Rafale News

[Sancho78]

Technical choice done, not the deal ... but very interesting and informative.

The Rafale, otherwise, was only worse in the price query.The hour-flight of the Gripen is calculated between US$ 7,000 and US$ 8,000. Saab promised that it would be around of US$ 3,000.

From:

http://www.fab.mil.br/portal/capa/in...ra_notimpol#72
http://www.inforel.org/
http://www.administradores.com.br/in...sidente/45865/

Would be interesting to know what the final costs for flight hour from Rafale and F18SH was.

[Breerman]

The hour-flight of the Gripen is calculated between US$ 7,000 and US$ 8,000. Saab promised that it would be around of US$ 3,000.

Would be interesting to know what the final costs for flight hour from Rafale and F18SH was.

Ludicrous. Pure politicized BS. Gripen has been in use for more than 10 years and is exported to 4 different countries. They are more than welcome to check the actual costs with any and all users. I'm sure Saab would be willing to provide a price guarantee as well.

What it comes down is that the Brazilian President made his choice public almost a year ago. Anything happening after that has been about manouvering the Rafale deal into the right position.

[Olybrius]

Would be interesting to know what the final costs for flight hour from Rafale and F18SH was.

11000 $ for F18 and 14000 $ for Rafale according to leaks reported in Istoe last year.

About the supercruise , its a Rafale International Switzerland's claim coming after the completion of the evaluation, so we can conclude :
1) It is official.
2) This has been verified by Armasuisse.
Now with which engine ? the M88-2 ? they said they have tested a Rafale F3+, we know that 1 of the 2 Rafale evaluated in 2008 was equipped with an RBE-2 AESA radar but at that time the new M88-E4 (ex TCO pack) was obviously not available. On the other side , Avia news also reported that Armasuisse went in different countries to check some capacities that were not yet implemented in 2008 (especially for the Gripen E/F) ...

[Olybrius]

Ludicrous. Pure politicized BS. blah blah

this is a topic about news , if you don't like the news and want to open a pissing contest or claims that ze Gripen is ze best plane of ze world , do it elsewhere ,thanxs.

[Olybrius]

French Rafale jets for 2011 wargames
Times of India - June 24

NEW DELHI: The French Air Force may field its latest Rafale fighters for an Indo-French military exercise in India next year. The Rafale's presence in such a setting would come at a time when competition for IAF's mammoth MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) contract, in which the French fighter is participating, would enter the final lap.

An Air Force officer said talks are underway for the next Indo-French exercise, and French officials have "expressed their desire to bring the state-of-the-art Rafale aircraft for the next Indo-French air exercise" to beheld in India.
[...]

From:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/i...ow/6088363.cms

[Olybrius]

Orleans , June 20, 2010:









From:
http://www.foxalpha.com/forums/viewt...er=asc&start=0

[Stonewall71]

BRAZIL: Defense Chooses RAFALE, Final Decision will come from the President

in Portuguese
http://www.administradores.com.br/in...sidente/45865/

[Olybrius]

BRAZIL: Defense Chooses RAFALE, Final Decision will come from the President

in Portuguese
http://www.administradores.com.br/in...sidente/45865/

In English...
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...=1#post5031927

[Olybrius]

Garuda 2010, the RSAF view:

RSAF sharpens operational edge in exercise with French and Indian Air Forces
Defpro.news , June 25

