Rafale News

[Slenke]

yes
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...=1#post5052501

Interesting! I missed that one, thx!

[Olybrius]

Lula talks with Sarkozy and indicates choosing the Rafale
Fohla , nov 17

After talking with French President Nicolas Sarkozy during the G20 meeting in Seoul last week, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday that he will meet the elected president Rousseff and the Minister of Defense Nelson Jobim, to finally hit the hammer on the purchase of fighter planes for the military.

The Rafale fighter jets built by French company Dassault compete with the American F/A-18 Super Hornet (Boeing) and the Swedish Gripen (Saab) with a billion dollar contract to buy 36 jets from Brazil.

Lula has demonstrated a preference for French planes, but as his government is at the end, he must take the decision together with Dilma.

"I think it's an important decision and also one of those decisions I can not take alone because and its is a long term thing and im a month and a half to finish my mandate. I talked with Sarkozy. I'll talk to Dilma and Jobim and with you and with the press, "he said in an interview at the Planalto Palace.

From:
http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/poder/8...e-rafale.shtml

Another new, Sarkozy and his wife will travel to Brazil for the handover ceremony between Lula and Roussef.
http://www.primeiraedicao.com.br/?pag=politica&cod=8387

[Olybrius]

Cruzex V , pics of the day:






Much more here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cruzex/

[Olybrius]

DGA receives 1000th Mica air-air missile
Mer et Marine, nov 19

The Délégation Generale de l'Armement (DGA) has received a thousandth interception, combat and self-defense Mica, the air-air missile that equips in particular the Rafale from the Air Force and the Navy. Produced by MBDA, Mica has been commissioned by the DGA to 1110 copies to equip the air forces and Navy fighter fleets. French forces will have this entire fleet of MICA available in 2012.

Mica is an air-air missile which allows both short distance self-defence and beyond visual range interception. Thus, it can accomplish the tasks formerly assigned to two separate missile. As a modular missile, Mica comes in two versions, electromagnetic (EM) for any time self-defense or infrared (IR) for discreet interception. With great maneuverability, Mica can be fired on targets located behind the plane through target designation transmitted via data link (L16) by another plane. The IR version also serves as infrared sensor which allows a carrier aircraft to detect infrared missile attacks. Mica has also an internally multi-target capability which allows the pilot to treat a group of nearby targets.

The 1110 MICA ordered are divided about half between Mica Mica EM and IR. The missiles are assembled on MBDA site of Selles-Saint-Denis (Loir-et-Cher).
Outside the French orders, MBDA has already sold over 1000 Mica to foreign customers. The export orders relate either air-source version, version surface to air or air-ground vertical launch.[...]

From:
http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=114570

[Olybrius]

Top officials visit Cruzex exercice
Armee de l'Air , Nov 19

Thursday, November 18, 2010, General Patrick de Rousiers, Inspector General of the Army, and General Gilles Desclaux, commander of the Air Defence and Air Operations (CDAOA), went at Natal Air base in Brazil, under the VIP Day of the Cruzex V air exercise organized by the Brazilian air force from 8 to 19 November 2010. This day was devoted to the advent of high civilian and military authorities coming from participating countries.

This particular VIP Day was attended by Mr. Nelson Jobim, Minister of Defence of Brazil, as well as the chiefs of staffs (or their representatives) of the air forces of Brazil, Chile, the United States and Uruguay.
[...]
VIP Day also allowed authorities to meet the participants in the exercise. "Representatives of the French detachment with whom I spoke confirmed me that Cruzex was a unique opportunity to learn, share and pass experiences " said General de Rousiers. "I mention especially the lively exchanges between Mirage 2000's Brazilian and French detachments. Finally, the 5th edition of Cruzex also helped to demonstrate the vast capabilities of the Rafale, for which it was the first participation in this exercise in South America."

From:
http://www.defense.gouv.fr/air/actus...xercice-cruzex

General de Rousiers and Minister Nelson Jobim


Nelson Jobim meets French pilots


A brazilian pilot (right) after a flight onboard the Rafale:

[Olybrius]

Interview with General Dominique de Longvilliers, Chief of Staff of CDAOA,
commander of the french detachment at Cruzex V
Armee de l'air , Nov 19

For the French, what are the main objectives of Cruzex?

This exercise is for us an opportunity to share operational experiences (Afghanistan, Gulf, Africa) with the participating nations in South America. It can also carry out missions in a new environment: the exercise area is huge (up to 500 km long in Brazil, against 200 in France). The aircrafts have very different dynamic characteristics, sources of problems when flying, besides the use of English, which is not mastered by all (the participants speak four different languages).

How did you choose the aircrafts ?

Today, the Air Force is composed mainly of Mirage 2000 and Rafale. The Mirage F1 very involved in Afghanistan, is covering reconnaissance and ground attack missions: so he had no place here. Consistent with the exercice, the Mirage 2000-5 was selected to provide anti-air component.
Similarly for the Rafale, a modern multi-role aircraft, capable of realizing at the same time air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. It also has a system architecture that combines on a single image, all the aircraft sensors (radar, electronic warfare system, optronics, network connection between the patrol and aircraft radar,new generation laser pod, reconnaissance pod). [..] Its experience in overseas operations gives it legitimacy to participate in international exercises.

What about the FX2 market in Brazil?

Brazil need a new combat aircraft. France has proposed the Rafale, the Swedish the Gripen NG and the U.S. the F-18. Brazilian political considerations seem to favor the Rafale, because of interesting future economic benefits (technology transfer), although initially the Gripen NG seems to be cheaper
In reality, other factors are taken into account. The Rafale, which has just entered into the forces, is operational. Its life will be over thirty years during which its material definition will evolve (new capacity, treatments of obsolescence). Every buyer will enjoy it and will have support and spare parts at lower risk. This is not the case with the F-18, which is in end of life. As for the Gripen NG, it is a "paper" plane: it does not exist yet. It is therefore impossible to verify the claimed performance.

