Of course, F16 is more comparable to the Mirage 2000 series. But F16 means multi role fighter with export success, and Rafale can say the same story (but in non-American sales volumes!).
Except that the Mirage 2000 is not a multirole aircraft, it has several versions which each have their own specialty, the 2000-C for air defense, the 2000-B for conventional assault, the 2000-N for nuclear strikes etc..
"yes France isn't really the first country you could think of when it's about military might" oh really ? so how come when I type on google "country with the most victories" the result is ... and also who is the 2nd weapon supplier in the world ? and what are the 2 countries on earth to have nuclear aircraft carriers?...
He's just addressing the huge number of brainless people who only know France through the memes on the internet and the American propaganda that's been spitting on it for decades.
I was meaning to say that to the average people France doesn't come to mind as a strong military like the USA, UK, Russia or China. But I do agree that France has one of the strongest militaries 😅
Can you imagine if the Rafale program had the same budget than the F35 ! They constantly worked with limited budget and they delivered an exceptional aircraft.
Give Dassault engineers the budget the F35 got, they'd have made an X-wing with actual light speed capabilities. And swearing astromech. Because French.
I heard that it was true at the begining, when it was launched on the market. But I heard too that the last updated F16 are more advanced and superior to the Mirage 2000, witch surprised me because the Mirage 2000 have been updated well too (it was superior to the Rafale F1), but I believe that since the Rafale F2 upgrade, all the ressources have been put into the Rafale and its newer versions
@@nby149 The Mirage is out of production since 2005 and the last version was the Mirage 2000-9 owned by the UAE it's a multi-role version and it's also considered to be a "mini Rafale" since it has the same avionics infrastructure and the same weapons (it don't have the Meteor tho).
The Grippen is an amazing piece of technology, which is on par with the Rafale. However it has one flaw, which makes it difficult to sell. It contains too many American made components, which makes it liable to embargo by the US without warning.
@@lesfreresdelaquote1176 well yes, in that case if they don't give them the components, they couldn't maintain the fighter jet, maybe Sweden is convinced that they will only be allies with the all the west and the United States 😅
@@engineeringinsights1 The real problem is for foreign clients that would depend on their relationship with the US to maintain their planes. I cannot imagine Sweden harming its relation with the US...
Rafale is more comparable to the F18 Superhornet block III and the F35 than the F16. It is an aircraft that performs all types of missions from air superiority to nuclear strikes and electronic warfare. Rafale is the 4++ gen f35, it just isn't stealthy and doesn't do VTOL. Rafale carries a payload of almost 2 F16s and still keeps the supercuriser.
Yup definitely closer to a F-18 super hornet lastests version even a growler cause it pack a pretty mean electronic attack systems packages, where in a couple situations the rafale won by 1 against a S-300 by hacking and disabling key components in the system. And also against a SU-35 where it simply hacked the radar and turned it off in bvr range ( that was before the french integrated the meteor the super long range brv missile to the rafale). So it not only stoped the ennemy from shooting it with superior range bvr missiles but it allowed the rafale to sneak in unseen and score a virtual canon kill just to rub it in, it was a friendly match before the whole Ukraine started in 2014. Not bad for a little jet. I think my favorite feature is the fact that it can do anything a viper can, or a growler, and it can still be used a missile truck like the 15 2ex , the number need to be checked but from memory without additional pylons the rafale can mount 13 weapons + canon. That’s a whole world of hurt with its extremely competent radar and avionics, ans it’s absolutely awesome targeting/navigation pod. Best part? They left enough room for upgrades such as direct energy weapons if the french ever developed them for planes. No plane perfect, but Rafale is as close as you can make it from perfect while still being a jack of all trades, i mean it can even refuel itself, and fly its own drones similar to trusted wingman. 2 seater version only tho that last one.
Good video, you could have added that to date, 508 Rafales have been sold to 9 countries. Many prospects are currently being evaluated or negotiated (including 5 countries in Latin America, Iraq and several other countries) Furthermore, the aircraft does not contain any American components (ITAR free). It is 98.2% manufactured in France by more than 400 subcontracting companies.
I was trying to introduce more technical aspect of the the plane, but you are absolute right, those numbers speak for themselves that this is an outstanding fighter jet
Very Good clip 👏👏. I would like to mention that the reason why France split the EU program wasn't essentially motivated by the wish from Dassault Aviation to be the "maître-d’œuvre" (leader) but by more demanding requirements from France : - The first was to keep the proposal from DA integrating the numeric controllers with an innovative Fly-By-Optical-Wires solution with a Delta + active-canards design, a new numeric radar and electronic systems from Thales, and the future efficient and supercruise capable engine from SNECMA, which did not suit the European partners. - The second was because the French Air Force wanted a cost-effective multi-mission Hi-performance fighter in order to replace all the current fighters, bombers and recon/intel aircrafts in service (Jaguar, Mirage F1, Mirage 2000, Mirage IV), while the other EU nations were focused on a strict interceptor able to reach the iron-curtain in order to replace the Mc Donnell Douglas F4 Phantom. - The third was that DA and the French government wanted a common solution based on the same design for the French Navy needs in order to replace the carrier-based Vought F-8 Crusader and the Super Étendard. So, the more demanding requirements for France brought itself to make its own sovereign ACX program, where the existing F404 engine was used only to test the Rafale A demonstrator. 😊
still biased history, where it comes from? France nevah had the will to share its legacy ability to build fighters from a to z, they didn't need anyone especially other US clients in europe unable to equal them, and France got rid of F8 crusaders far before rafale came to life as the Mirage IV! anyway nice try
@@RaySqw785 Sorry bro, I didn't get you. What do you try to tell ? This is not biased at all, but the real story of the ACT/ACM proposal from Dassault to answer the French government request of 1977, so before the EU program announcement. Later, the other nations wanted a distribution of responsibilities which would have reduced Dassault to an unbalanced honorary status. This is a fact that could not suit the French Defense Technology Industrial Bases, and brought France to leave the EU program. But it was complicated since the very beginning by the differents needs of each parties, as exposed previously. Jaguar, Alpha Jet, Mirage V for the Kfir/Cheetah was shared with other manufacturers in UK, Germany, Israel or South Africa. The F-8P Crusader was retired in December 1999. The Mirage IVP was retired in June 2005. The Rafale A demonstrator first fly started in 1986, the prototypes 1991, then the Rafale M F1 entered in service in 2002 after some delays caused by budget issues.
