Are we not discussing Germany anymore? If the EF can deliver the ranges with CFTs similar to the AdlA’s serving Rafales – why should the Luftwaffe consider the latter as far as this particular parameter is concerned? Are its operational requirements more serious than the AdlA’s in this respect?

1/ Because why pay for the development & procurement of something when the capability is available for already less money and time?
2/ CFT should be much more cumbersome than external tanks to fit and remove, adding man hours of maintenance to even just fit or remove them. I’m guessing than in the end they would stay on the aircrafts permanently, which would add some drag & weight for all the flights that don’t require them (even if it isn’t that much, over 30 years of use it’s going to be costly).
3/ You never know if you will require some range improvements. Better having some margin to increase rather than being sorry later on.

Nic

Look you got to think these guys lie just because of their choice of words (which is evidence enough in my mind).

But if you’re too thick to figure that out, then wonder why the media would actually propagate the truth for once? That doesn’t make any sense.

It’s only a matter of purchasing the CFTs. Fact is that it seems the AdlA feels the 2000L tanks are sufficient. Too bad the EF can’t carry anything like them 🙂

In any case the EF will always lag behind.

Besides max ext fuel for the EF is 5000L in a buddy buddy config (2 x 1000L + 2x 1500L + 1 refueling pod) which it doesn’t even have.

Basically the rafale does many more things better (if at all) than the EF. Period.

C’mon I was just amused by the title. And I’m no francophile, I’m french.

Not really. I can’t really envision any mission that would require the Rafale to carry CFTs as well as EFTs. You could in theory equip the Rafale with 2 x 1500L CFTs + 2 X 2000L EFTs + 2 x SCALP-EG, that would indeed outrange a CFT-equipped EF, but its not a practical configuration.

The Rafale CFTs don’t hold 1500L but 12~~ something IIRC.

But are you saying a Rafale couldn’t take off with 2CFT, 2 2000L tanks & 2 Scalps? How is this config unpractical exactly?

You may argue that Germany should buy more Typhoons because it’s german, and that would be a fine point, but arguing that they should go for it because it’s as good a mudmover as the Rafale is ludicrous.

Nic

“My personal belief is that there is very compelling evidence that we may not be alone,”

Look if you have seen evidence that you’re not alone, you don’t go saying “we may not be alone.”; “You say we are not alone.”. Holy empty sentence batman.

What does “compelling evidence” that we might not be alone even mean?

So this whole thing is just thin air, as far as I’m concerned.

Lockheed Martin Meets 2017 F-35 Delivery Target

Delivering targets for Rafales since… soon.

Nic

What happens after the end of the 21st century though?