Dassault Delivers First Production Rafale with Thales AESA Radar

The Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) took delivery on October 2, 2012 of the first Rafale combat aircraft equipped with a production RBE2 active antenna radar.

The Rafale is the first European combat aircraft in service benefit from AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) technology, which has been the subject of protracted studies and demonstrations, and which reflects the culmination of over 10 years of R & D efforts in the field of active antennas. It significantly improves the detection range.

Carrying the French air force registration C 137, the aircraft will fly to its air base at Mont-de-Marsan in the coming days.

The development of the RBE2 AESA radar was decided in the context of a larger program to improve the Rafale’s sensor suite, and also includes a missile launch warning system and an improved, new-generation front sector optronics, both of which are also fitted to Rafale C137.

The Rafale is the first omnirole combat aircraft, that is to say it can, during the same sortie and practically at the same time, carry out different types of missions, such as ground attack and air defense .

Totally versatile, the Rafale carries out the full range of missions that can be assigned to a fighter: air superiority and air defense, land and maritime attack, close air support of ground troops, reconnaissance, and nuclear strike. It is also the first aircraft designed from the outset to operate both from a land base and from an aircraft carrier. It is operated by the French Air Force and Navy.

To date, 180 production aircraft have been ordered by the DGA, and 111 have been delivered in its three versions: 36 Rafale "M" single-seaters for the Navy, 38 Rafale "B" two-seaters and 37 Rafale "C" single-seaters for the air force. The Rafale has seen active service during deployments to Afghanistan and over Libya.

The main industrial partners involved in the Rafale program are Dassault Aviation, Thales, Safran and MBDA. (ends)


Dassault Aviation and Thales Deliver First European Combat Aircraft Equipped with Active Phased Array Radar

The DGA (French defence procurement agency) has officially taken delivery of the Rafale C137, the first production Rafale equipped with the Thales RBE2 AESA* radar, at Dassault Aviation's Mérignac establishment near Bordeaux.

The Rafale is the first European combat aircraft in operational service equipped with this type of radar.

The RBE2 AESA brings the Rafale a number of key operational benefits:
- extended range capabilities supporting low-observable target detection and full use of new weapon systems such as the Meteor air-to-air missile;
- higher reliability for reduced maintenance and lower through-life support costs;
- greater waveform agility for SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) imaging and improved resistance to jamming.


Source: SAINT-CLOUD / NEUILLY, France - French defence procurement agency DGA & Dassault Aviation-Thales News - 03 October 2012

Photo: Close-up of the active antenna of the RBE2 AESA radar fitted to Rafale C. Also visible are the upgraded OSF electro-optical sensor and the new missile warning receiver. (Thales photo)


(3.10.2012)