Reply With QuoteAlain Ernoult Air Afghanistan :
Perhaps the best rafale pictures collection:
http://62.23.223.160/fotoweb/Grid.fw...AlfaNumericAsc
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news...d=NzU4Mzk4MDQ2NA panel, minister to discuss Rafale deal
Published Date: April 18, 2010
KUWAIT: The parliamentary interior and defense committee is to meet today to discuss the French Rafale fighter jets deal. First Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah is expected to attend the meeting and has called upon all MPs, not only the committee members, to be present.
According to a Ministry of Defense (MoD) source, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak will assure the committee that Kuwait has not signed any agreement to buy the jets to date, restricting itself to commissioning technical studies of them.
The MoD insider said that the minister will tell the MPs that the defense ministry is keen to take the Audit Bureau's views on the matter into consideration when signing any deal.
Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak will also correct MPs on the misinformation they have received about the planes, said the ministry insider, by explaining to them that all the jets' technical specifications are outstanding, with no Kuwaiti officer writing any negative reports on any aspect of them.
The MoD source also revealed that the defense minister is to explain to the MPs that the Rafale deal will include returning Kuwait's old Mirage fighter jets to France in a 'part-exchange'-type deal in return for the new planes, while paying the difference between the two, thereby significantly reducing the cost of the deal. As well as saving money, this measure will also dispose of the Kuwaiti Air Force's currently out-of-service planes.
The defense ministry insider stressed that the government has kept its promises on the issue, saying that recent talks between the premier His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah and the French president Nicolas Sarkozy did not allude to Rafale jets in any way, shape or form.
Alain Ernoult Air Afghanistan :
Perhaps the best rafale pictures collection:
http://62.23.223.160/fotoweb/Grid.fw...AlfaNumericAsc
http://www.expatica.com/fr/news/fren...ter_37896.htmlKuwait to test Rafale warplanes: minister
The Gulf state of Kuwait is to test Rafale jets in June before making a final decision on buying the French-made warplanes, the defence minister was quoted as telling MPs on Sunday.
"The defence minister told MPs that the deal is so far in the early stage of offers and making the technical assessment by the ministry," government spokesman Mohammad al-Baseeri told reporters outside parliament.
"These will continue until June when the plane will be tested in Kuwait," Baseeri, also communications minister, said after Defence Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak al-Sabah had talks with parliament's interior and defence committee.
"The defence minister also pledged that the deal will not be signed before completing all constitutional and legal requirements and after the deal passes through the Audit Bureau," Baseeri added.
The meeting came after a number of opposition MPs last week threatened to grill either the prime minister or the defence minister if the multi-billion dollar deal was signed.
The opposition MPs claimed that technical assessment by the Kuwaiti air force has recommended against the deal, saying Rafale was technically inferior to other international aircraft and more expensive.
The chief of staff of the French armed forces, Admiral Edouard Guillaud, who was in Kuwait last week, defended the Rafale as one of the best jets in the world, saying talks over the deal are proceeding in complete transparency.
He said that France has proposed that Kuwait replace its old Mirage jets with the advanced Rafale and the Kuwaiti government asked to study the offer.
Last month, Sheikh Jaber said the Rafale deal remained a priority.
In October, Kuwait and France signed a new defence agreement and discussed details of the Rafale deal.
During a Gulf tour in February 2008, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said discussions had begun with Kuwait on the sale of between 14 and 28 Rafales, which are made by Dassault Aviation.
© 2010 AFP
Pics of the day:
Kuwait : sounds better than last weeks...
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsD...s/Default.aspxNo intermediary in French arms deals
Vow of transparency
KUWAIT CITY, April 18: If the ash cloud that has hit Europe, including France, has led to the postponement of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah’s visit to the United Kingdom, it has not affected the Kuwaiti-French talks. The premier met French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his French counterpart Francois Fillon to discuss some deals the two countries have signed and those in the pipeline. Official statements from both sides indicate that all deals will follow legal provisions.
The Kuwaiti leadership has affirmed there will not be any loophole for intermediaries to reap profits at the expense of public funds or any move to actualize self-interest. This statement has closed doors against any intention to mill rumors over ambiguous issues or things that did not happen at all. The leadership has declared its determination to engage other nations in discussions directly with an open-door policy on trade and arms deals without intermediaries. They affirmed that relations between countries are established through direct sharing of opinions and ideas among leaders to make it official without any chance for misrepresentation.
