The Rafale was conceived as an omnirole fighter that would prove equally at ease when flying out of an austere forward operating base in Africa or from the pitching deck of a nuclear carrier in the middle of the ocean. Since the withdrawal of the faithful Super Etendard Modernist (SEM) on July 12, 2016, the Rafale M has become the Marine Nationale (French Navy)'s only fighter.The carrier-borne jet now equips three frontline naval squadrons, Flottilles 11F, 12F and 17F, all shore-based in Base Aeronavale Landivisiau, Brittany. While both 11F and 12F are fully operational on the type, 17F has just started its conversion and will become fully available for combat operations by mid-2018.
展开▼
