truthseeker2010
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When is the decision expected, I have heard that Rafale have already won the competition?
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When is the decision expected, I have heard that Rafale have already won the competition?
RBE-2 AESA V/S CAPTOR-E?
Does the RBE-2 AESA have only 1001 T/R Modules due to the small size of the cone of the Rafale?Is this true?Also how would the RBE-2 AESA and Captor-E compare?
Shortlisting in the next days, or weeks, final decision between this summer and the end of the year.
Thales says around 1000, the figures discussed in different forums are 850+ modules. Compared to the Captor - E it will have a clear performance disadvantage (although the final design of Captor - E is still not fixed yet), because of the way bigger diameter, which translates into higher number of modules and longer range. The swashplate design, also gives the advantage of a wider angle of the field of view, but on the other side the disadvantage of more mechanical parts, which needs more maintenance.
When you compare just the AESA radars, the Captor - E is possibly the most capable one, but what's the advantage of such an high capable radar, when it is not funded, nor is the development cleared yet. The radar will not be ready in time for the first MMRCA deliveries, maybe even delays the licence production. Aviationweek reported after Farnborough, that the early Captor - E will be not mature and very limited in modes (most likely only A2A modes). The Captor M so far has AFAIK no air to sea modes, which is logical, because the EF partners don't needs them, beceause EF will not be used in the maritime attack role.
The EF and its techs are very high capable and has a high potential, but the problem is, that this translates into high costs as well. Combined with the financial problems of the partner countries, it is clear why they need us as a partner, because we would have to pay for additional A2G capabilities, CFTs, AESA and it's modes...
We will be a partner (mainly for production of parts) and therefor have to fund parts of the development, in this case of further developments and upgrades.
That all needs time and has a risk of delays, but this is exaclty what IAF don't wanted from the start! They want a fighter with good multi role capabilities, that is proven, ready and fast to induct, which all speakes against the EF.
Thales says around 1000, the figures discussed in different forums are 850+ modules. Compared to the Captor - E it will have a clear performance disadvantage (although the final design of Captor - E is still not fixed yet), because of the way bigger diameter, which translates into higher number of modules and longer range. The swashplate design, also gives the advantage of a wider angle of the field of view, but on the other side the disadvantage of more mechanical parts, which needs more maintenance.
When you compare just the AESA radars, the Captor - E is possibly the most capable one, but what's the advantage of such an high capable radar, when it is not funded, nor is the development cleared yet. The radar will not be ready in time for the first MMRCA deliveries, maybe even delays the licence production. Aviationweek reported after Farnborough, that the early Captor - E will be not mature and very limited in modes (most likely only A2A modes). The Captor M so far has AFAIK no air to sea modes, which is logical, because the EF partners don't needs them, beceause EF will not be used in the maritime attack role.
The EF and its techs are very high capable and has a high potential, but the problem is, that this translates into high costs as well. Combined with the financial problems of the partner countries, it is clear why they need us as a partner, because we would have to pay for additional A2G capabilities, CFTs, AESA and it's modes...
We will be a partner (mainly for production of parts) and therefor have to fund parts of the development, in this case of further developments and upgrades.
That all needs time and has a risk of delays, but this is exaclty what IAF don't wanted from the start! They want a fighter with good multi role capabilities, that is proven, ready and fast to induct, which all speakes against the EF.
Eurofighter group has approved the aesa radar finally by the end of 2010. It is now funded...When you compare just the AESA radars, the Captor - E is possibly the most capable one, but what's the advantage of such an high capable radar, when it is not funded, nor is the development cleared yet.
Yeah many forums say instead of 1000 it only has 834-850 but they aren't sure because maybe the image posted can be a mockup or only a prototype.Also thales cleverly say's closer to 1000 not exactly 1000 so maybe it only has 850 T/R modules.The modules are made up of Galium Arsenide does that make a difference?If possible could you provide the detection capabilities of the RBE-2 AESA against a 3m^2 target I don't think it's going to be more than 200KM's at most
Shouldn't the Rafale have smaller RCS than Typhoon due to extensive use of composites and the intake design?Also the SPECTRA would be of a lot of use here.So wouldn't capabilities be enough to compensate for the smaller diameter Radar?
In comparison to the Rafale RBE-2 AESA how many T/R modules will the CAPTOR-E have?The Captor-E is only going to be integrated in the Tranche 3B Typhoons for the RAF I believe?
Rafale F4 is going to RBE-2 AESA and M88-X with 90KN thrust along with newer OSF, SPECTRA and HMD with viewfinder?They've been improving it for the Emritereans?Which variants of the Typhoon and Rafale were offered for the MMRCA specifically?
