The Dassault Rafale is the latest generation multi-role fighter produced by the French company Dassault Aviation. The Rafale is a twin-engined delta wing 4.5th generation fighter similar in concept to the Eurofighter Typhoon, that entered service with the French Air Force ( Armee de l’Air ) and the French Navy ( Marine Nationale ).
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Development started in the mid 1970s, after an order for a high performance fighter was issued by both the French Air Force and Navy. July 4, 1986, marked the maiden flight of the Rafale A, a technology demonstrator fitted with the General Electric F404-GE-400 afterburning turbofans used on the American F/A-18 Hornet. Orders for the new fighter were placed in 1988 for three variants:
Rafale C (Chasseur) - single seat fighter; first flight May 19,1991
Rafale B (Biplace) - two-seat fighter; first flight December 12,1993
Rafale M (Marine) - single seat carrier based fighter; first flight April 30, 1991
These variants were fitted with the French Snecma M88 afterburning turbofans. The technology demonstrator Rafale A was flown using the GE engines because the M88’s development was not finished at the time. The engine is capable of 50 kN of thrust (11,250 lbf) and 75 kN (17,000 lbf) with full afterburner.
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