Originally Posted by
sitigeltfel
The report I read said that the command eject function did not work but didn't mention if it had been deactivated.
As I understood it from someone involved in the Rafale community the command eject system was live and was triggered by the rear ejection. The initial sequence for the front seat was complete (pyro gases triggering canopy, seat harness retraction etc) but failed at the very last step - the main cartridge for the front seat gun itself. Apparently the front seat sequencer was energised / impinged by the pyro gases but rather than sequencing correctly it exploded and was physically blown free of the seat mounting structure.
So the pilot got to land a cabriolet, having been subject to a power retract of his harness and with an explosively damaged seat underneath him.