1] I went through the encyclopedia thread but couldn't find any range for rwr tech in rafale.Do you have any info??
2] Can you lock onto an enemy aircraft and fire a missile using this tech??Without radars and irst??
3] Many 4th gen aitcrafts have rwr right.So am i correct in understanding that what makes rafale special is "interferometer"
1)You will only find unofficial sources or basic estimates, about detection ranges of several 100Km.
2)If you can precisely locate the target, you can gather it's GPS coordinates and divert them to weapons, which logically easier for stationary targets than for moving once. But Rafale does that basically in SEAD, the RWR can detect a ground radar and gather data from it alone, can direct the FSO or a targetting pod to the target and gain additional data, provide them to the AASM and launch the weapon. Same is possible for a missile too, by giving it basic GPS data for the launch, provide mid course guidance with SPECTRA or FSO until the seeker of the missile itself (be it EM or IR) locks on the target.
3) Yes, advanced RWR that provides geo-location capabilities can make a difference for precise targeting and the interferometry technology adds advantages here, but is not the only technology to do so.
Standard F16s or F18s for example can have RWR too, but for precise targeting in SEAD they need additional systems in special varients (F16 CJ or 18 Growler).
Modern fighters like Rafale or EF integrates these systems in the EWS itself, without the need of special varients or additional pods.
What makes you think the Rafales delivered to the IAF wouldn't have
The fact that they are in production now, including software and wiring for the F3+ but without these capabilites and since it would require additional contracts apart of the Rafale deal, for funding of production, integration and testing. Not to mention that most of them might be produced, tested and integrated in India only, just as we integrated Litening, or Topsight HMS to the Mig 29s of IAF and IN in India and the FSO IRST is only „offered“ as an option, as Samtel specboards showed, but it's not in production now and can be added only after the production in India has started again.
The point about 18 Rafales by 2017 as opposed to 53 EFTs by 2017 is a moot point as the deal for EFTs wouldn't even be signed by 2017 in all likelihood if talks between the MoD and the EFT consortium begun TODAY.
Come on buddy, don't skip the answer. Besides, that the fighters are already in production and the negotiations would only be with the governments, without the need of industrial partnerships, ToT or offsets negotiations. That part would only apply to the licence production, so you could easily singn the contract by next year and get the first fighters if required, while the negotiation part of the industry an the contract for the licence production would be done simultaneously.
If we could buy more fighters from French forces, it would be a government to government deal aswell and also faster to sign than the industrial part, but as said, that number is very limited and also comes without IRST, HMS or Litening.
So again, if you were the chief and would have to decide on which fighter is better for IAF in operational terms only, which one would you take?
