Rafale F3R Multipurpose fighter

Fighter aircraft

Introduction in Hellenic air Force in 2021
332^nd All Weather Squadron “Hawk”
Location: 114 CW – Tanagra Air Base
Year of establishment: 1998 (332 All Weather Squadron: 1989)
Subordination: 114 Combat Wing
Aircraft serving: Rafale F3R
Mission: All weather interceptor

The Rafale F3R aircraft is made according to the "canard" aerodynamic scheme, with a triangular mid-wing, with an additional all-turning front horizontal tail and a single-fin tail. The Rafale F3R is a twin-engine multi-role fighter aircraft, equipped with M-88-4E engines, with a maximum thrust of 7,711 kgf (with afterburning) each, with simultaneous upgrading of electronic equipment, also incresed carrying capacity of armaments and the gun control.

In 2021 the contract 013Γ / 20 was signed, between HAF (Greece) and France, for the supply of 14 aircraft (single-seater Rafale EG).

In 2021 the contract 013Γ / 20 was signed, between HAF (Greece) and France, for the supply of 4 aircraft (two-seater Rafale DG).

The main directions of modernization:
- RBE-2AA radar with Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA)
- Thales SPECTRA Electronic Warfare Suite on board the Rafale
- Front Sector Optronic (FOS)
- Data Link-16
- AREOS new generation reconnaissance pod (Airborne Recce observation system)
- Damocles multifunction laser designation pod
- Talios multifunction targeting pod
- Transporting missiles MICA NG, Meteor, Scalp-EG, AASM (Armement air-to-surface armament) and GBU type bombs.
- Air Refueling Pod
- Air refueling with the Buddy-Buddy method.

EQUIPMENT:

Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar RBE-2

Cutting-edge technologies for advanced mission capabilities
Swing-role:
- Very long detection range
- Multitracking modes
- Multifunction
- Very high resolution mapping (SAR)
- Automatic terrain following and avoidance
- Air-to-sea modes Increased operational availability Unmatched growth potential capability

Technical characteristics: Radar comparison table

Radar	RBE-2	RBE-2AA	AN/APG-68V9
Type antenna	Passive electronically scanned array (PESA)	Active electronically scanned array (AESA)	Pulse-doppler radar
Frequency	Χ (10 GHz)	X (8-12 GHz)	X (8-12,5 GHz)
Detection range	~120 km	200 km	60-75 km
Range for target (RCS=1m²) in the front hemisphere	65-80 km	110-130 km	60-75 km
Locating ground targets (RBE-2AA: RCS=3000 m²) .	-	200 km	148 km
Locating ground targets (RBE-2AA: RCS=1000 m²) .	-	140 km	-
Angular coverage
- in azimuth	±60^o	±70^o	±70^o/±30^o/±60^o
- in elevation	±60^o	±70^o	±60^o
Number of detected and tracked targets	~40	40	+10
Number of simultaneous attacks against targets	-	4-6	-

POWER PALNT

Turbifan engine Snecma M-88: In service – September 2008. 600 engines in the French Air Force and Navy. A total of 1.000.000 operating hours.

The M88 engine, designed for the multirole combat aircraft Rafale, is the first in a family of new-generation engines designed to power the combat and advanced training aircraft of the 21 centry.

Characteristics: Thrust with afterburner 7.711 kgf. Dry thrust 5.102 kgf. Turbine inlet temperature 1.577^oC. Bypass ratio 0,3.

ARMAMENT:

Meteor Beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVR)

Meteor Beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVR).

Specifications: Length 3650 mm, Diameter 178 mm, Mass 165 (190) kg, Warhead weight 25 kg and type high explosive blast-fragmentation. Its maximum speed 5.512 km/h , while its maximum range is > 100 km. The missile has the ability to engage and destroy targets performing maneuvers up to 11 g.

AASM Hammer & Guidance kits

AASM Hammer & Guidance kits
.

The AASM Hammer is a family of smart, new-generation, guided air-to-ground weapons with different standard bomb sizes (125, 250, 500, and 1.000 kg). Fire-and-forget, it can be aimed at stationary or moving targets with very high accuracy thanks to three guidance kitsINS/GPS, INS/GPS/IR and INS/GPS/LASER - wether by day or night, in all weather conditions with a range exceeding 60 kilometers.

Autonomous after it has been dropped, the AASM can be used at low altitudes, cross hilly terrain or veer sharply from the firing aircraft. Interoperable and combat proven, the AASM Hammer meets all the spectrum of Air Forces' needs at the tactical level. Deployed in foreign theaters of operation, it has shown its performance and reliability.

Talios multifunction targeting pod.

Rafale F3R Multipurpose fighter

1. RBE-2AA radar with Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) 2. Passive visual sight (LLTV) 3. Infrared (IR) scanner / tracker 4. Fixed (detachable) flight refueling probe 5. One-piece frameless windshield 6. Cockpit canopy 7. Two-crew cockpit 8. Port engine air intake 9. Port forward-oblique SPECTRA electronic counter measures (ECM) antenna 10. SPECTRA radar warning receiver (RWR) antenna (right and left) 11. Starboard canard 12. Delta wing 13. Wingtip fixed missile pylon 14. Chaff/decoy launcher 15. Variable area afterburner nozzle shroud 16. Brake parachute housing 17. SPECTRA electronic counter measures (ECM) antenna 18. Vertical stabilizer 19. SPECTRA ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) equipment housing.

Three-view drawing

Rafale F3R

Technical specifications

DESIGNER	Avions Marcel Dassault
COUNTRY	France
TYPE	Multipurpose fighter
CREW	1/2
POWER-PLANT	Two Snecma M88-4E turbofan engines, with afterburning.
Thrust, kgf
- with afterburning	2x7.711
- without afterburner	2x5.102
Thrust-to-weight ratio (take-off 14.700 kg)	1,05
DIMENSIONS
Length, m	15,27 (15,30)
Height, m	5,34
Wing span, m	10,21
Wing area m2	45,7
Canards
- span, m	2,00
- area, m²	~4,5
- sweepback angle, degree	47
WEIGHT
Maximum take-off, kg	24.500
Normal take-off, kg	14.700⁺¹⁰
Empty aircraft, kg	10.000
Internal fuel, kg	4.700
Fuel capacity in external tanks, kg	up to 6.700
Warload, kg	9.500
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed, km/h	1.960
Maximum speed in low height, km/h	1.300
Landing speed, km/h	>222
Runway, m	400
Wing loading, (take-off 14.700 kg), kg/m²	321,6
Maximum overload, g	-3,2 / +9,0
Rate of climb (340 m/s), m/min	18.300
Service ceiling, m	15.240
Range, km	1.800
Combat range (with three external fuel tanks), km	1.389
Aerial refueling	Yes
ARMAMENT	One 30-mm cannon Nexter GIAT M30/719B, with 125 rounds, type APIT. Number external hardpoints 13-14. Possibility of transport Air-to-air missile Meteor (BVR), MIGA EM ή MICA IR. Air-to-surface (ground) missile SCALP EG subsonic missile “Fire and Forget”, AASM Modular Air-to-Surface Armament.Anti-ship missile Exocet AM39 Block2 Mod 2.Bombs GBU 12/16/24. External fuel tank.