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Aviation History
1986
1986 - 0008.PDF
DEFENCE Rafale to fly in June ST CLOUD Dassault's Rafale is an "experimental combat air craft prototype" intended to demonstrate the feasibility of using advanced technologies for application to the French Air Force and Navy's 1990s requirements, Avion de Combat Tactique (ACT) and Avion de Combat Marine (ACM) respectively. First flight of the Rafale from the Istres test centre is scheduled for June. The air craft integrates several new technologies: extensive use of major composite structures; advanced aluminium-lithium alloys; new manufacturing techniques, in particular titanium superplastic forming and diffusion bonding; digital flight controls; and digitised integrated systems. Both the ACT and ACM will be dual-role aircraft with air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. In the air-to-air role the requirement is for at least six air-to-air missiles; two short-range and four medium- range is a likely mix. The medium-range missiles will be active self-homing enabling the aircraft to launch them in rapid succession. The aircraft will have an internal gun and internal electronic counter- measures. In the air-to-ground role Top Rafale's debut at St Cloud on December 14. Above The cockpit layout. Note the side-stick, right, and stick-like throttle, left the basic requirement is to deliver a minimum of 3-5 tonnes of armaments, includ ing advanced stand-off weap ons on a target 300-350 n.m. from base. The aircraft will have six wing and six fuselage hardpoints and missiles will be semi-recessed. The ACT/ACM radar, under development by Thomson-CSF, will have an acquisition range in the 50 n.m.-class, presumably against fighter-sized targets. Signal processing will be advanced with full look- down/shoot-down capability, target track-while-scan on up to eight hostiles, automatic threat assessment, and threat priority allocation is required. The aircraft will have a thrust-to-weight ratio in excess of unity to provide high manoeuvrability. Rafale, at 9-5 tonnes, will be powered initially by two General Elec tric F404s and, later, two Snecma M88s. The ACT/ ACM will weigh 8-5 tonnes and be slightly smaller than Rafale, which is 15-5m long with 10-6m wingspan and 47m2 wing area. Rafale must also demon strate short-field capability and be able to take off in 500m or less with full internal fuel load of 4,250kg, two medium- range AAMs and full gun ammunition. Dassault esti mates the take-off weight in this configuration as 14,000kg and the ground roll to be about 400m, rising to "less than 700m" at 20,000kg take off weight. On landing, the approach speed will be 120kt or less to a no-flare touch down. The main gear is stressed for a sink rate of 4m/sec (13-3ft/sec). The ACM nose gear will be strengthened for catapult and/or ski jump launches and a retractable tail-hook will be fitted. Cockpit layout Higher aircraft manoeuvra bility means higher physical stress for the pilot and better weapon system performance means more data for the pilot to sort. To help reduce pilot stress and improve his overall g capacity, Rafale's modified Martin-Baker Mk 10 zero- zero seat is reclined between 30° and 40°; the exact figure for ACT/ACM is to be derived from Rafale experience. Flight controls are rudder pedals and a right-hand side- stick with a similar left-hand "stick" for the throttle. Cock pit displays consist of a wide- angle holographic headup FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 4 January 1986
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