Rafale Fighter Jet

About Rafale Fighter Jet

The Dassault Rafale is a 4.5 generation, multirole combat aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation, serving as a critical asset for the French Air Force and Navy.
India enhanced its air combat capabilities by procuring 36 Rafales in a €7.8 billion deal signed in 2016, with deliveries expected to be completed by 2022.

Engines: Powered by 2 engines, enabling supercruise (supersonic flight without afterburners).
Speed: Mach 1.8 with a combat radius of 1,000 km
Avionics: Equipped with RBE2 AESA radar, SPECTRA electronic warfare system, and Helmet Mounted Display, providing superior situational awareness and survivability.

Air-to-Air: Meteor (Beyond Visual Range missile), MICA (short-range, all-aspect missile)
Air-to-Ground: SCALP, HAMMER
Anti-Ship: Exocet and Naval SCALP (for maritime strike operations)

Type: Long-range, air-launched cruise missile.
Manufacturer: Missile Business Development Agency (European defence company).
Range: Over 500 km.
Combat Use: Deployed for precision strikes against high-value, fixed targets in enemy territory, including fortified positions and critical infrastructure.
Guidance System: Global Positioning System(GPS), Inertial Navigation System (INS), and Terrain Referenced Positioning Refinement On Map (TERPROM).
Warhead: BROACH (penetrates bunkers and hardened facilities).
Strategic Role: It enabled India to strike PoK infrastructure without violating the Line of Control (LoC), thus avoiding direct escalation.

Type: Medium-range, air-to-ground bomb.
Manufacturer: Safran Electronics & Defense (France).
Range: 60-70 km (with boosters).
Key Features: Modular design that can be equipped with GPS, infrared, and laser guidance for various targets, making it effective for both stationary and moving targets.
Warhead: 250 kg-class; can be used for bunker busting or fragmentation.
Strategic Role: It was crucial for targeting mobile terrorist camps in rugged PoK terrain, offering precise strike capability with minimal personnel risk.