to its open architecture, the RBE2 station has significant potential for further improvement. For example, on Rafale aircraft of the F3 standard it is planned to introduce a synthetic aperture mode, which will allow obtaining digital map high resolution terrain. On this map, regardless of the weather and time of day, it will be possible to see targets and determine their exact position.

Anti-ship operations are quite specific, so the RBE2 station will be improved to detect and track surface targets taking into account heavy seas. First, the surface target search mode will be used on F2 standard aircraft, and F3 standard aircraft will already be able to use anti-ship missiles.

The work of the on-board radar is complemented by an optoelectronic and thermal imaging complex, consisting of three systems: the previously mentioned OSF system, a suspended container with a DAMOCLES laser target designator, and a suspended container with new generation reconnaissance equipment RECO-NG.

The OSF (Optronique Sector Frontale) system was developed by Thales and Sagem: the first is responsible for the optoelectronic part of the system, and the second is responsible for the thermal imaging part. OSF system sensors are installed on the nose cone of the aircraft in front of the windshield of the cockpit canopy, with their help providing a continuous view of the front hemisphere. The OSF system is passive, i.e. its operation does not unmask the fighter, allowing it to quietly detect and identify enemy aircraft, even without using radar.

Operating in a range of different infrared wavelengths and having a wide viewing angle, the OSF system can search for air and ground targets at a fairly large distance. It consists of two modules (a thermal sensor and a television camera capable of operating in low light conditions) associated with a laser rangefinder. The functions of detecting and tracking a large number of targets are taken over by a thermal sensor, and target identification and determination of the distance to it is performed by a television-laser module. The OSF system has been tested on the Mister 20 flying laboratory, on the experimental Rafale M02 and B01 fighters, and on the Rafale B301 and B302 production aircraft. It became standard only on F2 standard aircraft, but this system will begin to operate in full in 2011 - 2012.

The DAMOCLES laser target designator, developed by Thales, belongs to a new generation of such systems. It is capable of providing control of existing and future aviation precision weapons, such as laser-guided GBU-12 "Paveway" KAB and KAB equipped with an AASM control kit. The target designator is located in a hanging container; its weight (including the container) is 250 kg. It is a further development of the ATLIS laser designators (used until recently on Jaguar fighter-bombers and Super Etandar carrier-based aircraft) and PDL-CT and PDL-CTS (used on Mirage 2000D aircraft). The DAMOCLES system uses new sensing elements and laser technology to allow target recognition at a greater distance. This, in turn, makes it possible to drop the spacecraft from significantly higher altitudes and at a distance that ensures safety from the effects of short- and medium-range air defense systems. The target designator has two fields of view: wide 4°x3° and narrow 1°x0.5°. It includes a laser rangefinder (operating wavelength 1 μm), fully compliant with NATO standard STANAG 3733, and a laser spot tracking system (wavelength 1.06 μm). The target designator has high resolution, so it can be used for reconnaissance purposes and to assess the consequences of a bomb attack.

The DAMOCLES target designator is easy to maintain and costs less than similar systems produced previously. Its design is capable of withstanding high shock loads when landing a fighter on the deck of an aircraft carrier.

It is expected that in 2010, Rafale fighters will be equipped with a suspended container with an improved JOANNA optoelectronic target designation system, created jointly by French and British firms. This system can also be used for navigation purposes. Its flight tests have been conducted since the end of 2005.

To conduct aerial reconnaissance on the Rafal fighter, the RECO-NG suspended container, designed by Thales, is used. The characteristics of the system are classified, but it is known that it allows obtaining high-quality images of distant objects. To improve efficiency, sensors installed in the container operate in different wavelength ranges, and digital processing is used to process the resulting images. The RECO-NG container has a real-time data transmission system. The pilot reads the necessary information from the display on the helmet-mounted sight-indicator. It is planned to purchase 23 RECO-NG containers (15 for the Air Force and eight for the Navy).

The “man-machine” interface used on the Rafale fighter allows the pilot’s work to be significantly simplified. He is constantly improving. On fighters of the F3 standard, to more effectively provide the pilot with information about the air situation, the VTAS voice control system will be used in conjunction with a helmet-mounted sight-indicator. Its development began in the early 1990s. Flight tests of the VTAS system were first carried out on Dassault-Breguet-Dornier Alpha Jet trainer aircraft and Mirage III fighter aircraft, and later it was tested on Rafale aircraft. When creating the system, special attention was paid to speech recognition, since the background noise in the cabin changes depending on the flight mode (speed, altitude, overload). Overload and stressful situations affect the pilot's voice. Specialists from Dassault Aviation and Thales had to make a lot of effort to solve many problems. Currently, at the customer's request, the VTAS system can be supplied with a vocabulary of 90 to 300 words. The speech recognition rate has been increased to 95%, and the control system response time has been increased to 200 ms. The VTAS system also serves as a pilot assistant in emergency situations.

An important element of the avionics complex is the helmet-mounted sight-indicator. First, for the Rafale fighter, the Sextant company developed the Topsite system, integrated with an oxygen mask. It was a rather complex design, which, due to technical problems and incomplete funding, could not be brought to the required parameters. Therefore, the leadership of the French Air Force began to seriously search for alternative options. In the end, the struggle unfolded between the Israeli company Elbit Systems, which proposed the JHMCS helmet-mounted system, and the Thales company (which included the Sextant company), which developed the Topsite-E system.

The developers were tasked with ensuring the display of flight and navigation information on the helmet-mounted display and aiming in a wide range of heading angles. With the help of a helmet-mounted indicator sight, so-called “over-the-shoulder shooting” becomes a reality. The French company won the competition. Its Topsite-E system was first introduced on the Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets, and since 2008 it began to appear on Rafale aircraft that meet the F3 standard. The TopSight-E system can be integrated with various models of flight helmets, including the lightweight helmet developed by CGF-Halle and recently ordered for Rafale fighter pilots.

