FBWWhatabout eurocanards?
Wuddabout?
The Rafale-centric world you live in should acknowledge that an aircraft like the Rafale that needs to operate off an aircraft carrier is going to have slower approach speeds. As you see above the F-16’s approach speeds are in the 140 knot range (increasing with weight like every aircraft), the Flanker has a 150 knot range approach speed as does the F-15. The F-35A is in the 155 to 160 knot range. Basically, unless you think the Su-27, F-15, exhibit poor maneuverability at slow speed, I’m not sure what your thesis is here?
Perhaps you just couldn’t pass up an opportunity to tout the Rafale’s low approach speed as some sort of prove positive advantage over the F-35? The F-18 E/F and the Rafale have similar normal approach speed; 125 knots for the Rafale and 130-135 knots for the Rhino. Gee, I wonder why?
Edit- before Hallow or someone comes back with “Rafale’s approach speed is 115 knots” or blah blah. I said normal approach speed. You can get the approach speed down below 125 knots for the F-18 E/F too…. if its landing with only a couple of thousand pounds of fuel (NATOPS), but that’s not normal or standard proceedure.
P.S. the F-35C demonstrated maximum approach speed of 144 knots is based on the Navy’s required landing weight with 15 knots headwind
Required landing weight (RCLW)- initially described as follows:
OEW + bringback (2 2000lb+ 2 amraam)+fuel (2 approaches with 100nm BINGO with 1000lbs fuel). Wanna guess what that type of weight would do to the landing speed of the Rafale?
FBWI’m ducious about one point. If F-35 is so manouvrable at slow speed, why doese it have such a high landing speed? (maybe not C)
You consider a 155-160 knot approach speed fast? The F-16’s in the 140 knot range for a lightly loaded aircraft.
FBWThe definition of a clean F-16 includes 2 wingtip AAMs
That is not the definition of a clean F-16. As others have stated wingtip AAM have a negligible DI on the F-16. More likely, there would be ACMI pod and/or training rounds on wingtips during exercises.
Why would they use the captive carry hours up on live rounds?
Usually, F-16 wingtip stations are loaded, that has more to do with flutter (apparently Aim-120 are preferred to dampen flutter with certain underwing stores).
FBWIAF chief again confirm in this Press that F-16 was shot down
First off, can’t they set up a briefing with mics that work?
Second, he does not confirm. He says “I think they lost an F-16 against us”.
Then we have videos from POK side that clearly states 2-3 pilots were seen in Air with parachutes.
Ejection seats have a stabilizing drogue chute. The eyewitness reports probably saw the drogue then main chute deploy and thought it was two pilots. I’ve watched what can been seen on the video of the incident, nothing compelling.
Not to mention, the whole narrative of the lost aircraft being an F-16D is based on the completely debunked serial no. that wasn’t.
ISPR kept changing narrative every day.
While the IAF has been pretty close lipped and has stuck to two basic points: hitting the intended targets and the presence of F-16’s. The Indian media has been running unverified stories sourced from social media, as well as demonstrably false narratives, starting with the Varthaman kill claim before he was even freed. Abhinandan Varthaman made no such claim in his statement. His only claim in regards to the incident was that he was pursuing and “trying to lock up a taget” when he was hit.
Again, considering the short reaction time for the engagement from crossing the LOC to the MiG-21’s responding, anyone could have shot down anyone. Wouldn’t matter if they were in a JF-17, F-16, MiG-21, or whatever. I am not ruling out the possibility. But I also have to admit, reading the Indian media reports for days, I am less and less convinced as stories grow more circumstantial and speculative (in particular the Wing Commander’s son story based on a single FB post from a London lawyer) and evidence is lacking.
FBWI do not think IAF would release AWACS data or any sensitive material to satisfy the international public or aviation enthusiasts.
Releasing HUD footage, audio and radar evidence with parts redacted to satisfy security concerns isn’t uncommon with aviation incidents.
Here is the issue Quadbike, the international media (with the exception of Russia, for their own obvious reasons) has largely rejected Indian claim, and has questioned the efficacy of the preceeding strike based on the evidence available. In essence, your making your stance that these points are irrelevant as majority of Indians believe the Government’s version of the events.
