Pakistan Space Agency
Elite Member
Written Question No. 6745:
Rafale, SPECTRA and LPI: what future for French air superiority?
17th Legislature
Publication of the question in the Official Journal of May 20, 2025, page 3516
Question from: Mr. Marc Chavent
Ain (5th constituency ) - UDR
Mr. Marc Chavent draws the attention of the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs to the strategic and industrial implications of the recent air clashes over Kashmir.
Several open and specialized sources—including American analysts and intelligence data from NATO partners—confirm the loss of at least one Indian Rafale, shot down by a PL-15E missile launched from a Pakistani J-10C, equipped with the KLJ-10A AESA radar.
This engagement raises a major strategic question: the SPECTRA electronic warfare system apparently neither detected nor disrupted an attack emitted in spectra that are now standard for low probability of intercept (LPI) radars.
In this context, where India—like other potential partners—could discreetly reassess its capability orientations, does France not risk seeing both the technological advantage of the Rafale and the industrial leadership of its aerospace defense base called into question?
Can the Government confirm that the Rafale F5 standard incorporates a substantial overhaul of the SPECTRA system, adapted to the new generations of AESA radars and active guidance missiles, and that it is seriously considering the development of a "Rafale EW" version, specifically dedicated to SEAD/DEAD missions, based on the American Growler model, in order to preserve France's strategic autonomy and the credibility of the French export offer?
This reflection becomes all the more urgent given that Chinese 5th generation platforms, such as the J-20 and potentially the FC-31, could be rapidly deployed in the Indo-Pacific region, introducing a capability leap in terms of stealth, sensor fusion, electronic warfare, and multi-domain interoperability. He would like to know his position on the subject.
Rafale, SPECTRA and LPI: what future for French air superiority?
17th Legislature
Publication of the question in the Official Journal of May 20, 2025, page 3516
Question from: Mr. Marc Chavent
Ain (5th constituency ) - UDR
Mr. Marc Chavent draws the attention of the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs to the strategic and industrial implications of the recent air clashes over Kashmir.
Several open and specialized sources—including American analysts and intelligence data from NATO partners—confirm the loss of at least one Indian Rafale, shot down by a PL-15E missile launched from a Pakistani J-10C, equipped with the KLJ-10A AESA radar.
This engagement raises a major strategic question: the SPECTRA electronic warfare system apparently neither detected nor disrupted an attack emitted in spectra that are now standard for low probability of intercept (LPI) radars.
In this context, where India—like other potential partners—could discreetly reassess its capability orientations, does France not risk seeing both the technological advantage of the Rafale and the industrial leadership of its aerospace defense base called into question?
Can the Government confirm that the Rafale F5 standard incorporates a substantial overhaul of the SPECTRA system, adapted to the new generations of AESA radars and active guidance missiles, and that it is seriously considering the development of a "Rafale EW" version, specifically dedicated to SEAD/DEAD missions, based on the American Growler model, in order to preserve France's strategic autonomy and the credibility of the French export offer?
This reflection becomes all the more urgent given that Chinese 5th generation platforms, such as the J-20 and potentially the FC-31, could be rapidly deployed in the Indo-Pacific region, introducing a capability leap in terms of stealth, sensor fusion, electronic warfare, and multi-domain interoperability. He would like to know his position on the subject.