Back in 2005, some experts considered it inappropriate to purchase large quantity two-seater Rafale B aircraft and believed that the fighter’s man-machine interface was flawed. However, the majority stated that the wide-angle HUD, multifunctional color displays with tactile controls and other systems used on the aircraft made it possible to create a cockpit on the aircraft that has no analogues. Two-seat Rafale B fighters will make it possible to carry out new missions that were previously unheard of. For example, they can be used as flying command posts during complex strike operations or control posts for UCAV-type combat unmanned aircraft (UCAV). The combined use of manned and unmanned aircraft will become evident in the future, especially when gaining air superiority requires destroying enemy air defense systems.

The Rafale fighter is equipped with two Sazhem Spark inertial navigation systems with ring laser gyroscopes and a GPS satellite system, which provide fully autonomous navigation. Therefore, flight does not require guidance from ground navigation aids, which can be easily disabled. Built on the principle of open architecture, the navigation complex receives information from various sources: through the GPS system, the air data measurement system and the Thales AHV-17 radar altimeter, which tracks the terrain.

The aircraft uses the highly effective Spectra electronic warfare system. During its development, all achievements in the field of creating air defense and electronic warfare systems were taken into account, and the possibility of installing more effective fire control systems on fighter aircraft was also taken into account. The development of the complex was carried out jointly by the Thales company and the MBDA concern. All of him electronic systems located only inside the aircraft. The Spectra complex provides detection electromagnetic radiation; warns of laser irradiation and approaching guided missiles using passive infrared detection; carries out radio countermeasures and staging passive interference in the form of dipole reflectors and heat traps. The complex includes four modules, as well as sensors, which provide control over the surrounding airspace in 360° azimuth.

Recent advances in the field of microelectronics have made it possible to create a very light and compact system that is significantly less energy-intensive and does not require large amounts of power for cooling. Thanks to modern digital technologies The Spectra system can passively detect targets at long distances, identify them and assess the degree of threat. Based on the information received, the pilot can immediately take protective actions: turn on the electronic radar system, shoot out dipole reflectors or heat traps, or vigorously maneuver away from the threat. The technical data of the Spectra system are classified, however, it is known that it points in the direction of a potential threat with high accuracy in conditions of powerful electromagnetic fields and very quickly identifies it.

The Spectra complex includes a high-performance processor, the memory of which accumulates data on various targets. Thus, a large database is formed on board the Rafale fighter, using which the pilot does not have constant contact with external electronic and electronic intelligence equipment. With further improvement of the Spectra system, data exchange channels may appear, as a result of which two Rafale fighters can triangulate to determine the coordinates of a potential threat with an accuracy of up to a meter. It should also be noted that the Spectra system can be reprogrammed during flight.

IN last years The threat from man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), such as the Russian Strela and Igla-M systems and the American Stinger system, has sharply increased. Therefore, the fighter has a system of sensors that warn of laser irradiation from the shooter-operators of these complexes. Sensors are located on both sides of the nose cone and rear fuselage, providing all-round visibility. It is also mandatory to have sensors on the aircraft that warn of the approach of missile launchers that have a thermal seeker. For self-defense purposes, heat traps or optoelectronic decoys can be used. To shoot them, the plane has four built-in devices.

Fairing of the Spectra electronic reconnaissance system on the vertical tail of the Rafale M aircraft

The Spectra REP complex is not only a means of self-defense, it is closely connected with the RBE2 radar and the OSF system. Thus, the pilot’s awareness of the tactical situation in the surrounding space is significantly improved: signals from all sensors form a single picture that helps the pilot to correctly assess the situation. Based on the data received by the Spectra complex, a color tactical display in the cockpit displays a map of the area indicating dangerous areas that the pilot must avoid.

Flight tests of the Spectra complex on the Rafal aircraft began in September 1996. An experienced M02 carrier-based fighter was converted for its installation. The complex was tested under various electronic warfare scenarios. For example, in April 2000, the Rafale M02 aircraft took part in the Mace X NATO exercise in southwestern France. These exercises involved various air defense systems, including anti-aircraft missile systems(SAM) "Krotal" NG and "Aspix", an improved air defense system "Hawk Advance" (in service with Denmark), the Danish army air defense system against low-flying aircraft DALLADS, the Norwegian advanced air defense system NASAMS, as well as the Soviet "Osa" air defense systems that came to the West. (SA-8) and Tor-M1 (SA-15). The Rafale M02 aircraft completed all assigned tasks without any problems.

Currently, the Spectra system is being mass-produced and adopted for service. According to the developers, it has great potential in its development. It is planned to include a towed radar target and a laser system designed to destroy approaching missiles with a thermal seeker. Engineers from Dassault Aviation and Thales are confident that the Spectra REP system is already capable of protecting the aircraft from all existing threats and from those that may appear in the next few years. Therefore, a deep modernization of this system will not be required soon.

In modern air combat, success is determined by the availability of the necessary information and knowledge of the tactical situation. In the future, the key concept will be “network-centric warfare,” when all involved assets, down to each soldier, will become connected by a single information network with access to a central command post. With the help of promising technologies, a global military information system (“infosphere”) will be formed, which will make it possible to keep combat operations under control and exchange tactical information as quickly as possible. As a result, all armed forces will operate in a single “combat information space.”

From the very beginning of the development of the Rafale fighter, it was built into the ability to exchange tactical information. For this purpose, it was equipped with the Link 16 system, which is used by the armed forces of France and some NATO countries. This system was created jointly by specialists from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the USA. It turned out to be quite light (its unit has a mass of 29 kg) and is capable of transmitting and receiving information at a speed of 200 KB/s. Using the Link 16 system, each Rafale fighter has access to data received by other aircraft (including AWACS aircraft) and ground surveillance equipment. This system radically changes the tactics of air warfare, as it allows a fighter, through the exchange of data about targets, to quietly approach and attack a target.

Digital technologies were widely used in the development of the Link 16 system. The Europeans, together with their American partners, have created an effective and reliable system, which includes the TACAN tactical navigation system. The Link 16 system has two antennas that provide all-round visibility. Tests of this system first took place on the Mister 20 flying laboratory and the Mirage 2000 fighter. Then it was installed on the Rafale aircraft, from which information was successfully exchanged with a ground simulator. During exercises in the summer of 2001, two Rafale fighters equipped with the Link 16 system successfully interacted with the Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye carrier-based AWACS aircraft, which was equipped with a similar American system JTIDS.

