I didn’t ‘forget’ anything. I have repeatedly said that I can only speak for Tornado, of which I have 1st hand experience.

This is Kovy’s post:
You can’t beat the Tornado as far as mechanical failure is concerned. Everyting on this plane has mechanical mooving parts which are prone to failure by design :
…………………

This is the arguement I’m making – he suggests that the failures of the systems listed are mechanical – they aren’t. THEY’RE HYDRAULIC. The mirage also has abundant hydraulic systems which will fail in EXACTLY the same way.

More moving parts = more chances that any one of those parts break down. I don’t see what’s wrong with that statement?

BTW the lower speed of the GR4 compared to previous versions leads me to believe that it has fixed intakes? Or is it due to engine changes to get more range?

Nic

My arguement is with the single fact that KOVY seems to think that a fly-by-wire (electric) jet is more reliable than a mechanical one.

You are putting words in Kovy’s mouth here, he never said that electric was better than mechanical, but that automatic/manual was more prone to fail than manual/fixed.

Let’s just take the example of the refueling probe. The advantage of a fiexed probe is two fold:

– not moveable = no system to make it pop in & out = less chance to break, even if the chance for the moveable probe failing is very remote.
– no system to make it pop in & out = no maintenance on such system = easier and faster maintenance overall.

Same goes for the canopy closing mechanism and so on (this one reminds me of the F22 pilot stuck in his plane because the canopy wouldn’t open resulting in mucho cost)

Nic

French rafales destructed a SA3 site a few days ago. They used AASM bomb to destroy it outside of the range of the missiles. They declined an offer of F16CJ escort from USAF as not usefull for this mission.

source

Interesting article.

7 Scalp missiles fired (2/3 from Mirage 2000D, 1/3 from Rafale M (single seat)). all of them struck their targets.

Nic

Well Rafale won’t be twice as expensive as a Gripen NG. We’re not talking Gripen C/D here. If cost was all that problematic, it would have been even more cost effective to buy the M2k production line and build as many as you wanted.

Besides, one could also argue that if you want a lightweight fighter you might as well get more LCa Mk2.

Nic

Tornado and 2000D are superb strike aircrafts and the versatility of the Tornado is top notch with storm shadow, EPW, and especially brimstone. Personally I see no reason why it shouldn’t be used in the current conflict, quite the contrary.

I’d like to see some 2000-9 ground attack configurations though.

Nic

4 Mica is much better than 2 AMRAAM and 2 ASRAAM/IRIS T when it comes to operational flexibility, and I think we both agree it will be enough almost all the time. However I was just saying that there is plenty of room to add 2/4 missiles should the need arise. I know neither were integrated so far but they could be if needed.

Nic

Not that I know of but you’d have to ask a more knowledgeable member like kovy or tmor or H_K…

We’ll see if retex from Libya emphasizes the need of a Brimstone type weapon.

Nic