Dassault Rafale, tender | News & Discussions

[Shastra]

SAAB GRIPEN

 

[rockstarIN]

Aesa Ready Rafale by 2013, eye on MMRCA tender

Thales is all set to begin production RBE2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, keeping an eye on Indian MMRCA Tender and also 60 Rafales which have been ordered by French Générale pour l’Armement (DGA), first AESA-equipped squadron is expected to be operational in 2013.

Preproduction batch of three AESA radars where tested on three different aircrafts, aircrafts used for test flights were Falcon, Mirage-2000 and Rafale. Test flights were carried out in September and December last year and the tranche-four Rafales will be first to get AESA radars.

First round of Radar test were conducted with US-made transmitter/receivers, but Thales have already developed their locally made transmitter/receivers and will be integrated in the serial production variant of the RBE2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.

RBE2 Aesa will enable Rafale to be the first European aircraft to feature a AESA Radar, but EADS is already working on e-scan radar for Euro Fighter aircraft and Saab is also testing its AESA radar for Gripen NG, work on AESA Radar program for this aircrafts have picked up speed since all are eyeing lucrative Indian air forces 126 jet order under MMRCA tender, which makes its mandatory for the aircrafts participating in the tender to have tested AESA Radar.


Aesa Ready Rafale by 2013, eye on MMRCA tender | idrw.org

Rafale AESA is not ready yet???

 

[SpArK]

Rafale AESA is not ready yet???

Ready and all set for serial production.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Aesa Ready Rafale by 2013, eye on MMRCA tender

Thales is all set to begin production RBE2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, keeping an eye on Indian MMRCA Tender and also 60 Rafales which have been ordered by French Générale pour l’Armement (DGA), first AESA-equipped squadron is expected to be operational in 2013.

Preproduction batch of three AESA radars where tested on three different aircrafts, aircrafts used for test flights were Falcon, Mirage-2000 and Rafale. Test flights were carried out in September and December last year and the tranche-four Rafales will be first to get AESA radars.

First round of Radar test were conducted with US-made transmitter/receivers, but Thales have already developed their locally made transmitter/receivers and will be integrated in the serial production variant of the RBE2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.

RBE2 Aesa will enable Rafale to be the first European aircraft to feature a AESA Radar, but EADS is already working on e-scan radar for Euro Fighter aircraft and Saab is also testing its AESA radar for Gripen NG, work on AESA Radar program for this aircrafts have picked up speed since all are eyeing lucrative Indian air forces 126 jet order under MMRCA tender, which makes its mandatory for the aircrafts participating in the tender to have tested AESA Radar.


Aesa Ready Rafale by 2013, eye on MMRCA tender | idrw.org

So given the deal is expected to be signed sometime this year (we hope) and the RFI states delivery of the first SQD within 36 months (so 2014 into IAF) 2013 target (^^^) seems like perfect timing!


+ I'm still in 2 minds about EFT or Rafale, EFT seems like it has good potential as it is a new platform and The Consortium has big plans but due to dwindling defence budgets and low orders I don't know if its potential may ever fully be utilised.

What does anyone think to this Q- what effect does/will the outcome of the MMRA have on the N-MMRCA? The obvious outcome is clear-lower prices for infrastructure etc for the follow on of N-MMRCA after MMRCA but what is the MoD/IN aiming to do? Will they piggyback on the IAF infrastructure and training or are they aiming to set up their own independent naval aviation arm (as it is at the moment to an extent) like the USN and USAF who operate completely different a/c and operate as two completely separate AFs in the same country. In short what I am asking will the winner of the MMRCA automatically (effectively) become the winner of the N-MMRCA (after a orchestrated tender) or will the IN conduct their own separate process where they select their a/c based on it meeting their own unique criteria.

 

[Storm Force]

Both the EURO FIGHTER & RAFAEL are massively over priced at $120m each fully kitted out with full weapons.

WHY PAY $16 BILLION FOR MMRCA beginning delivery in 2014-2015 when the Russian PAK FA will arrive around 2017 any way.

does not make sense.

 

[localoca]

Both the EURO FIGHTER & RAFAEL are massively over priced at $120m each fully kitted out with full weapons.

WHY PAY $16 BILLION FOR MMRCA beginning delivery in 2014-2015 when the Russian PAK FA will arrive around 2017 any way.

does not make sense.

keep dreaming...

 

[Abingdonboy]

keep dreaming...

