The base aircraft will launch through the Microsoft Flight Simulator Marketplace for $44.99 and include 14 liveries. A $49.99 bundle will include the aircraft and three optional livery packs covering special schemes, Rafale Solo Display aircraft and Tiger Meet designs. Third-party stores are expected to receive the aircraft in the weeks following the Marketplace release.
AzurPoly says the Rafale has been developed over nearly two years and built natively for MSFS 2024 using the simulator’s modular aircraft architecture. The developer describes it as its most ambitious project to date.
A Fully Native MSFS 2024 Aircraft
The Rafale has been built specifically for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 rather than being converted from an older platform.
AzurPoly says the model uses more than 60 modular attachments and includes detailed exterior geometry, cockpit wear, animated control surfaces, tire deformation, moving angle-of-attack sensors and a fully animated pilot. The complete product lineup includes 36 liveries, although most will be divided among separate livery packs.
The aircraft will initially be available on PC and Xbox Series X|S. AzurPoly says it hopes to begin the PlayStation 5 release process later, but no PS5 launch date has been confirmed.
Custom Fly-By-Wire System
At the center of the project is a fully custom fly-by-wire system developed in WASM.
Rather than relying on Microsoft Flight Simulator’s default flight-control logic, AzurPoly created its own system to reproduce the handling of the Rafale’s delta wing and canard configuration. The simulation includes multiple control laws, flight-envelope protections and different G limits based on aircraft configuration, payload and flight conditions.
AzurPoly says the flight model was developed with input from Rafale pilots and that external stores will directly affect weight, drag, balance and aircraft performance.
That means hanging a small hardware store beneath the wings should have consequences beyond making the screenshots look dramatic.
Terrain Following, Autopilot and Autothrottle
The aircraft includes a functional terrain-following system that uses actual simulator topography.
It also features custom autopilot and autothrottle systems, including heading, altitude and flight-plan tracking, along with an angle-of-attack hold mode inspired by the real aircraft. A recovery system for spatial-disorientation situations is also included.
The terrain-following system should make the Rafale especially attractive to pilots who enjoy high-speed, low-level flying through mountainous terrain.
It may also encourage a sudden increase in virtual valleys filing noise complaints.
Detailed Avionics and HUD
The cockpit includes four main multifunction displays, four auxiliary screens and a detailed head-up display.
The HUD supports navigation, speed, altitude, attitude, flight-plan symbology, terrain-following information, ILS guidance and simulated combat displays. The center screen includes moving maps, airports, airspace zones, radar traffic and a vertical tactical display showing a side view of the surrounding environment.
More than 20 pages have been implemented across the lateral cockpit displays, covering fuel, electrical and hydraulic systems, navigation, communications, warnings and mission functions.
The aircraft also includes a custom flight-planning system capable of importing flight plans.
Mission Scenarios and AI Traffic
One of the Rafale’s most unusual features is a custom AI traffic generator.
Using the electronic flight bag, players will be able to spawn compatible aircraft already installed in their simulator. Users can select the aircraft’s position, heading, altitude and speed to create air-to-air training scenarios.
This gives the Rafale a mission-building layer that goes beyond simply choosing an airport and launching into free flight.
The aircraft also includes custom cameras that can follow released stores or jump directly to selected aircraft and ground targets during compatible scenarios.
Weapons on PC Require an External Patch
The Microsoft Marketplace version will allow users to display weapons, fuel tanks, targeting pods and other external stores, but functional weapons will not be included directly in the Marketplace download.
AzurPoly says PC users will be able to download an optional patch from the developer’s website enabling simulated missiles, bombs and cannon functions. That patch cannot be installed on Xbox or PlayStation 5.
The external patch is expected to enable air-to-air missiles with simulated tracking and impact effects, air-to-surface bombs with target designation, and a functional cannon.
Console users will still be able to configure and display a broad selection of stores, including MICA and Meteor missiles, AASM weapons, GBU-12 bombs, SCALP cruise missiles, fuel tanks and targeting pods.
Walkaround and Ground Interaction
AzurPoly has made extensive use of MSFS 2024’s walkaround features.
Players will be able to climb onto the aircraft using the boarding ladder, open external panels, remove covers and safety pins, and interact with more than 25 accessories. An animated mechanic can also be displayed during the preflight inspection.
The developer has even modeled physics-based “Remove Before Flight” ribbons.
Whether every virtual pilot remembers to remove them before selecting maximum afterburner remains outside the scope of the simulation.
Echo19 Sound Package
The Rafale’s sound package was created by Echo19 using recordings from the real aircraft.
AzurPoly says the package includes cockpit ambience, switches, canopy movement, landing gear, alarms, multiplayer sounds, flybys and distance-based engine effects.
The aircraft also includes custom afterburner effects that change color with altitude, along with wing vapor, heat blur, startup smoke and airshow smoke systems.
Built for Both New and Experienced Pilots
Despite the aircraft’s depth, AzurPoly says the Rafale has been designed to remain approachable.
Automatic startup procedures, integrated checklists and EFB assistance options will be available for newer users, while more experienced pilots can manage the aircraft’s systems and procedures in greater detail.
The developer is also finalizing a detailed flight manual that will be made available through its documentation portal.
Pricing and Availability
The initial release will be available exclusively through the Microsoft Flight Simulator Marketplace.
Pricing is confirmed as follows:
Rafale C with 14 liveries: $44.99
Special Livery Pack with six liveries: $4.99
Rafale Solo Display Pack with nine liveries: $4.99
Tiger Meet Pack with seven liveries: $4.99
Rafale C bundle with all three packs: $49.99
AzurPoly says additional stores will receive the aircraft later and that future updates are already planned based on the developer’s roadmap and community feedback.
One of MSFS 2024’s Most Ambitious Military Aircraft
Microsoft Flight Simulator is not primarily a combat simulator, but AzurPoly appears determined to push the platform further into mission-based military aviation.
The combination of custom fly-by-wire logic, terrain-following capability, detailed avionics, AI traffic generation and optional PC combat functions gives the Rafale a much broader scope than a conventional military aircraft add-on.
It is still too early to know whether every system will perform as impressively as the feature list suggests.
However, the project is now close enough to release that sim pilots will soon be able to trade trailers and screenshots for actual flying.
The AzurPoly Dassault Rafale C is scheduled to release for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PC and Xbox during the week of August 3.