On the other hand, the French government officials, in an interview with the Arab Times, asserted they will not entertain intermediary activities while dealing with any country. They added this policy is stronger for countries with which France enjoys special ties, and Kuwait belongs to this class.
Officials from both sides believe the nature of democratic and institutional practices they follow demand transparent and direct arms deal at the governmental level. This was premised on the thinking that the monitoring institutions should be aware of every detail of the deals, especially in France. They said whoever volunteered to aid communication in this regard or issued statements must have done so voluntarily or intends to use it to achieve personal objectives, since none of the two sides is associated to such utterances.
The Kuwaiti officials stressed all deals will be open and transparent for everybody to see without further clarifications. Those who closely followed Sheikh Nasser’s visit to France affirmed Kuwait has imbibed the policy of direct transactions, especially in issues related to defense and public funds. Kuwaiti officials have reiterated the government will not shy away from any issue that will benefit the country, while it will not do this in a dark room or behind closed doors, so everybody will be in the light.
If European airports are closed due to Iceland’s ash cloud, the Rafale aircraft deal is on the negotiation table simply because France has gone far in arms manufacturing. The most important focus is mutual cooperation between the two countries, including peaceful nuclear collaboration. This is beneficial to all and sundry because it will lead to enhancement of industrial and production capabilities, in addition to reduction of daily dependence on excessive use of fossil-oriented energy.
M88 Engine roadmap :
- The M88 TCO pack will be delivered in 2011
- The M88-X (9T) will be ready in 2013
PDF files (english):
http://www.safran-group.com/squelett...eur-rafale.pdf
http://www.snecma.com/IMG/pdf/M88-2_ang-2.pdf
http://www.snecma.com/spip.php?article2280&lang=en
Brilliant Mariner 2010:
From:
The Charles de Gaulle has crossed the Arctic Circle to escape the cloud
PARIS - The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has crossed for the first time in its history the Arctic Circle so its warplanes can operate away from the cloud of ash produced by volcanic eruption in Iceland, said the Navy National website.
[...]
http://www.lexpress.fr/actualites/1/...ge_886167.html
google translated link:French senators come to Brazil to lobby for the Rafale fighter
With the imminent announcement of the decision of the Brazilian government's winner of the sale of 36 fighter jets to the FAB (Brazilian Air Force), the chairman of the Senate of France, Gérard Larcher, and 18 more senators on Tuesday make a visit courtesy to Congress.
The aircraft Rafale, France's Dassault, is heavily favored in the race, according to public statements by Minister Nelson Jobim (Defense) and of President Lula, who came to announce the victory of the French game last year, but later backtracked.
The minister dismissed the ranking of Aeronautics in the Swedish Gripen fighter NG came first to renew its fleet of FAB and sent back to the military a brief report discrediting the possibility of transfer of technology from both the Swedish game as the U.S. F -18, narrows the choice for the French Rafale.
The basis for the justification of Jobim, as anticipated in the Folha February 4, is that an American F-18 and Gripen NG has U.S. components like the engine, and both leave Brazil vulnerable.
The French offer the best policy for technology transfer, capacity building of national industry and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, according to a minister.
The package from Dassault should stay around R$ 18 billion.
Jobim has delivered its report to President Lula, who must announce the winner in the coming days.
http://translate.google.com/translat...%26tbs%3Dqdr:d
According to today's exchange rate 18 billion Real should be 10.3 billion USD. I thought the price would be lower than that?
Bs , nobody knows the price offered and the content of the package.
About Thales and the Rafale:
http://www.thalesgroup.com/Pages/New....aspx?id=11665Thales technologies onboard the Rafale
The Omnirole Fighter
The Rafale is the most advanced combat aircraft of its generation, delivering multi-mission capability that ensures its war fighting relevance beyond 2040. This highly agile fighter from Dassault Aviation is equipped with cutting edge technologies that make it fast deploying, selfsupporting and combat effective, all within a limited size. The Rafale draws on sophisticated onboard electronic systems to carry out a wide range of missions day or night and in all weather conditions.
