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France May Cap Purchases of Rafale Combat Jets -Report 03/22/2013| 01:34pm US/Eastern The French government is considering limiting its purchases of Rafale multi-role combat aircraft, made by Dassault Aviation SA (>> DASSAULT AVIATION), to 225 from the 286 planned over the life of the program, according to a report Friday on financial information website latribune.fr. Such a move would be part of a general effort by the government to scale back public spending in the coming years, the website reported, without citing sources. The report said the government hasn't yet decided on the exact number of aircraft it will purchase....

India may buy up to 189 French Rafale combat jets PARIS — India could buy up to 189 of the Rafale fighter jets currently being used by France to bomb Islamist militants in Mali, sources close to negotiations on the multi-billion dollar deal have told AFP. The possibility of an additional 63 jets being added to an expected order for 126 was raised by India when Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid visited Paris last week, they said. "There is an option for procurement of an additional 63 aircrafts subsequently for which a separate contract would need to be signed," a source...

The RAFALE Omnirole Fighter: Pushing Forward on New Air-to-Air Capabilities In October 2012, the RAFALE omnirole fighter reached two major milestones: the first delivery of a production aircraft equipped with the first production RBE2 AESA radar, and the initial successful testing of the new-generation, very long-range, METEOR air-to-air missile. Pushing forward on new air-to-air capabilities, the Rafale B301, operating from Cazaux DGA Flight Test Center in southwestern France, successfully completed, on October 4 then on October 10, two successful tests of the beyond visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) Meteor. On December 22, 2010, the French defense procurement agency (DGA: Direction Générale...

NEW DELHI: India's quest for a futuristic stealth fifth-generation fighter, which will see the country spend around $35 billion over the next 20 years in its biggest-ever defence project, has zoomed into the decisive phase now. India and Russia are getting all set to ink the full and final design or R&D phase contract for the 5th Gen fighter by this year-end or early-2013, say sources. It will again underline India's firm rejection of the US offer of its Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) or the F-35 'Lightning-II'. Ahead of the R&D contract, under which India wants to induct over 200...

Thunder at 100 feet: Flying France's Rafale Superfighter "We will now enter the yellow potato." "Excuse me?" I ask Sébastien Dupont de Dinechin, a Rafale test pilot, otherwise known to his fellow as 3D. "Yes, look at the Head Level display, we enter the area which looks like a yellow potato and then we 'pickle' the weapon." Most Recent Jism 2 makes Rs. 21 crore in opening weekend Five things that Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif have in common Also See 1:03 NDTV's forthcoming show - Futuretech: Warfare 0:45 Flying to 8.5G "And then what?" I ask. "And then we...

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...

Indian aircraft carrier enters sea trials as navy eyes Rafale Russia has commenced sea trials involving the Indian navy's refurbished aircraft carrier the INS Vikramaditya, as sources suggest the service could consider a future acquisition of the Dassault Rafale. Originally built for Russia as the Admiral Gorshkov, with a maximum displacement of 43,500t, the refitted and modernised vessel left Severodvinsk in the north of the country on 8 June for open-sea trials, preceeding its delivery to India in December. Once operational, the Vikramaditya will be capable of carrying 30 to 34 aircraft, including RSK MiG-29K deck-based fighters. Eugenia Legostaeva Sources...

Brazil and India discussing military accord based on the French Rafale fighter jet President Dilma Rousseff plans to use her New Delhi visit later this week to sound out Indian leaders on the French Rafale fighter jet, which she is considering buying to beef up Brazil's air force. On Wednesday/Thursday Rousseff is to attend the New Delhi summit of the BRICS (Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa) nations aiming to discuss increased cooperation among the five emerging powers, including the establishment of their own development bank. The next day Rousseff will begin a state visit in India, and officials...

Russia is reportedly close to finalizing a major sale of advanced fighter aircraft to China worth $4 billion. Such a sale, newsworthy in itself, would have been hard to imagine as recently as a few years ago considering the history of previous agreements. The anticipated deal, first reported by Kommersant, sees the two sides “practically agreed on the delivery of 48 Su-35 multirole fighters, worth $4 billion, to China.” Some reports suggest that Chinese officials have dismissed talk of such a deal. But if true, an agreement like this would certainly make sense for Beijing, giving China access to an...