What are you referring to? IAF getting EFT/ Rafele? Delivery dates of PAK-FA/MMRCA? What?

 

[sancho]

LIBYA: RAF Typhoon hits fresh target, with help from Tornado

By Craig Hoyle

One of the UK Royal Air Force's Eurofighter Typhoons has again been in action against Libyan ground forces, with the type continuing to work in concert with the service's Panavia Tornado GR4 fleet.
The Ministry of Defence confirms that a two-aircraft formation comprising one Typhoon and one Tornado attacked equipment being operated by forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi on 14 April.

The UK aircraft "hit a heavy equipment transporter and a munitions store in the Misrata area using [Raytheon] Enhanced Paveway II and Paveway IV bombs," the MoD says in an operational update. Its Tornado GR4s also attacked one main battle tank and one armoured vehicle south of the Libyan capital Tripoli using MBDA dual-mode Brimstone air-to-surface missiles on the same day.

Flightglobal understands that the Typhoon's latest combat use of the 454kg (1,000lb) Enhanced Paveway II, along with its debut employment in Libya on 10 April, was enabled by a Tornado GR4 designating its targets using a Rafael Litening III targeting pod...

...The decision to use targeting services provided by the Tornado GR4 stems from a shortage of adequately trained Typhoon pilots, as illustrated in information published by the UK House of Commons' Public Accounts Committee on 15 April.
In evidence given to the committee on 9 March, two senior RAF officials revealed that only a fraction of the service's 48 Typhoon pilots were qualified to conduct air-to-ground missions, in line with its requirements for the fleet.
"We have eight pilots trained in the ground-attack role because that is all we need," said Air Vice Marshal Stephen Hillier, air officer commanding the RAF's 2 Group organisation. However, he added: "If we want to deploy that aircraft on an air-to-surface mission, we can do it." The UK's Typhoon force will achieve full multi-role readiness in 2018, with the bulk of the fleet to remain in use until 2030.

LIBYA: RAF Typhoon hits fresh target, with help from Tornado

 

[Abingdonboy]

LIBYA: RAF Typhoon hits fresh target, with help from Tornado

This seems like it was purely for show and a symbolic gesture (possibly for th benefit of the IAF?) as couldn't the Tornado have performed this attack by itself without the Typhoon being there?

 

[jha]

 

[Archie]

azn:

keep dreaming...

And u Keep trolling

 

[holysaturn]

keep dreaming...

sema kaamedy

 

[sancho]

This seems like it was purely for show and a symbolic gesture (possibly for th benefit of the IAF?) as couldn't the Tornado have performed this attack by itself without the Typhoon being there?

The Tornados can not only do it without EFs, but way better, because they have more useful weapons like Paveway IV LGBs and Brimstones anti tank missiles. These are more useful for the attacks on tanks, or armored vehicles that gives less risk of collateral damage and it is indeed kind of strange that the EFs will be deployed in A2G with these heavier weapons, while they were not at the begining, when bigger targets was available as well. It is often stated that the RAF EFs have this limited A2G capability including guidance by Litening pod since 2008, then why wasn't it deployed earlier and why do they now need to be guided by Tornados?
As I said earlier, for the French fighters Libya gives not much new, which could be counted as a selling point, because they showed most of this in Afghanistan before. But fighters like Gripen and EF on the other hand, has now the chance to prove them in real war operations, but the Gripen came only when the enemy AF was not available anymore and will not be deployed in A2G roles. The EF also showed only A2A capabilities (with a bit of PR when you look at the missile load they carry) and now suddenly made ground attacks when no serious targets are available anymore.
An interesting point that I got recently is, that RAF pilots also fly A2G roles as WSOs in French Mirage fighters. They did this in Afghanistan before and now do it in Libya again, which tells us something about French forces and their fighters. They understanded the need of multi role capabilities with the Mirage 2000s ad further improved this idea with the Rafale, while the RAF had the Tornado strike fighter and added mainly an air superiority fighter, with secondary A2G capabilities.

 

[sancho]

Some new pics of the UAE fighters (Mirage showing an A2A config which will be similar to upgraded IAF Mirage and F16 B60, beeing the base for the F16IN in MMRCA):

Carrying 3 x fuel tanks, 2 x SR and 4 x MR missiles

Carrying CFTs, 2 x fuel tanks, 1 x LDP, 2 x SR and 4 x MR missiles

 

[SpArK]