India selects EF, Rafale for MMRCA shortlist

[SpArK]

AASM: FROM PRECISION GUIDED MUNITIONS TO SMART WEAPONS

The AASM (in French, Modular Air-to-Ground Weapon) is a family of new-generation smart air-to-ground weapons. All the variants of the family can be fired from a standoff distance and can be fire-and-forget. Depending on each variant, the AASM can strike a fixed or moving target with extremely high precision, both day and night, under all conditions. Interoperable and combat proven, the AASM meets all the spectrum of Air Forces’ needs at the tactical level.


The AASM is made up of guidance and range extension kits that transform a standard bomb body into a smart weapon. Its engine provides it with range greater than 50km, meaning it can be fired at a standoff distance. Autonomous after it has been dropped, it can be used at low altitudes, cross hilly terrain or veer sharply from the firing aircraft.

The AASM’s modularity allows it to be used on 125, 250, 500 and 1000kg bomb bodies and have several guidance kits according to the mission: INS/GPS, INS/GPS/infrared and INS/GPS/laser. The infrared imager version overcomes target coordinate errors by undertaking a terminal correction just before impact, and the laser version can be used to strike highly mobile targets.

The AASM-250 is operational in the French Air Force in overseas operations and has been successfully used in combat on the Rafale since 2008. The AASM-125 was successfully tested in February 2009 on a Mirage 2000. The AASM-1000 is under development, as are new features such as airburst and data link.

Thanks to its ease of use, maneuverability and its vertical strike capability, the AASM covers all offensive air missions: in-depth attacks, Air Interdiction, Close Air Support (including in urban environments), SEAD-type or anti-ship special missions, etc. The AASM is programmed with target coordinates and can be reprogrammed in flight, enabling it to engage several targets simultaneously (up to six in the case of the Rafale.)

The AASM is also commercialized by MDBA as part of its comprehensive weapons offer, which aims to meet the needs of international air forces.

 

[MumbaiIndians]

F-4 is outdated scrap. It can't beat even JF-17.

 

[SpArK]

F-4 is outdated scrap. It can't beat even JF-17.

Dude u dont get it , if India chooses Rafale , people will say even the plane made by Wright brothers is better than Rafale..

Just wait for a couple of months.

 

[Mo12]

Spark do you know how buying the new jets, will help in teja mk2?

 

[axisofevil]

The one major issue that many of you have overlooked is that with Euro Fighter we become an Actual partner in the program, not like Austria, Saudi Arabia, etc. With Rafale, we are just TOT customers.....like Scorpene Subs....take a good look at how wonderful that worked out. Also, take into account how the French went to supply Agostas to the Pakstani navy with slightly better tech, AIP and more! S, now the French have stated we are willing to re think our stratgic relation with Pakistan. Funny don;t you think? Our future is better served with the Germans who actually love India and who happen to be a major partner in the Typhoon. They have also denied the sales of their subs to Pakistan. it is also where Israel gets her subs. The French jumped on Libya to showcase their abilities. Nothing more nothing less.

 

[axisofevil]

A good plane doesn;t need salesmen to push their product. The advantages should be able to come forward. I think the poll is not effective. how mnay posters are Indian, pakistani, chinese, etc? How many are false posters? please take that into consideration, Also, I cannot stand it when folks make such stupid statements a s to how good lookking this plane or that plane is. It doesn't matter how the plane looks to the naked eye, it is the advantages and capabilities and the long term relationship, we should be worried about.

 

[jha]

Dude u dont get it , if India chooses Rafale , people will say even the plane made by Wright brothers is better than Rafale..

Just wait for a couple of months.

This is one truth you have told about RAFALE...

Jeetega Bhai Jeetega , Eurofighter Jeetega..

 

[Eurofighter IN]

If Eurofighter get's the nod this option is a must for the IAF version

 

[Black Widow]

If we are keeping PAF in Mind, We should go for RAAFEL, else If we thing that some one repeat 1962, we must for EFT... EFT with MKI will be formidable combination....

By having 120 EFT, we will have 420+, 4+ gen Air superiority fighters... (280+ MKI, 120+ EFT, 50 + MiG29K).. china has 500+ 4th gen fighter (200 J10, and 300+ Su27 variant)

We should have 1:1 (at least) superiority fighter of same generation...

 

[koushik]

Spark do you know how buying the new jets, will help in teja mk2?

In my opinion the new jets dö not have any relation with Tejas MK-2.the new jets are MMRCA that is Medium multirole combat aircraft which perform various versatile operations like air superiority,ground attack,SEAD whereas Tejas is light fighter mainly intended for air interception with a secondary ground attack role.By selecting the MMRCA the IAF wants to replace Typical ground attack jets with more versatile multirole platforms.The Tejas mk1 and mk2 will both replace MiG-21s which are interceptors.However Tejas-mk2 would be more multirole and a bit heavier.Otherwise there is no connection between MMRCA and Tejas Mk-2.

