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Kovy

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  • in reply to: Rafale 2018 Thread: Europe's best Eurocanard #2093273
    Kovy
    Participant

    275 hours per plane in 2016, but the cost we see here is in 2018… we can imagine that the number of flying hours is similar, but it is said nowhere

    Well acccording to the same source, it was 250 hrs in 2015
    The MCO cost for 2015 was 343.9 millions for 97 Rafale B/C
    That would be 14,200 Euros per flight hour.

    Keeping the same 250 hrs base for 2014 and 2013, I find about 10,000 Euros per flight hours.
    This 40% increase after 2014 would make sense as it coincides with the begining of Chammal operation in Irak (starting Septembre 2014)

    in reply to: Rafale 2018 Thread: Europe's best Eurocanard #2093304
    Kovy
    Participant

    it’s crazy that nobody explained to the so-called journalist that such a number has zero meaning… 4.15M for what use? how many hours? if it flew 10 hours on average, the cost is huge.. if it flew 1000 hours for that much, its a bargain… how many hours have all the Rafales flown in 2018?

    In 2016 it was reported by the French air Force that a Rafale was flying (in average) 275 hours/year
    That would mean that the cost of each flight hour is about 15,000 Euros€€€, which is consistent with what we usually read.

    in reply to: Draken vs Mirage 3. The sexiest of the 2nd gen fighters #2094059
    Kovy
    Participant

    Too many crashes for a start. Draken had a much better safety record and a longer range which would have better suited the australian mission.

    Both were still better choices than F-104.

    You should consider the environment in which each aircraft was used…
    Termperate/nordic european climate for the Draken vs harsh desertic conditions for the Mirage… No machine like sand.

    Also to be considered is the fact that the Mirage was operated in war time, when safety is not first priority anymore.

    in reply to: Rafale 2018 Thread: Europe's best Eurocanard #2102854
    Kovy
    Participant

    I have been looking for updates on the AESA retrofit for the current RAFALE fleet but couldn’t get to any source, nor find much information.
    Is any of the (French) Rafale experts aware of any such links. I understand that current numbers for RAFALE in French service are 143 operational/delivered + 28 scheduled for delivery of which the last 60 were to be delivered with AESA, so that as of today France has 23 to 32 equipped with AESA with 28 coming until 2023 already signed and 30 more expected to come by 2030.
    Is that correct? As I say I couldn’t find links on broader upgrades. Thnks in advance.

    AFAIK, at least 32 Rafale have got an AESA so far
    Also possibly the Rafale M30 which is the first that was retrofited to the F3R standard last December.

    Also, all 147 Rafale currently in service in French forces have been retrofited to the F3-4+ standard meaning that they are all AESA compatible.

    in reply to: Rafale 2018 Thread: Europe's best Eurocanard #2117019
    Kovy
    Participant

    Nice picture of the Charles de Gaulle, ready for duty after her MLU.

    [ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:”none”,”data-size”:”full”,”title”:”1549882463-pa.jpg”,”data-attachmentid”:3850855}[/ATTACH]

    in reply to: Rafale 2018 Thread: Europe's best Eurocanard #2118775
    Kovy
    Participant
    in reply to: Rafale 2018 Thread: Europe's best Eurocanard #2120286
    Kovy
    Participant

    Stupid question but bar the obvious (lack of trained aircrew, and less fuel), if countries have a high proportion of two seaters for strike and air defence missions why not go the whole hog and dispense with single seaters totally?

    Back in the early 2000, the French air force was thinking about buying 2 seaters only. Then they realised that the simplicity of flying the a/c and the new MMI/sensor fusion decreased the need for a WSO in several missions.
    Then there is of course the higher fly away price and maintenance costs of the 2-seater…

    in reply to: Rafale 2018 Thread: Europe's best Eurocanard #2120498
    Kovy
    Participant

    It was obviously 16 Rafale DM + 8 Rafale EM when Egypt was taking 24 aircraft, but how about now?
    It was obviously 6 Rafale DQ + 18 Rafale EQ when Qatar was taking 24 aircraft, but how about now?

    AFAIK, Still unknown

    Do we agree that it was 8 Rafale DH + 28 Rafale EH for India?

    yes

    Do we know the breakdown of Bs and Cs in the most recent French orders? The 28 on order from F4 and the 30 planned.

    5 B, 21 C, 2M (BTW, this is not a new order, these are the last aircrafts of the tranche 4 ordered in 2009 which deliveries are on hold until 2022)

    The 30 of the tranche 5 are not ordered yet, so we don’t know.

    in reply to: Rafale 2018 Thread: Europe's best Eurocanard #2123947
    Kovy
    Participant

    Even Egyptian Rafales have that antenna behind the cockpit. But I didn’t find it on French Rafale Ds.

