Dassault Rafale NEWS ONLY

TomcatViP said:
French availability rates for 2021:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1479487552050675713
View: https://twitter.com/HerveGrandjean/status/1479487552050675713/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1479487552050675713%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.opex360.com%2F2022%2F01%2F10%2Fle-ministere-des-armees-se-felicite-de-la-lente-amelioration-de-la-disponibilite-de-ses-aeronefs%2F


With some more details here:
55% des 98 Rafale en dotation au sein de l’armée de l’Air & de l’Espace [AAE] au premier juillet 2021 auront finalement été disponibles [contre 53% en 2018, sur une flotte de 102 appareils]. Quant aux 42 Rafale M de la Marine nationale, 61% d’entre eux l’ont été l’an passé [contre 53% trois ans plus tôt].
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55% of the 98 Rafale in service with the Air & Space [AAE] army as of July 1, 2021 will have finally been available [compared to 53% in 2018, among a fleet of 102 aircraft]. As for the 42 Rafale M of the French Navy, 61% of them were last year [compared to 53% three years earlier].
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www.opex360.com

Le ministère des Armées se félicite de la [lente] amélioration de la disponibilité de ses aéronefs - Zone Militaire

Jusqu'en 2020, et par l'intermédiaire des questions écrites posées par le député François Cornut-Gentille au ministère des Armées, on pouvait obtenir les
www.opex360.com www.opex360.com

I am also wondering if in the recycling number, Mr Macron great Bazaar performances are included?!
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A bit more detailled number for those interested:

www.latribune.fr

Soutien : les contrats verticalisés font lentement décoller la disponibilité des aéronefs des armées

L'amélioration très progressive de la disponibilité des flottes des trois armées est le fruit des contrats verticalisés signés à partir de 2019.
www.latribune.fr www.latribune.fr
 
"Six Rafale fighter jets ordered from France by Greece landed on the Greek military base in Tanagra on Wednesday"

fr.news.yahoo.com

La Grèce réceptionne ses premiers Rafale livrés par la France

Six avions de combat Rafale commandés à la France par la Grèce ont atterri mercredi sur la base militaire grecque de Tanagra, première livraison d'un partenariat franco-grec destiné à booster l'Europe de la défense et à contrer les ambitions turques en Méditerranée.
fr.news.yahoo.com fr.news.yahoo.com
 
That’s a pretty good load for a ski jump…

1x Exocet, 2x 2,000L drop tanks, and 4x (probably 6x) air-to-air missiles.

We don’t know if the tanks are full or if they need to be topped up by a buddy refueler after take off… but either way this configuration will have decent range, despite the legend that carriers with ski-jumps can’t strike targets at long range.
 
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Thank you.

In passing: this made me chuckle.
"Rafali" Rafale-Maritime
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Rafali ? is that latin plural of Rafale ?

Rafale, rafalum, rafali...

And Rafale maritime ? Close, but no cigar. It's "marine" as in: navy. Or "mariner".
But "maritime" is a real word with a very close meaning: "related to sea".

Except it doesn't apply to "naval machines" but to things like coastline. "façade maritime".

Rafale maritime sounds like "a squall from the ocean" (oceanic squall if you prefer).
 
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Scar said:
Archibald said:
In passing: this made me chuckle.
"Rafali" Rafale-Maritime
Click to expand...
Rafali ? is that latin plural of Rafale ?
Click to expand...
Yes it is. This is an artifact of the semi-Google-translation made by topwar.ru team for this article, originally written in Russian. But can't blame them on this, since my English sucks too.
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I made this quick graphic and posted it in the Vikrant thread

Basically using public information on guesses on the Vikrant's elevator dimensions and the dimensions of the Hornet and Rafale
you can see the Rafale fits almost exactly within the Vikrants elevator (left). The right image is to get the Rafale to the correct scale.. however HK or some one pointed that the total length includes the tail, so if true, then the Rafale has more space on the elevator.
EIther way, the Rafale fits in the elevator without needing folded wings.

The Super hornet on the other hand, needs to use its folded wings to fit, and its nose will be sticking out. Not a problem for the Vikrant as the elevators are on the edge of the carrier.

