Know Your 'Rafale'

[halloweene]

Dont expect too much tho, Communication has never been Dassault's policy...

 

[Drsomnath999]

Aviation Week , June 15:

Page 50/52, Interview of Laurent Collet-Billon, head of the French procurement agency DGA (excerpt) :

CREDIT-OLYBRIUS
THANK U FOR THE INFO MATE

 

[Vishwarupa]

France exudes confidence on Rafale sale to India

Dassault Aviation expects the sale of 126 Rafale fighters to India to go through before the end of this year.

On the eve of the Paris air show at Le Bourget, France is exuding a quiet confidence that the contract for the sale of 126 Rafale fighters will be concluded before the year-end. The opening of the air show this year coincides with annual Indo-French Foreign Office Consultations when India's Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai will meet his French counterpart, Pierre Sellal in Paris on Monday.

The CEO of Dassault Aviation Eric Trappier told journalists in Paris in a pre-air show interview that despite talks with the Indians being "pretty hard nosed" he expected the sale of 126 Rafale fighters to India to go through before the end of this year. "We would like talks to conclude as soon as possible. If we listen to our Indian friends and if we hear ourselves, we would like to finish in 2013. Finish means signing a contract," Dassault's new CEO who took the reins early this year said.

Mr. Trappier brushed aside reports of difficult negotiations saying talks were "good humoured". He said there had "never been obstacles" and discussions now closely focused on Indian license production, assemblage and component manufacture for 126 fighters. India has an option for another 63 aircraft, which is currently under discussion.

The Dassault chief's remarks come on the heels of the publication of France's Defence Review that indicates that the French defence establishment expects the deal to go through this year with deliveries beginning in 2016 or 2017 at the latest. Alain Ruello writing in the French daily Les Echoes said the defence review currently being elaborated is based on the hypothesis that the sale of Rafale jets to India will go through by the end of this year.

"That's the hypothesis we are at and with which we shall remain for the moment," Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Defense Minister was quoted by Les Echoes as saying. The minister is likely to go to India in July to push the contract, it is learnt.

Dassault produces 11 Rafales each year and claims it is impossible to go below that level without jeopardising the equilibrium of the programme. This costs the French military 1.2 billion eurs per year of a total military budget of 5.7 billion per year. The outright sale of 18 aircraft – it takes about three years to build a plane – will give Dassault much needed oxygen.

Paris Air Show

The Paris Air Show turns fifty this year. Hordes of plane-spotters crowded motorway bridges over the weekend near the show grounds at Le Bourget to catch a glimpse of air acrobatics as pilots put fighter aircraft through their paces during practice sessions and trials.

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus unveiled its new wide body A-350 passenger plane and rumour has it that its books show a healthy stack of orders totalling over 72 billion dollars.

"Once again it's going to be a battle royale between Airbus and Boeing. This year it is Airbus that has snatched the lead from its American rival, which was riding high with its Dreamliner at this very same air show two years ago. Boeing is clearly on the back-foot because of the problems with the Dreamliner's lithium batteries and Airbus has just shared the happy news that it has bagged another massive order from Air Asia, the Malaysian low cost carrier for 18 billion dollars," said aviation analyst Antoine Meder.

But most of Airbus orders come not from the A350, the first commercial plane the aircraft maker has unveiled in six years since it launched its superjumbo A 380, but from the revamped single aisle A320 which has been renamed the A320neo or New Engine Option. Air Asia's order, described as the single largest aircraft order in civil aviation history came close on the heels of an order for 72 planes by India's low cost flyer GoAir.

While drones and wide body aircraft are expected to dominate this year's show, military aircraft and are also very much present.
France exudes confidence on Rafale sale to India | The Hindu

 

[halloweene]

Good report Blanced and exact words from A to Z.

 

[Neil]

Good report Blanced and exact words from A to Z.

This costs the French military 1.2 billion eurs per year of a total military budget of 5.7 billion per year

eh..??:shocked:

 

[halloweene]

Oops there is a mistake there. Didnt see it. My bad way more then 5.7 billions

 

[Immanuel]

Any one heading to Paris Airshow 2013 on 22nd the Saturday?

