Rafale Fighter Jets - All about India's Rafale Deal, Concerns

The Dassault Rafale is a versatile 4.5 generation multirole combat aircraft serving as the backbone of the French Air Force and Navy. India signed an agreement with France in 2016 for the swift procurement of 36 Rafales to augment the Indian Air Force's depleting fighter squadrons. 

This induction marks a significant capability enhancement for the Indian Air Force (IAF). With its advanced sensors, weapons, and aerodynamic design, the Rafale provides India with a powerful platform for air dominance, precision strikes, and enhanced operational agility.

About Rafale Jet

The Dassault Rafale is a 4.5 generation, twin-engine, delta wing, multirole fighter manufactured by the French company Dassault Aviation. It has a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 and a combat radius of 1000+ km. Rafale's advanced avionics provide superior situational awareness and survivability.

• Aerodynamic Design: The Rafale has a sleek aerodynamic design with optimum wing loading, low drag, and relaxed stability for enhanced maneuverability. The delta wing configuration offers a high lift-to-drag ratio.
  • Canards provide added lift and allow short take-offs.
• Avionics and Sensors: Key avionics equipment is the RBE2 AESA radar, front sector optronics, discrete omnidirectional warning system, and the advanced SPECTRA electronic warfare system. 
  • These provide comprehensive, real-time situational awareness to the pilot.
• Engine and Performance: It is powered by 2 SNECMA M88 turbofan engines, providing a dry thrust of 50 kN and 75 kN with afterburners. This delivers supercruise (supersonic flight without afterburners) capability. 
  • 14 hardpoints can carry external payloads up to 9500 kg.

Rafale Variants

• Rafale C: The single-seat Air Force variant has 75% fleet availability and is designed for high mission reliability.
• Rafale B: The twin-seat variant for training and enhanced situational awareness. It retains the combat capabilities of the C model.
• Rafale M: The naval variant is optimized for carrier operations with a reinforced nose and tail and specially designed landing gear. It equips the French Navy's aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle.
• Additionally, the Rafale N is a dedicated nuclear strike variant, while the Rafale R is reserved for technology development.

Rafale Deal and Specifications

India’s original intention was to procure 126 Rafales as part of its Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition initiated in 2007.

• Original Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA)Tender: India's original tender was for 126 jets with full technology transfer, which was shelved in 2015.
• 2016 Direct Deal: Under the €7.8 billion deal signed in 2016, 36 Rafales are being delivered to India between 2019-2022 in ready-to-fly condition.
• Cost negotiation: Intensive negotiations were done to arrive at a mutually acceptable cost and offset commitments, including Make in India and technology transfer.
• 13 India-Specific enhancements: The IAF Rafales have 13 enhancements for India's requirements, including radar modes, low-band jammers, helmets, etc.
• Performance and Availability Guarantees: The 75% (Rafale C) fleet availability is assured through spares and maintenance support and also enhances Indian weaponry to be integrated in future.

Customisations for India

The 36 Indian Rafales include India-specific enhancements; these customizations tailor the Rafale for optimized performance within the IAF's ecosystem and India's specific security environment:

• Integration of Israeli Helmet Mounted Display providing missile targeting via line of sight.
• Israeli jammers and radar warning receivers to enhance survivability against missiles.
• Custom cold start capability allows Rafale to operate from high-altitude bases like Leh on short notice.
• Installation of India's BrahMos cruise missile for maritime strike capability.
• Integration with India's Astra and Brahmos-NG air-to-air missiles for enhanced air combat edge.
• Expanded data and voice communications via Indian satellite networks and avionics.
• Compatibility with Indian systems like AWACS and aerial refuelling tankers.

Weapons and Armaments

To fulfill multirole capabilities, the Rafale can carry a wide range of air-to-air, air-to-ground and anti-ship armaments:

• Air-to-air Missiles:
• Meteor: Active radar guided beyond visual range missile with ramjet propulsion for ranges exceeding 100 km. Provides air dominance against fast, manoeuvring targets.
• MICA: All aspect infrared and radar guided missile used for close air combat. Available in IR and EM variants with a 60-70 km engagement range.
• Air-to-ground Weapons:
• SCALP: Standoff cruise missile with low observable features and terrain-hugging capability for a deep strike against heavily defended targets from over 300 km.
• HAMMER: Modular, all-weather smart weapon employing INS/GPS and infrared guidance. Features low collateral damage and high accuracy.
• Laser-guided bombs: Provide precision strikes by tracking laser designation from airborne markers or ground spotters. Ideal for mobile, time-sensitive targets.
• Anti-ship Capabilities:
• Exocet missile: Sea-skimming anti-ship missile with 165 kg warhead and 180 km engagement range. Difficult to intercept due to very low sea-hugging trajectory.
• Naval SCALP: Maritime strike version of storm shadow cruise missile designed to engage naval surface groups over long standoff ranges.