The first production Link 16 complex was installed on the Rafale fighter in 2003. It was fully operational on aircraft that meet the F2 standard. In the future, it is planned to connect this complex with the GPS satellite system, which will significantly improve the quality of the information exchange process. For non-NATO countries, Dassault Aviation and Thales have developed an LX-UHF data transmission system comparable in many respects to the Link 16 system.

All radio equipment of the fighter is combined with the Have Quick protection system, and the identification equipment and the failure information distribution system (MIDS-LVT) were designed with the participation of NATO specialists.

In 1999, Thales announced that in order to expand the export potential of the Rafale fighter, it would be offered on the foreign market with the RBE2 radar with AFAR. Despite the fact that the RBE2 station already outperforms older mechanical scanning radars, its full potential has not yet been realized. The Thales company began work on radar with AFAR in the 1990s and has achieved great progress in this area. She is working on several programs that create AFARs for land, sea and air carriers. These studies are being conducted in parallel with the European program for creating a multi-mode solid-state AFAR AMSAR, which in the future can be installed on Rafale and Typhoon fighters during routine maintenance.

A prototype of the AFAR was flight tested in 2003, first on the Mister 20 aircraft, and then on one of the experimental Rafale fighters. Its design used American transceiver modules (RPM). The serial AFAR must have PPMs produced by European companies.

In July 2004, a contract worth 90 million euros was signed for the development of AFAR and its integration into the design of the RBE2 station. Fully equipped radar with symbol RBE2-AA, should be ready by 2012. The new APAA consists of 1000 solid-state transceiver modules (STM) using gallium arsenide. With their help, the radiation power and target detection range are increased, and the reliability of the antenna is increased. If the receiving or transmitting device fails, most conventional radars become useless. The failure of several PPMs of an AFAR has virtually no effect on its operating mode. Reception and primary processing of reflected signals is carried out in each module, which allows you to scan the space in wide area at very high speed. The new antenna will increase the angular aperture of the RBE2-AA station to ±70° (for radars with PFAR, the aperture is ±60°), and the range will increase by at least 50%.

Gun G/AT30M 791

Fighter "Rafal" M with two VP "Mazhik" 2 on the wingtips

The open architecture of the modern RBE2 station ensures its further development. The Thales company believes that PFAR and AFAR will be completely interchangeable, no changes in processors will be required, minor changes in software and some modifications in the electrical system will be necessary. It was assumed that the RBE2-AA radar would appear in service in 2006, first on export versions of Rafale fighters. In the future, this station will be installed on aircraft in service with the French Air Force and Navy.

Rafale C/V fighters have 14 external hardpoints: two located one behind the other under the central part of the fuselage, two on the engine air intake ducts, two on the sides of the rear fuselage, six under the wing and two on the wingtips. On the carrier-based Rafale M aircraft there are 13 nodes, since there is no forward ventral node. It was already noted above that five external nodes are specifically designed to accommodate the PTB. The normal combat load is 6000 kg. According to the Dassault Aviation company, all components can accommodate a load weighing up to 9500 kg, due to the strength of the airframe structure. To ensure that the aircraft can carry aircraft weapons used in NATO countries, all 14 external hardpoints meet the relevant standards.

The aircraft have a built-in GIAT 30 M 791 cannon, which the developers consider to be the world's only single-barrel 30 mm cannon with a rate of fire of 2,500 rounds per minute. Projectiles with high penetrating power and incendiary properties were specially developed for the cannon. The speed of the projectile when exiting the barrel is 1,025 m/s. The compartment with the gun, which has a mass of 120 kg, is integrated into the design of the right air intake. The gun's ammunition capacity is 125 shells; when firing, 21 shells are fired every half second. The effective firing range at an air target is 2500 m. When a projectile jams, a special pyrotechnic device releases it. The two-seat version of the carrier-based fighter does not have a cannon.

A prototype of the 30 M 791 cannon was manufactured in 1991. Tests of the cannon were carried out in Istra on the Mirage III fighter, on which it was placed in a special hanging container. The first cannon firing on the Rafale C01 fighter took place in 1993. Its tests took place in various conditions: during combat turns with an overload of about 9, in conditions of high humidity, in a wide temperature range, etc. It was confirmed that the design of the fighter withstands the loads and vibrations that occur when firing at a maximum rate of fire of 2500 rounds per minute. The final tests of the gun on the serial two-seater Rafale B301 aircraft were carried out in 2000 -

2001 at the test site in Cazeaux in southwestern France. After their completion, the 30 M 791 gun was certified and put into mass production. IN

In 2002, it entered service with the Rafale M carrier-based fighters, and in 2004 it became part of the armament of the Rafale S/V fighters.

Matra - BAE Dynamics UR R550 "Mazhik" 2 with a passive thermal seeker was used as an air-to-air guided missile weapon on Rafale fighters of the F1 standard. The aircraft could carry two missiles located on the wingtips. The Magik 2 missile launcher appeared in service with the French Air Force in 1985 and became the main weapon of the Mirage 2000 V/S fighters. It is capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 20 km (minimum firing range of 300 m) and performing maneuvers with an overload of 8. The 2.75 m long missile has a cylindrical body with a diameter of 157 mm and a cruciform wing with a span of 660 mm. The launch weight of the rocket is 89 kg. It is equipped with a solid propellant engine (solid propellant engine), providing a flight speed corresponding to the number M › 2.

On Rafale fighters of the F2 standard, the main air-to-air weapon is the MICA (Missile cTlnterception, de Combat et cTAutodefence) medium-range missile, designed to intercept air targets, conduct maneuverable air combat at short ranges and self-defense. The aircraft can carry up to eight MICA missiles.

Research on the rocket began by Matra in the late 1970s, and full-scale development began in 1982. The MICA missile has a launch mass of 112 kg and a warhead weight of 12 kg. Its length is 3.1 m, body diameter is 165 mm, wingspan is 560 mm. With the help of a solid propellant rocket engine it can reach a speed corresponding to the number M = 2.6. The MICA missile is characterized by extremely high maneuverability: with the help of a thrust-vectoring engine, developed tail surfaces and highly efficient control surfaces, it is capable of performing maneuvers with an overload of 50. The flight range is 60 km.