France Could Loan Rafales to Royal Navy (Source: defense-aerospace.com; published Feb. 22, 2012) PARIS --- The Anglo-French defense initiative announced last week did not mention bilateral cooperation on aircraft carriers because Britain still has to firm up its intentions in this field, according to France’s top weapons buyer. Lauren Collet-Billon, head of the Direction Generale de l’Armement, said during a Feb. 22 press conference here that Britain still has to finalize its aircraft carrier plans, including major technical options such as the kind of catapults it wants to fit to its new aircraft carriers, and what kind of aircraft these...

PARIS --- While many observers cite technology transfer, prices and performance as being major factors in India’s selection of the Rafale as its next-generation fighter, reality is very different even if these factors obviously did play a significant role. In the same way that it is true that Rafale lost several competitions through no fault of its own, it must be recognized that its victory in India was also won, to a great extent, through no fault of its own. The real reason for its victory is political, and the long memory of Indian politicians was a major contributing factor....

Brazil is "very likely" to choose France's Rafale fighter jet to refurbish its air force, government sources say, a decision that would award one of the emerging-market world's most coveted defense contracts to a jet whose future was in doubt only two weeks ago. President Dilma Rousseff and her top advisers believe that Dassault Aviation's (AVMD.PA) bid to sell at least 36 Rafales offers the best terms among the three finalists, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity. The other two bidders in the competition are U.S.-based Boeing (BA.N) with its F-18 Super Hornet and Sweden's Saab (SAABb.ST) with...

The Rafale's long flight to India The selection of Dassault?s Rafale as India?s new MMRCA fighter was only the latest step in the Air Force?s long and painstaking process to pick itself a winner Ajai Shukla / February 11, 2012, 0:03 IST Long after the streets emptied that chilly winter evening in December 1981, lights were burning on the fifth floor of Vayu Bhavan in the elite Operations Branch of the Indian Air Force. Worrying the brightest thinkers of IAF was a brash new arrival in the subcontinental skies. The US had just announced the sale of 40 F-16 fighters...

Brazil "very likely" to choose French fighter jet: sources SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil is "very likely" to choose France's Rafale fighter jet to refurbish its air force, government sources say, a decision that would award one of the emerging-market world's most coveted defense contracts to a jet whose future was in doubt only two weeks ago. President Dilma Rousseff and her top advisers believe that Dassault Aviation's (AVMD.PA) bid to sell at least 36 Rafales offers the best terms among the three finalists, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity. The other two bidders are Boeing's (BA.N) F-18...

A scroll on the home page of the Times of India says that the French Rafale has beaten the Eurofighter for the 126 (and prolly many more) plane MMRCA deal.

UK considers Rafale and F-18 as 'interim aircraft' 26 January 2012 Ministry of Defence concerns over the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter have led to military chiefs looking at other fast jets for the UK's aircraft carrier, it has been reported. According to The Times, Admiral Sir Trevor Soar, the current commander-in-chief fleet, said concerns were growing about rising costs and delays in the JSF programme, something now worsened by order cuts from the US. Soar, who was addressing defence companies at the ADS Maritime Interest Group, reportedly said the UK might not receive the $100m per piece F-35 jets until...

France warns of end of Rafale fighter jet production PARIS: France warned on Wednesday that defence giant Dassault would halt production of its Rafale multirole fighter jet if it remains unable to sell any abroad. "If Dassault doesn't sell any Rafales abroad, the production line... will be stopped" once France has received the 180 aircraft it has ordered, Defence Minister Gerard Longuet told a small group of journalists including AFP. France considers the twin-motor delta-wing Rafale a state-of-the-art warplane but has struggled to find any foreign buyers to support the project that has so far cost over 40 billion euros...

