Moon_light , if the F-35 detects the Rafale at 160km , the Rafale will detect the APG-81 before that . That ‘s the problem with aircraft equipped with top notch RWRs like F-35 , Rafale , F-22 , Typhoon , etc …
In one of its pdf , Thalès shows this funny drawing , a Rafale with big ears :
just to show that in today ‘s electromagnetic battlefield , you sometimes learn more by listening than by emiting . The proof is that everybody tries to use third parties to do the detection work and when the radar is used , not all aircraft switch the light on , only few of them . The time when a wall of F-15 eagles where coming at you radar full on is gone .
Passive means of detection is vital for a fighter because it is a part of the LO concept , listen to your enemy ‘s emissions to know where he is and what he is up to .
While I believe long range RF missiles like Meteor are a good thing , I say that the WVR combat , the dogfight , is going to be where most of the kills take place , as usual I should add . If you believe the RCS numbers that we have (?) , a missile like the Meteor would lock by itself onto a F-22 at 8-10km max . This is a very small basket if the missile have been fired at 80km+ . But then , do we know a fighter radar capable to lock a F-22 at 80km+ ?
This is a vicious circle . More and more , WVR combat will become decisive .
It is also the reason why I always supported the IR Mica ‘s idea , to be extremely capable in dogfight as well as having long legs and excellent end manoeuvrability .
I imagine myself in the F-35 seat when suddently , my RWR tells me that one Rafale ‘s RBE2-EE had a flash on me at about 35-40km in my 10 O ‘clock . One second later , the EODAS tells me that 4 flashes (missiles leaving rails) are detected , 2 at 10 O ‘clock , 2 at 9 O ‘clock (so there is a second Rafale). Are they RF Micas , IR Micas ? Both ? “Houston , we have a problem” .
Things happen …
Or it could be the other way around , a Rafale pilot learning that some F-35s just fired at him . Things happen …
Cheers .
Here , we can see the Obama-F-22 using its radar and Sarkozy-Rafale watching on long rage TV , amused . 🙂
Cheers .
Yes … a midget larger than any fighter France has ever fielded. :rolleyes:
False , Mirage IV was bigger :
No, really, this is a ridiculous criticism, if for no other reason than that AMCA, KF-X and J-31 are fifth-generation designs in the same weight/thrust category as F-35.
Yep , but that doesn ‘t make the F-35 a better fighter …
I’d be interested to see a ‘drone coordinator’ F-35 variant
Same here with nEUron-Rafale :
Moon_kight :
Older aircraft will also be obsolete due to their very big RCS make them the target where ever they fly
Obsolete is a strong word . It always depends on the enemy ‘s radar capability and on its capacity of reaction . Airliners , 9-11 , ’nuff said .
What I mean is that the enemy will always use assymetrical warfare if he hasn ‘t got the tech to fight head-on , always . 4th gen fighters can still do very good things with a proper planning and when well lead , even versus 5th gen fighters . A nicely upgraded 3rd gen fighter like the M-21 Bison is still a deadly foe when put to good use .
Cheers .
About the F-35 , djcross said :
The need is for LIGHT ATTACK
I agree , stealth light attack .
Sometimes , a comparaison brings light , look at F-35 ‘s size :
In the stealth aircraft World , it ‘s a midget . If you want fire power , punch , you need big weapon bays , so a big aircraft . But it must fit on a Carrier !
Ouch …
Imagine the size an aircraft carrier capable to operate 40 navalized J-20s would have 😮 (just kidding)
The F-35 is too small and it is an unworkable design , and when one plans to have 3 very different versions including a VTOL one (!?) , it can only run into major troubles . From the very begining , I asked myself “why the USA who like big toys want such a midget ?” . In fact , the answer is easy :
-1) it fits their need for a stealthy small attack aircraft and if they can have it for cheap by sharing the developement cost and sell it in big numbers (sinking the European Industry with the same stone) , it ‘s a winning program . As simple as that .
What is amazing is the fact that it couldn ‘t work ! But they went for it !!
Ah , Americans , sometimes … :rolleyes:
Cheers .
Moon_light :
then f-35 can do the same too
‘ Don ‘t wanna be nasty but nobody knows how the thing will fly with external stores , not even LM at this point . Myself , I think it will be a heavy cow .
Its agility will be poor , its T/W ratio (already small) will suffer greatly , its acceleration will be a dazzling (not) . I also wander about how fast it ‘s gonna gulp its fuel …:rolleyes:
if it carry weapon by external hard point as well as internal f-35 actually carry more missiles , bomb ..etc than rafale
er , no .
(And don ‘t forget to empty pylons 3 and 9 to add external fuel tanks if you go far :diablo:)
Cheers .
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