I’ve just posted a new pool on my blog : what weapons shoul be integrated on the Rafale.
http://rafalenews.blogspot.com/
I’m interested in your opinion on the subject 🙂

The UAE will probably ask for a better version of the APG-81 when they will order their F-35 in a few years to replace the F-16bk60.

So what’s your point ?

THANK YOU, OPIT.

I don’t mean to shout, but that was excellent!

I have another one 😀

Well yes, it’s a prototype. The final product should be ready next year.

Perhaps Selex/Saab use a different terminology than Thales?

Seems strange that Thales is producing AESA radars in August this year that will be installed next year….Not exactly Just In Time production…

Perhaps that’s why some people call those early units “pre-production”?

To be clear :

Thales deliver the first production RBE-2 AA this month to Dassault.

Dassault has 5-6 months to integrate and test these 4 radar on 4 rafale currently on its production line.

When fully tested and validated by Dassault (including inflight tests like every rafale coming out of the production line) those 4 AESA rafale will be delivered to the french air force CEAM in early 2011

At the CEAM center, the french air force will take about a year to test the radar, as well as writing and validating the millitary procedures to use it. This is a big task because this radar comes with new weapons and features (meteor just to name it) which means that new tactics have to be developped.
Meanwile (in 2011), the air force and the navy will continue to receive their AESA rafale but they will be declared operational only in 2012 when the CEAM will have finished its job and enough pilots will have been trained to use it in combat.

Mirage 2000N is also cleared for GBU-12/24.
Although it needs an external laser designation

no, that was the one SH won, by air having an increase from 5% to 10% performance requirement in the eval, it took a 40% TOT to knock it out
dont embarrass yourself by having a SH vs Rafale capability debate

no the SH won on the price of the plane and the costs of ownership due to cheap US spare parts and weapons. Which can be explained by the rather big production for the US navy, weak dollar and the poor ToT package (a package that does not come for free in the rafale offer).

medium load?

How often does Rafale o F18 in real life load more than 7200kg under its wings and body?

Well this is the casual (and operational) deep strike config for the rafale 😉

tanks : 3*1840kg (1600kg of fuel + 240kg of tank) = 5520kg
scalp : 2*1300kg = 2600 kg
mica : 4*112 = 448kg

total : 8568 kg

i’ve used TMor as a source (its only passive and AC that gets his eyes to glaze over :eek:)
why wouldnt i use someone from AD ?
the sensible thing could be to ask usa for their f414 / ~9.8 ton to use for uae, rafale used the f404 / ~7.9 ton before, so it fits

Well, only the rafale A (which is a bit larger) was used with the F404