EJ2000 certainly has a higher bypass ratio, M88 is closer to the F-414. As far as the F-35, you won’t see me claiming F-35 performance is geared toward high and fast, I know better. Sometimes, I think there is overgeneralization on this thread. Just because I defend the aircraft as being as capable as advertised and in some ways revolutionary, does not mean I am blind to the faults of the program, or design limitations.
I find some of claims of detractors of the F-35 on the thread to be absurd, and I’m going to point them out.

i understand. And notice i didn’t throw Rafale in wrong topic, but i felt the need to answer.

yes its likely that the Typhoon will be fully replaced by then I would think. I wonder if Eurofighter will come up with a Typhoon NG in the next 10 years. The other operators will want to replace it with something and Eurofighter will have been constantly developing Typhoon as we know it. But that’s another discussion for another time.

Any aerospace engineers out there able to comment on whether the Replica looks optimised for A2G? It was said to be so originally because the whole thing was linked to FOAS and the replacement of the GR4. I have since read that BAE thought it would be handy in the a2a role, which implies that they thought of it as more than a model.

Also, the size of the nose is often the topic of people’s first comment (other than “is it supposed to be upside down”). I am no expert and I have no axe to grind against BAE, but is it not likely that the nose is representative of one they would want to put onto an aircraft (otherwise why design it that way?) and as such suggests a non traditional approach to sensor distribution was being considered at the time.

And what purpose does the orange ball on the end of the nose serve? It is present in all images of Replica that we have seen.

On the precise purpose of nose size, radar tech has evolved enough now to think seriously about smart skins. For ex RBE2 has a “net” architecture allowing adds of other antennas etc.

It makes sense. They know what happens with Taranis and now are seeing what effect it has on Replica. Do you think there is any chance of Rafale being replaced in 2030 timeframe or will the French go for an upgraded Rafale?

Rafale NG is in the pipes, but nothing is decided. But Dassault is definitely commited in cooperation about EFCAS with BAE. What frightens me is when France will want carrier capabilities…
Replacement of Rafale should occur in 2040ies (aswell as Typhoon). I may not be there to see it.

Testing new Rams so as to compare with older version?

No doubt the Rafale is an amazing fighter, with fantastic capabilities!

There are reasons why it won in India and has been shortlisted in almost all competitions; also the Swiss leaks make it clear that already in 2008 Rafale was pretty good — by the time the F-35A is fully operational the Rafale will have made further improvements on avionics etc.

HOWEVER this does not change the fact that the F-35 sensors are far superior to the Rafale; sensor fusion is far superio to Rafale, and of course it’s much more stealthy.

As stated many times before; these days it’s not so much about turn rates and acceleration; Sensors, sensor fusion, MMI and stealth (both RCS and IR) are much more important, and in these areas the F-35 outshines all other a/c out there.

For the people who thinks otherwise; can you please point us to some professionals that have expressed the opinion that 4.5 gen a/c like Rafale or the SH are anywhere near the F-35 in above-mentioned capabilities?

Anyway it’s also a question of requirements; as also stated many many times before if one expects to do QRA and the occational mission in places like Africa, then Rafale is probably more than adequate for quite some time. However for more demanding missions e.g. involving double-digit SAMs then I would like to see the pilot who would prefer the Rafale to the F-35! (perhaps some French pilots would make such statements but if they do I would take it with a few buckets of salt…)

Had the Rafale been anywhere near the F-35 i capabilities I assure you we would have seen even more interest in it than what we see today.

However with the F-35 just around the corner, and being probably roughly in the same price class, there is limited interest in Rafale, as there is limited interest in the TYphoon and SH.

Rafale will lose in Canada, actually I am surprised Dassault even bother sending people over there.

In fact Dassault is sending ppl there because they expect a fair comparison. They consider that their product bring more value for money.

About stealth, you are right, nothing to say about it.

About data fusion, i think you are misunderstanding rafale concept which was entirely built around sensor fusion. Including off board sensors.

SH is not in the same class as Rafale about data fusion. F18 ASH should be if produced. (i am quoting a test pilot who flew both). HE also said that he thought abou spectra not as an EW system but as a WSO…

Thanks. Just skimmed through the final pro-F-35 article by David Pugliese. In its conclusion it claims “Of the fighters being considered, (Rafale, Eurofighter, Gripen NG, F/A-18 Super Hornet, F-35 ;Lightning II), only two of the five options will be or is expected to be in production when Canada decides to purchase its replacement. The options will be F-35 and Gripen NG.” I hear that Boeing need to make a decision very soon on continuing the F/A-18 line but Rafale production is assured for many years and Eurofighter at least until 2017/2018 meaning no production continuation/shutdown decision would need to be taken for at least another year. When is Canada scheduled to make a decision?

It is not his articles, but written by contributors like us. And not the jorno, but the defese blog of this jorno. Inc 3 articles about Rafale btw.

By the way, i didnt lit the fire, but try to do this with a F35 fully loaded…

At a typical cruise speed of M0.82/347kt, the aircraft could sustain a 60º banked turn at maximum dry power

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/combat-ready-53125/

Dont even think about it 😎