UR MICA IR with thermal GSP

MBDA "Meteor"

KAB equipped with A ASM guidance kit

The Rafale fighter's armament includes two missile variants: MICA EM with an active radar guidance system and MICA IR with a thermal imaging seeker. The first tests of the MICA EM missile began in 1991, and the MICA IR missile in 1995. After launch, the MICA EM missile independently flies to the target, and at this time the fighter quickly leaves the area, thereby avoiding an enemy attack. With the help of such missiles, a pilot can simultaneously hit several air targets. The MICA IR missile is designed to replace the R550 "Mazhik" 2 missile. The new generation thermal imaging seeker installed on it has high resolution. Using the Topsite-E helmet-mounted sight, the missile can be aimed at a target flying on a parallel course.

The appearance in other countries of more advanced air-to-air missiles with an increased flight range (AMRAAM, R-33, R-77, RVV-AE) forced the French Ministry of Defense to consider the possibility of installing similar missiles on the Rafale fighter. In June 1999, during the Paris Aerospace Exhibition, information first appeared about France’s readiness to join in the development of the European Meteor missile launcher. France officially became a participant in the development in 2001. The Meteor missile was developed by the European rocket consortium MBDA as part of the BVRAAM program, which provides for the creation of an air-to-air missile capable of hitting targets beyond visual range. Firms from Germany, Spain, Italy and Sweden also take part in its design. The Meteor missile was first intended for the Eurofighter EF2000 Typhoon and SAAB JAS 39 Gripen fighters.

The Meteor missile launcher is equipped with a ramjet engine, thanks to which it is capable of reaching speeds corresponding to the number M › 4. The length of the rocket is 3.65 m, the launch weight is 185 kg. The missile is capable of hitting air targets at ranges from 20 to 100 km. It has an inertial guidance system, and at the final stage of the flight it is controlled using an active radar seeker. The Meteor missile launcher should be included in the armament of Rafale fighters that meet the F4 standard from 2012. It is currently undergoing flight tests.

For attacks on ground targets, bombs (conventional and guided) and tactical missiles are used. The fighter can carry up to 22 conventional bombs with a caliber of 227 kg or six KAB GBU-12 "Paveway" II of a similar caliber. In the late 1990s, France began developing an inexpensive modular AASM kit designed for installation on conventional air-to-surface weapons to improve hit accuracy. The AASM kit provides all-weather use of weapons, it includes an inertial satellite navigation system INS/GPS and a thermal imaging guidance system at the final stage of the flight. More than 30 companies took part in the competition announced by the French Ministry of Defense, of which Sagem (currently part of the Safran industrial group) was chosen in 2000. Sagem received a contract to supply the French Air Force and Navy with 3,000 AASM kits, the first of which was delivered in 2005. The Rafale aircraft can carry six AASM kits, placed in threes on two underwing pylons. Testing of the AASM system began at the end of July 2006 at the Cazeaux test site.

The first AASM kit was intended to equip bombs with a caliber of 227 kg (similar to the American Mk.82 bombs). Subsequently, a modification of the KAB was developed, equipped with a set of drop-down wings and a solid propellant rocket engine. As a result, a spacecraft dropped from an altitude of 13,700 m can make a controlled flight over a distance of 50 km, and when dropped from a low altitude, over a distance of 15 km. The use of the INS/GPS system provides a hit accuracy of 9 - 14 m, and the use of a thermal imaging system - 1 - 3 m. Having six CABs on board, the Rafale aircraft can simultaneously strike six different targets.

Tactical missile system SCALP EG

Anti-ship missile AM-39 "Exocet" on the Rafale fighter

ASMP-A medium-range air-to-surface missile

The French Air Force and Navy ordered 3,000 AASM sets (2,250 and 750 sets, respectively) to be mounted on 227 kg bombs. In the future, kits for bombs with calibers of 454 and 910 kg will be supplied.

More advanced air-to-surface weapons are the MBDA Apache and Storm LLtafloy/SCALP EG tactical missile launchers. The Apache missile, equipped with a cluster warhead, is designed to destroy runways. The Apache missile launcher has low thermal and radar signature, which allows it to easily hide in the folds of the terrain. Its warhead includes 10 Krise submunitions, which can be fired sideways and vertically downwards. The missile's flight range is 140 km.

The Storm Shadow missile launcher/SCALP EG has a flight range of up to 500 km and is equipped with one penetrating warhead capable of hitting underground structures. The power plant consists of one small Microturbo TRI60-30 turbojet engine with a thrust of 540 kgf. After launching from an aircraft, the missile launcher independently flies to the target using a GPS satellite navigation system and a terrain tracking system. At the final section of the trajectory, a passive thermal imaging guidance system begins to operate. The rockets are loaded into the on-board computer before launch digital images a given target and its surrounding area. In flight, virtual images are compared with real ones, thereby achieving high accuracy. The French Ministry of Defense plans to purchase 500 Storm Shadow/SCALP EG missiles (450 for the Air Force and 50 for the Navy).

To combat surface ships, the Rafale M carrier-based fighter can carry AM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles. The development of the first modification of the MM-38 missile, intended for deployment on ships, began in the late 1960s by Aerospatial. In the early 1970s, a modification of the AM-38 was created, which was first placed on Super Frelon helicopters. The improved AM-39 anti-ship missile system entered service in 1979. Subsequently, it was modernized several times.

The AM-39 Exoset missile has a launch mass of 670 kg and a warhead mass of 165 kg. The length of the rocket is 4.7 m, the body diameter is 350 mm, the wingspan is 1.1 m. The rocket uses a solid propellant rocket engine. The control system is combined - inertial and radar. The flight range of the Exocet anti-ship missile system is 50 -72 km. The rocket can fly at an altitude of 9 - 15 m above water. The anti-ship missile system is in service with Rafale M fighters of the F3 standard.

