The Fallen:D

http://granterplanter.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/transformers-2-the-fallen.jpg

Well, if Rafale does so well in a2a against Typhoon and also have superb a2g capabilities, why does it seem that the FAB does not prefer it over SH and Gripen NG?

Are the SH and Gripen NG much more capable than some people claim? Or is the Typhoon really not as strong as some people claim?

Or perhaps the ROE of the this training means that we cannot really draw any conclusions?

1. We simply have no idea if FAB prefers Rafale over SH and Gripen NG (or not) until it makes the final choice next year.

2. The story that Rafale humiliated Typhoon during the ATLC hasn’t been revealed publically until 2009/12/17 ~ FAB may simply don’t know this information until two days ago, or even later.

3. Gripen also did very well in a2a against F-16 during the international exercises of past several years, but it still didn’t affect Poland and Chilean airforces’ final decision to choose F-16 over JAS-39 for their own F-X projects.

4. We still have no idea in what situation that EF-2000 was defeated so miserably by Rafale during the exercise, so it is still hard to make a proper judgement for this Rafale’s achievement.
* If Rafale defeated Eurofighter in the reign of long-range BVR at high speed (Mach 1.5+) and medium to high altitude (40,000 fts+), then shame on RAF and EF-2000, and Vive la FAF and Rafale.
* If Rafale defeated Eurofighter in the reign of short-range BVR or WVR at low altitude and subsonic speed ~ Still an achievement, but not so surprising.

5. The final decision of UAE AF for Rafale (To buy, or not to buy…..) should be the best index for Rafale’s performance during this exercise.

Like it or not, USAF and USN will have to face the fate of greatly reducing numbers of tactical fighters in the next 15 years, just like other NATO members.

You use a fighter which is larger and heavier than F-15C to replace the roles of F-16, F/A-18, and AV-8B, and the program cost of this fighter escalate rocketedly in the past 8 years (From the original plan of 200 billion USDs for 3,000 fighters in 2001 to more than 300 billion USDs for 2,443 fighters now, which is equal to more than 84% increase for the unit cost in 8 years even before the fighter has formally entered the service). ~ Now it’s time to face the music and pay the price.

EF Lightning:

1. Initial climbing rate: 50,000 fts / min.

2. Climbing to 28,900 fts in one minute (This record was achieved in Southern Africa).

3. Acceleration:

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/English_Electric_Lightning

Carroll reports in a side-by-side comparison of the Lightning and the F-15C Eagle (which he also flew) that “acceleration in both was impressive, you have all seen the Lightning leap away once brakes are released, the Eagle was almost as good, and climb speed was rapidly achieved. Takeoff roll is between 2,000 and 3,000 ft [600 to 900 m], depending upon military or maximum afterburner-powered takeoff. The Lightning was quicker off the ground, reaching 50 ft [15 m] height in a horizontal distance of 1,630 feet [500m]”.

My question is pretty simple… Why decrease the number of orders on the F-22 so dramatically and increase the orders of the JSF dramatically?

It’s true that the orders for F-22 have been reduced dramatically (The original requirement in the period of ATF project: 750 unit; and now: 187). However, it is far from the truth that the orders of JSF have ever been increased ~ The original plan in 2001 was about 3,000 JSF in total for USAF／USN／USMC with the total cost of around 200 billion USDs, but the number has been reduced to 2,443 fighter for the three forces, with the total cost of near 300 billion USDs right now.

If LM can’t keep control the escalation of JSF project, then F-35 may be the next victim for Obama the White House…..

So, the most formidable opponent for F-22A in the foreseeable future is not Russian PAK-FA or Chinese J-XX, but White House’s Obama…….

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/12/02/exclusive_white_house_aides_insisted_f_22_be_removed_from_obama_speech_venue#

Exclusive: White House aides insisted F-22 be removed from Obama speech venue

Another USA’s miracle……:D

Alright, let’s see if my understanding is right:

During the UAE exercise up to now:

1. Eurofighter and Rafale have never fought with each other.

2. Rafale has done some WVR dogfights with Raptor, but Eurofighter hasn’t.

3. Eurofighter has done a very good job for blue team during the exercise. However, the “Enemy fighters” it has slaughtered are something like Mirage 2000-5F and Mirage 2000-9 (fighters for red team), not Rafale or Raptor.

4. Therefore, there is simply no any direct comparison of A2A capability between Raptor and Eurofighter, or Eurofighter and Rafale, during this exercise.

Please correct me if my understanding mentioned above is not right……

What I like to tell people is in the distance (the runway today is relatively long) and in the distance from one end of the runway I can go from slow speed to supersonic…..

Just another way for describing the performance of acceleration for Typhoon that have already been well known:

1. From braking-off to supersonic: less than 30 secs.

2. Low-level flight, from 200 kts to Mach 0.9: less than 20 secs.

3. Acceleration at low level: 30kts per second in reheat.

when I pull up at the end in the vertical departure I’m doing about 550 knots and if I was allowed to I could just continue up to 40,000ft and beyond……

550 kts = 283 m/s –> I wonder if the sentence quoted above means the vertical climbing performance for Typhoon…..