Thales provides equipment and systems – including avionics – that together account for approximately one third of the total value of each Rafale.
The Rafale integrates the largest and most modern range of sensors by means of the multisensor data fusion concept that allows the pilot to access global situation awareness and make well-informed tactical decisions. This data fusion process links all sensors via the Modular Data Processing Unit (MDPU) to make the Rafale a truly network centric warfighter.
This multi-sensor capability draws on the Active Electronic Scanning Antenna RBE2 Radar, Spectra electronic warfare system, Front-Sector Optronics, the Damocles optronic multi function pod, and the AREOS new optronic stand-off recce system, among others.
Rafale, with its omnirole capabilities, is the right answer to the capability approach. It fully complies with the requirement to carry out, with a reduced number of aircraft, a wide range of missions: quick reaction alert/air-defence/air sovereignty missions, power projection and deployments for external missions, deep strike missions, air support for ground forces, reconnaissance missions, pilot training sorties and nuclear deterrence duties.
Breakthrough Thales technologies can be found throughout this superior aircraft, from its cockpit to its warfare system. With an architecture designed for full scalability, these systems ensure the Rafale will continue to be at the cutting edge of warfighting innovation.
Thales and Detection
AESA RBE2
The largest sensor onboard the Rafale is the new generation Thales AESA RBE2 radar. The RBE2, Europe’s first Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, takes combat system performance to a new level. It replaces the conventional antenna and its mechanical steering system, and has allowed for greater reliability with respect to previous-generation radars.
The RBE2 will give the Rafale the capability to track all targets in the radar field of view,irrespective of the relative location between targets and host aircraft. Other operational benefits include the detection of targets with low radar reflectivity and improved high quality ground imaging. The RBE2’s high performance air-to-air detection will make it possible to detect smaller targets and to detect them earlier.
The industrialisation phase for the RBE2 was launched in 2006. Final validation of software functions is expected to end in the first quarter of 2010, with delivery of the radars to Dassault Aviation.
Front-Sector Optronics
Thales’s Front-Sector Optronics (FSO) system is fully integrated into the Rafale to provide covert long-range detection and identification, high-resolution angular tracking and laser range-finding for air, sea and ground targets. Operating in optical avelengths, this sensor is immune to radar jamming.
The FSO contributes to air situation awareness and reinforces the Rafale's capabilities to operate in severe environments. Lasers for measuring target distance give the sensor highprecision 3D localisation capabilities. Its near-visible waveband capability is especially valuable with its narrow field for identifying possible targets in situations where visual contact is required by the Rules of Engagement or during quick reaction alerts.
Thales and Electronic Warfare
Spectra
The Rafale is equipped with the Spectra electronic warfare system, giving the aircraft a multispectral threat warning capability against hostile radars, missiles and lasers. This system is fully integrated into the Rafale for excellent survivability against air and ground threats.
Spectra also contributes to passive tactical situation awareness, all-weather long-range detection, identification and location of threats, within a short response time. The system’s cutting-edge defensive measures are based on combinations of omni-directional AESA jamming, multi-band decoying and evasive manoeuvres, as well as on state-of-the-art technologies such as Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) signal processing.
Spectra’s angular location on the aircraft allows it to locate ground threats, to target them for destruction with precision-guided munitions, or to avoid them. Its threat library – which can be defined, integrated and updated on short notice by users in the home country – is instrumental to this performance. As operations unfold, protection onboard the Rafale can be continuously and fluidly enhanced using the system.
Thales and Mission Systems
Modular Data Processing Unit (MDPU)
Enough growth potential has been built into the Rafale to ensure that its design maintains warfighting relevance for several decades. The Modular Data Processing Unit (MDPU) is the cornerstone of this avionics/ weapon upgradeability. Its modular architecture makes for a system that is highly adaptable, allowing straightforward integration of new avionics or new ordnance.
Sensor data fusion draws on the computing power of the MDPU to process data from the AESA RBE2 radar, the Front-Sector Optronic system, the SPECTRA system, the IFF, the missile seekers and the data-link (L16 or custom).
Damocles Optronic Pod
The Thales Damocles multifunction targeting pod draws on its laser designation function to give the Rafale full day and night laser-guided weapon capabilities. Damocles is interoperable with all existing laser-guided weapons and provides outstanding performances for long-distance recognition.
