A very encouraging video for our Air Force was published online a few hours ago. The footage shows a French fourth-generation fighter aircraft, the Dassault Rafale, shooting down with remarkable accuracy one of the famous Iranian-made Shahed drones that were launched by Houthi rebels from Yemen.
Rafale: The drone killer
Specifically, the video was captured by the French fighter itself and shows, frame by frame, the moment when the pilot successfully launches a missile at the enemy unmanned aerial vehicle. The missile appears to hit and destroy the target.
Military analysts commented that the incident demonstrates the effectiveness of the French platform and its systems in modern warfare. Especially for our country, which operates 24 Rafale units, the fighter's ability to effectively and quickly counter unmanned aerial vehicle threats is of crucial importance.
The Rafale's targeting system appears to automatically lock onto the Houthi drone, proving its remarkable capabilities in detecting and tracking enemy targets. The pilot then pressed the missile launch button, and its trajectory is shown in detail on the fighter's screen. Ultimately, the weapon struck the small aircraft with great accuracy, successfully completing the mission.
"The Rafale's ability to operate independently in such scenarios, meaning without the need for electronic warfare support, highlights its advanced air defense systems, which have proven their effectiveness in real combat conflicts, such as in Libya in 2011," said a military expert.
Although the exact type of air-to-air missile launched by the French Rafale against the Houthi drone remains unknown, it is certain that the ammunition was far more valuable than the UAV itself. This huge cost difference raises many concerns in the West, including in Greece.
The Greek Air Force may have the means and capability to shoot down Turkish drones over the Aegean and Evros, but in the scenario of a full-scale war, the continuous use of expensive and advanced missiles to intercept many very cheap drones would have many consequences.
For this reason, Europe and the United States are currently developing economical drone interception solutions for fighter aircraft.
