RBE2
RBE2-AA AESA | |
| Country of origin | France |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Thales Group |
| Designer | Thomson-CSF Dassault Électronique |
| Introduced | RBE2: 2000 RBE2-AA: 2012 |
| Type | RBE2: PESA RBE2-AA: GaAs AESA RBE2-XG: GaN AESA |
| Frequency | X-band |
The RBE2 (Radar à Balayage Electronique 2 plans) is a multirole radar developed during the 1990s for the Dassault Rafale, a French combat aircraft. The original RBE2 is a passive electronically scanned array. This has since been developed into the RBE2-AA, an active electronically scanned array.
Development
RBE2
Development of the RBE2 began in 1989 as a joint project between Thomson-CSF's RCM division and Dassault Electronique which merged in 1998 to form Thomson-CSF Detexis.[1] Development was continued by Thomson-CSF's successor company, Thales Group.[2]
The RBE2 is a passive electronically scanned array (PESA), an electronically scanned radar with a single transmitter. Flight trials of the RBE2 began in 1992 and the first production radar was delivered in May 1997.[3][4]
RBE2-AA
In April 2002, the French defence procurement agency, Délégation Générale pour l'Armement (DGA), awarded Thales Group a contract to develop an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar demonstrator based on the RBE2 radar. The resulting RBE2-AA (active array) variant has been tested on a Mirage 2000 testbed aircraft from the Flight Test Center of the DGA and then on a Rafale. While the first tests were made with American transmitter-receivers, the current radar features parts manufactured by Thales. The radar uses about 838 GaAs T/R modules.
In July 2004, DGA awarded a 90 million-euro contract for the development of a second a AESA radar demonstrator. Production of the RBE2-AA commenced in 2008 and entered service in 2013.[5][6]
On 15 December 2025, India-based SFO Technologies received a contract to supply complex wired structures for the RBE2 AESA radar for the Rafales ordered by the Indian Navy.[7][8][9]
RBE2-XG
The next phase of evolution for the RBE2-AA is the RBE2-XG. Being developed by Thales, it is a GaN AESA radar which reportedly offers upto 30% increased range over its predecessor. Additionally, it has a better processing capability against multiple simultaneous tracks, along with a greater resistance to jamming and active decoys.
As of 2025, the programme is reportedly running on a delay of 8 years and would only be available for integration by 2027.[10][11]
See also
References
- ^ admin (2025-07-02). "Retard critique des radars GaN pour les Rafale indiens" (in French). Retrieved 2025-09-16.
- ^ (June, 2002) Europe targets cockpits, sensors. Aerospace America.
- ^ Streetly, Martin (September 1992). "Rafale radar begins flight trials". Microwave Journal. 35: 49.
- ^ "Premier Radar Serie Du Rafale". Sud Ouest (in French). 6 May 1997.
- ^ (November 4, 2008). Flying the flag for Rafale. Flight International.
- ^ Lake, Jon. "Latest Standard Rafale Gains Clearance; First Indian Aircraft Flies". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
- ^ "Thales awards SFO Technologies RBE2 radar wired structures contract for Rafale under Make in India" (Press release). Thales. 2025-12-15. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
- ^ "Key structures of AESA radar for Rafale fighters to be made in India". The Times of India. 2025-12-15. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
- ^ "Thales ties up with SFO Technologies to source complex wiring for Indian Rafale radar". BusinessLine. 2025-12-15. Retrieved 2025-12-15.
- ^ admin (2025-07-02). "Retard critique des radars GaN pour les Rafale indiens" (in French). Retrieved 2025-09-16.
- ^ Biget, Sylvain; Team, Futura; Team, Sylvain Biget and Futura (2025-06-28). "Future warfare: this Rafale is making waves at the Bourget and it's not just about speed". Futura-Sciences. Retrieved 2025-09-16.