On 22 Jun, close to a hundred aircraft enthusiasts thronged the open grounds of Orange Air Base in France as they were presented with the golden opportunity to capture the sights of aircraft from not just one, but three countries.
The aficionados snapped away on their cameras as various fighter jets whizzed past during the conduct of Exercise Garuda, an exercise involving the air forces of France, India and Singapore, carrying out air combat and air defence missions.
This is the first time the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is participating in this exercise, which is held from 14 to 25 Jun and conducted from the Orange and Istres air bases in France.
Commenting on the objectives of the exercise, the French Air Force (FAF) Exercise Director Colonel Jean-Paul Clapier said: "The exercise is a good way of allowing the three air forces to work together to accomplish their missions, enhance their skills, and learn from each other." "Beyond enhancing the interoperability of our three air forces, the exercise also enhances our pilots' skills through various complex missions," he added.
RSAF Exercise Director Lieutenant Colonel Pek Hong Hwa spoke about the opportunity to train with the foreign air forces, saying: "The French and Indian air forces are very advanced and professional. It has been an enriching tactical experience for our aircrew to exercise with them."
On the RSAF participating in this year's edition of the exercise, the Indian Air Force (IAF) Contingent Leader, Group Captain Jeepu Mishra, said: "It adds to our learning tremendously as the RSAF is a very experienced air force with exceptionally high professional standards".Joining the FAF's Mirage-2000 and Rafale fighters and C-135R transport aircraft, and the IAF's Sukhoi-30 fighters, Ilyushin IL-78 tanker aircraft and Ilyushin IL-76 transport aircraft, the RSAF took part in Exercise Garuda with about 180 personnel, six F-16D+ fighter jets and one KC-135R tanker.
According to Lieutenant (LTA) Devdutt Sasidharan, an F-16D+ pilot from 145 Squadron, the exercise has been an enriching experience.
"Being a junior pilot, getting exposed to such exercises benefits me because it allows me to see how foreign air forces train, and I can adapt the best practices and apply them in my work," he explained.
"For example, having seen how the French conduct their operations briefings, I've learnt to be more detailed and thorough in giving briefings."
Captain Olivier Chauveau, who flies the FAF's Mirage-2000 fighter jets, also shared with cyberpioneer what he took away from the exercise.
"It's been a big advantage for us to work with the Singaporeans, because they are very professional. I've also learnt a lot about the F-16's capabilities. I find the aircraft very manoeuvrable, and the systems on board are just brilliant."
Citing one of the missions in the exercise with the RSAF as his most memorable experience, he said: "In that mission, we engaged in close combat without the use of radars. It was very challenging, but we managed to complete the mission efficiently, and it was greatly satisfying."
Many of the interactions between exercise participants also went beyond the work place, said LTA Devdutt, who mentioned how the RSAF even met up with their French counterparts over the weekend for informal activities like soccer, gym sessions and dinners.Such interactions have helped to forge not just working relationships, but friendships as well.
"It's been a huge pleasure to work with the RSAF, and we'll remain friends even after this exercise. We have very good relationships with the Singaporean pilots, and I hope we will meet again for other exercises," said CPT Olivier.
To participate in Exercise Garuda, the RSAF team covered a distance of 11,500km flying from Singapore to France, making it the RSAF's longest deployment to an exercise. Two KC-135R tankers provided air-to-air refuelling for the six F-16D+ aircraft during the journey.
The team will return to Singapore on 29 Jun after the exercise concludes on 25 Jun.

From:
http://www.defpro.com/news/details/16309/
So there was, at least, dogfights between F16 and M2K...

For the record, more pics here:
http://pics-aeronef.discutfree.com/r...2010-t5401.htm
http://www.deltareflex.com/forum/vie...hp?f=21&t=2136
http://www.foxalpha.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16805

[Olybrius]

Factory gate : Rafale C119-113IX


From:
http://www.deltareflex.com/forum/vie...=139&start=450

[Olybrius]

