French DGA Qualifies Rafale F3 Standard

The Dlgation gnrale pour larmement (DGA), the French defence procurement agency, on July 1, 2008 certified the fully omnirole version of the Rafale combat aircraft, designated F3. The first production F3 aircraft will be delivered in early 2009, while aircraft already in service will be upgraded to this latest standard.>> The Rafale F2 currently in service with the French air force and naval air arm is capable of carrying out air-defense (with the MICA missile) and ground attack missions (with the SCALP-EG stand-off missile and AASM precision-guided munitions). The F3 Standard will add anti-ship capabilities (with the AM-39 Exocet missile) as well as tactical reconnaissance (with the RECO NG pod) and nuclear strike missions (with the ASMPA advanced medium-range nuclear stand-off missile.)>> Rafale is an omnirole, all-weather and day and night-capable aircraft, designed to fly the full range of combat missions currently flown by jet-powered aircraft. In single-and two-seat versions, it has been is service with the French naval air arm since 2004 and the French air force since 2006. Rafale will ultimately be the only French combat aircraft. To date, 120 Rafales have been ordered and 58 have been delivered to the French air force (35) and navy (23).>> The Rafales first operational deployment took place in 2004 from the French navy aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle as part of Operation Heracles, Frances contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom. Since January 2005, Rafales have regularly ensured the Quick Reaction Alert mission in French air space, and, since March 2007, they have undertaken ground attack missions supporting troops deployed in Afghanistan.