@@Ben__S you try to say the french fighter industry needed eurofighter project to keep its activity live, which is nevah evah been the case, France never looked at eurofighter project seriously, the crusader was changed by super etendard, and Mirage IV was by Mirage 2000, rafale nevah replaced any crusader or Mirage IV, neither UK, germany, etc.. had the whole industry abilities to build their own eurofightezr alone, France, Swede had, its still the case today, FCAS fighter is leaded by France, and soon France will have to go by itself, because they make war and international agenda responsabilities which of european doesn't, good the euro pudding will take over
@@RaySqw785 I didn't try to say anything you exposed in your comment. You misunderstood everything. You did a fly over the reading and come to rewrite the story. Why did you think you have to comment a post you don't understand ? About a story you can't understand ? Check your facts straight, read the good sources for that in a language you can read, and don't come to bother anyone with your rejection and denial, please.
@@RaySqw785 FCAS, or SCAF in French, isn't a fighter but a global solution of a modern defense systems. The NGF is the proposal concepts from Dassault Aviation for a 6th Gen fighter aircraft as the central vector inside the SCAF program, beside the omnirole Rafale and maybe the Neuron UCAV, plus all the other vectors of power in the sky, the sea and on the ground.
The Rafale (gust of wind in frensh) had to be light and reinforced for operating on aircraft carriers where Eurofighters and F16´s would simply collapse a front landing gear located within a low air inlet, which also gives no room for a central pod or a fuel tank like on the Rafale, the only fighter with a load capacity superior to its dry weight. It is also the only delta wing fighter, a more rigid and sturdy design with long wings roots, capable to land on an aircraft carrier with the good front visibility improved by a large canard wings well behind the pilot and such canard and fly by wire, enable together a low angle and low speed approach necessary for those difficult landings. All those constrains and broad/ simultaneous mission roles made it a better fighter and a smaller target constantly improved versions like F1 to F4, F5 etc..One must also consider ALL the previous Mirage prototypes, G, 4000, V, F2, etc work and experiments that Eurofighter did not have on similar designs. Dassault was right to design and lead such new fighter program. Note the variable frequency power supply eliminating CSD’s was also new and saving some weight, but all charges, radar, fly by wire, radio, HUD, lights, charger, etc, had to be compatible within 170 to 600 hertz power frequency, I recall.
In French a "RAFALE" means a "Gust of Wind", as you say, but also... a "Burst of Gunfire" ! The military certainly named this terrific but also creepy plane for both meanings that word represented...
@@MoSkent1 You are right ….thanks…I missed the machine gun relation, and I was maybe influenced by the Dassault fighters pedigree, Ouragan, Mystère, Étendard, Mirage and Rafale all names more or less windy and nature related…Dassault also integrated Bréguet so the Alizé and Atlantic 2 planes….Would be interesting to know how the developers came up with the name…Rafale.. with or without a double meaning in mind. thanks
@@philgooddr.7850 You're right too Dr FG, and from my part I hadn't though either to all these references to nature that Dassault always chose for his planes ! 👍
"France isn't exactly the first country you think of when you think of military power", well it should be. I know "you" here refers to "Americans", but still... I won't remind you every french military achievements (like US' revolution😘) and inventions, but simply that it has been consistently the dominant power in Europe (so the World until WW2) since its birth and the fall of Rome, and still is despite traitorous elites. French is the language of love *and war:* _lieutnant, general, corporal, chief, marshall, rank, navy, army, military, soldier, attack, defense, assault, brigade, regiment, camp, fortification, ammunition, castle, lance, cavalry, infantry, aviation, force, bullet, canon, rifle, charge, morale, trench, order, squad, musket, artillery, cammouflage, arm, archer, missile, mission, guard, chivalry, duel, combat, discipline, reinforcement, armor, helmet, turret, reconnaissance, uniform, carabine, bayonet, bomb, mortar, vanguard..._ I stop but I could go on and on. Good vid otherwise, thank you.🙂
@@engineeringinsights1 Sorry for the "rant", I regret it a little bit especially since you seem kind but some counter propaganda is necessary. No hate.❤
Le problème de la france n'est pas le savoir-faire (pour l'instant) .... C'est encore, et toujours, le budget .... Si la france avait le budget des Etats-Unis, on aurait des joujoux de science fiction 😂😂😂
Avant même le budget , il faudrait déjà qu'on ait une classe politique qui ne fasse pas le trottoir tous les week ends a Washington ,quand tu peux vendre des frégates a qui tu veux , que tu vend ton énergie au prix que tu veux , que ton industrie nucléaire est pas truffée de saboteurs cooptés par des impératifs de "stages chez general electric ou la nasa " avant de pouvoir prétendre aux postes ...La cagnotte se remplit exponentiellement plus vite .....
À condition qu'on continue à former des ingénieurs et des scientifiques de haut niveau. Point sur lequel je ne suis pas sûr que l'on soit sur la bonne voie.
Exact ! Le problème de la France, c'est le budget. Sinon, je le dis sans "complexe", nous serions le meilleur pays au monde; pour tout, je dis bien TOUT.
The Rafale is a good plane, very well designed and armed. That's for sure and I give it a thumbs up for that but also for the music because my granddaughter made me die of laughter singing this song imitating all the people she knew.
