MRCA news and discussion /feb-june 2009

[p2prada]

ahh...no...the thermobaric warheads are still deployed on Paveways and Hellfires.

Hellfires yes. Paveways, I doubt it. It could exist unofficially. We wont get it either ways.

yes the mirages could deliver them coz they are currently the only aircraft in our inventory that can deploy the Paveway.

The Mirage provided inherent advantages over the Himalayas due to its delta wing design.

yes the old CBUs are being phased out but the CBU-97SFW, 100, 107 are still active in service in very good numbers too. Yes the KAB-500OD is indeed a good bomb, no denying that but hey it remains a 500kg bomb, now Paveways come in 1000kg and 2000kg bombs as well, bigger bomb, means bigger impact and more damage. moreover LJDAM can also hit high speed moving targets on the ground, a lot of Russian bomb can't hit moving targets.

The old CBUs carried thermobaric warheads. CBU-97, 100 carry anti-armour warheads. 2 different weapons. CBU-107 has penetrator rods to take out stored fuel. None of these are thermobaric.

The Russians are behind the US in LGBs. But, even they have 1000kg+ weapons. KAB-1500 series are over 1000kg upto 1500kg.
The American Paveway and JDAMS are all less than 1000kg in weight. You are confused between pounds and kilograms.

Other than that, we have Israeli Crystal Maze, AGM-142 and Griffin-3s.

 

[John]

Hellfires yes. Paveways, I doubt it. It could exist unofficially. We wont get it either ways.



The Mirage provided inherent advantages over the Himalayas due to its delta wing design.



The old CBUs carried thermobaric warheads. CBU-97, 100 carry anti-armour warheads. 2 different weapons. CBU-107 has penetrator rods to take out stored fuel. None of these are thermobaric.

The Russians are behind the US in LGBs. But, even they have 1000kg+ weapons. KAB-1500 series are over 1000kg upto 1500kg.
The American Paveway and JDAMS are all less than 1000kg in weight. You are confused between pounds and kilograms.

Other than that, we have Israeli Crystal Maze, AGM-142 and Griffin-3s.

ah..no again, The biggest paveway bomb is the GBU-28 which weighs a whopping 2.5 tons and i know my metrics, paveways and JDAMs come in 250kgs, 500kg and 1000kg variants.

 

[John]

Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar Ready for Production Orders

PARIS, June 15, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) newest advanced electronically scanned array radar has achieved a significant production readiness milestone. With the maturation of its hardware and software interfaces, the Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar is now ready for customers ordering new F-16 production aircraft.

The RACR is the latest addition to Raytheon's family of radar products, which includes the APG-79 and APG-63 now flying on U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F and U.S. Air Force F-15 aircraft, respectively. The new radar takes advantage of recent technology innovation and offers a scalable, adaptable AESA system targeted at new and retrofit F-16 aircraft, as well as other platforms.

"RACR uses hardware and software currently fielded by the Air Force and Navy," said Tom Kennedy, vice president for Raytheon's Tactical Airborne Systems mission area. "By leveraging our existing AESA technology and hot production line, we're able to offer unmatched reliability and life-cycle cost advantages."

In November 2008, the RACR successfully began integration testing in the Lockheed Martin system integration laboratory at the company's Fort Worth, Texas, facility. Additional integration efforts are planned for this year. Because the RACR F-16 interface was specifically designed to minimize impact to the aircraft, the radar can be installed with minimal changes in the existing F-16 software.

Raytheon currently provides electronic warfare systems, mission computer systems, weapons, and targeting and navigation systems for the F-16 and other Lockheed-built aircraft. Raytheon is also working on a center pedestal display for the F-16.

Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar Ready for Production Orders - Jun 15, 2009

Well well, another plus for the F-16IN, it seems we can order this new AESA for the F-16IN, based on the APG-79, it is much better than the APG-80...i think Super Viper just got a push forward. Well with this radar and a mix of Issy avionics and weapons, Viper will make to the top 3. It is still the most flexible aircraft in weapons ability with over 100 types of weapons integrated onto into it.

