Low operating costs

RAFALE supportability and mission readiness capitalise on the undisputed track record of the current generation of French fighters such as the combat-proven Mirage 2000.

From the early beginning of the development phase, French MOD assigned very stringent Integrated Logistic Support requirements on RAFALE programme, well exceeding the prowess of Mirage 2000. Through concurrent engineering and Computer Aided Design (CAD) techniques, the best technological choices were made in order to favour reliability, accessibility and maintainability.

These extensive ILS studies, together with bold technological choices, led to supportability features exceeding the preliminary requirements.

Maintainability aspects have been thoroughly assessed and validated by French Navy and French Air force users. RAFALE is already well in service and enjoys from day one a very high availability and sortie rate (close to 300 FH/year/aircraft) in the confined and stringent aircraft carrier environment.

For self-supportability, the RAFALE is designed to require the minimum of ground support equipment: it is equipped with an on-board oxygen generation system, and with a closed-loop cooling fluid system for on-board coolanol and nitrogen circuits. The built-in Auxiliary Power Unit provides electrical power until the engine-driven generators come on line. During exercise "Trident d'Or", French Naval Aviators validated the RAFALE hot refuelling procedure.

Affordable high-tech fighter

An reliable and easily maintainable fighter invariably translates into considerably lower maintenance costs:
There is no complete airframe or engine depot level inspection required throughout the aircraft service life, and only specific components such as Shop Replaceable Units (SRUs) are returned for maintenance/repair.
The decision to eliminate the complex systems from the early design phase (a fixed refuelling probe, but removable, fixed air intake, no airbrake, no constant speed drive due to variable frequency,...) and the full interchangeability between elements induce a reduction in spares inventory. Similarly, changing, at flight-line level, printed circuit boards within a LRU instead of replacing the LRU itself lessens the need for complete spare units (radar, SPECTRA, modular computers).

The fighter needs reduced ground manning levels (30 percent gain compared with the Mirage 2000), and lowered personnel training requirements. For instance, the side-opening canopy facilitates ejection-seat removal (ex: 10 min, 2 men for a seat exchange).

Logistic footprint reduction results from the elimination of heavy external means required with conventional aircraft. For example, no flight-line external tester is now required due to the extensive use of integrated testability. Also the elimination of engine run-up test cell is a unique achievement.

Advanced... but within schedule and operational

RAFALE has been displayed in worldwide air shows. Close to 150 foreign air force pilots have flown it. It has been the object of in-depth and very positive evaluations by several foreign air forces.
The maiden flight of the series aircraft took place in 1998. RAFALE's production rate is presently increasing, with close to 20 production aircraft already delivered to the French Government.

The first F1 standard - with air-to-air capabilities, is operational with the French Navy. It has been used extensively from the "Charles de Gaulle" carrier during the "Enduring Freedom" coalition operation.

The second F2 standard is available to the French Air Force, which has already taken delivery of some aircraft, and it will be available for retrofit of the Navy F1 standard aircraft at a later stage. This F2 standard provides the aircraft with its true omnirole capability for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The first operational RAFALE squadron will be located by the French Air Force in Saint-Dizier in 2006. With its contract awarded last year, the F3 standard is currently under development.

A first batch of 13 aircraft, followed by a second batch of 48 aircraft, and a third batch of 59 aircraft brings to 120 the total number of RAFALE that were already ordered. The French Armed Forces are committed to a multi-year procurement plan calling for 294 aircraft (234 for the Air Force and 60 for the Navy).

Source : http://www.dassault-aviation.com/defense/gb/avions/r_budget.cfm
Photo : http://comedu.chungbuk.ac.kr/~ihwang/photo/rafale_4.jpg


(22.02.2007)