Article Posted on : - Oct 01, 2013

The Rafale multi-role fighter. A DGA photo

PARIS (BNS): The French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) has taken delivery of the first of 60 Tranche 4 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation last month.

The new series of the warplane, equipped with the Thales-built RBE2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, was handed over to the DGA on Sept 12, the defence procurement agency announced.

The two-seater aircraft, designated B 339, is the first production jet of the Tranche 4 series which features next-generation sensors that include a new generation missile warning system (DDM NG) and frontal sector optronics "Identification and telemetry" besides the AESA radar, the DGA said.

The new AESA radar, which is replacing the existing passively scanned array radar on board Rafale, will provide the four+ generation warplane extended range for compatibility with new generation long range missiles, including the new Meteor air-to-air missiles, and ability to detect low-signature targets.

It will also help in extended waveform agility, making it possible to acquire submetric synthetic aperture (SAR) imagery while increasing the radar's resistance to jamming, according to Thales.

The DGA has ordered a total of 180 Rafale multi-role fighters for the French Navy and Air Force in three variants of which 121, including the latest Tranche 4 plane, have been delivered so far -- 38 Rafale "M" for the Navy, 39 Rafale "B" (two seater) and 44 Rafale "C" (single seater) for the Air Force.