Dassault Rafale - Variants, Characteristics, Armament and Performance

Machinery of War Discussion Aircraft
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2677

SPECTRA has mostly always been present. The most modern version of the SPECTRA came with the F3 standard with improvement of the DDM-NG (from DDM) MAW system. Only the OSF changed - with the addition of a new IRST sensor - that replaced the OSF-IT from the F3 standard - which had it’s IR sensor removed from the original OSF sensor from the F2 rafale.
Basically :

  • F2 (F2.2 to be precise I believe) : OSF
  • F3 : OSF-IT (improved TV channel, IR removed)
  • F4 : OSF-IRST (New IRST sensor, TV appears unchanged)

F4.1 improves things with a new HMD, more missiles and more armement in general (such as 1000kg bombs).

2 Likes
2678

Most likely nothing because there is 99% for it to not be renamed as HMDs are balancing tools. RMV shouldn’t have an HMD and yet it gets the scorpion. Same goes for 2000 5F that shouldn’t have an HMD normaly.

2679

That is IPA7 and is a test aircraft that Germany use but is owned by the Eurofighter consortium

This is also a Rafale thread so stop

2 Likes
2680

As much as getting an F4 off the bat would be irritating, at least we’d get (hopefully) the heavy AASM.

Not entirely convinced it will be renamed, but at least there’s that which will come of it if it is.

2681

8 MICAs as well

2682

True. I care more about air to ground but more AAMs never hurts.

2683

Lets remember to keep this thread on topic going forward.

3 Likes
2684

I don’t understand this point however. I agree that the power creep is strong, but considering that the added Eurofighter is Tranche 2 or above, mostly the F4 would be a decent equivalent in this game’s META (since most of the EW stuff is not modelled).
It does not mean it’s the last top tier we’ll get. There’s at least the F4.2 that could come.
We also need to keep in mind that the rafale is missing 4 armaments that will come in the futur to make it futur proof, just like the 2000-5F : MICA IR, MICA NG EM and IR, and Meteor. When these are added, the BR of the rafale is going to go up. Meanwhile, we will be able to add lower tier rafales without all the bell and whistles.
Honestly, armement (that will come later) aside, the main difference between all of the different Rafales will be QoL systems (HMD, IRST) that I would rather have now (because going from the 5F with only 6 missile no HMD would be more of a downgrade than anything else), than having to wait for one more year just to get to research an entirely new plane for an HMD

3 Likes
2685

I just don’t trust them to add the earlier stuff, or update an F4. At least if it gets introduced down the line, they can’t just forget it. It would, unfortunately, be pretty on par with their track record.

1 Like
2687

THAT’S EXACTLY WHY!

That exact reason will make player to have the Toptier of a nation and being FORCED to grind on Lower Stuff,…

for that SPECIFIC Reason Gaijin should have been adding an early Standard now.

as such a F.2.2 would have been fairly enough,…

instead of this we got a F.3R // F.4.1 with Avionics 50 times better (IRL) than in-game counterparts, but weapons worse than anyone,…

What’s the point in Avionic suite being the best if we can’t use the third of it?

4 Likes
2688

welp that takes away any interest i had in actually researching the thing, great job guys

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2689

As more modern systems are added across the board, the top of the line Rafale will have to go up in BR with added weaponry. And when holes will be created, devs will have the chance to add new rafales. Maybe a M instead of a C to spice things up. I think your mindset is wrong, and to be honest (and not being mean), a bit stupid. You can see how much work has been done on the Rafale. The evolution of the Mirage 2000s as top tier became more modern is also a proof that they keep implementing buffs at “older” airframes so that they keep being competitive. since the addition of the Mirage 2000C-S5, France has never been in a bad spot. They have even been dominant at times out of nowhere, for exemple when the 4 magic 2 combo was added, when IRCCM was implemented, when MICA was implemented…

6 Likes
2690

Because you would have had earlier version which still carry subpar missiles and you would also be missing all of the avionics. It’s as simple as that. The eurofighter being the eurofighter they added, the F15E being a thing, it would not have made sense to add a F2.2

2 Likes
2691

All Rafales were tested and compatible with the HMCS but France didn’t integrate them, so they’re all good additions. Game balance means more than reality and it always has (see 2000-5F)

2692

I would love to agree with you if it weren’t for the incredibly sorry state of Sweden. Their track record, to be put incredibly blunt, is shit. They are significantly more likely to add a premium rafale than bother to introduce early options to the tree.

2693

so wrong on that,… you would have a new standard added with newer missiles such as Meteor (F.3R) and MICA NG (F.4) later on, when game ready

2694

my entire intention with the Rafale was sim due to the crazy awareness you would have had with the scorpion on top of the RBE2-AA. it just kinda sucks

2695

Frankly, it is a bit stupid to remove it given there are platforms that weren’t even trialed with what they ended up with.

1 Like
2696

I would save any major decision on which plane to grind and why until the patch actually drops.

2697

Sweden is Sweden. France is France. I’m specifically talking about France Air tree, since we have a great track record since the arrival of the 2000 family. Have we been dominating top tier ? no. Have we always have a competitive top tier vehicle ? Mostly.
Plus, I don’t personnally think Sweden is in a bad spot either. The transition from Viggen to Gripen was a bit long lived, but the Gripen is still absolutely usable at top tier (after being an ungodly UFO for some time). Now, the gripen will sadly be stuck with a lower amount of missiles compared to other airframes, being a small single engine jet. But Sweden also has a subtree, Finland (and nordic countries in general), so they might get a bigger airframe in the future. Anyway, this is going off topic so I’ll stop here

5 Likes