Rafale M Marine.

Technical Data

• Design

  The Dassault Rafale M Marine retains the distinctive delta wing and foreplane canard configuration characteristic of the Rafale series, a design choice that offers high agility, aerodynamic efficiency, and superior control at both high and low speeds. Its airframe, measuring 15.27 m in overall length, with a wingspan of 10.8 m and a height of 5.34 m, is extensively reinforced to meet the demanding environment of carrier operations. With an empty weight of approximately 11 t, the Rafale M combines robust structural integrity with optimized aerodynamic performance.

  The airframe incorporates around 70% composite materials, significantly reducing weight while enhancing strength, fatigue resistance, and radar signature reduction. Key adaptations for carrier service include a heavily strengthened undercarriage featuring a twin-wheel nose gear specifically engineered for the violent forces of catapult launches and arrested recoveries. An integrated tail hook system is installed for carrier landings, and the aircraft is equipped with a catapult-compatible nose tow bar, enabling efficient and rapid deck handling.

  Additional naval adaptations include enhanced corrosion protection throughout the structure and critical systems, vital for surviving the harsh maritime environment. The Rafale M is capable of carrier landings on a runway length of 105 m and catapult-assisted takeoffs using just 112 m of deck space, giving it exceptional operational flexibility aboard aircraft carriers. An in-flight refueling probe mounted on the starboard side of the cockpit allows the Rafale M to extend its endurance considerably when paired with carrier-based or aerial tankers.

  Internally, the cockpit features a single-seat configuration optimized with a fully digitalized glass cockpit environment. This includes a wide-angle head-up display, several multifunction displays, and touch-sensitive controls, integrated with the Hands-On Throttle And Stick (HOTAS) system, which allows the pilot to manage all critical flight and combat systems without removing hands from the main controls. The Rafale M’s design prioritizes pilot workload reduction, situational awareness, and survivability, ensuring full mission success even in the most complex carrier operations.

• Armament

  The Rafale M Marine offers a highly flexible and potent weapons suite distributed across thirteen hardpoints, including two wingtip stations, providing a broad array of armament configurations suited to multirole missions. For internal armament, it is fitted with a single GIAT 30M791 30 mm revolver cannon, carrying 125 rounds for close-in air combat and ground strafing. In the air-to-air role, the Rafale M is capable of deploying MBDA MICA missiles, available in both infrared and electromagnetic guidance variants, and can also carry the MBDA Meteor, a state-of-the-art beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile offering extended reach and high kill probability.

  For air-to-ground operations, the Rafale M is equipped to deliver AASM Hammer precision-guided munitions, as well as laser-guided bombs including the GBU-12 Paveway II and the heavier GBU-24. It also has the capability to launch the SCALP-EG (Storm Shadow) cruise missile for deep-strike missions against heavily defended targets. In the maritime strike role, the aircraft can be armed with the AM39 Exocet anti-ship missile, allowing for precision attacks on naval assets. Furthermore, the Rafale M maintains strategic deterrence capability by carrying the ASMP-A nuclear missile, ensuring France's airborne nuclear strike options from the sea. The aircraft’s pylons can also accommodate reconnaissance pods such as the Reco NG, as well as external fuel tanks to extend operational range during extended missions.

• Engine

  The Dassault Rafale M Marine is powered by two Safran M88-2 afterburning turbofan engines, each delivering approximately 50 kN of dry thrust and up to 75 kN with afterburner engaged. These engines provide the necessary thrust-to-weight ratio and resilience required for the rigors of naval operations. The Rafale M’s propulsion system enables it to reach a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 at high altitude, corresponding to approximately 1,912 km/h, offering superior performance in both air-to-air engagements and fast strike missions.

  Operational range is a critical factor for carrier-based aircraft, and the Rafale M demonstrates impressive endurance, with a combat radius of around 1,850 km when equipped with external fuel tanks and a standard combat load. Its maximum ferry range, utilizing full external fuel carriage and in-flight refueling, extends beyond 3,700 km, enabling long-distance missions without dependence on land-based airfields. The aircraft is capable of operating at altitudes up to 50,000 ft (approximately 15,240 m), providing an advantageous platform for air superiority, surveillance, and strike operations.

  The M88-2 engines incorporate a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system, offering precise thrust management, rapid throttle response, and optimized fuel efficiency across the flight envelope. Designed for modularity, the engines allow for ease of maintenance during carrier deployments, a vital feature for sustained naval operations. Special corrosion-resistant materials and protective coatings are integrated into the engine construction to mitigate the damaging effects of the saltwater maritime environment. Thanks to its twin-engine configuration, the Rafale M ensures redundancy and enhanced safety during long overwater missions, reinforcing its operational reliability for the French Navy’s demanding carrier-based strike and air defense roles.

• Avionics and Onboard Equipment

  The Dassault Rafale M is equipped with some of the most sophisticated avionics systems in modern military aviation, optimized for multirole and network-centric warfare. Central to its avionics suite is the Thales RBE2-AA active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, offering multi-target tracking, high-resolution ground mapping, and long-range target engagement capabilities. For self-defense and electronic warfare, the Rafale M employs the SPECTRA electronic warfare system, a fully integrated suite providing radar warning, laser warning, missile approach warning, electronic jamming, and decoy management, enabling the aircraft to survive and operate in heavily contested environments.

  For target acquisition and precision strikes, the aircraft can be equipped with the Thales Damocles targeting pod or its successor, the TALIOS pod, both offering laser designation, infrared imaging, and tactical reconnaissance capabilities. Navigation is facilitated by a highly integrated inertial navigation system (INS) with GPS augmentation, while communications are enabled through secure, encrypted datalinks compatible with NATO Link 16 standards, allowing seamless information sharing with allied forces.

  Within the cockpit, the pilot benefits from a wide-area multifunction display system, supplemented by a wide-angle head-up display and a helmet-mounted sight for intuitive target cueing. The Hands-On Throttle And Stick (HOTAS) system allows for ergonomic control of all key flight and weapon systems without the need for the pilot to remove hands from the main controls, ensuring maximum effectiveness during high-intensity operations. A voice command system further reduces workload by allowing spoken control of certain avionics functions. Designed for full interoperability in joint and coalition operations, the Rafale M’s avionics and onboard systems make it a formidable force multiplier within any naval or multinational task force.