But if these will also replace the MiG-29Ks on the Vikramaditya.. not sure how that would work. It has two elevators. I've read that one is 18.8 x 9.9 and the other elevator is 18.8 8.6.. meaning both aircraft can fit length wise, but neither will fit width wise. Especially the smaller elevator

(Ive noticed since making this pic, its been copied and pasted around various indian blogs)
Screen Shot 2022-01-12 at 16.18.20.png

as for F-35. using those elevator numbers (again not sure if accurate).
F-35B could fit in the Vikrant elevators, but not the Vikramaditya
F-35C could fit in both with its wings folded. But only using one of Vikramaditya's lifts.
 
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Notice that, with folding wings, the Super Hornet can be loaded on an elevator with its full weapons load (wingtip missiles included). The Rafale might not (hence the wingtip folding mod).
 
helmutkohl said:
Scar said:
Archibald said:
In passing: this made me chuckle.
"Rafali" Rafale-Maritime
Click to expand...
Rafali ? is that latin plural of Rafale ?
Click to expand...
Yes it is. This is an artifact of the semi-Google-translation made by topwar.ru team for this article, originally written in Russian. But can't blame them on this, since my English sucks too.
Click to expand...

I made this quick graphic and posted it in the Vikrant thread

Basically using public information on guesses on the Vikrant's elevator dimensions and the dimensions of the Hornet and Rafale
you can see the Rafale fits almost exactly within the Vikrants elevator (left). The right image is to get the Rafale to the correct scale.. however HK or some one pointed that the total length includes the tail, so if true, then the Rafale has more space on the elevator.
EIther way, the Rafale fits in the elevator without needing folded wings.

The Super hornet on the other hand, needs to use its folded wings to fit, and its nose will be sticking out. Not a problem for the Vikrant as the elevators are on the edge of the carrier.

But if these will also replace the MiG-29Ks on the Vikramaditya.. not sure how that would work. It has two elevators. I've read that one is 18.8 x 9.9 and the other elevator is 18.8 8.6.. meaning both aircraft can fit length wise, but neither will fit width wise. Especially the smaller elevator

(Ive noticed since making this pic, its been copied and pasted around various indian blogs)
View attachment 672796

as for F-35. using those elevator numbers (again not sure if accurate).
F-35B could fit in the Vikrant elevators, but not the Vikramaditya
F-35C could fit in both with its wings folded. But only using one of Vikramaditya's lifts.
Click to expand...

The Rafale is really a tight fit !

As for your pictures: consider putting watermarks on them...
 
Indonesia signing for 36 Rafales seems imminent
if it goes through, that means up to 266 rafales signed for export
which is getting close to the 277 Mirage 2000s that were exported



Indonesia awaits ‘contract activation' for Rafale multirole fighters

The Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has moved ahead with a plan to procure Rafale multirole fighter aircraft from Dassault Aviation.
www.janes.com
 
GTX said:
Hmmm...how many times has Indonesia supposedly been getting new fighters be those Rafales, Typhoons, F-15s....?
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They should be careful, otherwise soon their air force will looks like Egypt's ! Or Spain back in the heydays of the 1980's (Mirage IIIs and Mirage F1s and F-104s and F-5s and F-4s and Harriers and Hornets !)


:D
:D
 
One potential and (relatively) simple solution hasn't been publicly envisioned to my knowledge...

As the Rafale is already in service in India, has some advantages over the Super Hornet (smaller spotting factor, passive sensors, commonality with Indian Air Force) and as that country is planning to build its own carrier based fighter in the coming years (well you know, in Indian time ;)) - by the way VERY inspired by the Rafale - why don't they "just" develop a specific, folding, outer wing? Of relatively small size, outside of the outer hardpoint, would fit the lift with a comfortable margin, even with wingtip missiles fitted, at the cost of a small fuel loss and a slightly increased structural weight (partially compensated by the lower fuel weight?).

Yes it would cost some money and time to develop, but would provide first-hand experience to India. France could lease a dozen standard Rafale M in the meantime. How does that sound?
 
I still have my doubts about TEDBF.. the expense of developing a brand new fighter, whose market is just the Indian Navy. Spending billions on just for 50 or less aircraft?

it would be better to just navalize the AMCA or Tejas Mk2 if they don't want to go for the Rafale.

Also which would be more practical. Modifying the Rafale to have folding wings.. or modifying the elevators?
My estimates for the Vikrant show that the Rafale can fit in the elevators with out any modification.
However modifications have to be done for the Rafale to fit in the Vikramaditya. But it seems that they've already enlarged one of its two elevators in the past. Could they enlarge it further?
 