Eurofighter group has approved the aesa radar finally by the end of 2010. It is now funded...
FARNBOROUGH: Eurofighter gets AESA radar deal, but Italy looks to F-35
Mer et Marine : Toute l'actualité maritime
So what you "think" you would see in the video, is not even produced or integrated into the Rafales of French forces.
La version INS/GPS/laser sera produite en série à partir de la fin 2012
The video is sufficient evidence for me, the seeker on the AASM is unmistakably laser, but if you prefer to believe a blog that is your choice.
Ministry posers tie down jet deal - Questions to competing vendors for one of the single-largest military orders
SUJAN DUTTA
New Delhi, March 31: The Indian Air Forces seven-year effort to buy 126 medium multi-role combat planes one of the single-largest military orders in the world is for now mired in a flurry of questions that the defence ministry has asked the competing vendors.
This could result in a delay in signing the contract even after the IAF has completed evaluating and ranking the six aircraft in the competition, a senior air headquarters source has said.
Last month, at the Aero India exhibition in Bangalore, Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik said: The contract negotiation committee (CNC) is likely to start in a week or two and the contract is likely to be signed by September.
Then on March 10 he said: The cost negotiation for MMRCA will begin by the end of this month. I expect the contract to be signed before I retire from service in July this year.
But today, on the last day of the current financial year, the air headquarters officer said there was no intimation from the Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) on the choice of the aircraft.
Indeed, in the defence ministry itself, there are conflicting views on whether a CNC will at all be required.
Defence minister A.K. Antony insists that the acquisition of the aircraft be transparent and comply with the Defence Procurement Policy (DPP). The DPP allows for both the formation of a CNC or the selection of major procurements for strategic considerations without the lengthier process of bargaining over the price.
Eight global powers are backing their respective companies in the high-stakes game to win the Indian Air Force order that looks set to top $ 12 billion.
The US is supporting Lockheed Martin and Boeing with the F-16IN Super Viper and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet; the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain are backing the Eurofighter Typhoon; France has pitched Dassault Aviations Rafale; Sweden, the Saab Gripen and Russia the RAC MiG 35.
When Naik said in Bangalore that he expected the contract to be signed by September, he qualified it by adding that dissatisfied vendors put a spoke in the wheel meaning that a losing contender may manipulate allegations that would lead to long-winded investigations and further hold-ups.
This is worrisome for the IAF because its fighter fleet is being steadily depleted.
The IAF has an authorised strength of 42 fighter squadrons. Unofficial sources say that it is making do with just 30 now and in three years that could come down to 27, blunting its numerical superiority over Pakistans (and considerably less than that of Chinas).
The IAF completed the flight evaluation trials by a crack team of test pilots in Bangalore, Jaisalmer and Leh and the weapons firing trials in the manufacturers choice of ranges last year. It submitted its report and evaluation of the aircraft on nearly 600 counts in July.
The IAF officer said that the process required the flight evaluation trial (FET) report to be examined at first and then a study of the commercial, offset (re-investment) and transfer of technology offers. The offset requirement for the contract lays down that the vendor must source and/or plough-back 50 per cent of the value of the order (of more than Rs 42,000 crore) from Indian companies.
The commercial bids are due to expire at the end of April this year. If a choice is not made by then, the bids will have to be re-submitted and the vendors will have to be asked to keep it valid for another year till April 2012.
The tender requires that deliveries of 18 of the 126 aircraft be made in flyaway condition. The balance 106 are to be manufactured under license and transfer of technology in India, inevitably with the defence public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in 36 to 48 months from the signing of the contract.
The Requests for Information (RFI) for the aircraft were first sent out in 2004.
Already, IAF headquarters has noted with concern, there have been disconcerting events that threaten the process of the procurement. In December, a file on the offsets proposal went missing till it was found on a South Delhi street.
Last month, the country manager of one of the possible vendors, Dassault Aviation (Rafale), was suspected of illegal liaisoning with an IAF officer in Bangalore.
The defence minister himself is uncomfortable with US Ambassador Timothy Roemers statement that the India-US strategic partnership hinged largely on an American company winning the contract. And a UK audit report has found that there is a shortage of spares that limits flying time of pilots on the Eurofighter Typhoon.
IAF sources say that while prudence demands that the decision be a studied one, they worry that the longer the process, the more there could be controversies even as the fighter fleet gets depleted.
So what are my choices? On the one hand the rafale newsblog, that clearly has more knowledge of French fighters and weapons than you have, as well as the official press release of Sagem (the manufacturer of AASM), stating that the weapon will be produced only 2012 onwards and on the other side I have your eyes.
I think it's obvious who is more reliable and I would suggest to get some new glasses!