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Dassault Rafale F4
Dassault Aviation · Produced in France
Operating principle
The Rafale is Dassault's "omnirole" 4.5th-generation fighter: a single airframe for air superiority, ground attack, anti-ship and nuclear deterrence (ASMP-A). Two Snecma M88-2/4 turbofans (50 kN each), Mach 1.8, range 3,700 km with external tanks. Sensors: Thales RBE2-AA AESA radar, FSO (Front Sector Optronics) IIR tracker (passive aimed, with no own emissions — comparable to OLS-35 on the Su-35), Spectra EW suite (one of the most advanced in the world, including active cancellation against radar detection), and the M-Scan radar Block 4 upgrade in the F4 version. The F4 standard (2023+) adds net-centric capabilities, Meteor integration and the MICA NG missile.