French Navy Tests Rafale’s RBE2 Radar From Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier

The French Navy has completed the test of Rafale's new RBE2 active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar from the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle during combat missions over Iraq.

The French Navy operated an AESA radar-equipped Rafale M F3 omnirole combat aircraft in the test during actual close air support (CAS) and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) combat missions over Iraq, Naval-Technology reported Thursday.

The French Navy pilots also measured the capabilities of the RBE2 AESA radar. The multirole radar is designed to extend the operational range of the Omnirole combat aircraft, rising its compatibility with the latest-generation long-range air-to-air missiles, including the Meteor.

RBE2 AESA radar is also capable of tracking up to 40 aircraft and engages eight of them in air-to-air combat operations. In addition, the radar provides extended waveform agility, enabling the acquisition of submetric synthetic aperture (SAR) imagery, increasing resistance to jamming.

Rafale is a twin-jet combat aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of short and long-range missions, including ground and sea attacks, reconnaissance, high-accuracy strikes, and nuclear strike deterrence.

The aircraft can carry payloads of more than 9t on 14 hardpoints, with a range of weapons including Mica, Magic, Sidewinder, ASRAAM and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, among others. It has entered service with the French Navy in 2004 and with the French Air Force in 2006.