IAF Rafale M-MMRCA Costings & Platform Modification/Customisation Details

[randomradio]

I thought this deserved a new thread because of the information. Particularly about the 14 India-specific customisation. There's more in the article.

http://trishul-trident.blogspot.com/2018/07/iaf-rafale-m-mmrca-costings.html?m=1
All the IAF Rafales will feature 14 customer-specific modifications, comprising: 1) integration of the RAFAEL-supplied LITENING target acquisition/designation pod; 2) integration of the RAFAEL-supplied Spice-1000 standoff PGM and its related data-link pod; 3) integration of MBDA-supplied Meteor BVRAAM and ALARM anti-radiation missile; 4) integration of the RAFAEL-supplied X-Guard towed-decoy and development of its on-board location cabinets; 5) upgradation of the SPECTRA EW suite to accommodate low-band, medium-band and high-band directional jammer apertures; 6) integration of the TARGO-2 HMDS supplied by Elbit Systems (also ordered by Qatar); 7) installation of a THALES-supplied traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS); 8) installation of a THALES-supplied standby radar altimeter; 9) Optimisation of the M88 turbofan’s jet-fuel starter for operating in sub-zero temperatures at altitudes above 9,000 feet ASL; 10) increase in the capacity of the on-board OBOGS; 11) addition of weather-mapping mode of operation in the THALES-supplied RBE-2 AESA-MMR; 12) development of quad-pack ejectors for the DRDO-engineered and Spice-250 PGM-derived SAAW EMP-generating standoff PGM; 13)assistance in flight-qualification of DRDO-developed 450kg laser-guided HSLD bomb and integration of the bomb’s FOG-based inertial navigation system with the Rafale’s on-board Sigma-95N RLG-INS through a MIL-STD-1553B interface; 14)modification of the Sigma-95N RLG-INS’ coupled GPS transceiver in order to receive MIL-STD PY-code coordinates from India’s NAVIC/IRNSS constellation of GPS satellites.

 

[Chanakyaa]

Great Info. Thanx.

 

[randomradio]

Lots of interesting stuff in it.

Only Litening pod, no RecceLite. Which means we are going for the AREOS instead, which is a good decision.

The addition of Spice 1000, Spice 250, AAW and HSLD will give the jet capabilities that did not exist on the original Rafale. The addition of the ALARM removes a major weakness also. And with the addition of Meteor and SCALP, all these weapons gives the IAF options that did not exist before.

The addition of low, medium and high band jammers gives it unmatched capabilities in the 5th gen world.

I hope the Targo 2 is a very light HMDS. If it's too heavy, it will cause unacceptable strain on pilots when they pull up to 11G.

Access to NAVIC was an obvious one there.

 

[HariPrasad]

Awesome information. Big thumbs up. I think this rafale is among world's top equipped plane .