My ticket is booked, I will have my Sony A-77V with a Minolta 300mm lens. I will be going alone, would be great to tag along so that our spot in the front can be maintained while one takes a break during the day. I plan to be early at the gates around 7.00 am so that I have a great spot to pick once gates open around 8.30.

Anyone interested in tagging along ?

 

[halloweene]

sry, will be there tomorrow, wednesday and friday but i guess not saturday (may change, i'll let you know if)

 

[Drsomnath999]

Jean-Pierre Devaux: "The Rafale will remain the best technological level until 2050"

What are the trends in fighter planes?
The tendency is to maintain an extremely versatile, as is the Rafale, that is able to cope with the full range of situations, in addition to the cruise missiles in the initial phase of commitment and attack helicopters when combat aviation is not available or not suitable. Ultimately, this set will be complemented by drones armed surveillance. Libya and Mali have shown.

And on a technical level?
Combat aircraft will become smarter, and networking will grow. Today, there is the link 16 [NATO standard for the exchange of tactical information, Ed]. Tomorrow, we imagine that the fighter can fire at a target that is not seen, but which is designated by another device on this theater ...

... From a drone?
For example. Through networking, the pilot will have access to more information, whereas today they are mainly processed at the plane. The sensors, one can imagine a more flexible use of active radar antenna allocate the power to the target. The computer allows. But it is more medium to long term.

How will evolve the Rafale?
The evolution through the standard says "F3-R" which provides for the integration of Meteor air-to-air missile, the development of electronic warfare equipment, the laser designation pod next generation, or the introduction of capacity GPS when the signal is scrambled. All this brings us to 2019 or beyond 2020.Au the "F4" standard would provide an additional increment: integration of missile Scalp renovated, new weapons like a missile 2ASM of 125 kg or less, SDR ... All this to 2025.

When will the renovation mid-life?
From 2030, the Rafale will have to acquire new skills to meet the challenges of the future. As for the Mirage 2000, it will raise the question of adding new features, faster and at lower cost. The decision must be made between 2020 and 2025. Our goal is to maintain the highest level the Rafale for at least 25 more years.

And Post-Rafale and Eurofighter?
The renovation of a mid-life fighter maintains only part of the engineering skills of a manufacturer. If Europe wants a fighter of new generation then it must be able to run a program from 2025. What we imagine with the British, is to have beyond 2030 a UCAV that would complement a fighter renovated. The coupling ensures all missions, from high to low intensity. Except that this drone would be limited to ground attack missions and reconnaissance.

The pilot is not still unemployed?
A fighter unmanned versatile, actually, it's not for now. Especially if it is necessary to ensure deterrence function. One can imagine that conducts drone air-to-air missions, but the complexity is such that it is not in 2030. But keep all channels open. We will also see how changing the public debate on strikes from drones.

What intelligence drones and combat can they join?
Stealth. A drone intelligence is fine without threat in the sky because it was not designed to protect. It can therefore take advantage of solutions developed for a UCAV for stealth. Americans follow this track.

The Treaty of Lancaster House is it open to other countries?
Yes BAE Systems and Dassault must first build a strong control work that may entrust parts of the future UCAV demonstrator to partners. We want to replay neuron which all partner countries tell us "Do not forget us."

And Germany?
She did not request at this stage.
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[Drsomnath999]

Bourget 2013: new developments Rafale on show

Model of active decoy LEA developed by MBDA to equip the Rafale.

The need for export support overcomes the cult of confidentiality that usually surrounds the developments planned for the Rafale. At the Paris Air Show, the Directorate General of Armaments and presented on the stand two preliminary studies programs (EAP) currently funded to improve the performance of the French fighter aircraft in the detection and electronic warfare.
Unreported, LEA (active electromagnetic decoy) project was well presented for the first time at Le Bourget. This involves the development of a releasable active decoy, which would confuse the seeker of some air-to-air missiles in their terminal phase guidance. At least four lures and could be carried by a burst in the same location as the current chaff at the rear of the fuselage. Contrary to that team such as Eurofighter, this lure would be towed by the aircraft, but dropped and he would not have either of propellant.

