Daily News Analysis ‘Rafale Fighter Aircraft ’ : 12 June

Why in News: 

• France has reiterated that the proposed procurement of 114 Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force will be aligned with India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and industrial partnership model.

Key Facts

• Rafale is a 4.5-generation, twin-engine, multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by Dassault Aviation, France.
• It is designed for air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance, nuclear deterrence, and anti-ship missions.
• The aircraft uses a canard delta-wing configuration, providing high manoeuvrability and all-weather operational capability.
• It features advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, an electronic warfare suite, and sensor fusion technology.
• Rafale can carry a wide range of weapons including Meteor Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile, SCALP cruise missile, and MICA air-to-air missiles.
• Maximum speed is Mach 1.8 (around 1,900 km/h); operational range exceeds 3,700 km with external fuel tanks.
• It is capable of air-to-air refuelling and carrier-based operations (Rafale-M variant).
• India signed an agreement for 36 Rafale aircraft in 2016; aircraft are operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Under the proposed MRFA Programme, India plans to procure 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft to strengthen IAF combat strength.