    It’s a VHF/FM antenna installed on french aircrafts (Rafale B/C/M, Mirage 2000D and Sem) since about 2010+

    [ATTACH=JSON]{“alt”:”Click image for larger version Name:to-RAFALE-IRAK-facebook.jpg Views:t1 Size:t293.8 KB ID:t3841703″,”data-align”:”none”,”data-attachmentid”:”3841703″,”data-size”:”full”,”title”:”o-RAFALE-IRAK-facebook.jpg”}[/ATTACH]
    [ATTACH=JSON]{“alt”:”Click image for larger version Name:t58828_1532432392.jpg Views:t1 Size:t221.0 KB ID:t3841705″,”data-align”:”none”,”data-attachmentid”:”3841705″,”data-size”:”full”,”title”:”58828_1532432392.jpg”}[/ATTACH]
    [ATTACH=JSON]{“alt”:”Click image for larger version Name:tCefDbZ3WwAEoZY7.jpg Views:t2 Size:t161.7 KB ID:t3841707″,”data-align”:”none”,”data-attachmentid”:”3841707″,”data-size”:”full”,”title”:”CefDbZ3WwAEoZY7.jpg”}[/ATTACH]

    The only difference I can see from current Rafale is this “panel”

    [ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:”none”,”data-size”:”full”,”title”:”Rafale_india_01.jpg”,”data-attachmentid”:3841708}[/ATTACH]

    in reply to: Mirage 2000 #2124930
    Kovy
    Participant

    None of the bombs there are GBU-24s or unguided Mk 82s. Which is exactly my point. If you ever see an F-15E toting GBU-24s, it will probably (as in 99.9% probability) not carry M 82s at the same time.

    France doesn’t operate the GBU-31 hence the GBU-24 on the 2000D (Yet, the body is of the same BLU-109 type).

    I see 2 reasons for the MK-82 instead of the 500 lbs GBU carried by the F-15E and A-10:
    1- AFAIK, the Mirage 2000D can’t launch GBUs from the rear fuselage points and opening this option was judged too costly for the MLU. Therefore it has to make do with air burst MK-82 instead.
    2- During the Mali conflict the Mirage 2000D operated alongside the Mirage F1; the 2000D carrying GBUs and the F1 carrying MK-82 airburst bombs. The combo proved quite effective. The MLU of the Mirage 2000D allows to carry both GBU and low cost MK-82 Air burst at the same time on the same aircraft which is a nice operational improvement. (BTW, another load opened by the MLU is 2 GBU-12/49 on the center fuselage point + 2 MK-82)

    But keep in mind that this MLU is driven by getting as much operational options as possible in a very tight budget. No doubt that if the French Air Force had the same budget as the USAF for upgrading and operating its aircraft’s, 500 lbs GBU or SBU with fancy fuse programing would have been adoped to replace the dumb bombs at the rear fuselage points…

    Eventualy the FAF prefered to integrate a low colateral damage laser guided weapon on the rear fuselage points : the BAT-120 LG (again more operational options for current conflicts at the lowest possible cost):

    [ATTACH=JSON]{“alt”:”Click image for larger version Name:tPPA-2P1000553.jpg Views:t1 Size:t681.5 KB ID:t3839367″,”data-align”:”none”,”data-attachmentid”:”3839367″,”data-size”:”full”,”title”:”PPA-2P1000553.jpg”}[/ATTACH]

    in reply to: Mirage 2000 #2124947
    Kovy
    Participant

    Really? What kind of mission needs a GBU-24, usually used against high-value targets, gun, usually required for CAS, and 2 iron bombs?

    Same kind of mission as these guys: air interdiction with a pinch of CAS (These are current operational loadout used by the USAF in Sirya)

    [ATTACH=JSON]{“alt”:”Click image for larger version Name:t080527-F-2828D-234.jpg Views:t1 Size:t418.1 KB ID:t3839268″,”data-align”:”none”,”data-attachmentid”:”3839268″,”data-size”:”full”,”title”:”F-15E sirya”}[/ATTACH]

    [ATTACH=JSON]{“alt”:”Click image for larger version Name:tA-10-loadout.jpg Views:t1 Size:t157.9 KB ID:t3839267″,”data-align”:”none”,”data-attachmentid”:”3839267″,”data-size”:”full”,”title”:”A-10 in sirya”}[/ATTACH]

    The GBU-24 on the Mirage 2000D is the A/B version with the Blu-109 body, intended to destroy hardened targets or underground facilities. (like IS tunnels in Sirya for example)

    in reply to: Mirage 2000 #2124962
    Kovy
    Participant

    The configuration itself is probably not what would be used operationally… just showcasing what is possible.

    On the contrary, it is a specific configuration asked by the French Air Force for the MLU of the Mirage 2000D. It is currently under test and it is certainly intended to be used (The French Air Force doesn’t have money to waste on a useless config photo shoot)

    in reply to: Mirage 2000 #2125184
    Kovy
    Participant

    New Mirage 2000D loadout under test :

    https://i25.servimg.com/u/f25/15/30/67/69/5010.jpg

    1 x GBU-24
    2 x MK-82
    1 x 30 mm canon pod (Note: Mirage 2000D does not have an internal Canon)
    1 x LDP
    2 x 2000 L fuel tanks

    in reply to: Rafale 2018 Thread: Europe's best Eurocanard #2143322
    Kovy
    Participant

    This is the Rafale thread. Let’s keep it that way.

    Chesapeake episode 1

    Chesapeake episode 2

    Chesapeake episode 3

    Chesapeake episode 4

    in reply to: Rafale 2018 Thread: Europe's best Eurocanard #2143996
    Kovy
    Participant

    Sorry I can’t enjoy a vertical video, whatever the content is :apologetic:

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 1,135 total)