We now have the serial numbers of the first 6 used Rafales bought by Greece.

Serial No / Year delivered
B305 / 2004
B306 / 2005
C103 / 2005
C112 / 2009
C118 / 2010
C123 / 2010

Source: www.deltareflex.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=139&start=1710

Average age ~14 years. So these are some of the oldest Rafales, with almost half of their nominal 30yr service life already used up. Given the typical 240-250 flight hours per year in French service, they should have used up roughly 3,500hrs of their nominal 7,000hr service life (on average), though an extension to 9,000hrs may be possible.

The second batch of 6 used Rafales will be delivered in the 2nd half of the year or early 2023.
 
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The article in the French weekly La Tribune is confirmed by the specialist defense journalist that @stealthflanker recommended to us a few months ago. Only official confirmation remains. Maybe tomorrow (European time) with the presence of the French Minister of Defense in Indonesia.
It remains to know the terms of payment: if it is palm oil, it is possible that in France there will be a campaign against this sale on the part of part of the opposition (ecologists in particular ) and media...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1491316776365625344
View: https://twitter.com/AHelvas/status/1491316776365625344?s=20&t=T_Kt2TsMLiskpZhc9uPaJA
 
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can IRIS-T be integrated on the Rafale?
If so.. then Indonesia's KF-21 and Rafales can share their Meteor and Iris-T missiles
 
helmutkohl said:
can IRIS-T be integrated on the Rafale?
If so.. then Indonesia's KF-21 and Rafales can share their Meteor and Iris-T missiles
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Never heard of, or read, for the moment, that an integration of the Irist-T on the Rafale was actually planned.
 
GTX said:
Archibald said:
Oh boy, Rafales and KF-21s: the Indonesian air force will surely look sexy as freck.
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And how long will they remain airworthy...?
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I'm not paying the bill, so why should I care ? More seriously, France needs every single export billion it can scrounge off, considering the present abyssal trade deficit and debt...
 
Statistically then, MoD Parly should better use her time sustaining better her other colleagues:

The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in French global shipments during 2020. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from France.

Machinery including computers: US$54.5 billion (11.5% of total exports)
Vehicles: $44.3 billion (9.3%)
Electrical machinery, equipment: $38.8 billion (8.1%)
Pharmaceuticals: $37.9 billion (8%)
Aircraft, spacecraft: $29.2 billion (6.1%)
Plastics, plastic articles: $19.3 billion (4.1%)
Perfumes, cosmetics: $17.9 billion (3.8%)
Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $17.5 billion (3.7%)
Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $16.1 billion (3.4%)
Other chemical goods: $12.8 billion (2.7%)
France’s top 10 export categories accounted for 60.6% of the overall value of its global shipments.
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France's Top Exports 2023

France's top exports in 2023 plus a searchable database of major export products, food exports, France's best international trade customers & trade surpluses or deficits by key French goods
www.worldstopexports.com www.worldstopexports.com
 
Well, our arms procurement is unfortunately opportunistic.. so yeah there will be time KF-21 and Rafale may fly together..

Readiness and such tho might be in concern. Would expect like 50-60% of them will fly all the time while the others are under maintenance. There will also be one which become a spare part source for the others.
 
www.dassault-aviation.com

Indonesia purchases the Rafale - Press kits

In the presence of the French Minister of the Armed Forces and the Indonesian Minister of Defence, the Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, Eric Trappier, and the Air Vice Marshal Yusuf Jauhari, Head of Defence Facilities Agency of the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, signed the contract for...
www.dassault-aviation.com www.dassault-aviation.com
www.reuters.com

France seals $8.1 billion deal with Indonesia to sell 42 Rafale jets

Indonesia will order 42 Rafale fighter jets in a $8.1 billion deal, France's defence ministry said on Thursday, as part of a series of agreements also including submarine development and ammunition, making Jakarta the biggest French arms client in the region.
www.reuters.com www.reuters.com
 
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interesting so 42!
that means life time exports
Rafale - 272
Mirage 2000 - 277
(these both include the export of used French aircraft as well).

Rafale is on track to export more aircraft than its predecessor
 
Wonder what type of defence satellite it is. You can bet whatever it is the launch contract will go to Ariane.
 

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