UAE criticizes 'unworkable' French fighter bid By ADAM SCHRECK, AP Business Writer – 5 minutes ago DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — France's Dassault Aviation is seeking unacceptable terms for the sale of up to 60 Rafale fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates, a senior Emirati military official said Wednesday, casting serious doubt on the future of the highly anticipated arms deal. The comments from the deputy supreme commander of the UAE's armed forces, Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, come just days after a different European defense consortium unexpectedly said it had been asked by the Emirati air...

French Push Hard to Clinch Jet Deal with UAE Written by Arieh O’Sullivan First foreign sale for French jet may go to Arab nation Fresh from battle experience over Libya, a French Rafale jet is heading to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to strut its stuff amid a heavy pitch to finally clinch a deal for the first foreign sale of the fighter aircraft. The sleek Rafale, built by Dassault Aviation, is expected to fly at the biennial Dubai Air Show, a five-day jamboree of top aviation, defense and aerospace executives, which begins on Sunday. French officials have recently hinted...

“Omnirole” Rafale Steals Lead Over Eurofighter Typhoon in Libyan Operations Our Bureau Tue, Nov 1, 2011 07:34 CET While NATO forces fielded the Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon in the UN-mandated war against Gaddafi’s forces in Libya, details emerging from briefings by the U.K. and French air forces about the use of their respective fighters tell that the Rafale was the primary attack plane while the Eurofighter Typhoon provided intelligence through its targeting pods. With the Libyan hostilities over, the Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon face off one another in an estimated $11 billion tender for India’s Medium Multirole...

The Rafael in The Afghan Operations: Reconnaissance Pods Used Effectively 10/11/2011 During the French operations in Afghanistan, the reconnaissance pods on the Rafael provided to be a key asset. The tactical aircraft provided dynamic targeting data and were able to work with the sea-bases to work an intervention and strike picture to guide the entire French air operation. This was the first time these new assets were used off of the Raphael. During a recent visit to Paris, Second Line of Defense sat down with Vice Admiral (Retired) Richard Wilmot-Roussel, now the naval advisor to the head of Dassault Aviation....

Carrying hopes of so many BAE's mighty Eurofighter Typhoon - built and developed on the Fylde Coast Published on Thursday 29 September 2011 14:10 IN April 1994, workers watched with pride as the Typhoon -– then still called Eurofighter – took off from the Warton airfield for its maiden flight in the UK. All those present knew the significance of the occasion. For riding on the plane’s success were the jobs of thousands of people. Since then, 108 of the aircraft have rolled off the Warton production line, and they have seen active service, including most recently in Libya. The...

Dassault uses Libya war to boost Rafale Published: Sept. 20, 2011 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Dassault Aviation hopes to capitalize on France's participation with the United Arab Emirates in the air campaign against Moammar Gadhafi's crumbling regime in Libya to promote the sale of 60 Rafale multi-role jets to the Persian Gulf state. The leading French aircraft builder sent a team of executives to Abu Dhabi, the emirates' capital, Sept. 3 to kick start negotiations that have dragged on for three years. The deal is potentially worth $9 billion-$10 billion and Dassault is desperate to sign...

Rafale and AASM-Hammer, a dynamic duo 20-07-2011 - As we have seen throughout recorded history, each new conflict seems to bring its own share of innovations. Recently, for example, the air strikes over Libya – Operation Harmattan for France, and Operation Unified Protector for NATO in the framework of the UN resolution 1973 – have spotlighted the unexpectedly powerful performance of a new French-made weapon, the AASM Hammer (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) air-to-ground modular weapon developed and produced by Sagem. The AASM made a discreet debut in the spring of 2008, when the French air force deployed a...

Typhoon outdid Rafale in Libya, claims four-nation consortium Sandeep Dikshit It has superior turnaround time, bombing capabilities With just a fortnight left for the opening of commercial bids for the Indian military's biggest ever tender, four European nations — the U.K., Germany, Spain and Italy — bidding jointly for 126 fighter planes promised an open door technology transfer and emphasised the superiority of their Eurofighter Typhoon over its sole competitor, the French Rafale, during ongoing operations in Libya “The technology transfer is very attractive,” said senior officers of the four-nation consortium while senior Royal Air Force officers, sidestepping the morality...

