The Royal Navy faces a critical decision on the type of next-generation aircraft that it should acquire for its future carriers: either the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter or the Dassault Rafale. Each type of aircraft offers unique advantages and capabilities, hence the complexity of the decision-making process.
The Dassault Rafale is a French omnirole fighter, which means that the specs are pretty impressive. Its length is 15.27 meters, and the wingspan is 10.80 meters. This versatile machine is capable of Mach 2 at maximum speed while having a service ceiling of 18,000 meters. It is powered by twin SNECMA M88-2 turbofans with an afterburner that yields a thrust-to-weight ratio of 1.13.
The Rafale also carries one cannon of 30 mm GIAT 30/719B and is capable of lugging air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, such as MICA IR/EM, AIM-9 Sidewinder, and MBDA Apache. Such capabilities make it able to carry a host of weapons, including the UK’s selection of a future BVR missile, MBDA Meteor.
The F-35, on the other hand, is a fifth-generation fighter that harnesses the power of stealth. There are three variants: F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C. Of these, the F-35B is VTOL/STOVL capable and hence of much importance for carrier operations. Its internally carried weapon bays consist of AIM-120 AMRAAMs and different air-to-surface missiles, adding to its multi-mission capability.
While the F-35’s advanced sensors and associated systems are designed for network-centric warfare, this may be effective only with AWACS support, which at least the Royal Navy does not possess. Its price—$104 million per unit for the 2013 buy—is a big factor when compared to the estimated $55 million for the Rafale.
Most interestingly, once upon a time, there was a carrier-capable variant of the F-22 Raptor, colloquially known as the “Sea Raptor,” that was proposed to the U.S. Navy. This would have entailed major design alterations, notably variable sweep-wing, for sea-based operations. But again, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union and turning priorities in the military, the project never materialized. The Navy went for the F-35, which became a multi-mission, sea-going platform with next-generation sensors for ISR duties.
Between them, the choices lie in the area of the pros and cons of the F-35 and the Rafale. The F-35 brings stealth and advanced systems, at a higher cost, and potentially reliance on non-organic sensors. The Rafale—fast, agile, and falling in line with legacy UK weaponry—offers a more immediate and cost-effective solution.
The choices made by the Royal Navy in the review of these options will drive its operational capability into the early to mid-21st century. The stakes are high, and this sort of choice stamps an impression of strategic priorities and technological preference onto naval forces.