...In contrast, the UK Air Force deployed the Typhoon in a supporting role to its older generation aircraft, the Tornado. In a briefing about the Libyan operations, the UK's Commander of Joint Operations (CJO), Air Marshal Sir Stuart Peach last week explained that the complimentary way in which the Typhoons worked alongside the Tornados, using their targeting pods to create additional intelligence and reconnaissance, was very important. The Tornados carried British-designed and British-built Brimstone missiles, which proved to be a world class weapon system, the Air Marshal was quoted as saying in a U.K MoD release. The Brimstone missile have been offered to India as part of the MMRCA weapons package.
In separate briefings, U.K. officials have been quoted as saying that the Typhoon flew 600 combat missions but surprisingly details of its offensive role in terms of enemy targets engaged have not been forthcoming. A briefing was given to top Indian Air Force officials last month about the weapons used by the Eurofighter Tornado and Typhoon. Reports of the briefing tell that MBDA Brimstone air-to-surface missiles were launched from RAF's Tornado GR4 fighters. In addition Storm Shadow missiles were fired from Tornado GR4s to destroy radar stations and anti-aircraft batteries. There has been no mention of what weapons the Typhoon carried.
A Dassault executive who did not wish to be identified said that the Eurofighter Typhoon which is clearly not meant for a multi-mission role played at best a supporting role in the Libyan operations.
Confirms exactly what I said, when we have to rank the French and British fighters according their performance and importance during the Libyan conflict, it would be like this:
1. Rafale - Trully multi role capable, no matter if A2A, A2G, from land bases or carriers, with active air defences or without, recon or tanker roles, it simply did anything the French forces wants it to do!
2. Tornado - Some say it's old and a gen behind the EF, but it showed that all the generation talk is BS when it comes to actual operational service in war times. Then the true capability of a fighter counts and the Tornado is still more than capable in strike or recon roles, which is why it was the real prime fighter of the RAF in Libya!
3. Mirage 2000 - Deployed by the French in different versions and altough it's an older fighter as well, it showed that it is still very effective, no matter if it is A2A (Mirage 2000-5 ) CAS with LGBs, deep strikes with Scalp cruise missiles, or even heavy attacks on comand posts with 2000lb bunker busters.
4. EF - Showed up late, were deployed mainly in A2A roles and with it's very limited multi role capabilities, it was only able to assist the Tornados in the strike role. They offered situational awareness with the better avionc systems of the EF and with 1000lb LGBs an alternative weapon, incase big targets were available. The targeting pod was more of limited use, for damage assessment, but we also heared that EF pilots in their single seat fighters let the Tornado WSOs often take over the laser guidance, to share the workload.
When you compare this with current IAF fleet, the MKI would be like the Rafale the most capable multi role fighter, followed by the Mirage 2000s, which would be comparable to the Tornados in Libya. The Mig 29s and 27s would do similar roles like the French Mirage 2000-5s and -Ds did, the Mig 29s escorting the 27s in the strike role. Which leaves the Jaguars which was used in assisting the Mirage 2000s during the Kargil war, similar to the EF assisting the Tornados in Libya.
That is the current situation of the EF, which is sad because it has a lot of potential too, but it's developing countries simply don't have the money, nor the interest to make it more capable and that's why they are so desperate to get us as a partner. For Indian industry and MoD/GoI this could be an interesting chance to get many benefits, for IAF on the other hand, it would mean to compromise for the next 6 to 7 years with a less capable, but highly costly (per unit, to operate and to upgrade) fighter, which is only useful in A2A roles.
So MoD/GoI will have to decide what is more important in MMRCA, the needs of our industry/politics, or the needs of our forces? The EF offers only advantages for 1 side, Rafale offers advantages for all sides, but "possibly" less industrial/political benefits than EADS/BAE or UK/GER can offer together and that's what will be negotiated after the comercial bids are opened!
.