No, it's... Well, it can carry almost as much ammo as a F15, can dogfight a F16 and win, ditto after catapulting from a CATOBAR carrier on an F18, did splash an F22 during an exercise, and good luck getting a radar lock on it when it's hugging the terrain with SPECTRA active - the F35 won't see it, won't evade it and can't engage it, even with help, since the F4-1 version can also do data fusion and added a helmet mounted HUD. Damn, no wonder the USAF shied away from direct confrontation since 2009...
To date, 508 Rafales have been sold to 9 countries. Many other prospects are currently being evaluated or negotiated (including 5 countries in Latin America, Iraq and several other countries)
To be honest I am also curious about that 😅 Maybe they already have competition from EU and USA in term of fighter jets, and after that maybe other countries don't want to buy it because it's a NATO fighter jet
One thing I can tell you is that the F35 never won a competition against a rafale without the US to come and put their heavy political weight in the balance, in terms of performances during the multiples tests of selection the F35 never ever won against a rafale, no matter the country.. the result was always political. Also, If a country like Germany has the US nuclear weapon on its ground, she is obliged to carry the missile with a US made plane, that's how it works, it's mandatory.
I dislike this over exaggerating the F-16s And under valuing the other manufacturers. The F-16 would be compared to the Mirage-2000. While the Rafale is much superior, it has two engines, while the F-16 doesn’t. That’s enough to disqualify the sentence ‘French F-16’.
It wasn't an over exaggeration of one aircraft, I was praising both aircrafts and manufacturers how they created some of the most manoeuvrable fighter jets there is 😅
Absolutely incredible plane (Alas...) and beautiful too, but for me the huge and non-retractable refueling tube breaks the fluidity of its superb lines...
You know I was thinking about the same thing, how that refuelling tube looks just put on the plane, but it is very beautiful. From what I've read, they made it with minimal maintenance in mind, so a fixed refuelling tube won't need maintenance, as for a retractable one you should always look after it and that's why it was made that decision for the fighter jet 😅
@@MoSkent1 That"s not that much about financial aspect but plane availability, wich was one of the requirement. Even if it's only 5-10 less minutes in maintenance between two flights for that probe, apply it to every system you can afford to do it and you end up with an average between 2 to 2.5 flights a day per plane capability. While F35 is btween 0.5 and 1 for exemple.
The french Rafale would literally slaughter the F-22 for me but..... The F-16 is more likely to be a mirage 2000 another baguette enginering but great video i like it
he is sometime ranked number 1 (so better than the F35) and sometimes number 2, it depends of the year... Serbia just purchased 12 and another customer is about to purchase before the end of the year.
Because of American "diplomacy" mostly, but the crash and burn of Russia's military exports has led countries who don't want to be chained to the US to buy from France
@@philipwittamore no, the rafale's performances and maintenance costs are way better than the F35, some countries know it, so the "5th gen invisibility" propaganda doesn't work with them. And yes, other countries like India hate to buy stuffs with strings attached. The F35 like the US gov said, is one of the worst program made by the US. The plane is still full of issues not fixed and some of them very dangerous for the plane... this is the fighter jet who owns the highest number of crashes in the last 5 years. + he is NOT invisible, planes likes the rafale can not only detect him at very long range but also track him and of course, at close range he doesn't stand a chance.
Many reasons, in great part diplomatic. Countries hope the US will help them in case of war if they buy their equipment, or economic agreements are part of the deal. We can also add nuclear weapon deployment capabilities to the list of pressures the US apply to the buyer: Current nuclear-capable aircrafts are old, and the US refuse to certify modern european planes for their bombs to force them to buy the F-35 or be stuck with obsolete planes. On the non-diplomatic reasons, the F-35 is a stealthy aircraft contrary to the Rafale, which is a selling point. There are also special cases, like the UK's aircraft carrier being designed for STOL, and the F-35 B being the only modern aircraft in that category.
@@axanarahyanda628 The rafale is also stealth even if it's not full, his signature is highly reduced even if it's not like the F35 (also, stealth is is not really about the plane but the weapons outside when he can't put all the weapons inside). The rafale has mustiple features physical and software that will make him less visible, but more important he has the unique SPECTRA autodefense system that use multiple types of radars to detect anything around the plane at very long distance and present the threat to the pilot or sometimes the system even take his own decision. Again, the F35 would not win against a rafale, the only advantage in his pocket is "full stealth" and the rafale would break that, he can't even go supercruise so as soon as he will go afterburner the target on the rafale's radar will be confirmed.
France's military might was not a question when Napoleon licked all of Europe and some of it many times over. Please, do note that Napoleon was French and he did this feat with the so-called 'Grande Armee'. of course, French 'things' are under-represented in the Anglo-Saxon axis of good. your present video is very much an exception to that.
0:35 "They built one so advanced that it can go toe to toe with (and even outmanoeuvre) the legendary F22 Raptor." it's almost the first thing he says in the video bro
France has very good equipment that it manufactures itself without outside help (Rafale, Cesars, etc.) but the problem is that it has too little of this equipment.
We’ll see. It is all about energy. We have a controversy at the moment on energy. It is not fully settled, but should soon be. Without abundant cheap energy, it is not possible to be a serious industrial power.
Hi, the 4th reason France backed off the EU program is, that the Eurofighter is a false double engine! Both air intakes are close to each other, meaning if one engine breaks down and catches fire, the other air intake sucks the crap out of the other and both breakdown without being able to keep the plane in the air! Good luck Typhoon 😂 PS: Rafale means " BURST"
@@engineeringinsights1 ....that's not what the redflag exercises showed, Theory is good but reality is better! moreover the F22 and the F35 do not know how to do everything like the Rafale. This one has incredible versatility. and all this is without taking into account the significant improvements of recent years in terms of discretion, countermeasures etc...because the Americans have found a way to beat the Rafale in competition,...they no longer invite it ^^
The Rafale is the french F-22/F-35, not F-16. Do you really you are 50 years ahead ? The Mirage 2000 was the opponent of the F-16, not the Rafale. The Rafale eats F-16s at its breakfast
F35 will eventually surpass rafale. Remember this is I believe 5th version minimum while f35 has a list of issues longer than a list of words in a dictionary. Given 15 years, f35 should.. I assume come on top without the use of sales tricks. In the meantime, there is absolutely NO QUESTIONS, real life tests, and scenarios were established again and again leaving f35 in the dust. Armaments definitely supports the rafale, but it feels more exotic and ultra versatile missiles should be explored.