The Rafale fighter, which meets the F3 standard, will carry a wider range of air-to-surface weapons, for example, the promising ANF anti-ship missile, designed to replace the AM-39 Exocet missiles. This rocket, equipped with a ramjet engine, is capable of flying at supersonic speed (Mach number = 2.5) over a distance of 150 - 200 km. The missile control system uses the “fire and forget” principle. Its powerful warhead is capable of penetrating the hull of any ship, and its high speed will allow it to overcome the ship's air defense system. The ANF rocket is the first member of a family of new multi-mission supersonic rockets that are being developed based on the results of the VESTA research program, during which the aerodynamics and propulsion system of future rockets were tested. The VESTA program began in 1996, and in 2002 the first test launches of experimental missiles were carried out from a ground-based installation. This program should also help reduce the technical risk of developing the ANF rocket and help obtain technologies that can reduce financial costs. In 2008 - 2010 It is planned to begin launching rockets from aircraft.

The future ASMP-A medium-range air-to-surface missile, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, also uses the results of the VESTA program. New rocket will replace the previously ASMP missile, which is carried by Mirage 2000N fighters. In design, the ASMP-A rocket is practically no different from its predecessor, but is equipped with a more powerful liquid-fueled ramjet of a new generation. Due to the increased operating time of the engine, it was possible to significantly increase the flight range (up to 500 km), while choosing the most optimal trajectories. Research on the ASMP-A rocket began in 1996, and its actual design began in 2000. The missile was supposed to reach initial operational readiness today.

(End to follow)

I note that the article only considers the situation of close-in maneuverable air combat. Moreover, from what is written in the article it follows that the Rafale in close combat at low altitudes will, as a rule, have the advantage of the first missile launch, losing it at medium and high altitudes.

The situation of mid-range missile combat is not considered in the article. In my humble opinion, the Rafale with the modernized RBE2-AA radar with AFAR and MBDA Meteor missiles will have the advantage of the first launch in a missile battle at medium range if the Su-35S aircraft is not armed with an RVV-BD missile launcher or a promising missile launcher with a ramjet engine. In this case, the Su-35S pilot will have to use active orthogonal maneuvering to disrupt enemy radar tracking while simultaneously carrying out a missile counterattack, since the capabilities of our fighter’s radar allow such an active maneuver to be performed. In this case, it is desirable to include a device for releasing towed decoy air targets into the Su-35S on-board defense complex.

Unfortunately electronic version The article is not complete. It does not contain tables or graphs.

In the early 1990s, the design was formed and flight testing of the first 5th generation fighter, the F-22, began. Experts estimated its cost from 70 to 100 million dollars, and this value seemed astronomical. That is, the new fighter was assessed as a link to the 4th generation fighters of the F-15C type. Hence, according to the “efficiency/cost” criterion, it was assumed that the combat capabilities of the new fighter should have increased more than four times.

A quarter of a century has passed, and serial production of the F-22A has ended, the production of 5th generation tactical fighters F-35A (B, C) has begun, and the military aviation of European countries has been re-equipped with 4+ generation aircraft such as EF-2000 and Rafale. These aircraft are being exported, and their prices have exceeded the wildest forecasts of previous years. Thus, France is offering India and Egypt the multifunctional light fighter "Rafale" at 120...130 million euros apiece. What kind of aircraft is this and does its efficiency correspond to such a high cost?

Flight tests of single-seat versions of the Rafale C aircraft for the French Air Force and the carrier-based Rafale M began in 1991. "Rafale" M has the characteristic differences of a carrier-based aircraft: a reinforced airframe structure, a brake hook in the rear fuselage, a more durable landing gear and a modified design of the nose strut, which allows it to withstand high shock loads when landing on the deck and ejection take-off, an automatic deck landing system and others . The Telemir system is located at the end of the keel, which ensures data exchange between the on-board navigation system and the aircraft carrier’s navigation equipment. As a result, the Rafale M became 500 kg heavier than the Rafale C aircraft.

In 1993, a two-seat version appeared - "Rafale" B, and in 2006 - its deck analogue - "Rafale" N. These aircraft are intended mainly to solve strike missions to destroy ground and sea targets. The appearance of a second crew member led to an increase in weight by 350 kg and a decrease in the fuel supply in the internal tanks. "Rafale" N lost its built-in artillery mount.

Since 2008, it was planned to enter into service with the French Air Force and Navy 198 Rafale C (B) aircraft and 35 Rafale M (N) carrier-based fighters.

Aircraft of this type had a power plant consisting of two M88-2 turbofan engines. This engine is lightweight (about 900 kg), compact (0.69 m diameter) and highly fuel efficient. The temperature of the gases in front of the turbine is almost 1580ºС, the total pressure ratio in the compressor is 24.5. Specific fuel consumption is equal at maximum operating mode with a thrust of 5100 kg CR = 0.8 kg/(kg∙hour), and at afterburner - 1.7 kg/(kg∙hour). Afterburner thrust reaches 7650 kg.

In the future, it was planned to replace the M88-2 engines with a more advanced version of the M88-3 with a 20% increase in thrust due to increased air consumption.

The Rafale family has a standard set of modern equipment typical of a 4+ and 5th generation multirole combat aircraft. The basis of the information complex is a radar with AFAR RBE-2 with electronic scanning of the beam in elevation and azimuth. The station can operate against air, ground and surface targets, generate a high-resolution digital map of the area, and provide flight in terrain following mode.

The RBE-2 airborne radar is capable of detecting a fighter-class air target with an ESR σ = 3m2 at a range of up to 90 km against the background of free space and up to 55 km against the background of the ground. In the airborne target mode, the radar can detect and simultaneously track up to 40 targets, select eight of the highest priority ones, and provide simultaneous missile guidance at four targets. The viewing area is ±70º in elevation and ±60º in azimuth. The minimum RCS of a target detected in the lower hemisphere is σ = 0.1 m2. An improved version of the RBE-2AA radar with increased radiation power will increase the target detection range by approximately 1.5 times.

The fighter is equipped with an OSF optoelectronic forward-looking system. It consists of two modules (a thermal direction finder and a television camera capable of operating in low light conditions) connected to a laser rangefinder. The functions of detecting and tracking a large number of targets are taken over by a thermal sensor, and target identification and determination of the distance to it is performed by a television-laser module.

