The Rafale:Variants

A Rafale C variant

A Rafale M variant

The Rafale-B armed with GBU-12 laser guided bomb
The Rafale A prototype
[Photos from militaryimages.net]
Rafale A
This was a technology demonstrator that first flew in 1986, as described above. It has now been retired.

Rafale B
Originally planned as a two-seat, dual-control version for the French Air Force. . This version is being developed into a fully operational variant for either pilot/WSO or single-pilot combat capability. The first two are assigned to the CEV.

Rafale C
Single-seat combat version for the French Air Force(Armée de l'Air)

Rafale D
Original configuration from which the production versions were derived. Now 'Rafale Discret' (stealthy) is the generic name for French Air Force versions to emphasize the new semi-stealthy features they had added to the design. Various sources have reported the development of an active stealth system, involving the use of a system which broadcasts "cancellation" waves*.
(* Rafale fighter may be using the so-called active cancellation technique to remain undetected by enemy radars. This technique is a special type of "stealthy" ECM based on the principle of wave superposition.Rafael has two antennas separated by the length of the aircraft. The antennas emit electromagnetic waves half a wevelength out of phase with the reflected radar signal, thus effectively reducing its intensity, making the aircraft virtually disappear from the radar's screen)

Rafale M
Single-seat carrierborne fighter. This version having 80 per cent structural and equipment commonality with the Rafale C and 95 per cent systems commonality, differs in the following respects:
Strengthened to withstand the rigors of carrier-based aviation
Stronger landing gear
Longer nose gear leg to provide a more nose-up attitude for catapult launches
Deleted front center pylon (to give space for the longer gear)
Large stinger-type tailhook* between the engines
(*A tailhook or arrestor hook is a device attached to the rear of an aircraft. It is used to achieve rapid deceleration after landing, usually on an aircraft carrier)
Built-in power operated boarding ladder
Carrier microwave landing system
"Telemir" inertial reference platform that can receive updates from the carrier systems.
   The initial operational software standard for the Rafale M, designated F1, permits air defence missions against multiple targets using Magic and radar-homing version of MICA, and self-defence is provided by the SPECTRA system. The F2 standard will apply to both naval and air force Rafales and combine F1 with air-to-ground radar modes and the ability to launch IR-guided MICA, SCALP and AASM weapons as well as an OSF electro-optics suite and MIDS datalink. This shloud be operational in 2006. The first stage of F2 is OSF, SCALP and standard air-to-surface ordnance.The F3 standard (from January 2003) provides full capabilities to naval and air force Rafales, including air-to-sea attack, AM39 Exocet and ASMP-A weapons, refuelling and reconnaissance pods, and a helmet-mounted display.
(The unspecified and unfunded F4 standard is envisaged for 2010, but early naval aircraft will all have been upgraded to F2 and F3 by 2008. The Meteor AAM and an associated electronically scanned radar antenna are key elements of F4. )

Rafale N
Two-seat, dual control, naval version, which was also known briefly as Rafale BM.The prototype, No. 16, shloud be ready for trials in 2006. The first production aircraft to be ready in 2008, with the final delivery in 2012. This aircraft costs 5 per cent more than a single-seat M.It has 85 per cent commonality with the three previous versions.

[Rafale R
Initial studies launched by the procurement agency DGA in late 1997, into a stealthy sensor pod which would allow Rafales to replace Mirage F-1CRs and naval Super Etendards in the reconnaissance role. However, the French government declined to provide its share of funding in February 2003 and the industrial partners abandoned the programme in the following month]

Rafale Mk 2
Export version, under active consideration by 2000, featuring an active antenna radar and M88-3 engines of 88.3 kN each.This version has conformal tanks and the Damoclès laser target designator.A joint venture was agreed in January 2001 by Dassault, Thales and SNECMA. This version was offered to South Korea (but eventually not selected).