http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13218582

things into brit defence camp doesn’t look rosy too..

Okay, and? Whats that got to do with the MMRCA competition or in fact the Typhoon? Neither are mentioned…

(US ambassador to India) Timothy Roemer announces resignation

wait, tim roemer = scooter ? :dev2:

Urgh, I heard sad, American reality TV, slow playing piano music when I was reading that. You know the type, a puppy tripped over its water bowl and got all sad and wet – type of music…Depressing, deep stuff…

…But BS, he announced his resignation because he miffed up in India with the MMRCA competition and not to mention what he said about HAL a few months ago. He’s only got himself into this position. Sort of ironic how its the same day when the shortlist has been announced.

I’ve always personally thought the two US types wouldn’t be good enough for India anyway, always said that the only way they’d get through and win would be due to politics and very little else, even that turned out to be a wet dream for the Americans. It kind of goes to show that they’re not as “tough talking” when it comes to deals as they think they are.

Meh, they’re out, apart from US fanboys, I doubt many other would miss them & lose much sleep over their absence.

Ah well, back to work. 😀

I was assured by Scooter that the F-35 would win. What the hell. 😡

Don’t forget the famous one liner Sferrin and the non-too pleasant pfcem, they were 100% certain a US type would get through and win, not these inferior, strange speaking Euro-trash & Russian types. Pffft!

Too be honest, I am a little surprised that the Gripen is out so soon first – well when I say first, maybe a couple of others have been given the same notice but haven’t announced it as of yet, but still. I thought it would’ve been the Mig-35 and F-16 to announce they’re out first, if they haven’t made it through that is.

Still, the two favourites have been rumoured to be just that for quite some time now, Tiffy even longer, and I for one isn’t getting too excited just yet, theres still three others that could still make it through to shortlist so I wouldn’t get my hopes up until its 100% officially announced which ones have gone through.

Saying that, I have got a sneaking suspicion that a US type is going to go through along with the Rafale and Typhoon…

Wow, seems like when I was away at Dubai nothing much was going on, got back yesteday & all this is starting off, nice timing.

But I must say, it doesnt seem much to be excited about when I looked a little more into it. First off, Livefist is so full of it and they twist their words a lot of the time – basically if you want a laugh, read their words. Their credibility is rather poor in my opinion. Secondly, Stratpost seemed to have just put their words together in a 5 minute tea break.

Personally, I’ll wait for the official announcements.

On a slightly different note(s). I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there was a US type shortlisted due to political reasons. The Super Hornet of the two US types would likely make it through although I doubt it’d actually win the MMRCA competition.

If the Typhoon and Rafale do make it through, despite being more (apparantly) expensive than the Rafale, I still think it has the better chance of winning, going by what has been officially published, overall EADS are offering the better deal, to me, EADS is offering more than what is being asked for. All I’ve pretty much heard from Dassault Aviation through various sources published is; “We will respond to the request for proposals,” which is of course, fine, great. But I’m getting the impression that ‘that is all’ they’re offering. (If there is any other information Dassault Aviation has published that I may have missed out concerning India, please remind me.)

Don’t get me wrong, the Rafale is a fine, fantastic piece of kit, technically its brilliant. But I just can’t help think that the French Government and to quite some extent, its makers are letting it down. I’m really surprised that Dassault Aviation hasn’t even offered India some sort of partnership like EADS has with the Tiffy. I believe that France is rather proud of their product, I believe they’re proud to think that ‘it’s ours’, but I do believe that they may need to move away from that just a little bit, whats fine for France may not be fine for other countries.

With that in mind, my take on this is the India Air Force would be better off with the Typhoon where as the Indian Navy would be better off with the Rafale. Stick to what they’re designed for & let them shine in their own way.

The RAF has ordered the production of more dual-mode Brimstone missiles amid fears over shortages, it has been reported.

Brimstone has been described as the “weapon of choice” in destroying Colonel Gaddafi’s ground forces in Libya following its use by RAF Tornado jets supporting UN Security Council 1973.

http://www.defencemanagement.com/news_story.asp?id=16134

Nice to see that the good old hard as nails Tornado GR4 still has it, its a tough & capable old thing. 😉

Pilot training/shortage aside, how long would it roughly take for Brimstone to be tested, test flown and introduced into operational service for the Typhoon?

As it seems, the Brimstone is probably the most important weapon being used in Libya at the moment and I suspect some in the RAF are itching to get it introduced onto Typhoon rather quite soon.

Are you sure they carry targeting pods ?
From this article, I understood Typhoons are at present limited (*) to co-operative targeting by Tornados… I can’t see why RAF would limit its Typhoons if they carry a TGP.

(*) like were the Rafales until recently, flying joint formations in A-stan with Mirage 2000Ds (AdlA) or SEMs (MN), I’m not bashing anyone here…

Cheers
AZ

I think someone mentioned on PPrune that a Typhoon or two does have a laser designator pod operating in Libya – I’m not quite sure. The Typhoon that hit the two tanks a few days ago could have had a laser designator pod just by what this says, but could be wrong:

‘Still captured from targetting pod footage of a successful RAF Typhoon strike on Libyan main battle tanks’.

Bottom of the page*

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm?storyid=78D32347-5056-A318-A8131DBB3FAABCE2

I wonder if the Tiffys will ever drop the ‘inert’ LGBs in this conflict?

Hmmm anyway, I’m not sure how I can put this or say it in the correct way, I believe this conflict could help speed up the Typhoon’s A/G capabilities in the near future for the likes of the Paveway IV and even the Brimstone.

No problem. I’m not questioning the veracity of this event. I just wanted to look at the configuration, and see pictures of armed Typhoons… 😮

TMor, I think this may be the best place to have a look. They havent any pictures of Typhoons with an A/G load yet but I’m sure they’ll be some of the first ones to have any. 🙂

http://www.eurofighter.com/media/image-library.html

Tiffy gonna walk away with the Japanese contract, you heard it here first. 😎

Says who?

I would’ve thought this particular contract/competition in Japan might have been put on hold for a little longer after those terrible disaster events that have happened?…