Damocles makes use of an embedded digital recorder to provide tactical reconnaissance with post-flight image analysis. The pod includes a forward-looking infrared navigation module that provides an image presented to the pilot in the cockpit. An infrared sensor also operates on Damocles in the mid-wave infrared band, allowing the system to retain its effectiveness in warm and/or humid conditions.
AREOS system
The AREOS Reco NG (Airborne and Reconnaissance and Observation) system is designed to meet a full spectrum of global operational requirements onboard the Rafale and withstand diverse weather conditions and scenarios. This pod integrates state-of-the-art digital technology both in its sensor and detector solutions, and its real/deferred time transmission capability.
AREOS reduces cycle times for detection, decision and action so as to more quickly meet evolving mission demands. AREOS’s operational automatic imagery collection modes allow it to be easily integrated onto single seat aircraft, such as the Rafale.
Mission debriefing system
Thales supplies the mission debriefing system onboard the Rafale. This system simultaneously displays the aircraft’s trajectories in two- and three-dimensions via eight video displays and one audio emitter. It also depicts the movements and whereabouts of other aircraft involved in the same mission, as well as of air-to-air missiles fired. The misión debriefing is in service with the French Air Force.
Thales and Communication, Navigation, Identification (CNI)
CNI suite
Thales provides the full Communication, Navigation, Identification (CNI) suite – including voice communications, Tactical Data Link, landing and radio navigation systems and Identification Friend and Foe functions - onboard the Rafale. The digital radio transceivers allow the Rafale to manage plain voice, secure voice, data link and image transmission modes for Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface communications in VHF and UHF bands.
Tactical Data Link
Thales has developed a complete range of Tactical Data Link (TDL) solutions. Onboard the Rafale, these solutions offer a secure source of tactical data, including situation awareness, command & control, electronic warfare, orders and reports, flight pass and fighter-to-fighter information. Among other key players in combined air operations, this data is used with fellow aircraft in the formation, airborne and surface command and control centres, forward air controllers, etc.
Identification Friend-or-Foe Combined Interrogator Transponders
Thales TSB 2500 IFF is a family of Combined Interrogator Transponders that are fully compliant with civil (including mode S), NATO (including mode 4/5) and/or national secure modes (NSM). The Rafale is equipped with an E-Scan version, which includes an Antenna Control Unit (ACU) for electronically steering the antenna.
Thales in the Cockpit
Thales supplies Dassault with most of the displays for the cockpit. For short-term actions, the Rafale pilot relies on the holographic head-up display (HUD), with a wide-field-of-view (30°x22°), for head-up flying. For medium and long-term actions, the multi-image head-level display (HLD) allows analysis of the global tactical situation through its 20°x20° screen. The HLD picture is focused at the same distance as the HUD picture to allow for fast eye transitions between head-up and head-level flying and the external world's view.
Thales and Electrical Systems
Thales is a world reference for variable frequency power generation and has integrated this technology onboard the Rafale to reduce the aircraft’s weight and maintenance costs.
Variable frequency technology is characterized by better efficiency than constant frequency technology traditionally used on aircraft. The system takes mechanical power from the engine of the aircraft and transforms it into electricity to power systems onboard, such as the Rafale’s electrical flight control systems.
[...]
Last edited by Olybrius; 04-20-2010 at 11:12 AM.