What kind of a ridiculous title is that : "The F-16 from France" The F-16 is a US fighter jet, it's misleading to your viewers. You could have said "The Rafale from France"
The meaning behind that, is that F-16 is one of the most agile and manoeuvrable fighter jets there is, but France also has a very manoeuvrable fighter jet with some similar designs, that can even go agains that famous F-22 😅
You know I do believe that a Rafale managed to get a score on the F-22 during training. Maybe in a real life combat the F-22 is better, but I think the Rafale would be a difficult opponent, but I still think the F-22 is better. 😅
Nope,even earlyer,Clement Ader on the Eole III but it was military secret .And btw rhe whole Wright brother thing is a scam. It was nothing but a glorified kite
Pfff. The Rafale is just a masked Eurofighter with an aesa radar on it. A first program for the development of a new European fighter was started in 1979, when the United Kingdom and West Germany started, respectively with British Aerospace and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm, the ECF (European Collaborative Fighter) program, which was joined in the same year by France with Dassault and in 1980 by Italy with Aeritalia. BAe, MBB and Dassault began to produce several prototypes, called respectively P.106B and P.110 (single-engine and twin-engine respectively), TKF-90 and ACX. The project, now called European Combat Aircraft, was cancelled in 1981 due to different requests from the various nations and pressure from Dassault to take the lead. On 2 August 1985, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy confirmed their intention to proceed jointly in the development of the new European multi-role fighter, while France definitively withdrew after the development of a carrier-based version and its assumption of the lead in the project were rejected. Spain, initially withdrew from the project, resumed its involvement in it from September 1985. On 8 August 1986 the BAe EAP flew for the first time, and was unveiled at the Farnborough Air Show later that month alongside its rival Dassault Rafale (that is no more and no less the same EAP project with a different skin and an aesa radar). French basically wanted to lead a project they never thinked about, and when the other EU partners refused that French arrogance they stolen the Eu EFA project, claiming as one of their "engineering masterpiece".
We cannot deny the obvious, the Rafales are inspired by the Mirage which seems to me to be a French creation. The delta wing aircraft are their trademark. It was like the Franco-British Concorde project, the British providing the reactors and the French engineers taking care of the rest to ultimately create another delta wing aircraft.
@@danguid2753 The Rafale is no way near the Mirage, Rafale have Canard wings as EFA, Mirage don't. Also if you go to see both the spech of the EFA and the Rafale, they are the same, just in the engines and thrust the EFA is superior due the twin engine.
The Rafale is not the french F16 , it is better than an F16 . Good clip otherwise
It is really a formidable aircraft.
Thank you very much 🫡
@@engineeringinsights1I think you said F16 because this one is one of the very few multirole us aircraft
Mirage 2000 should be compared to f16, and as I always say" air forces that have both f16 and mirage 2000 tend to like their mirage alot
Of course, F16 is more comparable to the Mirage 2000 series.
But F16 means multi role fighter with export success, and Rafale can say the same story (but in non-American sales volumes!).
Except that the Mirage 2000 is not a multirole aircraft, it has several versions which each have their own specialty, the 2000-C for air defense, the 2000-B for conventional assault, the 2000-N for nuclear strikes etc..
"yes France isn't really the first country you could think of when it's about military might"
oh really ? so how come when I type on google "country with the most victories" the result is ...
and also who is the 2nd weapon supplier in the world ? and what are the 2 countries on earth to have nuclear aircraft carriers?...
He's just addressing the huge number of brainless people who only know France through the memes on the internet and the American propaganda that's been spitting on it for decades.
Most people don't know all of that, I think.
usa's culture, remember they can't pinpoint any countries other than the us
Ask to Britain too ^^ More than hundred years fighting against us... In one war 😂
I was meaning to say that to the average people France doesn't come to mind as a strong military like the USA, UK, Russia or China.
But I do agree that France has one of the strongest militaries 😅
Can you imagine if the Rafale program had the same budget than the F35 ! They constantly worked with limited budget and they delivered an exceptional aircraft.
Give Dassault engineers the budget the F35 got, they'd have made an X-wing with actual light speed capabilities.
And swearing astromech. Because French.
Ça va arriver vu les circonstances géopolitique .
😂@@michelmeyran1077
Thumbs up for the good prononciation of Rafale ! 😉
Than you very much 🫡
This aircraft is a pure jewel, the best fighter aircraft without any doubt, i love it so much!!
It really is, this is some special fighter jet
F16 from France would rather be the Mirage 2000
I heard that it was true at the begining, when it was launched on the market. But I heard too that the last updated F16 are more advanced and superior to the Mirage 2000, witch surprised me because the Mirage 2000 have been updated well too (it was superior to the Rafale F1), but I believe that since the Rafale F2 upgrade, all the ressources have been put into the Rafale and its newer versions
@@nby149 The Mirage is out of production since 2005 and the last version was the Mirage 2000-9 owned by the UAE it's a multi-role version and it's also considered to be a "mini Rafale" since it has the same avionics infrastructure and the same weapons (it don't have the Meteor tho).
@@marcblum7493 Mirage 2000-9 didn't have the same avionics as the Rafale.
A little mistake on the variants : A was the prototype, B is the two siters (biplace in french), C is the fighter (chasseur), and M for navy (Marine)
Actually you are right on that one, it is correct the way you said it.
Thank you for noticing that 😅
@@engineeringinsights1 my pleasure, good video otherwise.