The system is capable of detecting an enemy flying in afterburner at a range of up to 80 km, performing identification at a range of up to 50 km and determining the distance to a target at a range of 30...40 km. OSF provides simultaneous tracking of up to 10 air targets and ranking of eight of them by priority.

For action against ground targets and tracking various types reconnaissance, it is possible to place additional equipment in a hanging container.

Rafale aircraft have a high degree of protection against various air defense systems, including MANPADS. The minimum RCS of a fighter in the heading plane has been reduced to 1.5 m2. The Spectra airborne defense system includes radar and laser receivers, a built-in missile detection sensor (operating in the infrared range), a system for releasing thermal, optoelectronic and radar decoys, as well as a digitally controlled active radar jamming system. It is planned to include a towed radar target and a laser system designed to destroy incoming missiles with a thermal homing head. The aircraft uses a system for injecting a substance into the engine exhaust gas stream that temporarily blocks the radar and infrared visibility of the engine nozzle.

Thanks to modern digital technologies, the Spectra system can passively detect targets at long distances, identify them and assess the degree of threat. The BKO includes a high-performance processor, in the memory of which data on various targets is accumulated. Thus, a large database with the results of radio engineering and electronic reconnaissance is formed on board the Rafale. With further improvement of the Spectra system, data exchange channels may appear, as a result of which two Rafale fighters will be able to triangulate to determine the coordinates of a potential threat with an accuracy of up to a meter.

From the beginning of its development, Rafale was seen as an element of the global information system NATO. Its onboard complex included the ability to exchange tactical information. With the help of the Link 16 multi-functional information distribution system, each Rafale fighter will have access to data received by other aircraft (including AWACS and UAV aircraft) and ground-based surveillance equipment. This system will allow the fighter, through data exchange and the use of passive sensors, to minimize its own visibility and suddenly attack the target.

The Rafale's main weapon against air targets is the MICA air-to-air missile, capable of hitting targets at close range and beyond visual range. The rocket has a launch mass of 112 kg and is highly maneuverable. With the help of an engine with deflectable thrust vectoring, developed tail surfaces and highly efficient control surfaces, it is capable of realizing an overload of up to 50 units. Thus, MICA is similar in its parameters to the Russian R-73 short-range missile.

The Rafale fighter's armament includes two missile variants: MICA-EM with an active radar guidance system and MICA-IR with a thermal imaging homing head. Targeting missiles in close air combat can be carried out using the TopSight helmet-mounted sight. In the future, it is planned to equip the aircraft with Meteor long-range air-to-air guided missiles.

The aircraft's artillery armament includes the 30 M 791 cannon. This single-barrel 30 mm revolver cannon has a rate of fire of 2,500 rounds per minute. starting speed projectile 1025 m/s. The effective firing range at an air target is 1500 m. The ammunition load is 125 rounds, filled with projectiles with high incendiary properties and penetrating ability.

The analysis shows that the Rafale airborne system and weapons are modern in composition and characteristics and allow them to solve a wide range of combat missions. However, it is obvious that the combat capabilities aviation complex are largely determined by the characteristics of the platform on which this equipment and weapons are located. Over service life aircraft its “electronic content” can change several times, changing its combat capabilities, and even the very purpose of the aircraft. The better the flight characteristics of a combat aircraft, the higher its potential for further modernization.

The Rafale aircraft is made according to the “tailless” design with an additional all-moving front horizontal tail (PGO), a triangular mid-wing of low aspect ratio λ = 2.55, sweep angle χPK = 48º. The vertical tail is single-finned.

Airplanes of such an aerodynamic design make it possible to have a lower specific wing load (p = G/S) and a drag coefficient at zero lift (Cx0). But at the same time, this arrangement has more modest load-bearing properties, has a flatter inductive polarity (compared to the normal configuration), which significantly reduces the aerodynamic quality when maneuvering with large overloads. Due to the unfavorable interference interaction between the head and fin, aircraft of this design are prone to loss of directional stability and controllability at angles of attack α ≥ 24º. Thus, the available angle of attack of the Rafale is limited by αadd. = 22º.

We will evaluate the maneuvering characteristics of the Rafale C fighter in the range of altitudes and speeds characteristic of close air combat, under the most favorable conditions for the combination of aircraft mass and thrust power plant. We will assume that the aircraft is equipped with M88-3 engines, and the weight of the empty Rafale C after its modernization has not changed and is 9850 kg. Then the initial design parameters of the aircraft will correspond to the data given in table. 1. The maneuverability characteristics of the aircraft are shown in Fig. 2…7 when using afterburning engine operation.

From the data in Fig. 2 it can be seen that, thanks to the high thrust-to-weight ratio, the Rafale C has an energy rate of climb almost the same as the F-22A. This quality is especially valuable when solving interception problems, when overcoming air defense, during anti-missile maneuvering in long-range air combat and ensures a safe exit from battle.

In Fig. 3...5 show the available maneuvering capabilities of the aircraft when maneuvering in a horizontal plane - turn characteristics.

Due to the low specific load on the wing, the Rafale C has high available overloads (Fig. 3), but when they are realized, the aircraft brakes too vigorously, losing speed, and with it the available overload (nуа dist.). Judging by the values ​​of the tangential overload (nxa) that occurs when performing forced turns (Fig. 4), the rate of decrease in speed when reaching αadd. and reaching nue max. = 9 is 105...125 km/h per second.

The high rate of speed decline makes the calculated maximum values ​​of the angular speeds of turn ωvir.max practically impossible to implement. (Fig. 5) without the threat of exceeding the permissible angle of attack and loss of control or exceeding nue max. and structural destruction. Real ωvir.max. will be approximately 5 º/s less.

In Fig. Figures 6 and 7 show the characteristics of steady-state maneuvers performed at a constant speed. From the diagram of available overloads in Fig. 6 and current tangential overloads in Fig. 4 it is clear that to realize nue max. = 9 without loss of speed "Rafale" C can only when flying near the ground, starting the maneuver at a speed of at least 1000 km/h. At the altitude-speed regime, characteristic of the beginning of close air combat (CAC), the Rafale, despite its very high thrust-to-weight ratio, will begin to lose speed already when it reaches nа> 7...7.5.

