Posted on 06/22/2012 5:54:17 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Nuclear Missile Launch To Increase Rafale's Appeal for India
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 09:27 CET
The Rafale fighter aircraft has acquired nuclear deterrent capability following the successful first operational evaluation launch of a nuclear-capable missile carried out by the French Air Force.
Winner of the Indian MMRCA (Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) contest, the fighter carried the ASMPA (Air Sol Moyenne Porte Ameliore) cruise missile, minus the nuclear warhead, to test its strike capabilities.
The nuclear missile launch will add to the Rafale's multi-role capabilities and the Indian Air Force may get more than what it bargained for.
The testing of the Rafale with a cruise missile might add a substantial new capability and improve its potential utility for the Indian Air Force (IAF). So far, the IAF had thought of the MMRCA as a ground attack and air superiority role but not a strategic bomber. It has chosen the much bigger Sukhoi 30 MKI for this role and plans to test the Brahmos cruise missile on it sometime this year or the next.
Although the contract with Dassault and the Indian MoD is yet to be signed and the losing finalist, Eurofighter is still hopeful and has offered a price 'adjustment' meaning to undercut the Rafale offer, the cruise missile launch capability should further solidify Rafale's appeal to the IAF and further weaken Eurofighter's chances.
The French air force has carried out the first operational evaluation of its new ASMPA supersonic nuclear stand-off missile seen here on the centreline pylon of a Rafale fighter. (French AF photo)
I always thought this was a given. Not the ASMPA for India since that cannot be exported, but that India would use the Rafale’s capability as a potential nuclear delivery platform with an indigenous solution. I am also surprised that the Tiffy chaps still think they have a chance.
There’s also a future carrier variant contract to be had in India, and there Rafale also has the edge over the Typhoon, and gives more commonality to the Indian government.
If the naval variant Rafale-M is modified with a cruise missile launch capability then the Rafale could turn into a AC-killer platform. That could be a huge deterrent to Chinese ACs.
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