SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Dassault Aviation is set to offer its latest Rafale F4 variant to the Indian Air Force (IAF) as part of the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender for 114 jets. With the production line now transitioning to the F4 standard by 2025 following the delivery of the first aircraft in 2023 and the second in 2025, Dassault is positioning the Rafale F4 as a highly advanced option for the IAF.
Officials from Dassault, speaking to idrw.org, emphasized that the Rafale F4 brings numerous upgrades over the Rafale F3R jets currently operated by the IAF, among them are Thales software-defined radio, satellite communications and other improvements on RBE2 AESA radar, Talios targeting pod, front sector optronics system, and helmet-mounted display capabilities. New capabilities for the F4 include the Thales Scorpion Helmet Mounted Display, MBDA’s MICA NG (Next-Generation) air-to-air missile and the 1,000-kilogram variant of Safran’s AASM (armement air-sol modulaire) “Hammer” precision-guided munition.
One of the significant advantages of the Rafale F4 variant is its backward compatibility with the existing F3R fleet. Dassault officials confirmed to idrw.org that, the IAF’s current fleet of 36 F3R-configured Rafales can be upgraded to the F4 standard with relative ease, a process that can be completed at the squadron level in just one week. This ensures that the IAF can maintain its existing fleet while incorporating the latest technologies and capabilities of the F4 variant, reducing the overall costs of modernization and making it par with the F4 that will be locally manufactured in India if Dassault wins the tender.
The Rafale F4 is designed to be operationally relevant for at least the next 10 to 15 years, incorporating cutting-edge features that will keep it competitive in the evolving battlefield environment. Enhancements include improved connectivity with better data links for network-centric warfare, advanced radar systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and the integration of new air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons.
Dassault recently announced plans to complement the Rafale F5 standard, expected after 2030, with an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). This UCAV will operate in tandem with manned aircraft, leveraging artificial intelligence and networked operations to enhance the effectiveness of air campaigns. This vision aligns with the global trend toward manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), where autonomous platforms work alongside piloted aircraft for greater flexibility and effectiveness, but deliveries might start only in 2032.
While Dassault is confident in the Rafale F4’s prospects, it will face stiff competition from other contenders in the MRFA tender, notably the Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin’s F-21 (an upgraded variant of the F-16). The Saab Gripen E, Boeing F-15EX, and F-18 E/F have already indicated their interest in the MRFA tender along with Russian offers of Su-35 and Mig-35.
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