sancho
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Some interesting news why Brimstone wasn't integrated to Rafale, as it was expected after the Libyan war:
(Google translated)
Missiles : MBDA croit au Brimstone sur Rafale - Air&Cosmos
High costs for integration were expected as reasons, the brits might not want to make the difference between Rafale and EF even higher. The unit cost to be higher than AASM would be surprising though, but might have to do with AASM price for French forces, while Brimstone would come at export customer costs, including development costs...
Also very interesting the point of the average performance of the current Damocles, which might make it even less likely that IAF will chose it over the Litening for M2K UPG, or Rafale.
At the same time, the EF at least makes baby steps (with Saudi funding) to improve it's capabilities, with the first flight with integrated Storm Shadow missiles:
That config however only leaves the centerline station for a 1000l fuel tank, which means it hardly is useful for deep strike missions. That's why it needs CFTs in future, unless the targets are in closer distance (Iran from Saudi Arabia):
Eurofighter Typhoon | Eurofighter Typhoon: Flight tests with Storm Shadow missile started
(Google translated)
MBDA Brimstone believes in on Rafale
And if it was precision weaponry which today still lack the Rafale? It must be said that between 30 mm cannon and 250 kg bomb, the French fighter aircraft does not have a collateral effect reduces ammunition, as demonstrated by Operation Harmattan in Libya. From 2011, the British team were therefore approached Dassault MBDA, the DGA and the Air Force to propose their solution to the problem: the AGM Dual Mode Brimstone (DMB), a small arms from 50 kg to guide hybrid and semi-active radar laser which was brilliantly during the operation, which was implemented by the Tornado GR4 of the Royal Air Force.
Technically, the feasibility of the operation seemed to be no doubt. "On Rafale, it is possible to achieve a minimum first integration in about 12 months," confirmed Adrian Monks, head of the unit "Short Range Surface Attack" at MBDA, during a briefing given on the occasion organized by the 3AF, which was held in Paris from November 27 to 29 "Delivering Precision Effects in a Complex Environment" conference.
This integration "emergency" would be about carrying six missiles in point 2 wing on triple similar to those now used by the Tornado adapters. A solution that will allow more hand to carry AASM during the same mission, they are also included in this part of the wing Rafale.
However, further integration of Brimstone Rafale would consider "a maximum payload of 12 missiles," according to Adrian Monks. Which could be obtained by opening paragraphs 3 wing (near the Mica missile wing tip), now unused, or even the rear fuselage side points today reserved for air-air missile Mica and tomorrow at Meteor.
Why the integration of Brimstone did not she made in 2011? No official response emerges, but everyone has his little explanation. Critics of the British solution, the note was as too salty: first for the integration itself, some amounted to approximately € 100 million for the carriage of six missiles, and then because of the cost Unit of Brimstone, which proves to be higher than the AASM in its more complex versions (laser and infrared). Years Furthermore, Sagem logically saw a very dim view of the arrival on the Rafale a competitor missile while the French manufacturer is trying to get funding for a AASM "light" of 125 kg , low side effect, whose feasibility has already been demonstrated.
Another possible explanation is very average performance of the Damocles pod designation in the identification of small targets in urban environments would not be permissible to reproduce Rafale performance obtained by the trio Tornado GR4/nacelle Litening / Brimstone during operation Harmattan. Hence the reluctance of the French part to fund the integration of the missile, if the "eyes" of the aircraft did not follow. That is why the British side, we say today until the end of the decade and the advent of F3-R standard (with new nacelle PDL NG ) for "re-attack" Rafale folder. Unless a customer does not impose export to put it on the carpet in the meantime ...
Missiles : MBDA croit au Brimstone sur Rafale - Air&Cosmos
High costs for integration were expected as reasons, the brits might not want to make the difference between Rafale and EF even higher. The unit cost to be higher than AASM would be surprising though, but might have to do with AASM price for French forces, while Brimstone would come at export customer costs, including development costs...
Also very interesting the point of the average performance of the current Damocles, which might make it even less likely that IAF will chose it over the Litening for M2K UPG, or Rafale.
At the same time, the EF at least makes baby steps (with Saudi funding) to improve it's capabilities, with the first flight with integrated Storm Shadow missiles:
That config however only leaves the centerline station for a 1000l fuel tank, which means it hardly is useful for deep strike missions. That's why it needs CFTs in future, unless the targets are in closer distance (Iran from Saudi Arabia):
Eurofighter Typhoon | Eurofighter Typhoon: Flight tests with Storm Shadow missile started
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