About Safran and the Rafale :
http://www.safran-group.com/site-saf...ult%20AviationTHE SAFRAN GROUP COMPANIES ON Dassault Aviation Rafale
Aircelle
Aerostructures - Composite engine parts for Snecma M88-2
http://www.aircelle.com/
Hispano-Suiza
Accessory gearbox for Snecma M88-2 engines - Aircraft mounted accessory drive - Flexible drive shaft
http://www.hispano-suiza-sa.com/
Labinal
Wiring
http://www.labinal.com/site/FO/scrip...=EN&noeu_id=15
Messier-Bugatti
Braking system - Hydraulic generation
Landing gear extension and retraction system - Nosewheel steering system - Wheels and carbon brakes
http://www.messier-bugatti.com/sommaire.php3
Messier-Dowty
Landing gear
http://www.messier-dowty.com/
[World leader in landing gear, MD is also building gear systems for military aircrafts like Typhoon , Superhornet, A400m... ]
http://www.messier-dowty.com/rubriqu...id_rubrique=40
Microturbo
Auxiliary Power Unit - Pneumatic starting system
http://www.microturbo.fr/
Sagem
Actuators- Engine control computer
Front Sector Optronics (IRST)- Inertial navigation system
IR Data Link- Missile Launch Detection System (MLDS)
Modular precision guided weapon (AASM)- Pilot control components
Squadron level Mission Planning System (MPS)- Stores Management System (SMS)
http://www.sagem-ds.com/eng/site.php?spage=00000000
SEM MB
Ejection seats
http://www.semmb.com/en/presentation.htm
[(SEM MB) was created in 1959 as an equally-owned subsidiary of SAFRAN (France) and Martin-Baker Aircraft (UK).]
Snecma
M88-2 engines
http://www.snecma.com/index2.php?&lang=fr
Snecma Propulsion Solide
Composite nozzles for Snecma M88-2 engine
http://www.snecma-propulsion-solide.com/
Sofrance
Avionic air filter- Hydraulic filters -Oil filter for Snecma M88-2 engines
http://www.sofrance.com/welcome.asp
Technofan
Bleed valves - Fans
Turbocompressor -Water separator
http://www.technofan.com/public/tech.../home/home.php
To compare with:
Safran and The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner:
http://www.safran-group.com/site-saf...ructeur=Boeing
Safran and The Airbus A400m:
http://www.safran-group.com/site-saf...irbus+Military
Safran and The Eurocopter Tiger:
http://www.safran-group.com/site-saf...eur=Eurocopter
Last edited by Olybrius; 04-20-2010 at 11:22 AM.
From:
04/20/2010 - 14h12
Parliamentarians express concern about the delay in deciding on the purchase of fighter planes
French and Brazilian parliamentarians expressed concern, on Tuesday (20), with the delay in releasing the results of the selection process of the fighters that will renew the fleet of the Brazilian Air Force. During the meeting, held in the Committee on Foreign Relations and National Defense (CRE), senators from both countries also discussed the extension of the technology transfer that will accompany the sale of new jets to Brazil.
[...]
Senator Heraclito Fortes (DEM-PI), in turn, classified as a "hypocrisy" the proposal of the three companies on technology transfer to Brazil. In his view, none of them would support the full transfer of technology. He also pointed out the existence of U.S. components in the Rafale fighters and asked if there would be no difficulty in promoting this knowledge transfer without obtaining the permission of the United States.
[lol this guy make my day]
At that moment, the French ambassador in Brazil, Yves Saint-Geours, said the technology used in aircraft Rafale is "100% French." . Shortly thereafter, Senator Roland Du Luart reinforced its support for technology transfer to Brazil.
[...]
http://www.senado.gov.br/agencia/ver...odAplicativo=2
The French ambassador in Brazil is wrong; there are some non-French components in Rafale, the CPUs for instance; and also some of the GPS technology. A very high percentage is French but not 100%.At that moment, the French ambassador in Brazil, Yves Saint-Geours, said the technology used in aircraft Rafale is "100% French.".Shortly thereafter, Senator Roland Du Luart reinforced its support for technology transfer to Brazil.
It is also correct that none of the three companies offer "full transfer of technology" -- clearly there are technology secrets that the French will not share with Brazil, and the US components in Rafale contain technology that France is unable to share with Brazil.
What a ridiculous post, the Rafale calculator (MDPU) was designed by Thales , who cares if the mdpu uses basic Intel or Motorola CPU or any US/chinese/ japanese/european electronic components everyone can buy everywhere in the world. Brazil doesn't need and doesn't buy technologies to build what is freely accessible to everyone in the world, including you and me.
100% french and full TOT mean EVERYTHING what Brazilians want or need to be able to build their own 'embargo free' combat aircraft. Now, you don't like or don't believe it ? ...big deal
Brilliant Mariner :The Charles de Gaulle in the Arctic Circle to escape the Icelandic cloud
More here :
http://secretdefense.blogs.liberatio...e-polaire.html
http://jdb.marine.defense.gouv.fr/po...ercle-polaire-!
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