 

[K Factor]

Eitherway i am sure most of the Russian bombs are just free fall bombs without effective guidance.

It seems that you speak your mouth off even when you clearly dont have any idea about what you are talking about.

Paveway is a guidance kit and not a bomb itself. It can be fitted onto any dumb bomb to make it smart, including Russian one. Thats what IAF used in Kargil.

The Raytheon Paveway IV is a new-generation dual mode GPS/INS and laser guided bomb for use by military aircraft. It is the latest iteration of Raytheon's popular Paveway series.

The weapon is a guidance kit based on the existing Enhanced Paveway II Enhanced Computer Control Group (ECCG) added to a modified Mk 82 general-purpose bomb with increased penetration performance.

Do some researd before shooting off your mouth.

And for your brushing up your knowledge, check these links

Russian LGBs: KAB-500L, KAB-500LG, KAB-500KL Laser Guided Bombs (Russian Federation) - Jane's Air-Launched Weapons

Russian GPS GBs: KAB-500S/S-E Guided Bomb (Russian Federation) - Jane's Air-Launched Weapons

Frankly, I don't understand why a little bit of research is so tough, even with Google available?

 

[p2prada]

I wonder what bombs are we going to interface the Griffins to. I know that we have interfaced it with the British Mk21 dumb bomb on our Jaguars. So, any other bombs with Griffens on it. Most probably Griffens for our Mig-27s too, can't say for sure.

During Kargil war we dropped only 9 Paveway equipped LGBs. 8 were dropped by Mirages and 1 by a Jaguar. The rest were all dumb bombs. The bombing required the fighters to dive from 30000ft and also escape from any MANPADs fired. The Mirages were exceptionally good at dive bombing. There was one incident where a Mig-27 had to face off against 50 MANPADs fired at it from multiple locations in a single sortie.

Even ACM Tipnis felt comfortable in a 2 seater Mirage-2000 while on an observation sortie over Tiger Hill during the conflict.

 

[p2prada]

Well well, another plus for the F-16IN, it seems we can order this new AESA for the F-16IN, based on the APG-79, it is much better than the APG-80...i think Super Viper just got a push forward. Well with this radar and a mix of Issy avionics and weapons, Viper will make to the top 3. It is still the most flexible aircraft in weapons ability with over 100 types of weapons integrated onto into it.

Single Engine is a drawback.

 

[Singh]

I wonder what bombs are we going to interface the Griffins to. I know that we have interfaced it with the British Mk21 dumb bomb on our Jaguars. So, any other bombs with Griffens on it. Most probably Griffens for our Mig-27s too, can't say for sure.

the spanish made 250kg dumb bombs used in kargil can be used too.
Griffin 3 kits afaik are platform independent, so can be used on Jags, M2ks, MKIs and Mig-27s.
Not sure which crafts can carry CBU-105's though..

During Kargil war we dropped only 9 Paveway equipped LGBs. 8 were dropped by Mirages and 1 by a Jaguar. The rest were all dumb bombs. The bombing required the fighters to dive from 30000ft and also escape from any MANPADs fired. The Mirages were exceptionally good at dive bombing. There was one incident where a Mig-27 had to face off against 50 MANPADs fired at it from multiple locations in a single sortie.

Even ACM Tipnis felt comfortable in a 2 seater Mirage-2000 while on an observation sortie over Tiger Hill during the conflict.

Great info thanks

 

[Singh]

Single Engine is a drawback.

but is cost-effective.

 

[John]

It seems that you speak your mouth off even when you clearly dont have any idea about what you are talking about.

Paveway is a guidance kit and not a bomb itself. It can be fitted onto any dumb bomb to make it smart, including Russian one. Thats what IAF used in Kargil.



Do some researd before shooting off your mouth.

