French naval aircraft operational availability revealed in letter to MP

Dismal figures. How come such low availability for the Rafale M?

A 39-strong fleet of Dassault Rafale “M” fighters was available for use 53.6 percent, up from 46.6 percent, with a maintenance bill of €158.9 million. The average age was 7.1 years.

Hopeless service record – should have bought reliable F-22s.:highly_amused: Maybe the French navy could swap their Rafales for F-35C in the near future?:rolleyes:

Unlike the Su-33, the MiG-29K/KUB ad already demonstrated the heavy payload configuration during VKD trials where it was launched from the 2nd launch position in strike/tanker/heavy configuration.

Those used in tanker configuration was the 4 x 1150litre drop tanks + one the centerline fuel/refuelling pod.
This is easily a payload which is closer to the max payload of 5,500Kg specified for the MiG-29K/KUB from the carrier (and 6,000Kg payload from normal/longer ground strips).

5,500kg payload from a circa 200 metre runway – sounds like nonsense.

Here is one video of two a/c being launched the second being in strike configuration. Most of the strike package will not be as heavy as the tanker configuration.

What exactly was that payload – what were the red items?

I know that it’s availability has been officially certified as the lowest of all USA fighters even being the most recent one.

It might have poor availability by USAF standards – but by other countries’ standards it could be quite good – what are the availability rates of RAF and Luftwaffe Typhoons in the last few years?

I know that they required 700 items and get 187 in the end, that’s is certainly always better that asking 32 and getting 3 but I would hardly call it a success the same.

187 could be considered a good production rate – how many Rafales have been delivered to the French air force in the last 20 years – or Su 34, Su-35 to the RuAF?

I see nobody’s mentioned the MiG-25 so far. Oh well..

I could agree – if we are going to include many of the other types already mentioned as disappointing.

Waiting for someone to summit F-35 as a candidate.

Why precisely would the Su-33 be disappointing and over-hyped?

?
f-35 sneak but EF launch ?
what good is f-35 for then ?

all the fighters will be able to fully exploit the long range of meteor, EF can squeeze out some extra miles out of it,
i think F-35, if its ever integrated, will benefit the most, since the capacity of meteor all but nullify f-35 supersonic weakness

F-35 is supersonic too you know, probably more supersonic than Typhoon, depending on the Eurofighter’s configuration.

Love the F-100 Super Sabre:

and also the Yak-36:

Nope it was 2 Aim-54. If you are suggesting it could land with 4, then I’d love to see a picture of the feat (by an operational plane).

Nic

It is, in any case, difficult to find good photos of carrier borne aircraft such as F-14, F/A-18 and Rafale M landing and taking off with large payloads of munitions. You will typically find photos of the F/A-18 taking off with 2 x 330 gallon drop tanks.