 

[koushik]

The one major issue that many of you have overlooked is that with Euro Fighter we become an Actual partner in the program, not like Austria, Saudi Arabia, etc. With Rafale, we are just TOT customers.....like Scorpene Subs....take a good look at how wonderful that worked out. Also, take into account how the French went to supply Agostas to the Pakstani navy with slightly better tech, AIP and more! S, now the French have stated we are willing to re think our stratgic relation with Pakistan. Funny don;t you think? Our future is better served with the Germans who actually love India and who happen to be a major partner in the Typhoon. They have also denied the sales of their subs to Pakistan. it is also where Israel gets her subs. The French jumped on Libya to showcase their abilities. Nothing more nothing less.

There are many reasons why Rafael should be selected in the MMRCA.the rafale has lot of similarities with Mirage-2000 which IAF already has,so simpler logistics.If we go by the name of the Tender MMRCA, the Rafale fits the bill because it is a more mature multirole platform than EFT.the IAF already operates a similar aircraft like EFT the MKI which is an Air superiority/multirole jet.the MMRCA will replace the mig-27s which are ground attack jets and so Rafale will win as it has potent A2G Platforms.the french have stopped the transfer of avionics,radar,missiles to pakistani Jf-17 blk-2.rafale will win.

 

[jha]

If we are keeping PAF in Mind, We should go for RAAFEL, else If we thing that some one repeat 1962, we must for EFT... EFT with MKI will be formidable combination....

By having 120 EFT, we will have 420+, 4+ gen Air superiority fighters... (280+ MKI, 120+ EFT, 50 + MiG29K).. china has 500+ 4th gen fighter (200 J10, and 300+ Su27 variant)

We should have 1:1 (at least) superiority fighter of same generation...

Excellent analysis..

IAF must maintain 1:1 ratio in Air-Superiority against China and if that ratio co relates to a higher ratio against any other adversary then so be it..
And this is precisely why i advocate EF... The Ground work can always be done by dedicated Squads..And anyways since the aircrafts will be with us for ~40 years, We cant tell the coming generations of Pilots that we selected a plane 'X' because it had Ground attack capabilities two years before the plane 'Y'..

 

[Bang Galore]

There are many reasons why Rafael should be selected in the MMRCA.the rafale has lot of similarities with Mirage-2000 which IAF already has,so simpler logistics.If we go by the name of the Tender MMRCA, the Rafale fits the bill because it is a more mature multirole platform than EFT.the IAF already operates a similar aircraft like EFT the MKI which is an Air superiority/multirole jet.the MMRCA will replace the mig-27s which are ground attack jets and so Rafale will win as it has potent A2G Platforms.the french have stopped the transfer of avionics,radar,missiles to pakistani Jf-17 blk-2.rafale will win.

These arguments are too simplistic. India would have bought Russian aircraft's if similarities with existing platforms were the criteria. The fact that the EF has been shortlisted means that it meets all the criteria set by the IAF. Mature platform? That's a dicey argument since the F-18 was a contender especially with the AESA radar being a proven, mature one. Can't use one argument against the SH & use it again to favour Rafale. What is more likely being decided now are the commercial offers by the respective contenders. The technical stuff has already been completed. What matters now is what more can the two contenders offer India in order to be the chosen one. Technology transfers, offsets,future developments price are going to be what decides who is going to get what. I believe it will be a rather close affair since both these parties are pretty desperate to get the order. Dassault needs to hopefully offer up replacements for the M2k's because the EF consortium will probably have the edge with the offsets because of Airbus. They can always offer more work of Airbus that could be transferred to India which could be over & above the offsets. Dassault will have big problems with the offsets since they don't enjoy the same advantage. Hopefully at the end of it all, India wins big!

 

[koushik]

These arguments are too simplistic. India would have bought Russian aircraft's if similarities with existing platforms were the criteria. The fact that the EF has been shortlisted means that it meets all the criteria set by the IAF. Mature platform? That's a dicey argument since the F-18 was a contender especially with the AESA radar being a proven, mature one. Can't use one argument against the SH & use it again to favour Rafale. What is more likely being decided now are the commercial offers by the respective contenders. The technical stuff has already been completed. What matters now is what more can the two contenders offer India in order to be the chosen one. Technology transfers, offsets,future developments price are going to be what decides who is going to get what. I believe it will be a rather close affair since both these parties are pretty desperate to get the order. Dassault needs to hopefully offer up replacements for the M2k's because the EF consortium will probably have the edge with the offsets because of Airbus. They can always offer more work of Airbus that could be transferred to India which could be over & above the offsets. Dassault will have big problems with the offsets since they don't enjoy the same advantage. Hopefully at the end of it all, India wins big!

even if the F-18 was selected,the Full value of the APG-79 wouldnt have been exploited as it would be included with Restrictions.Any ways the Super Hornet was rejected on technical grounds.The Rafale is cheaper than EFT as well.However even if EFT or Rafale is selected The indians will get a leap in Operational readiness.

 

[Zabaniyah]

Ok....! Here is an interesting thing for you guys!
Below is the picture I made few month back when I didn't know India is going for Rafale..!

RAFALE KILLER


no pun intended.

Looks like an F-4 Phantom chasing it