This is explained by the fact that the maximum normal overload for thrust is determined not only by the thrust-to-weight ratio (μ = P/G, where P is the available thrust of the power plant; G is the design weight of the aircraft), but also by the current value of the aerodynamic quality (K) at a given overload (nу etc. ≈ μ∙K). With an increase in overload and angle of attack, the aerodynamic quality of a Rafale aircraft with a low aspect ratio wing will quickly fall, and at αadd. = 22º will decrease by more than 5 times relative to Kmax..

As flight weight and altitude increase and speed decreases due to a decrease in thrust-to-weight ratio this effect will manifest itself more strongly, and the Rafale’s ability to maneuver vigorously will decline.

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the "Rafale" C in solving one of the main combat missions of a fighter aircraft, we will conduct a simulation-stochastic mathematical modeling of close air combat with its participation against Russian fighter generation 4+ type Su-35. We believe that both aircraft have similar standard weapons: four air-to-air missiles and an artillery mount. The possibility of reducing the IR visibility of the Rafale due to the injection of a special composition into the engine exhaust gas stream, as well as reducing the effect of normal overload on the pilot’s body due to the angle of inclination of the seat back increased to 29º, were also taken into account.

Efficiency assessment is carried out according to several criteria, the average statistical values ​​of which are determined based on the results of modeling 500 air battles lasting 90 seconds, starting from a neutral tactical situation. The implementation of fights is distinguished by a combination of random factors and the tactics of the opponents’ behavior.

Two groups of battles, differing in initial height, are considered: H1 - low altitudes; H2 - average heights. The final results of single air battles between the Rafale C (No. 2) and Su-35 (No. 1) aircraft are presented in Table. 2.

The results obtained show that, despite the slightly higher specific wing load and lower thrust-to-weight ratio of the Su-35, the opponents' chances of winning when entering an air battle at low altitudes are almost the same (WP 1 = WP 2 = 47.4%).

The excess load on the wing of our fighter is compensated by the large available coefficient value lift(Su add.). As a result, the ratio Su add./p, which determines the available overload (Fig. 3), is the same for the Rafale C and Su-35 aircraft (Su add./p = 0.0051). In addition, the Su-35, having engines with controlled thrust vectoring, can maintain controllability up to critical values ​​of the angle of attack and realize the maximum value of the lift coefficient, significantly increasing Su/r and available overload at low speeds. However, the so-called “super-maneuverable” capabilities of our fighter turn out to be unclaimed when fighting with the Rafale. The performance indicators of the Su-35 are given in table. 2 are achieved using only 75% of the permissible angle of attack without using thrust vector control.

The lower thrust-to-weight ratio of our aircraft is more than compensated by its higher aerodynamic quality, which provides the Su-35 with a noticeable advantage in maximum thrust overloads. Analysis of current overload cyclograms shows that the Su-35 maintains nу ≥ 7 for 15% longer.

"Rafale" C, performing a forced maneuver started at high speed, has a higher gradient of increase in the angular speed of turn in the first seconds of the fight and, accordingly, has the opportunity to attack earlier. An analysis of the distribution of missile launches over time shows that 46% of them french fighter produces in the first 15 seconds. If this attack is successful, the Rafale wins; if the battle drags on, the tactical advantage goes to our aircraft and the Su-35 wins. His attacks are more evenly distributed throughout the fight, with 48% of them coming between 30 and 60 seconds.

An analysis of the relative position of the aircraft after the combat time has elapsed shows that in 75% of cases the Su-35 is in the rear hemisphere (RH) of the enemy. Moreover, in 32% of cases, the Rafale is in the field of view of the missile's homing heads, that is, if there are missiles, it can be attacked again.

A typical picture of the development of a tactical situation in air combat at low altitudes is shown in Fig. 8. Here “Rafale” C, having performed a forced turn, manages to launch a missile in the 14th second of maneuvering, which three seconds later ended in the defeat of our aircraft with a probability of 0.50. Next, the initiative passes to the Su-35, it responds with four effective attacks at the 39th, 49th, 64th and 84th seconds of maneuvering. Conditions for the use of artillery weapons did not arise. As a result, the probability of shooting down opponents accumulated during the battle was: probability of shooting down a “Rafale” C - Wsb.2 = 0.77; the probability of a Su-35 being shot down is Wsb.1 = 0.50. It follows that our fighter in this implementation of air combat won with a positive difference in the probability of being shot down ΔW = Wsb.2 Wsb.1 = 0.27.

With an increase in the altitude of entry into battle (H2>H1), the thrust-to-weight ratio of the aircraft decreases, the angle of attack required for maneuvering increases, and in these conditions, the factor determining the effectiveness of the fighter becomes its aerodynamic perfection, for which the Su-35 is unrivaled.

The short-term advantage of the Rafale at the beginning of the battle gradually disappears with increasing altitude, and three quarters of the fights end in victory for the Su-35 (WP 1 = 74.2%). The credibility of these victories is confirmed by the overwhelming advantage of our fighter in the ratio of the number of missile attacks (n1/n2 = 4.25), attacks that ended in hitting the target (neff.1/neff.2 = 3.96), and the average difference in the probabilities of shooting down opponents (DWav . = 0.37).

A typical picture of the development of a tactical situation in air combat at medium altitudes is shown in Fig. 9. Here the Su-35, as a rule, is ahead of the enemy in the use of weapons at the beginning of the battle and then maintains an advantage due to its higher maneuverability characteristics. In the proposed implementation of air combat, our fighter completely consumes its supply of missiles within 60 seconds without a single attack from the enemy, achieving almost absolute success(Wsb.2 = 0.96). The fight ends in a convincing victory with a score of ΔW = Wsb.2 Wsb.1 = 0.96.

The analysis carried out in this article, as well as in the work, shows the following:

modern multifunctional fighters entering service with NATO countries are aimed primarily at solving strike missions, assuming either the absence of active counteraction in the air, or the suppression of this counteraction by attacks from long ranges, using global information superiority;

The Russian Su-35 fighter is capable of successfully fighting opponents such as F-35 (A, B, C), Rafale (C, B, M, N), EF-2000 and others, providing cover for troops and ground targets from attacks from air;

Recognizing the high combat potential of the French multirole fighter "Rafale" generation 4+, it should be noted that its inflated cost clearly does not correspond to its effectiveness.