France continues its efforts to sell the Rafale in India
Le Point , June 25

3 squadrons of the Indian Air Force participated this week in the Garuda exercise at Istres, the fourth conduit in common with the French air force.This year, Singapore's F-16 aircraft were involved. At Istres, the Indians have deployed six Sukhoi SU-30, three Ilyushin Il 78 and one Ilyushin Il 76. Officially, nobody speaks about the exercice in the preparation for a huge contract for the Indian Air Force, although the competition is in everyone's mind. Called MMRCA (Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft), it was launched in 2008. It is estimated at 12 billion dollars for 126 aircraft, including 18 imported ready to fly, and 108 locally manufactured. While the Indian government typically requires that the arms contracts signed with foreign companies are translated into compensation agreements ensuring that 30% of the value of the contract is retroceded to local firms, this share increased to 50% under the contract MMRCA. France, Russia and the United States, all contestants, compete with kindness towards the Indian Air Force and organize with her many exercises. The Germans have recently announced their intention to hold similar exercises to push the EF Typhoon 2000. At this stage, industry invited to submit proposals are:
- GIE Rafale (France) : : Dassault-Aviation, associated with Safran and Thales (for respective shares of 37.5%, 25%, 37.5%) suggested the most advanced version of the only French fighter, the Rafale F3, always in search of its first export contract. In April 2009, the Rafale had been excluded from the bidding , before being returned. But the French plane is an outsider. In January 2008, while visiting India, Nicolas Sarkozy had said: " I'm also working on the plane that did not sell." He is expected again in New Delhi at the end of this year, especially for pushing this issue. The French president is also expected to discuss during his visit to the modernization of the fifty Mirage 2000-H already in possession of the Indian Air Force. This contract of $ 2 billion is subject to competition with the Israeli Elbit Systems industry.Thales currently seems favorite, but the final decision is not taken.
- Lockheed Martin (USA) offers the F-16IN Block 70 Super-Viper, APG-80 radar with AESA. Lockheed Martin dangled in India for the future, a purchase of its F-35 fighter, yet impractical due to technology transfer required by New Delhi what the U.S. are not giving to their current partners in this program (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Israel, Italy, Norway, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Singapore, Turkey).
- Boeing (USA): F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Block 2. The U.S. firm has just affected in India Bob Gower, who was previously vice president of the F/A-18 program, a sign of the importance it attaches to the contract.
- Saab JAS-39IN Gripen (Sweden).
- Mikoyan Gurevich Mig 35 (Russia).
[...]

Google translated from:
http://www.lepoint.fr/chroniqueurs-d...-470411_53.php

[Sancho78]

11000 $ for F18 and 14000 $ for Rafale according to leaks reported in Istoe last year.

About the supercruise , its a Rafale International Switzerland's claim coming after the completion of the evaluation, so we can conclude :
1) It is official.
2) This has been verified by Armasuisse.
Now with which engine ? the M88-2 ? they said they have tested a Rafale F3+, we know that 1 of the 2 Rafale evaluated in 2008 was equipped with an RBE-2 AESA radar but at that time the new M88-E4 (ex TCO pack) was obviously not available. On the other side , Avia news also reported that Armasuisse went in different countries to check some capacities that were not yet implemented in 2008 (especially for the Gripen E/F) ...

Interesting, but if I'm not wrong, the M88E4 just had improvements in terms of fuel consumption and longer life, but not for thrust. What was changed to achieve SC capabilities then?

[Sancho78]

The team will return to Singapore on 29 Jun after the exercise concludes on 25 Jun.

Kind of interesting, the report about IAF said, they will return only by 3. July, so can I still hope for Rafales and MKI exercises?

[Olybrius]

Interesting, but if I'm not wrong, the M88E4 just had improvements in terms of fuel consumption and longer life, but not for thrust. What was changed to achieve SC capabilities then?

Yes mostly, but for now the M88-4E characteristics are not known (there is often a confusion with the older M88-2E4 for "etape 4" available since 2002 ), 20% of the engine has changed and there are rumours that Safran would have also integrated a few improvements coming from the M88 ECO demonstrator.(To be confirmed). And there was a 70 flights campaign test in 2010 with this new engine.



http://www.snecma.com/IMG/pdf/M88-2_fr.pdf

For the record:
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...=1#post4898291
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...=1#post4930213
http://www.le-webmag.com/article.php...cle=60&lang=fr

[Olybrius]

About the Rafale vs MKI , we don't have pics posted in forums because the Rafale are not based in Istres or Orange like the Mirage 2000 (with the F16's and MKI ) but in St Dizier , in north of France ..so, no pics doesnt mean no exercices between the 2 aircrafts ; if occured, i think we'll have to wait officials pics and/or reports from the "Armée de l'Air".