We know many of you are eager to receive more regular updates on the Rafale. Rest assured: the team is fully committed, and the level of effort behind this project is considerable. It has become clear that we are engaged in a far more complex development than initially anticipated, as we push toward truly cutting-edge features. Our goal remains unchanged: to deliver an aircraft with an exceptional level of detail, both inside and out, without compromise. That means taking the time necessary to do it right.
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.
In the cockpit view shown here, you can also see ongoing work on the HUD. We are pushing its level of detail as far as possible while maintaining strong performance, going as far as integrating the real-world font used in the aircraft, as well as reproducing the characteristic green reflection of the HUD when viewed from the outside. To achieve this, the HUD is powered by a dedicated WASM layer, ensuring smooth rendering even on lower-end systems. At the same time, development continues at full speed on the broader avionics suite, which we will showcase in future updates.
Beyond air-to-air capabilities, ground combat features are also in development. Combined with our terrain-following system, this opens the door to highly immersive and diverse military mission profiles within MSFS.
It is important to note that combat features are not compatible with multiplayer for now, as we are pushing the limits of what the simulator allows developers to do. This is something we have in mind, but it requires extensive research and development. We would also like to remind you that functional weapons are not allowed in the Microsoft Marketplace, which means that combat features will be delivered through an external patch. Finally, all scenarios shown here are fictional and intended for simulation purposes only.
Although the aircraft is still in development, we are already extremely satisfied with how complete it is becoming, and we are very excited to show you more soon!
Official Licensed Product – DASSAULT Aviation.
Developed by AZURPOLY in cooperation with JFEXP.
