Rafale-Ms should be able to operate off of Sao Paulo, they operated off of Foch during testing.

Foch was modified to handle Rafale, so it should be able to handle F-18s as well.

True: The Rafale could operate from the Foch, but only within restricted weight margins and a very limited payload (essentially limited to air-to-air configuration…).

To have it short: the Foch’s catapults could launch a 17 tonnes aircraft, while the CdG can launch 22 tonnes…
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Og Kush

That’ll be the ‘irrelevant’ “Cold War bomber destroyer” that has no utility in current operations, then?

:rolleyes:

But is this weapons’ configuration finally operationnal or not ? I’m lost… :confused:

You have now. Meet Fastwind.
A derivative of the Gowind 120 by the looks of it. I understand this project is now discontinued and efforts concentrate on the Gowind series, which can go 30+ kts with the CODAG twin diesels and triple 5000hp gas turbines.

Thanks for the picture. 🙂

I think that the discontinuation of the project is a good think: I’ve always been quite sceptikal with the hydrofoil technology. But in fact I’m dreaming of a Gowind corvette using some kind of wave-piercing hull’s technology… Would it be that hard for DCNS to make ?
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Honda Fc50

In 1994 spending was 3.3%. In 2004 it was 2.6%, in 2005 2.5%, 2007 2.4%. Sarkozy is now refusing to promise to keep it above 2.0%. Remained the same?

And in 1983 spending was 3.8%. Remained the same, indeed…

Pah! 😡

That’s why many Americans have a distatste from the French government.

A minor nitpick:

What I read in the american medias during bash-a-French-year 2003 was not aimed solely toward the French government, but toward the French people in general (that is: toward me too!): “Cheese eating surrender monkeys”, “natural born cowards” or “axis of weasel” went far beyond the mere “political job”.

It was a clear and plain display of what the US people actually think of us, the French, behind the “Lafayette stuff” and other “older allies od the USA” and all that BS…

So, the current attacks against the “French company” that Airbus is suppposed to be should be a surprise for no one…

That’s a nice joke, Flanker_man, and I wish such an aircraft actually existed.
It may not look realistic, but it looks indeed very cool! 😉
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Z3

You might should check your refs on the Mirage 4000. It’s hardly basically a twin engined Mirage 2000. If built, that would’ve been the Mirage 3000. Do you call the Mirage IV basically a twin engined Mirage III? Or the F-15 a twin engined F-16? The 4000 is right up there with the other big twn jet fighters.

To be honest, I have very few informations about the ‘4000, I really see it as a twin engined Mirage 2000, but if it is not the case, I’d gladly take any info or facts/datas about this airplane
I, in fact, consider the 4000 as a sad “missed opportunity” for the french air forces, during those last 25 years…
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Mercury Cyclone Picture