The Rafale F3 is going to go against the SH and F 16 IN (block 60+) in the MRCA. Lets see how it fairs agains them :). Field trials starting April-May. I personally cannot wait to see the result.

Btw do you have any news about Rafales being sent to Aero India 09, next month, The SH will be there.

May the best jet ( I meant best in performance A2A and A2G , Cost : Performance) and all win !

Its not me who is not reading proper. See Gregs post.

Actually the stories are 3.

In the third encounter the French came to Larissa with the F2, whistle the first 2 were RafaleM’s F1 from the CDG.

In all three cases the French fighters failed to pose a clear advantage over 1 generation older F-16s. In fact the HAFs F-16 could relatively easy counter or at least be equal to the AdlAs Rafale.

He says in all three cases French fighters failed to pose a clear advantage not just when F1s were in.

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1354354&postcount=227

Cold War is over hence US aggresively spies on India , one of the Top Spy from RAW fled to US via Nepal ….thats what is called friendship ?

US – India relation is more of opportunistic than strategic , US needs India to counterbalance China , India needs US to put pressure on Pakistan and economic relationship , its more of pragamatic relationship to meet the need of the day than strategic which are long term , deep rooted and multi dimensional.

Spies and Spying happens all the time. Israel spies on U.S.A I think a few of them are still in Jail ther efor it.

India needs U.S to counterbalence China as well, like I said everything is mutual.

During the Indo China war, America supported India to an extend it send transports and aid.

The relations have been frosty since with America supporting Pakistan and Soviet Union India.

The Cold war is over and we are no longer bound to old friendships and alliances and neither are they. India and America are natural allies in the new century, they have similar objectives in more than one field.

Now the Russian relation should run parellel to the one with America and India is doing just that but if the Russians do things the way they are doing offlate, then I can see America replacing Russia as our premier strategic partner in the future.

The only things standing in the way of it is cold war era suspicion on both sides…as soon as that melts away things will get much bette.r

I think the F 18 E/F has a better AESA with more modules because of the planes larger nose. It also has better slow speed manueverability. The f 16s smaller size may help it in WVR.

Did the HAF have any exercises against EF ? If not how are they impressed ? Rafale is the far more mature platform, the EF can’t do much A2G at the moment.

I think it would win far more orders if you sell it closer to the price of the F 16 :). But it may not be sustainable because of the cost of the programme and the small numbers already in production.

And why is it offered as part of bigger deals, rather than the plane alone ???