Tech Juice 2512. The Rafale Aircraft Avionics Source Code – What is it and why are we asking for it?
Introduction. There are numerous reports of the Indian Air Force attempting to obtain the source code of the Rafale aircraft, the lead fighter aircraft in the IAF’s inventory. The purported reasons are to bolster technological sovereignty, defence autonomy, and integration of indigenous weapons and avionics. For good reasons, when a software-intensive system is bought off the shelf, it is not normal for the contract to involve the supply of the ‘source code’ with the intent of technology transfer. When the software-intensive system is part of a weapon delivery platform, the ‘source code’ goes through a rigorous process, before it is allowed to function in the real world and deliver weapons. The ratio of source code lines to certification documentation is potentially three to 10 times the volume. DO-178C certification at the highest level of integrity demanded for weapon delivery systems would normally demand over 10x the size of the source ...