The GR9 didn’t need to be based in Kandahar in the first place, and if you need to base CAS assets close to the combat zones then you can use Tigre gunships like the french are doing, or Apaches for the brits.

Catobar makes so much more sense, as would Hawkeye instead of seaking.

As for CVF, could it be that the RN wanted a STOVL design that they purposely made big enough to become a CATOBAR carrier, and once the design was frozen went: “Well it’s big enough to be CATOBAR, let’s buy F35Cs instead”. Could very well a RN scheme to get conventional carriers that they could not get otherwise.

Nic

A great page about the A7 that I just found. The pictures are awesome

http://www.aircraftinformation.info/art_A7.htm

AS-30, Armat,….

I think there are still AS-30 in inventory but it is most definately old stock and the missile hasn’t been producted for a long time. ARMAT has been phased out a long time ago too.

Nic

I can understand Dassault’s reluctance on integrating some A2G missiles, but I’m surprised they didn’t offer integration of ASRAAM, AIM-120, Derby, and Python III for international customers.

Should a customer want it they can integrate it.

Nic

The Mirage 2000 isn’t a bad fighter, however and most would agree it’s just as capable as the F-16 in the air-to-air mission while not being quite as potent in the air-to-ground arena.

Well, IMHO the latest versions of the Mirage has a few advantages against the F16: the biggest one being the Mica IR:

– Gives much better flexibility in BVR because it can’t be detected by enemy RWR.
– Acts as an IRST during air combat
– Can be used in conjuction with a HMS (thales topsight is integrated with the 2000-9) for off-boresight targeting.

In AtoG I think it is at least as capable as the F16. It has a much less broad choice of weapons, but I think it can do most of the F16 missions just as well with the ones it has integrated.

it would be lacking in SEAD/DEAD, and needs ARMs to be used as the F16CJs are. But it comes down to employment doctrines.

(sorry to keep a bit off topic, but on the other hand it emphasizes the capabilities of the latest 2000s);

Nic

Wingtips Mica musn’t have such a huge RCS hit anyway.

Nic

They could probably be overhauled. I think it would be worth it as the Mirage 2000-9 would be relevant for quite some time as a supporting fighter to Su 30s and ultimately Pak-FAs.

A fleet of 100+ fighters would make software upgrades all the more worthwhile when it comes to electronic warfare suites and radar modes.

Nic

I concur,

It’s even a pretty hot topic because the Mirage 2000-9 fleet will have to find a new owner within a few years if Rafale finally gets ordered by the UAE.

IMHO India should buy them and upgrade it’s 2000s to 2000-9 standard, and order a nice weapons package (black saheen and Mica + integrate AASM and Meteor), and cancel MMRCA. Then they could make more funds available to speed up the Pak-FA MKI and Tejas.

There were 62 UAE Mirage 2000-9 and 59 indian Mirages (+ 12 Quatari Mirage 2000-5?). Counting attrition I think they can easily form a fleet of 110-120 Mirage 2000-9 which would very nicely complement the fleet of Su30 MKIs for a good number of years.

Nic