1/72 Rafale C “Operation Chammal” 30-IX, Armee De L’Air, Jordan 2015 (with SCALP missiles) – HA9606W

The Rafale means ”Gust of Wind” or “Gust of Fire”. This aircraft is a twin-engine, canard delta wing, and a multirole fighter. With the varied payload available and electronics the Rafale is capable of carrying out any type of mission. After a disagreement with the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain concerning the “Future European Fighter Aircraft” work sharing Dassault decided to go it alone and began developing the Rafale. In July 1986 the prototype made its first flight. After lengthy delays the Rafale went into production in 2001.
Operation ‘Chammal’ was the French participation in “Operation Inherent Resolve”. The French Rafale Cs in Jordan were stationed at Base Aérienne Projetée (BAP, Deployed Air Base) a couple of hours from Amman International Airport. This places the Rafales only minutes flying time to the Syrian and Iraqi borders. Between December 18, 2014 and January 7, 2015 the French AF conducted 45 missions against ISIS with Rafales and Mirages carrying out 30 of these missions. One of the Rafale Cs was 30+IX MSN 119 assigned to EC 3/30.