In conclusion, I would like to advise our colleagues from India, Egypt and other states friendly to Russia not to spend money on expensive “toys” for waging colonial warfare, but to buy Russian victory weapons of the “Su” brand.

However, along with the disputes about the guarantee that were deliberately splashed into the press, there were obviously conflicts over the issue of technology transfer and, probably, first of all, price. According to pessimistic estimates, the cost of the required number of Rafales was at least double the $10.4 billion included in the tender. This already entailed internal political problems: to sign such a contract in a country regularly shaken corruption scandals, is political suicide, especially before elections. Parliamentary elections took place in India in April-May 2014.

Theoretically, supporters of the contract had time until mid-February, when there was a moratorium on concluding new deals in the field of military-technical cooperation, but at the end of 2013 it became obvious that the ruling Indian National Congress (INC) was not eager to give a trump card to opponents. It seemed that providence itself was against Rafael - on October 2, 2013, the key negotiator on the Indian side, Assistant Minister of Defense for Aircraft Procurement, Vrun Kumar Bal, died of a heart attack

The hopes that, having received the credit of confidence in the event of victory, the INC would be able to push through the most difficult decision in the context of the sequestration of the defense budget, were not justified - the opposition nationalist Indian People's Party came to power, treating the purchase of Rafaels with great skepticism

After the change of government, the program was subjected to the most severe criticism. Thus, on December 30, 2014, the new Minister of Defense Manohar Parrikar said that the French side was extremely uncompromising in the negotiations and refused to fulfill the promises made during the competition. For the first time, an official of this level publicly refused to purchase Rafales. According to Parrikar, India would do well to purchase an additional batch of already developed Su-30MKIs. It is worth noting that the price of the Su-30MKI produced by HAL is approximately half that of the estimated cost of the Rafael.

However, Dassault does not appear to be succumbing to the increased pressure. The first export successes of the Rafale undoubtedly gave the French confidence in the negotiations. In February 2015, Egypt unexpectedly signed a contract to purchase 24 fighter jets. At the end of April, many years of negotiations with Qatar ended - the emirate also bought 24 cars with an option for another 12. In total, this ensured that the plant was loaded for at least an additional three to four years (in recent years, in order to stretch production until it received export contracts"Raphael" for France were produced in a minimum volume of 11 pieces per year), and the threat of curtailing production was postponed.

Difficult negotiations, apparently, weighed heavily on both sides, and the mutual desire to put an end to them led to the astonishing outcome of the MMRCA.

Non-Solomon solution

In April, the new Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, visited France. On April 10, the local press published sensational news: an agreement was reached on the direct purchase of the first batch of French-assembled Rafales - and not 18, as planned under the terms of the MMRCA, but 36. The cost was estimated at about 4 billion euros. The increase in direct procurement immediately raised questions about the future of licensed assembly in India.

The fears were confirmed - on May 21, Parrikar said that India will limit itself to only purchasing 36 Rafales and will not organize a licensed assembly. The saved funds (90 Rafales were estimated by the Minister of Defense at $15.5 billion) will be used for other programs. Contenders for the freed up money, from the point of view of experts, can be called the same Su-30MKI program, within the framework of which India can order another 40-60 aircraft in addition to the existing ones, the national Tejas project and the joint Russian-Indian development of the fifth fighter generation FGFA based on the Russian T-50 PAK FA project. At the same time, official New Delhi, represented by the same Manohar Parrikar, stated that the main recipient would be the national project, but the Teja itself is currently a frankly crude aircraft with unclear prospects, including due to the critically delayed (already more than thirty years) development period...

DassaultRafale(Dassault Rafale - Shkval) is a French multi-role fighter aircraft created by Dassault Aviation in the 1990s.

History of the Rafale

The history of the Rafale dates back to the mid-1970s, when the French Air Force and Navy began evaluating a promising aircraft to replace its aging fleet.

Mandatory requirements were for round-the-clock operation of the aircraft in any weather and the ability to perform wide range tasks to combat air, ground and surface targets. The new aircraft was supposed to be universal and replace the many different aircraft in service at that time. To save money, France initially became part of the group to create a single European fighter (future), but soon withdrew from it due to disagreements over the concept - the French needed an aircraft capable of operating from an aircraft carrier, while the rest needed a heavier machine.

As a result, Dassaut initiated its own fourth-generation fighter program, the ACX. In 1985, the first Rafale A demonstrator was created. The Snecma M88 engines were not yet ready, so the first aircraft was equipped with GE F404 engines from the fighter. By 1990, the prototype still received “native” engines.

In 1990, after the collapse of the Department of Internal Affairs and the USSR, the program was called into question - it became unclear with whom to fight. The Air Force, to save money, cut the project budget and allocated money to modernize Mirage fighters.

However, the design of a new fighter continued. In May 1991, flight tests of the experimental Rafale C01 fighter, painted completely black, began at the Istra Research Center. Over the following years, prototypes of two-seat and deck-mounted versions of the aircraft were created.

Finally, on May 18, 2001, the first production Rafales began to enter service with the French Air Force and Navy.

Rafale video: Video of the fighter's demonstration flight at the air show

Rafale design

It is made according to the “tailless” aerodynamic design traditional for Dassault Aviation fighters with an additional high-mounted front horizontal tail and two engines in the rear fuselage.

The air intakes are S-shaped and shield the compressor blades, which reduces the aircraft's ESR.

The designers managed to create a relatively simple fighter with unregulated air intakes and without air brake flaps, thus simplifying maintenance.

Exploitation

Dassault Rafale, along with Saab, are probably extreme combat aircraft created in Europe by one country. It is obvious that no EU country can handle a fifth-generation fighter alone. Rafale is also the youngest fourth generation aircraft and, thanks to this, it is one of the most advanced.

As of 2014, more than 121 fighters were produced. They have already taken part in NATO operations in Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq.

Dassault Rafale fighter diagram

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