The Brazilian decision to buy the Rafale or not is totally independent of the exercise, during which only the professionalism of the French detachment and his exemplary conduct matter.

From:
http://www.defense.gouv.fr/actualite...erien-cruzex-v

Mirage 2000-5 pilots:

[Olybrius]

Jobim: Decision about the purchase of fighter jets will come before December 19

Ultimo Segundo , Nov 20

Defense Minister Nelson Jobim said the transfer of technology will be the main factor in the government's decision on the purchase of 36 fighters for the Air Force (FAB) and he added that France has "more credibility" in this regard. He said the choice between competitors from France, Sweden and the United States will be announced before Dec. 19.

The comments came in an event organized by the Chamber of Commerce Brazil-France in Rio, after jobim having talked with French Minister of Economy, Christine Lagarde, during a dinner at which the two sat side by side. She came to Brazil especially for the event, in which was delivered to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva the France-Brazil Personality 2010 Award.

"Transfer of technology is the main factor. We're not buying a plane, we are purchasing a technology package, a national capacity building and a technology transfer" he said.

Jobim nodded when asked if France had the advantage about technology transfer, but noted that items such as price will also be analyzed. The choice of the French Rafale model has been criticized because of higher price than the others competitor , the swedish Gripen and the US F18 Superhornet. "There are a number of issues that have to be analyzed. The president is the one who will decide, but in terms of capacity for technology transfer, France has much more credibility.
[...]
According to Jobim, Lula said he wants to have a meeting in the next weeks. The minister will make a presentation of the competitors and the decision will be taken by Lula in agreement with the president-elect Rousseff. According to the minister, the decision is political, but will have commercial consequences for the next government. "In fact the Brazilian year ends on December 19 when begin the hollow end of the year. So the policy decision has to be taken before the 19th."

Google translated from:
http://ultimosegundo.ig.com.br/polit...831730160.html

[Kongjun33]

postponed again... puzzling situation.

[Sancho78]

Jobim reaffirms advantage of French fighters for FAB

By Rodrigo Viga Gaier

During an event that was attended by Minister of Economy of France and representatives of the French factory of Rafale, the Defense Minister Nelson Jobim, reiterated that the French aircraft are the best in terms of technology transfer in the bidding to renew its fleet of FAB.

France is a technological autonomy ... since the U.S. legislation creates a number of possibilities for the state to block a particular transfer of technology," Jobim told reporters late on Friday, recalling that in these cases the U.S. State itself pays an indemnity for breach of contract for technology transfer.
For France it is easier. The transfer of technology, France has much more credibility," Jobim said, noting, however, that other aspects like price and maintenance will also be analyzed in the choice of new combat aircraft of the Air Force (FAB).

...We're not buying fighter jets, but a technological package. This is the main factor. We're buying knowledge, without knowledge has no business," the minister told journalists at a dinner hosted by the Chamber of Commerce for France to honor Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as a person of the year. In 2009 the award was given to the Minister of Defence.
President Lula stressed in his speech that there is a great harmony between Brazil and France in various fields and maintained the continuity of the strategic partnership between the two countries

http://translate.googleusercontent.c...BrandChannel=0


I think this once again explains, that the transfer of techs and a strategic partnership are the main aims behind the FX2 competition and why they are ready to pay more for it.

[Olybrius]

According to Geledraak.nl , the chinese J10 looks suspiciously like the Rafale but with a different single-engine air intake.. not a striking resemblance i think
http://www.geledraak.nl/html/showarticle.asp?id=3884

Not like the very weird Novi Avion:

The Novi Avion (English: New Aeroplane) was a 4th-generation, supersonic multi-role combat aircraft of cropped delta-canard planform, designed by Vazduhoplovno Tehnicki Institut (VTI) of Yugoslavia but cancelled just before production began in 1991.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novi_Avion

[Olybrius]

French Defense Min: Brazil To Decide On Jet-Fighter Deal Soon

nasdaq.com , Nov 23

PARIS -(Dow Jones)- France is expecting an answer by the end of the month or beginning of December from the Brazilian government concerning its purchase of French-made Rafale warplanes, manufactured by plane maker and defense group Dassault Aviation SA (AM.FR), France's recently appointed Defense minister Alain Juppe said Tuesday.

France is expecting an answer from Brazil's newly elected government in the coming weeks, Juppe said in an interview with French radio RTL.
[...]

From:
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-mar...hter-deal-soon

[Olybrius]

French Navy Rafales at Leuchars Air base with an RAF Tucano on finals:

More here:
http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/i...t=#entry332542

[Olybrius]

Rafale B at Cruzex V:

From:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allantr.../5190102084/#/

Note this is a Rafale with a "1 / 7 Provence" badge while the unit which has participated in Cruzex is the "nuclear" "1/91 Gascogne". In fact, thanks to its omnirole capacity, every Rafale based at St Dizier air base are now grouped in a single pool and are not allocated to each squadron.

Another "Cruzex" Rafale with "Gascogne" insignia:


And another "Provence":

[m.i.t]

why any country doesnt want rafales ? Mirages globally purchased over 1500 in the past out of France .

it seems fine and strong fighter.

[Olybrius]

Nowadays, big fighter competitions aren't won because an aircraft is fine or better than another one. Such competitions are won (or lost) mainly because of geopolitical factors and political pressures.
So, about the Rafale, Dassault does receive a strong political support only since Sarkozy took office in 2007. And since 2007, the Rafale entered in several competitions, has not lost any and is about to win.
And with its current roadmap , the aircraft will be competitive well beyond 2020...