The Rafale Marine: Aboard the Combat Aircraft of the French Navy

Entering service with the Navy in 2004, the Rafale Marine, developed by Dassault Aviation, is one of the most combat-hardened fighter aircraft in the world. Omnirole, it can perform all missions and replace up to seven types of aircraft from the previous generation. It is frequently deployed several thousand kilometres from metropolitan France, aboard the aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle, to participate in France's military commitments.

After a brief introductory section tracing the history of naval aviation, the work focuses on the current generation of Rafale in service on the aircraft carrier. It highlights the technological evolution of the aircraft, avionics, armament, and maintenance, across the various missions: deterrence, air combat, anti-surface warfare, close air support, and reconnaissance.

The exceptional photographs by Cyrille Cosimo show the Rafale aircraft and personnel in all operational phases: maintenance and repair, ordnance management, catapult launches, flights and maneuvers, carrier landings…

The roles of the men and women aboard the aircraft carrier are extensively covered, with unprecedented explanations of logistical constraints, team synchronization, and safety requirements. These different perspectives reveal to the reader an entire unknown world — the adventure and dedication of the 2,000 sailors who operate the Rafale Marine aircraft aboard the Charles-de-Gaulle.