Rafale F3R Multipurpose fighter

Rafale F3R Multipurpose fighter. First flight: 2018 (upgraded to F3R level) © Konstantinos Panitsidis

Photos from the personal collection of Konstantinos Panitsidis

Introduction in Hellenic air Force in 2021
332^nd All Weather Squadron “Hawk”
Location: 114 CW – Tanagra Air Base
Year of establishment: 1998 (332^nd All Weather Squadron: 1989)
Subordination: 114^th Combat Wing
Aircraft serving: Mirage 2000 EGM/BGM, 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) © Konstantinos Panitsidis

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) © Konstantinos Panitsidis

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.

Meteor Beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVR) © Konstantinos Panitsidis

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 © Konstantinos Panitsidis

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 kits-INS/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 © Konstantinos Panitsidis

Talios multifunction targeting pod

Rafale F3R © Konstantinos Panitsidis

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

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

DESIGNER	Dassault Aviation
COUNTRY	France
TYPE	Multipurpose fighter
CREW	1/2
POWER-PLANT	Two Snecma M88-4E
Thrust, kgf	2 x 7.711
- with afterburning	7.711
- without afterburner	5.102
Thrust-to-weight ratio	1,05 (weight take-off 14.700 kg)
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
Empty aircraft, kg	10.000
Normal take-off, kg	14.700 (14.710)
Maximum take-off, kg	24.500
Internal fuel, kg	4.700
Fuel capacity in external tanks, kg	up to 6700
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed, km/h	1.960
Max speed in low height, km/h	1.300
Landing speed, km/h	>222
Rate of climb, m/min	18.300 (340 m/s)
Wing loading, kg/m2	321,6 (weight take-off 14.700 kg)
Maximum overload, g	-3,2 / +9,0
Runway, m	400
Service ceiling, m	15.240
Range, km	1.800
Combat range (with three external fuel tanks), km	1.389
Aerial refueling	Yes
Combat range, km	1.770
ARMAMENT	One 30-mm cannon Nexter DEFEA M30/719B, with 125 rounds, type APIT. Warload – 9.500 kg. 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.

PHOTOS Rafale (F3R)

Ραντάρ RBE-2 με κεραία Ενεργής Ηλεκτρονικής Σάρωσης (AESA) / THALES AESA RBE2 – Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar / БРЛС с АФАР RBE-2
Στροβιλοανεμιστήρας διπλής ροής Snecma M-88-2 / Snecma M-88-2 afterburning turbofan engine / ТРДДФ Snecma M-88-2
Rafale εξοπλισμένο με βλήματα SCALP – METEOR- MICA IR / Rafale – Shtorm Shadow / SCALP – METEOR- MICA IR / Rafale с вооружением SCALP – METEOR- MICA IR
Κατευθυνόμενο πυρομαχικό AASM / Armement Air-to-Surface Modulaire AASM / Управляемая авиационная бомба AASM
Rafale F3R, Π.Α. / Rafale F3R, HAF / Rafale F3R ВВС Греции
Rafale F3R, Π.Α. / Rafale F3R, HAF / Rafale F3R ВВС Греции
Rafale εξοπλισμένο με βλήματα SCALP – METEOR- MICA NG RF / Rafale – Shtorm Shadow / SCALP – METEOR- MICA NG RF / Rafale с вооружением SCALP – METEOR- MICA NG RF
Πύραυλος αέρος-αέρος MICA NG IR και MICA NG RF / Medium range air-to-air MICA NG IR and MICA NG RF / MICA NG IR и MICA NG RF - Авиационная ракета класса «воздух-воздух»
Rafale F3R, Π.Α. / Rafale F3R, HAF / Rafale F3R ВВС Греции
Ατρακτίδιο στοχοποίησης Thales TALIOS / Thales TALIOS targeting pod / Подвесной прицельный контейнер Thales TALIOS
METEOR – βλήμα αέρος-αέρος μεγάλου βεληνεκούς / METEOR – beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) / MBDA METEOR – управляемая ракета класса «воздух-воздух» большой дальности
METEOR – βλήμα αέρος-αέρος μεγάλου βεληνεκούς / METEOR – beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) / MBDA METEOR – управляемая ракета класса «воздух-воздух» большой дальности
Rafale – γαλλικό μαχητικό αεροσκάφος πολλαπλών ρόλων 4ης γενιάς / Rafale - 4th generation French multirole fighter / Rafale – французский многоцелевой истребитель 4-го поколения
Rafale – γαλλικό μαχητικό αεροσκάφος πολλαπλών ρόλων 4ης γενιάς / Rafale - 4th generation French multirole fighter / Rafale – французский многоцелевой истребитель 4-го поколения
Rafale – γαλλικό μαχητικό αεροσκάφος πολλαπλών ρόλων 4ης γενιάς / Rafale - 4th generation French multirole fighter / Rafale – французский многоцелевой истребитель 4-го поколения
Rafale – γαλλικό μαχητικό αεροσκάφος πολλαπλών ρόλων 4ης γενιάς / Rafale - 4th generation French multirole fighter / Rafale – французский многоцелевой истребитель 4-го поколения
Rafale – γαλλικό μαχητικό αεροσκάφος πολλαπλών ρόλων 4ης γενιάς / Rafale - 4th generation French multirole fighter / Rafale – французский многоцелевой истребитель 4-го поколения
Rafale – γαλλικό μαχητικό αεροσκάφος πολλαπλών ρόλων 4ης γενιάς / Rafale - 4th generation French multirole fighter / Rafale – французский многоцелевой истребитель 4-го поколения
Δέκτης προειδοποίησης ραντάρ του συστήματος SPECTRA (δεξιά και αριστερά) / SPECTRA radar warning receiver (RWR) antenna (right and left) / Конформная антенна системы предупреждения о радиолокационном облучении SPECTRA (справа и слева)
Rafale – γαλλικό μαχητικό αεροσκάφος πολλαπλών ρόλων 4ης γενιάς / Rafale - 4th generation French multirole fighter / Rafale – французский многоцелевой истребитель 4-го поколения
Ουραίο φως πλοήγησης, δέκτης προειδοποίησης εντοπισμού ακτινοβολίας λέιζερ ATF, παρεμβολέας του συστήματος αυτοπροστασίας SPECTRA / Rear position light, AFT laser warning detector, AFT ECM transmitting antenna / Хвостовой аэронавигационный огонь, приемник предупреждения о лазерном облучении, задняя антенна системы постановки активных электромагнитных помех.
Σύστημα άφεσης αναλωσίμων του συστήματος SPECTRA (δεξιά και αριστερά) / Chaff / decoy launcher (right and left) / Блоки отстрела инфракрасных ловушек (справа и слева)
Παρεμβολεας του συστήματος αυτοπροστασίας SPECTRA (δεξιά και αριστερά) / Port forward-oblique SPECTRA electronic counter measures (ECM) antenna (right and left) / Правая антенна радиоэлектронного подавления системы SPECTRA (справа и слева)
Σταθερή υποδοχή ανεφοδιασμού σε πτήση, παθητικό οπτικό σύστημα (LLTV) / Fixed (detachable) flight refuelling probe, passive visual sight (LLTV) / Фиксированная (съемная) штанга системы дозапрвки топливом в полете, пассивная оптическая система (телевизионная система LLTV)