rafales

Rafales is the plural form of the French word rafale, used in meteorology to denote a sudden, brief increase in wind speed. Rafales typically occur in short-lasting gusts during storms or along weather fronts and are reported in weather forecasts and observations. Gusts can affect aviation, maritime operations, and outdoor activities, and are measured with an anemometer as peak wind speeds over a short interval.

Rafale is also the name of a French multirole fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. The aircraft features a canard-delta wing configuration and is capable of air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance, and maritime strike roles. It is produced in variants for land-based service (Rafale C single-seat, Rafale B two-seat) and carrier-based operations (Rafale M). The Rafale integrates advanced avionics, a multi-sensor cockpit, and a flexible weapons system that can carry air-to-air missiles, precision-guided munitions, and stand-off weapons. It entered service with the French Armed Forces and has been exported to other countries.

The term rafales in English-language contexts can refer to either the meteorological gusts or to the Rafale aircraft fleet (the plural of the aircraft name). Both uses reflect French linguistic roots, but they belong to different domains—weather observations and military aviation.