@@laurentboitouzet9793 Thank you very much
The French have amazing fighters and so have the Swedish.
Yes, I do agree with that, Sweden have also made some amazing fighter jets
The Grippen is an amazing piece of technology, which is on par with the Rafale. However it has one flaw, which makes it difficult to sell. It contains too many American made components, which makes it liable to embargo by the US without warning.
@@lesfreresdelaquote1176 well yes, in that case if they don't give them the components, they couldn't maintain the fighter jet, maybe Sweden is convinced that they will only be allies with the all the west and the United States 😅
@@engineeringinsights1 The real problem is for foreign clients that would depend on their relationship with the US to maintain their planes. I cannot imagine Sweden harming its relation with the US...
the Rafale is ITAR free, you cannot compare it to the gripen which mainly uses American components including the engine
Rafale is more comparable to the F18 Superhornet block III and the F35 than the F16.
It is an aircraft that performs all types of missions from air superiority to nuclear strikes and electronic warfare.
Rafale is the 4++ gen f35, it just isn't stealthy and doesn't do VTOL.
Rafale carries a payload of almost 2 F16s and still keeps the supercuriser.
Yup definitely closer to a F-18 super hornet lastests version even a growler cause it pack a pretty mean electronic attack systems packages, where in a couple situations the rafale won by 1 against a S-300 by hacking and disabling key components in the system.
And also against a SU-35 where it simply hacked the radar and turned it off in bvr range ( that was before the french integrated the meteor the super long range brv missile to the rafale). So it not only stoped the ennemy from shooting it with superior range bvr missiles but it allowed the rafale to sneak in unseen and score a virtual canon kill just to rub it in, it was a friendly match before the whole Ukraine started in 2014.
Not bad for a little jet.
I think my favorite feature is the fact that it can do anything a viper can, or a growler, and it can still be used a missile truck like the 15 2ex , the number need to be checked but from memory without additional pylons the rafale can mount 13 weapons + canon.
That’s a whole world of hurt with its extremely competent radar and avionics, ans it’s absolutely awesome targeting/navigation pod.
Best part? They left enough room for upgrades such as direct energy weapons if the french ever developed them for planes.
No plane perfect, but Rafale is as close as you can make it from perfect while still being a jack of all trades, i mean it can even refuel itself, and fly its own drones similar to trusted wingman. 2 seater version only tho that last one.
Good video, you could have added that to date, 508 Rafales have been sold to 9 countries.
Many prospects are currently being evaluated or negotiated (including 5 countries in Latin America, Iraq and several other countries)
Furthermore, the aircraft does not contain any American components (ITAR free). It is 98.2% manufactured in France by more than 400 subcontracting companies.
I was trying to introduce more technical aspect of the the plane, but you are absolute right, those numbers speak for themselves that this is an outstanding fighter jet
No doubts that France was one of the cradles of aeronautics and is still one of the greatest producers of military and civil aircrafts.
Very Good clip 👏👏.
I would like to mention that the reason why France split the EU program wasn't essentially motivated by the wish from Dassault Aviation to be the "maître-d’œuvre" (leader) but by more demanding requirements from France :
- The first was to keep the proposal from DA integrating the numeric controllers with an innovative Fly-By-Optical-Wires solution with a Delta + active-canards design, a new numeric radar and electronic systems from Thales, and the future efficient and supercruise capable engine from SNECMA, which did not suit the European partners.
- The second was because the French Air Force wanted a cost-effective multi-mission Hi-performance fighter in order to replace all the current fighters, bombers and recon/intel aircrafts in service (Jaguar, Mirage F1, Mirage 2000, Mirage IV), while the other EU nations were focused on a strict interceptor able to reach the iron-curtain in order to replace the Mc Donnell Douglas F4 Phantom.
- The third was that DA and the French government wanted a common solution based on the same design for the French Navy needs in order to replace the carrier-based Vought F-8 Crusader and the Super Étendard.
So, the more demanding requirements for France brought itself to make its own sovereign ACX program, where the existing F404 engine was used only to test the Rafale A demonstrator.
😊
still biased history, where it comes from? France nevah had the will to share its legacy ability to build fighters from a to z, they didn't need anyone especially other US clients in europe unable to equal them, and France got rid of F8 crusaders far before rafale came to life as the Mirage IV! anyway nice try
@@RaySqw785 Sorry bro, I didn't get you. What do you try to tell ? This is not biased at all, but the real story of the ACT/ACM proposal from Dassault to answer the French government request of 1977, so before the EU program announcement. Later, the other nations wanted a distribution of responsibilities which would have reduced Dassault to an unbalanced honorary status. This is a fact that could not suit the French Defense Technology Industrial Bases, and brought France to leave the EU program. But it was complicated since the very beginning by the differents needs of each parties, as exposed previously.
Jaguar, Alpha Jet, Mirage V for the Kfir/Cheetah was shared with other manufacturers in UK, Germany, Israel or South Africa.
The F-8P Crusader was retired in December 1999. The Mirage IVP was retired in June 2005. The Rafale A demonstrator first fly started in 1986, the prototypes 1991, then the Rafale M F1 entered in service in 2002 after some delays caused by budget issues.
@@Ben__S you try to say the french fighter industry needed eurofighter project to keep its activity live, which is nevah evah been the case, France never looked at eurofighter project seriously, the crusader was changed by super etendard, and Mirage IV was by Mirage 2000, rafale nevah replaced any crusader or Mirage IV, neither UK, germany, etc.. had the whole industry abilities to build their own eurofightezr alone, France, Swede had, its still the case today, FCAS fighter is leaded by France, and soon France will have to go by itself, because they make war and international agenda responsabilities which of european doesn't, good the euro pudding will take over
@@RaySqw785 I didn't try to say anything you exposed in your comment. You misunderstood everything. You did a fly over the reading and come to rewrite the story. Why did you think you have to comment a post you don't understand ? About a story you can't understand ?
