For example F-16s were the Rafale didn’t score an equally high exchange ratio during the first couple of encounters at Luke AFB (6:2 of course still dominant)

Those exchange ratio are still a total mystery to me :
Rafale VS F-16 : 4-2
Rafale VS F-22 : 0-2 (contrary to F-16s, F-22s managed no to get shot at at all, possibly because of the tremendous thrust allowing them to escape awkward situations)
Rafale VS Typhoon : 8-1 :confused:

It somehow doesn’t add up with the results from Corsica. That’s not to say I doubt the results from Corsica by any means, just that pilot skils/tactics may have favoured the Rafale (not that the Rafale was advantaged before someone get it wrong).

Keep in mind that according to our pilots, the british imposed the conditions. Did they underestimate the Rafale ? (I think so, since Rafale was supposed to be “frightfully underpowered” (Defence Analysis quoting British pilots in 2007 AFAIR) at 20,000ft )
Is gun dogfight particularly demanding on an area where Rafale has an undeniable edge ? (I guess so)

How does the Typhoon performs at slow speed/High alpha ? (where Rafale, according to Dassault/Benco/etc, is supposed to enjoy an edge thanks to refined FCS and coupled canard/wing configuration)

Sorry for the topic.:o

but they are surprisingly silent about the others…

Not exactly, if you remember what they were willing to say to everybody during Le Bourget in 2009 (detection range, maneuverability…).

well according to a much-published interview on the UAE situation the AESA of Rafale is not it’s strongest point either, at this point in time. It seems far behind the AESAs in both F-16 and SH.

Oh ? Really ? “Far” behind ?

I really don’t share your interpretation, though we might agree that the document suggested that the RBE-2 AA’s range is not as good as the APG-80’s. No need to exaggerate.

you would be surprised that there are some people who feel the rafale’s operating costs is not that much more than the Mirage.

It’s not a matter of “feel”ings, it’s a documented fact.

In France, our Mirage cost between 8,000 and 10,000€ per FH, while Rafale will cost 11, 000 to 12,000 (sometimes quoted even lower).

Transferring technology is telling how to design and build an AESA, but not how to design its chips.

Are people here wondering whether or not Motorola will agree to transfer its know-how ?

1 Rafale lost during training,

2 Rafale lost during a heavy configuration trial flight,

1 Rafale lost during a war mission…

Last Rafale was part of 10 aircraft sent to war while the total fleet was only of less than 20 machines… It’s a huge effort for the Marine risking his brand new fighters with minimal logistics available.

Whatever is said, Rafale , from the begining, is used intensively. They take part to many exercizes abroad, they go to war, all of this since 2002, and since 2007 with bombs to support troops in Afghanistan, no matter how large is the fleet.

1000th Mica delivered :
http://rafalenews.blogspot.com/2010/11/1000-th-mica.html
http://rafale.freeforums.org/1000-th-mica-delivered-t118.html

Yes.