General description

Characteristics

General performance

The Rafale combines fighter-level agility with a payload and fuel fraction usually associated with heavier aircraft. This balance is one of the key reasons it can remain effective in both air-to-air and air-to-surface roles without changing airframe family.

Depending on the variant, empty mass remains around the 10-ton class: roughly 9,350 kg for the C, 9,550 kg for the B, and 9,950 kg for the M. Maximum takeoff weight reaches 24.5 t, while internal fuel reaches about 4.7 t, with a reduction on the two-seat B. External fuel can add up to 4.8 t (with three big fuel tanks), which gives the aircraft a wide range of usable mission profiles from short-range interception to long-range strike or ferry transit.

In speed terms, the aircraft can reach up to Mach 1.8 at altitude and about 750 kt at low level. It also retains strong acceleration and high subsonic or transonic performance even in operational loadouts, which is central to its omnirole concept.

At the other end of the envelope, handling remains unusually favorable for an aircraft of this size and mass. Approach speed is typically around 130 kt, and low-speed controllability remains one of the defining strengths of the type. Combined with its load-factor limits and high roll performance, this gives the aircraft a broad usable envelope rather than just a high top speed.

Length	15.30 m
Wingspan	10.90 m
Height	5.30 m
Empty weight	9,350 kg
Maximum takeoff weight	24,500 kg
Internal fuel	4,700 kg
External fuel	Up to 4,800 kg
External load capacity	9,500 kg
Maximum speed (altitude)	Mach 1.8
Maximum speed (low level)	750 kts
Service ceiling	50,000 ft
Limit load factors	-3.2 G / +9 G

Airframe and aerodynamic layout

The Rafale is a twin-engine, close-coupled canard-delta aircraft. This layout is one of the defining features of the type and drives much of its handling, payload flexibility, and mission performance.

The main delta wing provides both lifting area and internal volume, while the close-coupled canards improve pitch authority and help maintain lift and controllability at high angle of attack. In broad terms, this gives the aircraft strong maneuvering capability without sacrificing range or heavy-store carriage.

Digital fly-by-wire is an essential part of the overall aerodynamic concept. It allows the aircraft to exploit the full benefit of the configuration while preserving precise handling and flight safety throughout the envelope. In practice, the pilot experiences a highly responsive aircraft rather than having to manage the raw aerodynamic compromises directly.

All three operational variants share the same core aerodynamic philosophy and a very high level of structural commonality.

The airframe is also designed with signature reduction in mind. Without turning the Rafale into a dedicated stealth aircraft, its shapes and selected materials help reduce detectability, while still preserving access, robustness, and external-store capacity.

View showing the delta wings and canards

Our approach

Developing a faithful Rafale simulation within Microsoft Flight Simulator required a number of significant technical choices.

One of the most important decisions was to completely override the default MSFS flight model. While the simulator provides a capable general-purpose flight dynamics engine, it is not sufficient to accurately reproduce the unique handling characteristics and flight control laws of the Rafale. To achieve the level of fidelity we were aiming for, we implemented our own flight control system and fly-by-wire (FBW) logic entirely in WASM.

Beyond improving flight dynamics accuracy, this custom FBW architecture also enabled us to implement advanced aircraft-specific features such as automatic terrain following and autothrottle control in angle-of-attack mode.

The aircraft's avionics are implemented using a combination of WASM and JavaScript technologies. This hybrid architecture allows us to combine high-performance systems simulation with smooth and responsive cockpit displays.

As development progressed, we increasingly leveraged the new capabilities introduced with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. These new APIs and systems enabled us to implement features that would have been difficult or impossible to achieve in previous versions of the simulator.

Throughout the project, we have continuously pushed the simulator beyond its original design boundaries. In many areas, we are effectively operating at the limits of what the platform currently allows. As a result, despite extensive testing, some bugs or unexpected behaviors may still be encountered. We appreciate your understanding and feedback as we continue to refine and improve the simulation.