Check your facts straight, read the good sources for that in a language you can read, and don't come to bother anyone with your rejection and denial, please.
@@RaySqw785 FCAS, or SCAF in French, isn't a fighter but a global solution of a modern defense systems. The NGF is the proposal concepts from Dassault Aviation for a 6th Gen fighter aircraft as the central vector inside the SCAF program, beside the omnirole Rafale and maybe the Neuron UCAV, plus all the other vectors of power in the sky, the sea and on the ground.
The F-16 from France is called the Mirage-2000... Not the Rafale.
The Rafale (gust of wind in frensh) had to be light and reinforced for operating on aircraft carriers where Eurofighters and F16´s would simply collapse a front landing gear located within a low air inlet, which also gives no room for a central pod or a fuel tank like on the Rafale, the only fighter with a load capacity superior to its dry weight. It is also the only delta wing fighter, a more rigid and sturdy design with long wings roots, capable to land on an aircraft carrier with the good front visibility improved by a large canard wings well behind the pilot and such canard and fly by wire, enable together a low angle and low speed approach necessary for those difficult landings. All those constrains and broad/ simultaneous mission roles made it a better fighter and a smaller target constantly improved versions like F1 to F4, F5 etc..One must also consider ALL the previous Mirage prototypes, G, 4000, V, F2, etc work and experiments that Eurofighter did not have on similar designs. Dassault was right to design and lead such new fighter program. Note the variable frequency power supply eliminating CSD’s was also new and saving some weight, but all charges, radar, fly by wire, radio, HUD, lights, charger, etc, had to be compatible within 170 to 600 hertz power frequency, I recall.
In French a "RAFALE" means a "Gust of Wind", as you say, but also... a "Burst of Gunfire" ! The military certainly named this terrific but also creepy plane for both meanings that word represented...
@@MoSkent1 You are right ….thanks…I missed the machine gun relation, and I was maybe influenced by the Dassault fighters pedigree, Ouragan, Mystère, Étendard, Mirage and Rafale all names more or less windy and nature related…Dassault also integrated Bréguet so the Alizé and Atlantic 2 planes….Would be interesting to know how the developers came up with the name…Rafale.. with or without a double meaning in mind. thanks
@@philgooddr.7850 You're right too Dr FG, and from my part I hadn't though either to all these references to nature that Dassault always chose for his planes ! 👍
"France isn't exactly the first country you think of when you think of military power", well it should be. I know "you" here refers to "Americans", but still... I won't remind you every french military achievements (like US' revolution😘) and inventions, but simply that it has been consistently the dominant power in Europe (so the World until WW2) since its birth and the fall of Rome, and still is despite traitorous elites. French is the language of love *and war:* _lieutnant, general, corporal, chief, marshall, rank, navy, army, military, soldier, attack, defense, assault, brigade, regiment, camp, fortification, ammunition, castle, lance, cavalry, infantry, aviation, force, bullet, canon, rifle, charge, morale, trench, order, squad, musket, artillery, cammouflage, arm, archer, missile, mission, guard, chivalry, duel, combat, discipline, reinforcement, armor, helmet, turret, reconnaissance, uniform, carabine, bayonet, bomb, mortar, vanguard..._ I stop but I could go on and on.
Good vid otherwise, thank you.🙂
Thank you for the good video part 😅
@@engineeringinsights1 Sorry for the "rant", I regret it a little bit especially since you seem kind but some counter propaganda is necessary. No hate.❤
Give us the budget of the US military , and we will made an X Wing guys ! Thanks from Paris 😀
Le problème de la france n'est pas le savoir-faire (pour l'instant) .... C'est encore, et toujours, le budget .... Si la france avait le budget des Etats-Unis, on aurait des joujoux de science fiction 😂😂😂
Conclusion, on a fait mieux avec moins d 'argent.
Avant même le budget , il faudrait déjà qu'on ait une classe politique qui ne fasse pas le trottoir tous les week ends a Washington ,quand tu peux vendre des frégates a qui tu veux , que tu vend ton énergie au prix que tu veux , que ton industrie nucléaire est pas truffée de saboteurs cooptés par des impératifs de "stages chez general electric ou la nasa " avant de pouvoir prétendre aux postes ...La cagnotte se remplit exponentiellement plus vite .....
À condition qu'on continue à former des ingénieurs et des scientifiques de haut niveau. Point sur lequel je ne suis pas sûr que l'on soit sur la bonne voie.
Exact ! Le problème de la France, c'est le budget. Sinon, je le dis sans "complexe", nous serions le meilleur pays au monde; pour tout, je dis bien TOUT.
@@j.celgoog3275 et possiblement, nous avons fait mieux car nous avons moins d'argent
The Rafale is a good plane, very well designed and armed. That's for sure and I give it a thumbs up for that but also for the music because my granddaughter made me die of laughter singing this song imitating all the people she knew.
Rafale is the F-15, F-16, F-18, F-22, F-35 of France and more.
No, it's... Well, it can carry almost as much ammo as a F15, can dogfight a F16 and win, ditto after catapulting from a CATOBAR carrier on an F18, did splash an F22 during an exercise, and good luck getting a radar lock on it when it's hugging the terrain with SPECTRA active - the F35 won't see it, won't evade it and can't engage it, even with help, since the F4-1 version can also do data fusion and added a helmet mounted HUD.
Damn, no wonder the USAF shied away from direct confrontation since 2009...
Nice video!
Thank you very much sir 🫡
No other country in the world succeed to design a so multirole fighter! Dassault was very strong with the Rafale.
Pretty cool! new sub
Thank you very much 🫡
Since 2018, there is a new improved designation pod names "Talios" intended to replace the Damocles.
Great video. A small part on the F1, F2, F3, F4 standards would have been a plus, but it's already great.
Thank you very much sir 🫡
this plane really should have seen more sales !
To date, 508 Rafales have been sold to 9 countries.
