What I do know is that BAE is very serious about becoming a major UAV/UCAV player. Here is a list of what they are planning or have done already:

Already done work in regards to UAVs/UCAVs and supporting technologies:

Planned projects or projects being considered:

where this guy says “Rafale is out of contest” ?

Norway want technical share and rewards about next fighter deal!

i doubt Dassault is ready to rewards more than they get with litle orders in norway as desperate consortium is ready to share thier flawed fighter !

From the text:

Now Endre Lunde informs DID that the Rafale is no longer in contention

I think you’re highly funny. All your posts don’t make sense and are total bias.

Well, Dassault can at least count on Brazil. After deliery of 2000C I count FAB as a done deal, sooner or later.. No idea about Greece, Morocco or other countries, however..

I disagree. IMO Brazil is far from a done deal. Just because they have bought twelve Mirage 2000 doesn’t mean they’ll buy Rafale even if other competitors have better offers. I think Dassault has a strong case in Brazil but its imo far from a done deal. Personally I can see Gripen winning in Brazil. Regarding Greece the last reports I heard were that Typhoon and F35 were the main two contenders, but its not quite clear. Greece is also going to be influenced by Turkey’s decision [Rafale isn’t even being considered and the Greeks and Turks like to have the same equipment for some reason]. Anyhow, if Dassault doesn’t get a first customer soon they’ll have problems because no one likes to be the first customer.

What I’d very much like to know is exactly what the Tornado upgrade consists of, i.e. what will they be doing to the planes.

Well it has always been said that they’ll get something similiar to Tornado GR4. But then again there are three Saudi Tonkas at Warton for about a year now. They are prototype conversions apparently, but I don’t know what’s been changed.

This is what was done to the RAF Tornados:

The main new systems to be added have been the integration of a TIALD (Thermal Imaging And Laser Designator), to enable the aircraft to laser designate targets for itself or other aircraft, the FLIR mentioned above which aids night flight navigation and target acquisition in the dark, a Laser Inertial Navigation System (LINS), a Global Positioning System (GPS), a Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) and a wide-angle Head-Up Display (HUD). Also added has been the ability for the whole fleet to carry the Vicon reconnaissance wet film pod, a Video Recording System permitting a better debrief of sorties, a night vision goggle (NVG) compatible cockpit, Have Quick secure radios, new colour moving map which allows the pilot to overlay his route, and a Mil Std 1553B/1760A data-bus which permits the use of current and future systems and weapons. One other item added to the aircraft is the Ground-Based Laser Designator system introduced to support ground operations with the Army. […]The pilot’s control column has been modified to give it a Hands-On Throttle And Stick (HOTAS) capability which allows a host of functions to be undertaken, including the Terrain Following Radar (TFR), autopilot, FLIR, radios, chaff and flare release and weapons delivery. A further development being worked on is an upgrade of the main computer which BAE Systems won in 2001 with initial release planned for September 2004. An increase in the processing power of the computer was required as the incumbent system was increasingly struggling to cope with the new systems being added. A Covert Radar Altimeter (CRA) is also due to enter service in December this year, while the aircraft is also the lead type for the testing and introduction of the Rangeless Airborne Instrumentation And Debriefing System (RAIDS). […]Another new weapon being incorporated as part of the GR.4 programme is the MBDA Storm Shadow stand-off missile which will enter front-line service in December 2003. Carriage and jettison trials have been completed and the first live firing from a Tornado will take place in the first half of this year. The same weapon under the name Scalp has been ordered by France and has already been fired from a Mirage 2000N.

Alenia Marconi Systems’ Brimstone is an anti-armour weapon also undergoing testing and is set to be delivered, coincidentally, at the same time as Storm Shadow. A single GR.4 will be able to carry 18 of these weapons.

The aircraft is also to receive a reconnaissance pod called RAPTOR (Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for TORnado) made by BF Goodrich, which uses a datalink to relay information and digital imaging negating the need to process film resulting in less time from target acquisition to target approval. It will also significantly reduce the threat to the aircraft by allowing the mission to be flown at a safer distance from the area of interest by virtue of its stand-off capability. The pod also has the advantage of being self-aligning, therefore should the aircraft have to unexpectedly change course to avoid enemy defences the cameras will stay fixed on the target area. It will also have its operational debut in April this year with the Tornado detachment in Kuwait. Storm Shadow, Brimstone and RAPTOR are all currently being test flown on Tornados at Warton. […] At any one time 22 aircraft are at Warton for conversion to GR.4 standard, 18 will be on the production line while four are prepared for delivery to the RAF. It took 12 months to produce the first aircraft, though this has now been refined down to seven and a half months. Since 1999 BAE Systems has been able to deliver a GR.4 every eight working days. Twenty-eight aircraft are scheduled for hand-over to the RAF this year, with the final four of the 142 to be dispatched in 2003. The type is currently due to be retired from RAF service in 2020, with the numbers of aircraft due to start running down from 2017/ 8. The airframe was originally designed for 4,000hr and BAE Systems is working to extend the lifespan to an eventual 8,000 to enable it to reach the out of service date. Progress is being conducted in stages with the company working ahead of the fleet to approve life extensions. Thus far it has cleared the type up to 5,000hr, the current fleet leader now having approximately 4,600 ‘on the clock’.

While the modifications to make the GR.4 are extensive, further upgrades are being looked at for the future with, for example, Raytheon likely to receive a contract this year for the integration of a Successor Identification Friend or Foe (SIFF) system. Other items being considered include a tactical data link, more systems to protect the aircraft, greater processing power and better software.

Link:http://www.airpictorial.com/tornado_gr4.html