
Over 10 years, radar detection means achieved considerable progress. To perform their missions, modern combat aircraft need to be stealthy, that is to say they need to be the least detectable by enemy air defenses. Engineers at Dassault and Thompson CSF, the future Thales, will work to make the Rafale invisible. Through shaping and materials and development of an electronic defense system, they will rethink the aircraft so as to deflect and absorb radar waves.
Guy at 10:51 : So we redesigned everything.
Guillaume Steuer : Everything has been studied to reduce to a minimum what one calls the aircraft's radar cross section.
Guy at 11:02 : Between the Rafale C01 and the Rafale A, there's nothing in common. However, when one sees them, one says it's the same aircraft.
Guy at 11:14 : It looks similar, but there isn't a single identical shape.
Guy at 11:20 : There's nothing in common except the wheels (landing gear).
Bruno Revellin-Falcoz at 11:25 : Of course, we're in some confidential territory, but let's say that the Rafale's signature (RCS), viewed from the front, it's the signature of a sparrow.