Impressive…………Yet, the US seems to be moving away from guns (i.e. 20mm CIWS) to missile based systems like the RAM and ESSM. So, time will tell……..Personally, I prefer both!:D

Actually they seem to sticking with a combination of both, most ships with RAM seem to have Phalanx as well. What does seem to be happeing is that the range of CIWS is being pushed out, hence a combination of ESSM and 57mm on the DDG-1000.;)

and some say navy men don’t have a sense of humor.:diablo:

:confused: http://www.rheinmetall-detec.de/index.php?fid=4090&lang=3

In my humble opinion this is the best gun based CIWS on the market at the moment, but I find it very interesting that the US DDX is going to use 57mm as CIWS:eek:

I didn’t say it would have no self defense systems? More than likely it would at least have RAM and possibly ESSM’s. As for close in I would prefer the 30 mm Bushmaster. Though, a 20mm CIWS could also be used………….:D

35mm millenium ahead would be the best option.;)

Nothing so far as I’m aware.

Those French HADs should have the roof-mounted Strix system, the anti-tank versions should have the mast-mounted Osiris. UHT HAP HAC HAD – why they don’t just build helicopters?! Now that the Strix can laser, what’s the difference to the Osiris anyway?

I must admit I have wondered exactly the same thing!

You should look better Nic !
There are 2 conformal tanks on that Rafale. Nice camouflage continuity, isn’t it ?

The question is are those tanks full of fuel and if so did the Rafale take of with them full?:confused:

it is funny, some of the people here argued the opposite! hum…
jackoniko?

I must admit that from the photo the Rafales cockpit looks fantastic, very clean.

Just out of curiosity would it be possible for the Rafale to fly with the 3 large drop tanks, 2 Storm Shadows, 4 Micas and 2 conformal fuel tanks?

sealordlawrence,

I was at the paris air show yesterday and I had the opportunity to talk with a dassault’s engineer who made its entire career in this firm and was nearely retired.
I ask him a few questions about the osf. He told me that there are two firms working on the osf, sagem (IR) and thales (tv). apparently it is thales who will provide the whole new osf, but for the moment investments are on the modernzation of thales part of the osf. Latter thales is likely to develop the IR channel, but it will take time because it will be a new IRST (not a modernized one).

about power, I agree that I would alway ask more (the more the better…)
But the rafale demo I saw yeserday was awsome (very very dynamic and probably the best I saw from this aircraft), and when I look at it I can’t say it really lacks power. (I could compare to the F16, mirage 2000, SH, Typhoon, mig29OVT, and tornado)

my personal ranking for paris air show’s demos is
-rafale
-SH
-typhoon
-mig29 OVT
-f16
-mirage 2000 ( a bit disapointed, very short)
-tornado

That is very good to hear about the IRST, I just hope they dont wait to long to get it going! As for the power issue I was more concerned with load hauling, the Rafales hard point arrangement is possibly the best of any aircraft I can think of and more power to take full advantage of that would just be nice thats all.;)

Thanks for all the fantastic pictures Kovy, they realy are awesome!!!:eek: I just wonder how much this sudden flurry of Rafale activity, with all the different configurations and anouncements coming out, has to do with the news that the IAF is going to make a request for proposals for its MMRCA requirement in the next few days?;)

Two things come to mind,

1) Rafale realy does need a a highly capable proper IRST, it would be a terrible shame if it was removed especially with MICA-IR around. Frankly it strikes me as a design flaw that you would not be able to have an IRST and an AESA. However I was under the impression that it was just a case of plugging the new antennae in uploading so more software? If the IRST realy does have to go to support the AESA it suggests that installing it is a bit more complicated than we have been lead to believe. I think we should wait and see what happens on this issue.

2) Rafale clearly has a massive load carrying capacity but with all those possibilitys it looks like a little extra power would not go amiss, just to make life a little easier.:)