AlphaZuluThanks, BIGVERN1966.
Those who say so are right 🙂
Your pic raises another question to me : Can the 2 (underwing) empty pylons be loaded with bombs ?
If yes, does someone know why there aren’t, as 2x more Paveways would make a more “serious” payload, in the light of the recent mournings from libyan rebels about NATO “not doing enough” ?
Cheers
AZ
AlphaZuluLicorne french force used 4 Gazelle (HOT or Canon) and 1 Puma “Pirate” (20mm gun) on april the 11th.
Along with 250 men and circa 20 armoured vehicles on the ground.
(source)
No data for ONUCI mission.
There were more (transport or Pirate ?) Pumas available in Abidjan, and more choppers (type unknown) on a TCD (boat) a bit farther off the coast, should the need have arisen.
Cheers
AZ
AlphaZuluThe loadout that the typhoonss are using is:
2x ASRAAM
2x Paveway II
2x Drop Tanks
1x Targetting pod
And does anybody know if the US is still using its AC-130s, A-10s and
harriers?
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.
[edit] Ooops, this is spelled out in the article… The plane can carry it, but RAF seems to lack pilots trained on TGP. Well it still contradict the loadout quoted above.
(*) 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
AlphaZuluI know. Funny isn’t it? We’ve now bought 2 ‘off the shelf’ helicopters from the same manufacturer and yet neither is in operational service whilst their former competitors are actually deployed operationally…
Well, french Tigers are in operational service… in A-stan since several monthes… and seem much appreciated by ground troops there.
What’s the problem with aussie ones ?
Cheers
AZ
AlphaZuluSource of the pics is, mainly, the website of the MinDef (French DoD), credits go to “EMA / Marine Nationale” (or “EMA / Armée de l’Air”). No direct involvment of Dassault Aviation, there.
Exemple : http://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/actualites/libye-point-de-situation-operation-harmattan-n-19
It is something “new” that the MinDef communicates so much on a conflict. Their website is brand new, too, it has been completely re-designed/re-engineered in the past months.
Cheers
AZ
PS : EMA stands for Etat Major des Armées (highest HQ in France).
AlphaZuluI know the UK are using 1,000lb Paveways on their Tornados, not sure anyone else is (I believe France is using 500lb ones only). So I would guess it was British.
Well, I’ve not seen any proof french aircraft used GBU-16 in Libya, though M2000 can use GBU-16, 22 & 24. Some were dropped over Bosnia and/or Kosovo.
http://www.aeropresse.com/les_plus_aeronautiques/fiches_techniques/fiches/Mirage_2000N.php
Cheers
AZ
AlphaZuluNope. If I understood correctly, they were 8 initially, +2 means 10 now.
Cheers
AZ
AlphaZuluNow for the real-world!
Tornado engines are closely-spaced and there is no fragmentation-protection armour between them. A hit on one engine may cause fratricide to the other.
Speaking of real world: see the story of the 2 french jaguars getting hit on their strike to Al Jouf (?) AB in Irak (1991). Jaguar engines are close, aren’t they? Don’t know if they have some protection between them, though.
So yes, a hit may… or not… cause fratricide. 😉
The fact that the 2000 is 9g-capable isn’t particularly useful in the face of AAA and 40g SAMs.
Why compare 9g to 40g like that ? Speeds of aircrafts & missiles are (very) different…
Would you choose a less agile aircraft for a war mission, assuming you get the choice?
Tornado is and always was a better bomb truck than mirage ages ago , they doing great job with brimstone ( i call Sarko to buy somes for adla) !
Brimstones under Mirages (or Rafales) would indeed be very good news 🙂
does anyone know why the four fuselage hardpoints on the Mirage 2000 series never seem to be used?
Never ? http://stanakshot.free.fr/affich2.php?img=1886 😉
As you stated : 2000-5F use them for MICAs
2000Cs, now given some A2G basic training (Mk-82) for low intensity ops (who said Africa ?) (*) use them. It’s relatively new, as their previous train course was ~100% A2A (S530F & MagicII = no fuselage pylons)
2000Ns train for nuclear strike, mostly : no use (ASMP is centerline mounted only)
2000Ds train for modern weapons mostly (GBUs, AASMs) : no use (I suppose those weapons are to big and/or heavy for the fuselage hardpoints)
(*) this because:
– more modern A2A fighter come available (Rafale)
– older fighter/bomber are being retired (F1s)
Cheers
AZ
AlphaZuluAs written in the video description : no go-around there.
It’s an altiport ! Try looking for Megeve, too, same issue.
If you can’t make it, then :
“Preferential crashing zone: 020°/2,7 NM/AD, at the bottom of the valley.”
