Article

2009-04-20 India-Pakistan

French Rafale out of race for IAF fighters

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Steve White 2009-04-20 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11134 views ] Top

#1 I can see it coming down to the F-16 and the MIG-35. The other aircraft either have short legs, or not enough bang for the buck (or are hanger queens). It is a decision between reliable and proven, vs. new and Russian. If the MIG-35 performs like the MIG-29 for performance and reliability, it will be a good fit for the IAF. However, it is a new aircraft and very prone to gremlins. The F-16 had those worked out years ago.

Posted by DarthVader 2009-04-20 00:55|| 2009-04-20 00:55|| Front Page Top

#2 Darth, where does the F-18 sit in your opinion? I thought it was a decent to good aircraft.

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2009-04-20 08:48|| 2009-04-20 08:48|| Front Page Top

#3 F18 (highest tech, lowest signature, reasonable price) or MiG35. Though I would like to see the uprated 25,000 lbs thrust engines.

Posted by ed 2009-04-20 10:24|| 2009-04-20 10:24|| Front Page Top

#4 Swedish Gripen NG

Heh, heh. Keep trying, guys. You'll get an export sale one of these days.

Posted by gromky 2009-04-20 10:52|| 2009-04-20 10:52|| Front Page Top

#5 "Heh, heh. Keep trying, guys. You'll get an export sale one of these days."

They already got...

Eurofighter Typhoon is the best plane in the lot. I dont know why Rafale was dropped. Range?

Posted by Large Snerong7311 2009-04-20 11:45|| 2009-04-20 11:45|| Front Page Top

#6 I dont know why Rafale was dropped. Range?

Weak radar, weak missiles, few weapons, poor spares production, weak engines, weak optics, Gucci price tag.

Posted by ed 2009-04-20 11:54|| 2009-04-20 11:54|| Front Page Top

#7 Eurofighter Typhoon is the best plane in the lot.

Looks like AESA radar is going to be a requirement. Typhoon is missing that and is twice the price of the competition.

Posted by ed 2009-04-20 11:59|| 2009-04-20 11:59|| Front Page Top

#8 It's fortunate for us that the rest of the world pretty much sucks at building fighters. excepting Russia. That the US is still able to use 30 year old friggin fighters to compete, is astounding.

Posted by Mike N. 2009-04-20 23:00|| 2009-04-20 23:00|| Front Page Top

23:43 trailing wife
23:31 trailing wife
23:26 Secret Master
23:00 Mike N.
22:51 Anonymoose
22:33 Barbara Skolaut
22:29 Skunky Glins 5***
21:52 Alaska Paul
21:44 Skunky Glins 5***
21:34 JosephMendiola
21:32 Alaska Paul
21:26 phil_b
21:26 logi_cal
21:22 Steve White
21:22 Alaska Paul
21:04 Zebulon Phinegum6819
20:54 trailing wife
20:53 Cornsilk Blondie
20:51 Cornsilk Blondie
20:32 Grunter
20:19 mom
20:15 Grunter
20:07 Skunky Glins 5***
20:03 regular joe