Cockpit layout

Main panel

#	Description	#	Description
1	Head-up Display (HUD)	26	RLD Visualization Knob
2	Head Center Display (HCD)	27	Baro Setting Knob
3	Right Lateral Display (RLD)	28	Altimeter STD Button
4	Left Lateral Display (LLD)	29	IPS Test Button
5	IPS	30	De-Ice Button & Indicator
6	IMC	31	Terrain Following Indicator
7	PDS1	32	Auto Guidance Indicator
8	PDS2	33	EFB (Tablet) Button
9	Auxiliary Engine Control	34	Unused
10	5K Selector / APU Button / ECS Button	35	Left Engine Fire Indicator
11	AC Circuit Rearm Button	36	APU Fire Indicator
12	DC Circuit Rearm Button	37	Right Engine Fire Indicator
13	Engines Calculators Rearm Button	38	RLD Page Selection Switch
14	Flight Control System Rearm Button	39	HCD Declutter Button
15	Landing Gear Handle & Indicator	40	HCD Map Opacity Knob
16	Tailhook Button & Indicator	41	HCD Brightness Knob
17	Refuel Switch	42	PDS 2 Brightness Knob
18	Stores Handling Mode Switch	43	PDS1 Brightness Knob
19	Emergency Stores Jettison Button	44	RLD Brightness Knob
20	Multi-Function Knob (MFK)	45	LLD Brightness Knob
21	LLD Page Selection Switch	46	IPS Brightness Knob
22	Master Weapons Switch	47	IMC Brightness Knob
23	LLD Visualization Knob	48	Map Lights
24	Spin Switch	49	Movable Armrest
25	Automatic Recovery Button

HOTAS (stick)

The HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick) philosophy allows the pilot to perform nearly all essential flight and combat operations without removing their hands from the throttle and control stick. This significantly reduces workload and improves situational awareness, particularly during demanding phases of flight.

While we have implemented a large portion of the aircraft's HOTAS functionality, some controls are not available due to limitations or missing features within the simulator itself.

The list of available bindings is here.

#	Description	#	Description
PM1	Weapon Fire	PM8	Autopilot Engage / Nose Wheel Steering Toggle
PM2	INOP	PM9	Autopilot Disengage
PM3	Autopilot Attitude / Trim Hat Switch	PM10	LLD System Page / DAS Assign Button
PM4	INOP	PM11	LLD Autopilot Page Button
PM5	INOP	PM12	INOP
PM6	INOP	PM13	INOP
PM7	INOP

HOTAS (throttle)

#	Description	#	Description
MG1	Combat Mode Selection	MG13	INOP
MG2	INOP	MG14	INOP
MG3	INOP	MGP2	INOP
MG4	Target Designation	MGP3	HCD Map Zoom
MG5	INOP	MGP4	Create MRK goal
MG6	Combat Mode Selection	MGP5	INOP
MG7	Spoilers Switch	MGP6	INOP
MG8	Autothrottle Toggle	MGP7	INOP
MG9	Flares Button	MGP8	INOP
MG10	INOP	MGP9	INOP
MG11	HUD Drift Cut-Out Button	MGP10	Taxi / Landing / Police Lights Switch
MG12	INOP

Left console

The controls located in the colored panel areas are dedicated to abnormal and emergency procedures. They are protected by a cover and are generally not used during normal flight operations.

#	Description	#	Description
1	Low Pressure Crossfeed Valve Switch	23	FCS Gain Switch
2	External Fuel Transfer Switch	24	Rudder Trim Switch
3	Tailhook Emergency Switch	25	FCS Mode Switch
4	Emergency Battery Switch	26	FCS Digital Mode Indicator
5	Feed Tanks Crossfeed Valve Switch	27	Fire Alarms Test Switch
6	Left Generator Switch	28	Indicators Intensity Knob
7	Transformer Toggle Switch	29	Upper: Map Lights Knob Lower: Console Lights Knob
8	Right Generator Switch	30	Upper: Backlight Intensity Knob Lower: INOP
9	External Fuel Dump Button	31	Strobe Lights Switch
10	Left Engine Main Cock Switch	32	Formation Lights Switch
11	APU Main Cock Switch	33	Navigation Lights Switch
12	Right Engine Main Cock Switch	34	MDPU Reset Switch
13	INOP	35	LD Reset Switch
14	INOP	36	HUD / HCD Reset Switch
15	INOP	37	Selective Jettison Hood
16	INOP	38	Selective Jettison Button
17	COM1 Volume Knob	39	IFF Key Knob
18	COM2 Volume Knob	40	IFF Hold/Unhold Switch
19	DTL1 Volume Knob	41	IFF Ident Button
20	DTL2 Volume Knob	42	IFF Mode Selection Knob
21	Intercom Volume Knob
22	Pitch / Roll Trim Switch

Right console

#	Description	#	Description
1	Laser Switch INOP	9	Defog Valve Switch
2	Reset DTL Button INOP	10	Air Decontamination Switch
3	Rudder Pedals Setting Switch	11	Depressurization Mode Switch
4	Canopy Switch	12	Bleed Air Valve Mode Switch
5	Cabin Temperature Knob	13	FCS Test NOGO Indicator
6	Aural Alerts & Indicators Test Switch	14	FCS Test GO Indicator
7	General Safety Switch	15	FCS Test Switch
8	Radio Alt Override Switch	16	Parking Brake Handle