You have to hand it to Microsoft Flight Simulator developers who keep finding new ways to push the capabilities of the sim. The latest developer update from AzurPoly, coming out yesterday, details some of the work in progress efforts to bring their licensed rendition of the Dassault Rafale fighter to the sim and that includes functional radar and weapon systems.

Combat capabilities

According to AzurPoly, their team are pushing hard on the Rafale development and have been adding some unique capabilities. Partially modeled radar system with aircraft tracking capabilities, guided air to air missiles in WVR and BVR envelopes, as well as ground attack functionality are in progress for the aircraft. The missiles will reportedly have realistic performance envelopes of their own.

Here’s part of their developer update:

One of the most frequent criticisms of military aircraft in MSFS is their limited relevance in a civilian simulator. We see this as an opportunity rather than a limitation. Over the past weeks, we have been developing an entirely new custom weapons module that goes far beyond anything we have previously created, and beyond what currently exists in the simulator.

This includes a partially simulated radar system capable of detecting and tracking traffic, allowing you to lock targets and engage them with air-to-air missiles. These missiles are fully guided, with realistic behavior and impact effects, bringing a new dimension to the simulation experience.

The developer reports that they’ve been working to ensure authenticity and the Rafale HUD for example has its own WASM layer with authentic symbology and correct font display as well. The aircraft will also sport a ground following system for low level flight.

They do report that, for now at least, the advanced features are not compatible with multiplayer and that they are pushing the limits of what the sim is capable of and allows for. Still, it shows impressive expansion of typical MSFS capabilities and it means that the Rafale will have the ability to fly a range of mission types including those that involve combat.

AzurPoly’s Rafale is licensed, as is the Heatblur one in development for DCS World, with similar supporting information. Both releases will very likely offer some impressively authentic Rafale ops no matter if you prefer a civil focused sim like MSFS or out and out combat like DCS. Interesting time to be a fan of fast jets!

Check out the update on this and other products here!