WHY RAFALE JETS ARE BECOMING GAME-CHANGER FIGHTER JET
                     WHY RAFALE JETS ARE BECOMING 
GAME-CHANGER FIGHTER JET
Rafale IN INDIA
• A few days before the first five Rafale jets arrived in India IAF reportedly exercised 
emergency procurement powers to contract the French HAMMER (Highly Agile 
Modular Munition Extended Range), a medium-range air-to-ground precision and 
 a tactical stand-off strike weapon system. 
Source: Zee News
Jubilation at Ambala
• Three single and two double seater Rafales flown by IAF pilots took off from 
Dassault Aviation Mérignac airbase on July 27.
• They had a halt in Abu Dhabi and after air to air refueling, reached Ambala Air 
Force Station on July 29, after flying 7,000 km.
• They became part of IAF’s No.17 Squadron codenamed “Golden Arrows”.
Source: The Hindu
A Game-Changer
• A package of 25 PAF fighters, including the American F-16s, had taken on the might 
of the IAF in a dramatic retaliation to the Balakot strike on 25 February. 
• IAF sources insist Pakistan would not have even attempted such a strike had the 
Rafales been inducted earlier
Source: The Economic Times
What Makes Rafale Fighters so Potent
• Equipped with a wide range of weapons, the Rafale is designed to carry out air 
dominance, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike 
and nuclear deterrence missions. 
• With its 10-tonne empty weight, the Rafale is fitted with 14 hardpoints and five of 
these are capable of drop tanks (external fuel) and heavy ordnance.
Source: BT
Weapons on board
• The biggest advantage of Rafale is that it is capable of delivering nuclear weapons. 
• While the country has not bought the nuclear warhead delivery missile, sources 
said integration into the Indian system will not be an issue as and when India 
decides to.
Source: Swarajya
Radars and Sensors
• The Rafale comes with RBE2 Active Electronically Scanned Radar that, when 
compared to radars with conventional antennas, gives unprecedented levels of 
situational awareness with earlier detection and tracking of multiple targets.
Source: Indian Defence News
Combat Ready
• In 2011, Rafale fighters of the French Air Force (FAF) and French Navy were 
engaged in coalition operations over Libya. 
• These were the first fighters to operate over Benghazi and Tripoli and were able to 
carry out the whole spectrum of missions the Rafale is designed for.
Source: Mint
METEOR
• The most famous of Rafale's weapons is the 
METEOR - beyond visual range air-to-air 
missile which is widely recognized as a game-
changer for air combat. 
• The Meteor is powered by a unique rocket-
ramjet motor that gives Meteor far more 
engine power, for much longer, than any 
other missile.
Source: Times of India
SCALP
• The SCALP deep-strike cruise missile, a stealthy weapon that has been proven 
repeatedly in combat for its unerring ability to strike hardened and protected 
targets deep inside hostile territory.
Source: India.com
MICA
• MICA is a missile the IAF knows very well as it 
is also part of the upgrade package for the 
IAF’s Mirage 2000 aircraft. 
• MICA is the only missile in the world featuring 
two interoperable seekers (active radar and 
imaging infrared) to cover the spectrum from 
close-in dogfight to long beyond visual range.
Source: The Indian Express