France's advance 'Rafale' multirole fighter aircraft has achieved great success in the international market!
As part of the modernization of the air force, the European country Serbia last August 28 signed a contract to purchase a total of 12 French-made highly advanced Dassault Rafale multirole fighter jets of the new F-4 series. The contract price for the purchase of these 12 4++ generation Rafale fighter jets is set at $3 billion. As such, each twin-engine Rafale fighter jet costs $250 million per unit. Serbia has already finalized the agreement with France's Dassault Aviation Corporation.
Meanwhile, due to the arrest of the founder of the popular social media "Telegram" Pavel Durov in France on August 24th, the United Arab Emirates, the richest country in the Middle East, announced the cancellation of the agreement to purchase 80 Rafale fighter jets with France. The United Arab Emirates signed a contract with France in 2021 to purchase a total of 80 Advanced Rafale fighter jets at a deal value of 16 billion euros or $17.32 billion. Which is likely to start delivery from next year 2027. But America may have a secret hand behind withdrawing from this agreement.
Currently, the 4++ generation Rafale twin engine fighter jet made by France has debuted as the world's most powerful and multirole fighter jet. It first entered service with the French Air Force in 2006. Currently, there are a total of 102 active Rafale-M series fighters in the French Air and Space Force and 41 in the Naval Force. Along with France, Egypt has 24 (31 more on order), Croatia 12 (6 more on order), Greece 18, India 36 and Qatar 36 operating Rafale fighter jets.
Moreover, in the recent list of new purchases, India has signed an agreement to buy 26 Rafale-M series multirole fighter jets. Apart from that, Serbia has signed a deal to purchase 12, Indonesia 42 and the United Arab Emirates a total of 80 Rafale fighter jets. Moreover, from 2007 to 14 August 2024, a total of 7 to 8 different series of multi-role Rafale fighter jets were destroyed or fatally damaged in the air.
Piloted by a single pilot, the twin-engine Rafale fighter has a maximum speed of 1,912 kilometers per hour or Mach 1.8. It has a maximum take-off weight of 24,500 kg and a maximum weapon carrying capacity of 9.5 tonnes. Its combat range is 1,850 km but its ferry range is 3,700 km (with three drop tanks). It has a service ceiling of 51,952 feet and a rate of climb of 304.8 meters per second. Powerful 2 (Snecma M88-4e) after turbofan jet engines are used for power generation.
The Rafale multirole fighter has a maximum payload capacity of 9.5 tonnes. In addition, this series fighter also carries three 524 gallon (2,000 liter) fuel tanks weighing an additional 6.7 tons to conduct extended range air combat missions. This fuel tank can be used for refueling in other aerial systems. But it plays a very important and effective role in naval strike missions.
A 30 mm (1.2 in) GIAT-30/M791 (125 rounds) autocannon is attached as the fixed weapons defense system of this fighter. Moreover, 13 more hardpoints carry Mica and Scalp cruise missiles as well as Meteor air-to-air (BVR) missiles and ground attack Hammer air-to-ground missiles. Moreover, other important weapons include GUB-12/24 laser-guided bombs, AS-30L, Mark-82 using GUB-49 GPS guided bombs. Moreover, the Rafale-M fighter can carry air-launched based Exocet AM-39 Block-2 anti-ship missiles for maritime strike missions.
Meanwhile, considering the Radar Cross Session (RCS) capability, the RCS of the American fourth generation F-16 series fighter is 3 to 5 square meters. Whereas RCS of Eurofighter Typhoon is 0.5 square meters and RCS of Rafale fighter can be 0.1 to 1.0 square meters. Again, the RCS of the US Boeing Corporation's 4.5 generation F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter can be 1 square meter.
Sherazur Rahman
