Rafale

History

French participation in the ECTSF project was spurred by the need for a new TSF; their @Mirage 2000s, @F-5F Mirage III, and other TSFs were either 1st, 1.5th, or 2nd generation machines that were becoming obsolete against the BETA, and falling behind the performance levels of TSFs of other nations. When it was clear that the @European Union's ECTSF project would not be making use of the French-manufactured engines that would be used for the TSF's jump units, France withdrew from the program and used what data they had to develop their own next-generation TSF.

Development of the Rafale was fast but uneventful, and in 1998 mass-production of the Rafale began. Its similar appearance to the EF-2000 is due to it using the same design data; likewise, the Rafale has the same hardened frontal leg armor pieces, arm blades, and close-quarter combat capabilities of the Typhoon. While the French do not use the @Mk.57 Squad Support Gun, the FN94 @Mount Pylons developed for the Rafale can also swing forward in a manner similar to that of the @Type-94 Shiranui's, allowing Rafales outfitted for Gun Sweeper duties to output an impressive amount of firepower in any direction.

Deployment

The Rafale has been deployed both by the French Army, in operations on the European mainland, and to the @Suez Canal for use by their foreign legion troops.

One notable unit is operated by Bernadette Le Tigre De La Riviere of the 131st TSF Battalion, a 2nd Lieutenant of the French Army's 13th Tactical Dragoon Regiment; the 13th Regiment itself also operates significant numbers of Rafales. Bernadette used her custom Rafale (purple with a Rose Emblem) in several culling operations during her stint in the Deutsch-Franzosische Brigade, and later as part of DANCCT activities.