What your describing is propaganda, not an evidence based factual analysis. Losing the after action battle for credibility will have a negative effect on India, maybe not now in the glow of national fervor and pride, but years down the road as a more sober analysis puts these events into proper perspective.
FBWInterview with Indian Airforce Air Vice Marshal Mr. K K Nohwar , Dog Fight India’s MIG 21 vs F-16D complete details
I’m failing to see how a Retired AVM has any evidence or insight to corroborate these events. At this point, the Indian claims of the F-16 shootdown are turning from Cause célèbre to an international PR nightmare.
The IAF should either release AWAC data of the engagement, audio, any relevant HUD footage to back up government and media claims, or outright contradict them. The credibility of the Indian Gov. position in regards to the entire terror strike is being undermined by the inability to present a clear, consistent narrative backed up by evidence. Even the hero of the hour, Abhinandan has made no such claim of the F-16 downing being attributed to him,
FBWNot exactly timely news, but interesting. Fighter Pilot’s podcast interview with retired USN commander David Fravor. He made the news a few years back for the NYT article about F-18’s chasing UFO off the west coast (UFO FLIR footage later captured on same cruise).
https://www.fighterpilotpodcast.com/episodes/035-ufos/
He makes an interesting claim that the object employed jamming countermeasures to prevent his radar from locking on. My disclaimer- I don’t particularly believe or follow UFO topics but this is a very fascinating interview.
FBWDassault Rafale discussion with pilot on fighter pilots podcast. Interview starts at 17 min.
https://www.fighterpilotpodcast.com/episodes/041-dassault-rafale/
FBWI think we can kill this extra thread now that the original is back. Let Halloweene get his post on now that the Rafale thread has stalled into a flat spin (appropriate metaphor given the discussion there)
FBWFBWDo not know if this is old info http://www.deagel.com/news/BAE-Syste…000018675.aspx as the title says upgrades will be made on the an/asq-239.
No that is part of block 4. Read the above article on block 4 from AFM. There was some early talk about open competition for the next gen EW system for the F-35 but that seems to be fading. Bae will be providing ASQ-239 upgrades. As to what those entail are classified, similar to the F-22 ongoing upgrades. I would not expect any specifics. Specific improvements to the F-22 are vague in reports, the F-35 ASQ-239 gets similar treatment.
FBWThe USG would possibly want to have a look at the debris from the AIM-120C5 and while there may not be a public confirmation that it belonged to Pakistan there could be one in private between the two nations. US’ been tilting towards India for the past two decades and once some sort of Afghan deal is in place and US Forces withdraw from the region, I expect U.S to give up their delicate balancing act and align more with India.
agreed. Also why Pakistan would be reluctant to publicly announce that F-16’s were part of the retaliatory strike. The US-India alignment has been brewing slowly over the last decade. Pakistan is moving toward the China sphere of influence, but this is fluid. The lack of strong condemnation from either the US and China speaks volumes about the uncertainty.
FBWEven then, several were in poor material condition. Different world, different mission. Newer carriers require less time between deployments and CVN have longer times between RCOH. USN has a hard time filling CVW’s as is. Might be time to reconsider a sea control ship paradigm to fill peacetime deployment needs. Those big deck LHA aren’t going to be recreating Incheon in future war scenarios. Use em.
FBWTrimble’s Twitter- thanks BiO. His Dewline blog @ flightglobal was one of the best. He’s moved on to greener pastures at AW&ST as editor. Superb defense reporter.
Also from feed:
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7h
I asked SECAF Heather Wilson if F-15X was imposed on Air Force by the Office of Secretary Defense, and she replied: “The budget proposal that we initially submitted did not included additional fourth generation aircraft.”
So much for no conflict of interest.
FBWIn fact the addition of this air defense system is not a walk in the park if the US and Israel asked Ukraine(very **** s-300 variants) for information and asked Greece with their outdated variants. We both have opinions but what comes down next are the results.
Why wouldn’t they? FME is an important part of realistic training. The 477th received F-7B in the late 1980’s even though the MiG-21 was no longer a frontline fighter with the Soviets.
Tolicha Peak Electronic Combat Range has an array of various S-300 components and variants, and yes they received a Ukrainian 36D6m1-1. Basically, if the weapon system could still be encountered, it’s worth acquiring and using in training scenarios. Russia, I’m sure, would be happy to get their hands on a AN/MPQ-53 despite 1985 IOC.
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