Significance for India

Equipped with a wide range of weapons, the Rafale is intended to perform air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strikes, anti-ship strikes, and nuclear deterrence missions.

• Boosting defence capability:
• Air dominance: With superior kinematic performance and BVR missiles like Meteor, Rafale gives IAF an edge over rivals in air combat.
• Standoff strikes: Integration of SCALP and HAMMER expands deep interdiction capabilities for precision air strikes at standoff ranges.
• All Weather Operations: Key sensors like AESA radar, FSO and targeting pods integrated with PGMs enable all-weather precision strike capability.
• Strengthening deterrence:
• Nuclear delivery: The Rafale's capacity to deliver nuclear stand-off weapons enhances the survivability of India's airborne nuclear deterrent.
• Signalling: The induction of advanced 4.5-generation fighters sends a strategic message regarding India's defence modernisation and preparedness.
• Advancing Indo-French Ties:
• Strategic partnership: Rafale acquisition has emerged as an important facet of the India-France strategic partnership.
• Potential for further cooperation: Opens up possibilities for the co-development and co-production of aerospace and defence technologies between the two countries.

Role in the Indian Air Force

Following are some key points about the role and importance of the Rafale fighter jet for the Indian Air Force:

• Enhancing operational readiness:
• Deployment patterns: To be based across forward and centralised bases for flexible utilization in combat environments.
• Mission profiles: Rafale's true omni-role capability enables single aircraft to perform air defence, ground attack, recce, nuclear delivery etc.
• Operational Turn-around: With 75% availability and robust design, Rafales have a much faster turnaround between missions than legacy aircraft.
• Replacing Legacy Aircraft:
• Direct replacements: Rafale has directly replaced the ageing MiG-21 and MiG-27 aircraft, which were retired from IAF service.
• Future replacements: Rafales are expected to take up select roles of Mirage 2000s as they undergo phased upgrades to extend service life.
• In early 2022, the Rafales participated in wargames with the UAE Air Force, demonstrating their interoperability with friendly forces.
• Rafales are also slated to be integrated with a wide array of India-made and imported weapons, including the BrahMos cruise missile, HAMMER air-to-ground weapon and various precision bombs.
• The induction of Rafales significantly enhances IAF's capabilities for air superiority, long-range strikes, and nuclear delivery with superior sensors and armaments.

Concerns

Following are the main concerns and issues regarding the Rafale fighter aircraft:

• High cost: The Rafale jets and their maintenance come at a high cost, which could constrain procurement of other critical military platforms.
• Supply of spares: Ensuring an adequate supply of spares and components will be crucial for high operational availability and serviceability rates.
• Training of personnel: Intensive training of pilots, engineers, and technicians is required for the maintenance and operation of the sophisticated Rafale fleet.
• Integration challenges: Effective integration with the IAF's existing command, control, and logistics infrastructure is imperative for optimally utilizing the Rafale's capabilities.
• Obsolescence management: Upgrading the Rafales continuously to prevent technical obsolescence over its service life will be a major challenge.

Way Forward

The way forward regarding the Rafale Jet and its role in the Indian Air Force is:

• Integration with Indigenous Weapons: Integrating the Rafales with a wide array of indigenous weapons like Astra, BrahMos, etc. is important to harnessing their full potential.
• Additional Procurements: India is likely to acquire an additional 36 Rafale jets soon to make up for the scaled-back numbers from the original MMRCA tender. 
  • The Indian Navy ordered 26 naval Rafale jets recently during the Prime Minister's visit to France.
• Operational Deployment: Rafales will need to be strategically deployed at forward air bases near the borders as well as centralized bases in the hinterland for flexible operations.
• Development of Support Infrastructure: Setting up dedicated maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities, along with pilot training infrastructure, is vital for smooth Rafale induction.
• Leveraging Strategic Partnership: The Rafale deal provides an opportunity to further strengthen the India-France strategic partnership and defence ties.

Rafale Jet FAQs

Q1. Which company manufactures the Rafale fighter jet?

Ans. The Rafale is designed and manufactured by the French aviation company Dassault Aviation.

Q2. What are the key features of the Rafale aircraft?

Ans. Key features include delta wing design, low radar cross-section, SPECTRA electronic warfare system, in-flight refuelling capacity, advanced weapons integration and high agility.

Q3. What are the advanced weapons carried by the Rafale?

Ans. It can carry air-to-air missiles like MICA and Meteor and air-to-ground weapons like SCALP cruise missiles, laser-guided bombs, anti-ship missiles, etc.

Q4. Which squadrons of the Indian Air Force operate the Rafale jets?

Ans. The 17 ‘Golden Arrows’ Squadron and 101 ‘Falcons of Chamb and Gwalior’ Squadron operate the Rafale fighters.