"Such a system would effectively complement the already built into the plane to thwart some very specific threats, such as homing air-to-air missiles operating in Ka-band Spectra system," said an engineer exhibiting at arms. The "vehicle" for basic LEA is being studied at MBDA, and testing tunnel shooting took place a month ago to check the separation system. Wind tunnel testing of the lure releasable should take place at the end of the year. This program is conducted under the PEA Incas (Integrating New Capabilities Spectra), which we have already spoken several times in our columns.

DGA also presented for the first time called PEA Tragedac. Notified in 2010, it aims to equip the Rafale with a capacity of passive target localization through networking devices from a patrol. Specifically, two Rafale detecting a target with their frontal sector optronics (OSF) or Spectra could improve the accuracy of location of their objective by exchanging data via link 16. A purely software modification but, according to DGA would especially complex to implement the point of view of data synchronization between devices. First test flights are expected to begin by year-end to collect data.

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[halloweene]

F22 kill. Enjoy

 

[Immanuel]

F-22 in a dogfight is not a difficult kill, an Mki will most certainly walk all over it, F-18SH also has dogfight kills on it, dogfighting needs proper nose pointing capabilty and Rafale, EF, MKI SH are all equally good in such areas, comes down to pilot skills in the end. So this F-22 kill is hardly worthy of note.

Mki I am sure walked all over the Rafale and Ef as well during such training. My guess is the LCA mk-1 and eventually mk-2 will rule the skies for dogfights since they are tiny and would be hard to visually spot them in the first place. Just like Mig-21 Bis were turning circles round the F-15 during excercises.

 

[p2prada]

F-22 in a dogfight is not a difficult kill, an Mki will most certainly walk all over it, F-18SH also has dogfight kills on it, dogfighting needs proper nose pointing capabilty and Rafale, EF, MKI SH are all equally good in such areas, comes down to pilot skills in the end. So this F-22 kill is hardly worthy of note.

True, in a dog fight, it is the pilot who wins.

Anyway, MKIs T/W ratio is not impressive enough to challenge the newer aircraft regardless of its other qualities due to the inferior climb rates.

Mki I am sure walked all over the Rafale and Ef as well during such training. My guess is the LCA mk-1 and eventually mk-2 will rule the skies for dogfights since they are tiny and would be hard to visually spot them in the first place. Just like Mig-21 Bis were turning circles round the F-15 during excercises.

The stories about Mig-21 in CI are exaggerated. They were not turning circles around any aircraft. They actually demonstrated BVR capability against a superior adversary, not WVR capability.

Tiny aircraft are obsolete especially considering the advent of HOBS and may be even 360 degree IRST capability. It mattered earlier when engines were not as good and there was a limit to how good the flight software was. With good engines (with T/W ratio surpassing 11:1), the bigger the aircraft, the better your chances. Imagine a PAKFA with a T/W of 1.2 - 1.3 when carrying 11 tonnes of fuel and a L/D ratio that surpasses all other current aircraft and highly likely to maintain its position even with newer aircraft being introduced.

 

[Armand2REP]

F-22 in a dogfight is not a difficult kill, an Mki will most certainly walk all over it, F-18SH also has dogfight kills on it, dogfighting needs proper nose pointing capabilty and Rafale, EF, MKI SH are all equally good in such areas, comes down to pilot skills in the end. So this F-22 kill is hardly worthy of note.

Mki I am sure walked all over the Rafale and Ef as well during such training. My guess is the LCA mk-1 and eventually mk-2 will rule the skies for dogfights since they are tiny and would be hard to visually spot them in the first place. Just like Mig-21 Bis were turning circles round the F-15 during excercises.

No statement could be more incorrect. Nailing an F-22 is quite difficult and has only been proven beyond refute by Rafale. That SH photo was refuted as a revenge shot after DACTs was completed. Rafale already made short work of MKI, SH and EFT, now it goes undefeated against F-22. The new benchmark to beat in a dog fight is now Rafale.

