New Delhi: France and India are finalising deal to purchase of French Rafale war planes and it is expected that Indian will get 126 aircraft with a tentative cost of $10 billion soon for its air force fleet. Diplomatic circles claim that there is possibility of announcement of this deal during the visit of French President Francois Hollande to India that is scheduled on February 14-15.
The Dassault Rafale is a twin-engine delta-wing fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Dassault described the Rafale as being an omnirole fighter with semi-stealth capabilities. The Rafale is a multirole combat aircraft; capable of simultaneously undertaking air supremacy, interdiction, reconnaissance, and airborne nuclear deterrent missions. The Rafale is distinct from other European fighters of its era in that it is almost entirely built by one country, involving most of France’s major defense contractors, such as Dassault, Thales and Safran.
General characteristics
• Crew: 1–2
• Length: 15.27 m (50.1 ft)
• Wingspan: 10.80 m (35.4 ft)
• Height: 5.34 m (17.5 ft)
• Wing area: 45.7 m² (492 ft²)
• Empty weight:
• C: 9,500 kilograms (21,000 lb)
• B: 9,770 kilograms (21,500 lb)
• M: 10,196 kilograms (22,480 lb)[162] ()
• Loaded weight: 14,016 kg (30,900 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 24,500 kg (C/D), 22,200 kg (M) (54,000 lb)
