While waiting for the Scaf, the Rafale is evolving to meet the challenges of the future. The DGA has just announced the qualification of the F4.1 standard that brings French combat aircraft into the era of collaborative air combat.
Operational trials by the French Air and Space Force and the French Navy began in early March. This new device must embark on the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle before the summer.
The device will thus connect not only to other Rafales, but also to the armed forces engaged in a mission by sharing data from land and naval units in real time.
A headset connected
In his cockpit, the pilot has a helmet connected to the Scorpion program with which the new armored vehicles of the Army are equipped, as well as the Leclerc tank in the modernization phase. The data will also be exchanged with military satellites and then shared with other units. Thus, if a threat is detected, its nature and location will be shared in real time with the entire device involved.
In this helmet developed by Thales, the data necessary for piloting, navigation or carrying out the mission is displayed on an integrated screen. To aim at a target, the pilot only has to direct his gaze on the target to point at his weapon. Among other things, it will have the Meteor, a missile capable of being handled by a combat plane other than the one of the shooter.
With the F4.1 standard, the Rafales will be equipped with new weaponry such as the 1000kg AASM with GPS/laser guidance. You will have greater protection against cyber threats. All Rafals of the French Air and Space Force and the French Navy will be gradually upgraded to this new standard.
Next year, teams will start thinking about the Rafale to F5 standard for a 2026-2027 launch. It will be a device that is even more connected and prepared for cyber combat. These improvements, which will make it compatible with combat air systems of the future (Scaf), will allow the Rafale to fly until 2060.
Source: BFM TV