See here (altiport charts).
Didn’t know such a big airplane could go there…
Accidents occured…
07/10 : A Cirrus SR-22 landed long and got a problem 😉 (brake failure ?)
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6388890/image/59902012-crashed-cirrus-22
http://www.radiocourchevel.com/UserFiles/Image/avion%20crash.jpg
10/10 : DR-400 crash (at take-off). Crew of 2 was lost.
http://alpes.france3.fr/info/courchevel-73–crash-d-un-avion-de-tourisme-65592197.html
03/11 : a belgian PA-32 landed with U/C up.
http://www.ledauphine.com/savoie/2011/03/20/concentre-le-pilote-oublie-de-sortir-son-train-d-atterrissage
Cheers
AZ
AlphaZuluWell, welcome to the Typhoon in history makers category 🙂
I read EP2, that’s GBU-49, right ?
Is the Typhie able to lase targets by himself (pod ?) or does he need a third part designator (Tornado, JTAC…) ?
Radar Warning Receiver !!!
Don’t think so. 🙂
Would you mind to elaborate ?
Cheers
AZ
AlphaZuluThe Rafale’s wingtip rail and outboard pylon appears to have some EW function?
The black parts at the front ? Less glamorous, I think it’s just protective (anti-shock) rubber.
If they had an EW function, they would be to easily masked by the weapon, when loaded, don’t they?
And Ero_Senin got a point on the ‘optional’ nature of the underwing pylons. Why put a EW antenna on such a part?
Cheers
AZ
AlphaZuluHi Kovy
Could you elaborate on this ?
availability : mirage 2000D. The complexity of the tornado make it much more difficult to maintain than the 2000D.
Last time I checked, the Diesel’s availability was low, unless there was a war on (A-stan, Libya) with negative impact on metropolitan availability / training ops.
Is the Tornado’s situation significantly worse ? Or did the 2000D one improve recently ?
As for the other points, I do agree.
Cheers
AZ
PS : By the way, Hotdog, it’s Libya. “I”s in alphabetic order. Not like Syria. 😉
AlphaZuluRight, I never suggested the F1 should self-escort,
I´m saying I was surprised it needed a Rafale escort in ´A2A config´,
when a Rafale or other semi-modern multi-role jet in strike config with simply wing-tip MICAs should more than suffice,
while carrying more bombs to take out ground targets… if it is needed to cover for F1, perhaps not JUST wingtip MICAs,
but even with 4 MICAs that still leaves plenty of pylons and payload for some AASMs and GBUs.
IIRC, even Rafale in recce conf (i.e. carrying Reco-NG) were accompanied by a A2A buddy (another Rafale).
I suppose recce aircrafts are a higher value asset and/or operate at time/distance farther from “immediate” available CAP support enforcing the NFZ.
As for the Rafale in A2G conf : I’m aware that french MoD advertized on the capability to enforce the NFZ while on a CAS mission, because the planes carry 2xMICA IR (and sometimes 2xMICA EM) in addition of their A2G & fuel load.
In the mean time, one must remember that such a Rafale is neither supersonic (bombs & big fuel tanks forbid that) neither as manoeuvrable (FCS limit set to 5.5g/20° AoA) than an A2A configured Rafale. It may count…
Cheers
AZ
AlphaZuluSince Nato took the lead, no more strikes, germans italians turkish and peace weasels around are making a good job from inside .. enjoying free threat air space to ride, good! lol
I’m afraid you’re mistaken. And it’s not “only” from Russian, Chinese, or non-participating / non supporting sources. First example I got is a press release from the french MoD.
Translation of relevant sentences :
On the evening of April 02 (…) these patrols have destroyed five armored vehicles in the Sirte region
In the day of 03 April (…) in the morning, several armored vehicles of the Libyan army were destroyed by these patrols
++
AZ
AlphaZuluOn the website of the french MoD, a nice article & video about the F1-CR (good old warrior) ops above Libya.
It’s in french, highlighted facts are :
– F1-CR operate on theater since 03/31/2011.
– 2 missions : Recce (presto pod & internal camera) + CAS (GBU, with third part designation)
– Typical recce run lasts 1 hour above Libya, Rafale in A2A conf in escort. If needed, a second 1 hour run is possible after an aerial refuel.
– RTB phase is accelerated as much as possible to provide fresh intel (argentic tech = no inflight datalink transmission of the pics)
– Typical mission lasts 4h30-5h30 (comparing to A-stan : between 3h30 – 5h)
– With 8 pilots each flying every 2 or 3 days, the F1 pool @ Zara can assure 4 daily missions during 2 months.
Cheers
AZ
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