MiG-21 never even got to the merge with F-15s, there only kills were BVRs with simulated R-77s. Reality would have been most shots going wild with the track record of Amraamsky.

 

[Immanuel]

The SH actually remains the only bird to have a Aim kill on the Raptor along with a dogfight kill. The Raptor in this case was flying with drop tanks, easy to spot at close range besides, at close range, it comes down to pilot skill, there is no evidence of the MKI being owned by the Rafale on the contrary MKI did have Rafale and EF for breakfast lunch and dinner and spat that shite out.

Even the German EFs have Raptor kills, at WVR, any one with a decent IR missile can lock and fire, its as easy as pointing your helmet.

The difference comes at long range and Raptor still kills all the 4.5 gen birds without being spotted. Dogfights don't prove anything but pilot skill.

Rafale in reality would be owned properly by SH, EF, Raptor, MKI anyday till Meteor arrives, even then its tiny radar range won't allow for first shots. The only region where it can hold its own is around a range of 60km. Anything beyond is trouble for it.

 

[TrueSpirit]

No statement could be more incorrect. Nailing an F-22 is quite difficult and has only been proven beyond refute by Rafale. That SH photo was refuted as a revenge shot after DACTs was completed.

Fact.

Rafale already made short work of MKI, SH and EFT, now it goes undefeated against F-22. The new benchmark to beat in a dog fight is now Rafale.

Fiction (or say, huge over-statement, especially the BOLD part). I have seen the above video. But this claim does not have enough valid ground. Care to elaborate, please ?

MiG-21 never even got to the merge with F-15s, there only kills were BVRs with simulated R-77s

.

Fact

Reality would have been most shots going wild with the track record of Amraamsky.

Typical sales-pitch coupled with jingoistic rant. Reality is: You never know (enough).
@ersakthivel & @Kunal Biswas could elaborate on this.

 

[TrueSpirit]

True, in a dog fight, it is the pilot who wins.

Anyway, MKIs T/W ratio is not impressive enough to challenge the newer aircraft regardless of its other qualities due to the inferior climb rates.

Ok, @p2prada, which fighters today have best demonstrated climb-rates ?

J-20, I know has a good T/W ratio. But, could you please share which fighters excel in this parameter ?

Is climb rate alone, a decisive factor in dog-fights (which is going to stay, anyway) or, if such limitations can be overcome/compensated/negated by possession of other advantages ?

Tiny aircraft are obsolete especially considering the advent of HOBS and may be even 360 degree IRST capability.

Could you please share how the above two work, especially the High-Off Bore-Sight & which Indian/Chinese fighters are going to have that?

It mattered earlier when engines were not as good and there was a limit to how good the flight software was. With good engines (with T/W ratio surpassing 11:1), the bigger the aircraft, the better your chances.

What is a 11:1 T/W ratio, never heard it before? It is usually expressed in decimals, right ?

Imagine a PAKFA with a T/W of 1.2 - 1.3 when carrying 11 tonnes of fuel and a L/D ratio that surpasses all other current aircraft and highly likely to maintain its position even with newer aircraft being introduced.

I do understand the L/D ratio part & obviously agree with the assessment.

 

[Armand2REP]

Fiction (or say, huge over-statement, especially the BOLD part). I have seen the above video. But this claim does not have enough valid ground.

Because Air et Cosmos and secret defence blog reported Rafale fought F-22 to a draw on all occasions but one, turns out the but one was a Rafale win.

 

[TrueSpirit]

Because Air et Cosmos and secret defence blog reported Rafale fought F-22 to a draw on all occasions but one, turns out the but one was a Rafale win.

Are we talking DACT/war-exercise or simulation ? Any links or share..

 

[Drsomnath999]

Because Air et Cosmos and secret defence blog reported Rafale fought F-22 to a draw on all occasions but one, turns out the but one was a Rafale win.

Trust me there was also a video on it
i had also that link & saved it my pc but i cant upload it for some reasons

This video is not that same video which is uploaded in rafalenews blogspot.com