And for your brushing up your knowledge, check these links

Russian LGBs: KAB-500L, KAB-500LG, KAB-500KL Laser Guided Bombs (Russian Federation) - Jane's Air-Launched Weapons

Russian GPS GBs: KAB-500S/S-E Guided Bomb (Russian Federation) - Jane's Air-Launched Weapons

Frankly, I don't understand why a little bit of research is so tough, even with Google available?

ah...blah blah again...offcourse its a kit thats why it can be put on a damn 500kg or a 2.5 ton dumb bomb, u seem to have trouble understanding basic english..

well single engine doesn't seem to be a drawback for the IAF, an rfp wouldn't have been sent if IAF would not have been interested. CBU-105s will go on the Jag.

 

[p2prada]

Not sure which crafts can carry CBU-105's though..

Any aircraft with the MIL STD 1760 Bus can carry CBUs. The 2 contenders are Mirage-2000 and Jaguar. MKI is a potential CBU truck too. Then there are all the fighters from the MRCA. LCA has a 1760 bus also.

The Mirage-2000 and Jaguar will need adequate upgrades for that.

 

[F-14]

F-16IN Super Viper | Lockheed Martin

 

[John]

well RACR is ready for production and can be ordered if we go for the Super Viper. The Viper is still the most customizable among the western contenders, with excellent functionality and ready integration with Israeli avionics and weapons, it is certainly a better option than the Rafale and EF at a much lower price.

 

[Dark Sorrow]

Just one question people have we designed or manufacture any dumb-bomb artillary shell or smart-bomb/artillary shell.

 

[p2prada]

Just one question people have we designed or manufacture any dumb-bomb artillary shell or smart-bomb/artillary shell.

I don't know what you mean by a smart artillery shell.

The Ordnance Factory Board make some shells for our artillery.

Ordnance Factory Board
Ordnance Factory Board
Ordnance Factory Board
Ordnance Factory Board
Ordnance Factory Board
Ordnance Factory Board
Ordnance Factory Board

Let's not go OT.
Cheers.

 

[rock45]

Is the Gripen still in and and the Rafale out? Is that current? Thanks

 

[Soham]

No-one's out. The field trials are just about to begin.

 

[rock45]

Thanks sohamsri

Sadly it means this process is going to go on longer don't the higher ups realize its going to take another good three or four years to generate aircraft? Tack on pilots training & maintenance and your looking at six years or so wow.

 

[nitesh]

PARIS AIR SHOW: Sukhoi secretive on PAK-FA programmes

Though reticent on the specifics of the PAK-FA programme, Pogosyan is confident of success in the Indian fighter contest, in which the MiG-35 has been entered. The MiG aircraft has "a good chance of winning", he says. It has already completed flight tests with the Indian air force.

 

[Singh]

Rafale back in IAF's USD 10 billion M-MRCA bid

New Delhi, May 21: After being ruled out of the race for IAF's over USD 10 billion contract for 126 Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (M-MRCA), French contender Rafale fighter aircraft has been allowed by India to take part in the bid.

"The decision to induct the Rafale back in the bid was taken by Defence Ministry officials during a meeting of the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) held earlier this week," Defence Ministry sources said here.

Earlier, the French fighter aircraft was declared out of the race after it was found lacking on certain requirements of the IAF during the technical evaluation phase of the contract.

The recommendation of the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC), sources said, was not accepted by the DPB headed by Defence Secretary Vijay Singh and Rafale was allowed to take part in the competition.

After the DPB decision, the Rafale will now be allowed to participate in the field trials of the M-MRCA, which are expected to be held by the IAF at different places and different weather conditions in India.

Rafale back in IAF`s USD 10 billion M-MRCA bid

 

[nitesh]

Thanks sohamsri

Sadly it means this process is going to go on longer don't the higher ups realize its going to take another good three or four years to generate aircraft? Tack on pilots training & maintenance and your looking at six years or so wow.

You are being optimistic rock expect some delays (major) here. Too much money and prestige at stake here.