Dassault Aviation Thales complete delivery of Rafale C137 fighter aircraft with RBE2 AESA Radar 0210123

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World Aviation Industry News - Lockheed Martin
 
 
Dassault Aviation and Thales complete delivery of Rafale C137 fighter aircraft with RBE2 AESA Radar
 
The DGA (French army defence procurement agency) has officially taken delivery of the Rafale C137, the first production Rafale equipped with the Thales RBE2 AESA* active phased array radar, at Dassault Aviation's Mérignac establishment near Bordeaux.
     
The DGA (French army defence procurement agency) has officially taken delivery of the Rafale C137, the first production Rafale equipped with the Thales RBE2 AESA* active phased array radar, at Dassault Aviation's Mérignac establishment near Bordeaux.
The first serial production Rafale to be delivered with the RBE2 AESA Thales radar is running its final tests at Dassault aviation Merignac facility. (Picture credit : Frenchy on Pics-Aeronef)
     

The Rafale is the first European combat aircraft in operational service equipped with this type of radar.

The AESA RBE2 Thales radar will provide the four+ generation Rafale fighter aircraft extended range for compatibility with the latest generation long range missiles and ability to detect low-signature targets. It will also help in extended waveform agility, making it possible to acquire submetric synthetic aperture (SAR) imagery while increasing the radar's resistance to jamming.

The RBE2 AESA brings the Rafale a number of key operational benefits:

- extended range capabilities supporting low-observable target detection and full use of new weapon systems such as the Meteor air-to-air missile;
- higher reliability for reduced maintenance and lower through-life support costs;
- greater waveform agility for SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) imaging and improved resistance to jamming.

Dassault Aviation and Thales are proud to equip French forces with this advanced radar technology, which is now entering operational service on a European combat aircraft for the first time. The project was completed on time and on budget, and owes its success to exemplary cooperation with the DGA and all the companies involved in the RBE2 AESA programme.

Export versions of the Rafale also incorporate AESA radar technology.