Many other prospects are currently being evaluated or negotiated (including 5 countries in Latin America, Iraq and several other countries)
this plane is often outselling the american F35, like every 2 years he becomes number 1 in sales in the world
@@laurentnicolas1550 the eu should have procured it instead of typhoon... and they still should. its better imo. but now everyone bought f35. sigh.
To be honest I am also curious about that 😅
Maybe they already have competition from EU and USA in term of fighter jets, and after that maybe other countries don't want to buy it because it's a NATO fighter jet
One thing I can tell you is that the F35 never won a competition against a rafale without the US to come and put their heavy political weight in the balance, in terms of performances during the multiples tests of selection the F35 never ever won against a rafale, no matter the country.. the result was always political.
Also, If a country like Germany has the US nuclear weapon on its ground, she is obliged to carry the missile with a US made plane, that's how it works, it's mandatory.
Rafale M for the navy, M like Marine, and not Rafale C as stated. Just a little mistake.
F16??? The f16 is iconic but The Rafale is way more than just a French F16
They are both some of the greats fighter jets 😅
@@engineeringinsights1the f22 is a nice american spitfire
Congratulation for your excellent comments......
Strike force heroes ost in the background is delectable
You said that the Navy version of the Rafale is the C version… it’s not. It’s named Rafale M as Marine (Navy in French).
I dislike this over exaggerating the F-16s
And under valuing the other manufacturers.
The F-16 would be compared to the Mirage-2000. While the Rafale is much superior, it has two engines, while the F-16 doesn’t. That’s enough to disqualify the sentence ‘French F-16’.
It wasn't an over exaggeration of one aircraft, I was praising both aircrafts and manufacturers how they created some of the most manoeuvrable fighter jets there is 😅
Absolutely incredible plane (Alas...) and beautiful too, but for me the huge and non-retractable refueling tube breaks the fluidity of its superb lines...
You know I was thinking about the same thing, how that refuelling tube looks just put on the plane, but it is very beautiful.
From what I've read, they made it with minimal maintenance in mind, so a fixed refuelling tube won't need maintenance, as for a retractable one you should always look after it and that's why it was made that decision for the fighter jet 😅
Ok, or seems obvious ! I hadn't thought about the practical aspect but also financial of the think...
@@MoSkent1
That"s not that much about financial aspect but plane availability, wich was one of the requirement.
Even if it's only 5-10 less minutes in maintenance between two flights for that probe, apply it to every system you can afford to do it and you end up with an average between 2 to 2.5 flights a day per plane capability. While F35 is btween 0.5 and 1 for exemple.
@@engineeringinsights1 it is not. The retractable hose would have take the space in the nose that was dedicated to the radar system.
The french Rafale would literally slaughter the F-22 for me but..... The F-16 is more likely to be a mirage 2000 another baguette enginering but great video i like it
Very interesting, very good plane, why don't they sell more around the world?
he is sometime ranked number 1 (so better than the F35) and sometimes number 2, it depends of the year... Serbia just purchased 12 and another customer is about to purchase before the end of the year.
Because of American "diplomacy" mostly, but the crash and burn of Russia's military exports has led countries who don't want to be chained to the US to buy from France
@@philipwittamore no, the rafale's performances and maintenance costs are way better than the F35, some countries know it, so the "5th gen invisibility" propaganda doesn't work with them. And yes, other countries like India hate to buy stuffs with strings attached.
The F35 like the US gov said, is one of the worst program made by the US. The plane is still full of issues not fixed and some of them very dangerous for the plane... this is the fighter jet who owns the highest number of crashes in the last 5 years.
+ he is NOT invisible, planes likes the rafale can not only detect him at very long range but also track him and of course, at close range he doesn't stand a chance.
Many reasons, in great part diplomatic. Countries hope the US will help them in case of war if they buy their equipment, or economic agreements are part of the deal. We can also add nuclear weapon deployment capabilities to the list of pressures the US apply to the buyer: Current nuclear-capable aircrafts are old, and the US refuse to certify modern european planes for their bombs to force them to buy the F-35 or be stuck with obsolete planes.
On the non-diplomatic reasons, the F-35 is a stealthy aircraft contrary to the Rafale, which is a selling point. There are also special cases, like the UK's aircraft carrier being designed for STOL, and the F-35 B being the only modern aircraft in that category.
@@axanarahyanda628 The rafale is also stealth even if it's not full, his signature is highly reduced even if it's not like the F35 (also, stealth is is not really about the plane but the weapons outside when he can't put all the weapons inside).
The rafale has mustiple features physical and software that will make him less visible, but more important he has the unique SPECTRA autodefense system that use multiple types of radars to detect anything around the plane at very long distance and present the threat to the pilot or sometimes the system even take his own decision.
Again, the F35 would not win against a rafale, the only advantage in his pocket is "full stealth" and the rafale would break that, he can't even go supercruise so as soon as he will go afterburner the target on the rafale's radar will be confirmed.
Thanks
You are welcome 🫡
@@engineeringinsights1 an objective and non US oriented review, you are a rare one !
@@yvangascogne Thank you very much for the compliment, I just like all the aircrafts and try to point out all the awesome features of the aircraft 😅
France's military might was not a question when Napoleon licked all of Europe and some of it many times over. Please, do note that Napoleon was French and he did this feat with the so-called 'Grande Armee'. of course, French 'things' are under-represented in the Anglo-Saxon axis of good. your present video is very much an exception to that.
Why you don’t talk about this video?: Dogfight rafale vs f 22 (close combat)
0:35 "They built one so advanced that it can go toe to toe with (and even outmanoeuvre) the legendary F22 Raptor."
it's almost the first thing he says in the video bro
France has very good equipment that it manufactures itself without outside help (Rafale, Cesars, etc.) but the problem is that it has too little of this equipment.
Much more sold to Mid East, India, Indonesia, and from all the places that you can use them whatever scenarios...(mostly)
It is a very capable aircraft 🫡
8:28: It wasn’t the US Navy, it was the French Navy.
