http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_10_01_2012_p58-500608.xml&p=1

They likely did not go for the APG-80 due to SABR/RACR being a drop-in replacement and likely based on better tech.

Well the article states that the SABR is based on the APG77, 80 & 81. They could upgrade the APG80 with all the new tech and go for it.

Nic

Toan – I think that the 200km against 3 sq m , suite better than over 200km against 1 sq m ( the bigger AESA like APG-77 achieve that range ). And I think this number puts the AESA RBE2 in the same category as APG-80 in detection range ( similar antena diameter and around 1000 T/R modules ) . But this is only my speculation ;).

Your reasoning seems right, but the latest info by RFI says the range is doubled. So should we assume a 44% increase in range as originally mentioned or a doubled range?

Nic

Taiwanese Pilot Killed in Warplane Crash in France

http://www.marianne2.fr/blogsecretdefense/A-Luxeuil-un-pilote-taiwanais-tue-dans-le-crash-d-un-Mirage-2000-5-actualise-3_a778.html

It appears the plane overflew the village of Froideconde at very low altitude and that the pilot did everything he could to avoid crashing in unhabited areas and crashed in a pond.

Rest In Peace…

Nic

With regard to service life, the DID article says that the upgrade ‘may include airframe refurbishment’, but I haven’t seen any news report mentioning a airframe life extension program for the Mirage, let alone one that doubles its fatigue limit. I have however read several reports that say airframe modification is not included in the upgrade.

A while ago I researched both upgrades to compare prices…
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/indias-fighter-modernization-add-mig29s-to-the-list-updated-01879/

The 62 upgraded MiG-29SMTs are expected to remain in service for 10-15 years, with their flight-hours lifetimes extended from 25 years/2,500 hours to 40 years/ 3,500 hours.

So it seems Mig 29 upgrades adds only 1000h to the meager 2500h airframe life.

On the other hand:
http://info-aviation.com/?p=9799

La modernisation devrait permettre une durée d’environ 20-25 ans, soit un surplus de 6000 à 7500 heures de vol.

The upgrade should allow a life of 20-25 years, which means an extra 6000 to 7500 flight hours

If you compare price to flight hour the Mirage upgrade is quite cheap isn’t it?

Nic

I second that. Wanna guess to whom is servant to whoever wrote that “article” ? “Very evil Assad and very evil russians secretly kill peace-loving and inocent turkish pilots who were in a mission of peace with a shot in the back of their heads delivered by Assad himself under the guidance of evil russians”. Sad thing is, most will believe that crap! *******s, someone is desperately looking for a war. 😡

The empire strikes first 😮

UK left exposed by Nimrod cancellation, report says

“Oh noes, now we need to buy P8As!” :rolleyes:

Who is surprised?

Nic

France is a reliable and flexible military equipments’ supporter, until it believes that it can get much more benefits from being loyal to your enemy.

Remember Mirage 5 ? A fighter that had been originally developed for the specific requirement of Israel airforce, but it was finally sold to several Arabian air forces with hundreds of units, and was then used to bomb against Israel during the yom kippur war of 1973.

So it is we Taiwanese’s fault, who told we didn’t take the lesson of history when we decided to buy French ? And may God bless India and other foreign customers of French military equipments, so that they will never have to face the music that Israel faced in 1968, Argentina in 1982, and Taiwan nowadays…..

While I agree with you with the situation in Taiwan, I don’t agree with your examples of Israel & Argentina. They show a complete lack of understanding of the situation in both instances.

The case of Taiwan is a crying shame though.

Nic