The French defence procurement agency, DGA, officially took
delivery of the Rafale C137 last week in a move that signals the first time a
European fighter has been equipped with an active electronically scanned array,
or AESA, radar.
With the
unveiling Dassault, together with its partner Thales, have brought an AESA
radar to market before its big rivals the Eurofighter consortium and Saab with
its Gripen fighter. The company is also looking to export the technology to
Brazil and India although news this week also filtered out that India’s Defence
Research and Development Organization was working on its own AESA system for
the indigenous LCA (Light Combat Aircraft).
Dassault
said that it would be looking to export the technology to Brazil and India.
However, news last week also filtered out that India’s Defence Research and
Development Organization was working on its own AESA system for the indigenous
LCA (Light Combat Aircraft). But with that project reportedly 15 years behind
it could be that the French AESA radar will appeal as a technology transfer
option.