Why has pioneered aviation from the beginning.
france used to an industrial powerhouse. not anymore. but retains a few jewels…
We’ll see. It is all about energy. We have a controversy at the moment on energy. It is not fully settled, but should soon be. Without abundant cheap energy, it is not possible to be a serious industrial power.
It should have speed 2 mach or more to be ultimate fighter
it's still a very capable and advanced aircraft 😅
like dancing in front of a shotgun
That's an interesting take 😅
Hi, the 4th reason France backed off the EU program is, that the Eurofighter is a false double engine! Both air intakes are close to each other, meaning if one engine breaks down and catches fire, the other air intake sucks the crap out of the other and both breakdown without being able to keep the plane in the air! Good luck Typhoon 😂 PS: Rafale means " BURST"
Rafale is by far better than the F16 looool.....the Rafale beat the F22 and F35 so easily ^^
It did a good job, but I think technologically the other are better 😅
@@engineeringinsights1 ....that's not what the redflag exercises showed, Theory is good but reality is better! moreover the F22 and the F35 do not know how to do everything like the Rafale. This one has incredible versatility.
and all this is without taking into account the significant improvements of recent years in terms of discretion, countermeasures etc...because the Americans have found a way to beat the Rafale in competition,...they no longer invite it ^^
The Rafale is the french F-22/F-35, not F-16. Do you really you are 50 years ahead ? The Mirage 2000 was the opponent of the F-16, not the Rafale. The Rafale eats F-16s at its breakfast
F35 will eventually surpass rafale. Remember this is I believe 5th version minimum while f35 has a list of issues longer than a list of words in a dictionary. Given 15 years, f35 should.. I assume come on top without the use of sales tricks. In the meantime, there is absolutely NO QUESTIONS, real life tests, and scenarios were established again and again leaving f35 in the dust.
Armaments definitely supports the rafale, but it feels more exotic and ultra versatile missiles should be explored.
Good video overall, except for the title ^^
Thank you very much for your opinion sir.
In your opinion what would you think will be a better option ? 😅
@@engineeringinsights1 I mean, the title itself is okay. It's just the comparison with the F16 in the thumbnail that I find a bit off.
The Viper is a incredible aircraft, seriously.
But sorry, the Rafale is way better.
Everyone loves the Rafale 😅
What kind of a ridiculous title is that : "The F-16 from France" The F-16 is a US fighter jet, it's misleading to your viewers. You could have said "The Rafale from France"
The meaning behind that, is that F-16 is one of the most agile and manoeuvrable fighter jets there is, but France also has a very manoeuvrable fighter jet with some similar designs, that can even go agains that famous F-22 😅
It's an amazing fighter and an incredibly beautiful machine. But it doesn't really go toe-to-toe with an F-22 or F-35.
You know I do believe that a Rafale managed to get a score on the F-22 during training. Maybe in a real life combat the F-22 is better, but I think the Rafale would be a difficult opponent, but I still think the F-22 is better. 😅
Has it got reverse?
Reverse thrust or do you mean something else ? 😅
so the us in Viet Nam beaten by barefoot farmers
Important question for US market! lol I mean Vietnam,Korea,Bay of pig ,and even better . Those people NEED to retreat.
Stop being foolish
The first ever plane flight happened on Bagatelle in 1906, piloted by French/Brazilian inventor Santos Dumont
Nope,even earlyer,Clement Ader on the Eole III but it was military secret .And btw rhe whole Wright brother thing is a scam. It was nothing but a glorified kite
🥱
why ? 😅
Bro is the "united state is better than everyone " type of guy thats why
@@alexandreaudard4309 That's an interesting explanation 😂
@@engineeringinsights1 I think he’s just tired of seeing all those posts about how Rafale is a great fighter jet. He’s being salty
@@dederistote Well you know, if there is a good aircraft, I am ready to talk about it no matter what country developed it 😅
Pfff. The Rafale is just a masked Eurofighter with an aesa radar on it. A first program for the development of a new European fighter was started in 1979, when the United Kingdom and West Germany started, respectively with British Aerospace and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm, the ECF (European Collaborative Fighter) program, which was joined in the same year by France with Dassault and in 1980 by Italy with Aeritalia. BAe, MBB and Dassault began to produce several prototypes, called respectively P.106B and P.110 (single-engine and twin-engine respectively), TKF-90 and ACX. The project, now called European Combat Aircraft, was cancelled in 1981 due to different requests from the various nations and pressure from Dassault to take the lead.
On 2 August 1985, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy confirmed their intention to proceed jointly in the development of the new European multi-role fighter, while France definitively withdrew after the development of a carrier-based version and its assumption of the lead in the project were rejected. Spain, initially withdrew from the project, resumed its involvement in it from September 1985.
On 8 August 1986 the BAe EAP flew for the first time, and was unveiled at the Farnborough Air Show later that month alongside its rival Dassault Rafale (that is no more and no less the same EAP project with a different skin and an aesa radar).
French basically wanted to lead a project they never thinked about, and when the other EU partners refused that French arrogance they stolen the Eu EFA project, claiming as one of their "engineering masterpiece".
and yet, the rafales is better than the eurofighter and has more potential for future upgrades, the plane is still young
You can read some stupid things on UA-cam, but this one is one of the most beautiful.
We cannot deny the obvious, the Rafales are inspired by the Mirage which seems to me to be a French creation. The delta wing aircraft are their trademark. It was like the Franco-British Concorde project, the British providing the reactors and the French engineers taking care of the rest to ultimately create another delta wing aircraft.
@@danguid2753 The Rafale is no way near the Mirage, Rafale have Canard wings as EFA, Mirage don't. Also if you go to see both the spech of the EFA and the Rafale, they are the same, just in the engines and thrust the EFA is superior due the twin engine.
@@athrunzala6770 Are called evidence. I know that stupid people believe that evidence are stupid, it's their hughest fault.