Weapons integration update
Today, Jean-Marc Tanguy learned us that the Armée de l'Air is experimenting single-pilot procedures for the GBU-24 with the Rafale.
This work should be finalized in the coming days.
While some questioned the weapons integration works on Rafale, several articles in previous months revealed that GBU-49, AM-39, and GBU-24 integration were in fact quite advanced...
So, both GBU should be in service or will be in a few days, and we are still waiting for the qualification firing of AM-39.
Meanwhile, the Armée de l'Air talk about the first evaluation firing of the ASMP-A by a Rafale, after a 5 hours long flight, refueling, terrain following, etc. Successful, of course.
It is worth considering that while our first nuclear strike aircraft relied on 30 minutes of Mach 2 cruise to succeed, Mirage 2000N relied on terrain following, and Rafale improves this with a credible self-defence capability : while carrying its ASMP-A, Rafale still brings 6 Mica.
Rafale News: Weapons integration update
France Eyes Sale of Missiles for U.S.-Made F-16 Fighters
France's military procurement agency DGA is considering authorizing the sale by Sagem, a unit of French aerospace supplier Safran SA (SAF.FR), of its AASM air-to-ground missiles to equip the F-16 fighter made by Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) of the U.S., reports Les Echos, citing unnamed sources.
It says the proposal is unlikely to please Dassault Aviation (AM.FR) which makes the Rafale multi-role combat aircraft that competes with the F-16.
Sagem sells the AASM to foreign buyers in cooperation with MBDA, a missile maker whose shareholders include European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co NV (EAD.FR), BAE Systems PLC (BA.LN) and Finmeccanica SpA (FNC.MI).
France Eyes Sale of Missiles for U.S.-Made F-16 Fighters -Report
Spanish and French Naval and air forces make joint exercices
The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and the oil-tanker Meuse docked in Cartagena from 17 to 21 June, before beginning a series of maneuvers with the Spanish Navy and Air Force. This was the first time since his call to active duty in 2001, the Charles de Gaulle made a stopover in Spain.
Spanish delegation in front of a plane E2-C HawkEye. At bottom left, a fighter specializing in attacks at sea and ashore, SUPER-ETENDARD MODERNIZES. HE Ambassador of France, Bruno DELAYE. Armada: Fernando Zumalacárregui Luxan VA / CA FERREIRO Manuel SANCHEZ / CV Fernando MARTIN PAZ. Ejercito del Aire: Colonel Alberto Gallego GORDON. Against Admiral Bruno Deméocq / CV Olivier Lebas / Col Ludovic DUMONT
France's ambassador to Spain, Bruno Delaye, visited the aircraft carrier along with the cons-Admiral Deméocq Bruno, commander of the naval group. A visit to the aircraft carrier was organized for the press, Wednesday, June 20, and a cocktail on board, to which were invited many local and national personalities.
The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle sailed Thursday, June 21 in the early hours of the morning to get into operational configuration. He has been joined by the frigate and the submarine that had stopped in the Balearics. The morning was devoted to the reconfiguration and operational preparedness trainings that began at 11:00. He was scheduled air raid attack on a British frigate which corsait off. Work combined with a frigate and a submarine Spanish was also performed.
Finally, the Ambassador and the delegation were able to attend the catapulting of a deck that ran to an air combat exercise with the Spanish Air Force. The French Rafale have demonstrated through EUROFIGHTER Spanish had taken off from the airbase of Albacete in Castile-La Mancha. After over an hour of exercises, where the "debriefing" were reported very good results given the level of Spanish crews, was carried to "pick up" aircraft, that is to say, the procedures 'landing. These very complex maneuvers requiring extreme precision of the pilots to land on a platform that moves constantly and extra compact dimensions.
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