India's Mirage upgrade: a prelude to a Rafale MMRCA win? It looks as if India is serious about upgrading its Dassault Mirage 2000Hs to Mirage 2000-9 standard. This is a major upgrade that will affect most systems in the aircraft. The bill, estimated at $2.2 billion, is staggering, working out to about $43 million an aircraft. One wonders if India would be better off buying new aircraft. In his MMRCA report earlier this year Ashley Tellis pegged the flyaway cost of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (with APG-79 AESA radar) at $60 million. Anyway, the timing of the upgrade (first mooted...

Will Lockheed's Rival Crash and Burn? By Rich Smith Investors know the saying: "Bulls make money, bears make money, but pigs get slaughtered." If you stumble onto a "good thing," don't get greedy -- take a fair profit. France's Dassault would be wise to heed that lesson. Yesterday, DefenseNews.com reported that Dassault has run into trouble in negotiations to sell the United Arab Emirates a fleet of Rafale fighter jets. The UAE wanted to purchase several dozen of the jets to replace its 63 French Mirage fighters. But a deal that was supposed to cost somewhere between $2.5 billion and...

Libya boosts Euro fighter jets at Paris Air Show By JAMEY KEATEN, Associated Press LE BOURGET, France (AP) — In the war in Libya, the French Rafale fighter jet has nearly done it all: no-fly zone enforcement, air-to-ground strikes, reconnaissance, overflight missions. One thing the plane has never done is sell overseas. The Rafale and a European market rival, the Typhoon, have been among standout performers in the NATO air campaign against Moammar Gadhafi's forces — offering an unexpected shop window as nations including rising world powers Brazil and India consider multibillion-dollar fighter jet purchases. Both warplanes were heavily promoted...

France's Rafale fighter proves its 'omnirole' skills By Craig Hoyle France's Rafale fighter programme is midway through what could be a pivotal year in the Dassault type's potentially half-century service history. Already involved in NATO-led combat operations over Libya, the aircraft will return to frontline duty in Afghanistan inside the next two months. Its industrial backers are, meanwhile, edging seemingly closer to a long-awaited first export sale. One of three fighters now in production in western Europe, along with the Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab Gripen, the Rafale has been in French military service since 2004, when it entered use with...

Rafale Upgrade Ready in 2012 (Source: defense-aerospace.com; posted June 6, 2011) By Giovanni de Briganti CAZAUX, France --- The French defense procurement agency, DGA, is carrying out the final development tests of an upgrade package for the Rafale combat aircraft, including an AESA radar and improved electronics, that should be ordered next year by the French ministry of defense. The package, designated F3 04T because it is an off-shoot of the aircraft’s latest F3 standard, also includes a new-generation Radar Warning Receiver (DDM-NG) and an improved version of the OSF (Optique Secteur Frontal) electro-optical sensor. Upgraded Rafales will also be...

This French jet is flying around with an untested nuke Matt Hardigree —Below this French Rafale jet is a missile that can travel about 300 miles before deploying a completely untested 300 kiloton nuclear warhead. This shot wasn't taken at the height of the Cold War. It was taken last week. To understand why you have to understand the French approach to nuclear deterrence. Films like War Games and Dr. Strangelove have brainwashed us into believing the whole world plays by the same rules of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) that dictate the use of nuclear weapons will cause a chain...

Rafale in Combat: “War for Dummies” (Source: defense-aerospace.com; posted May 31, 2011) By Giovanni de Briganti Two French air force Rafales, a single-seater and a two-seater, refuel on their way to Libya. Both carry AASM guided bombs, MICA air-to-air missiles and drop tanks, while the single-seater also carries a Damoclès targeting pod on its centerline pylon. (French AF photo) RAFALETOWN, Corsica --- French air force Rafale combat aircraft deployed here as part of the UN-sanctioned Libyan No-Fly Zone are for the first time making full use of the aircraft’s “omnirole” capabilities, which allow a single aircraft to carry out the...

India, France discuss pending fighter jet deals (AP) – 2 hours ago NEW DELHI (AP) — France's defense minister made a final pitch for his country's fighter jet on a visit to India on Friday, hoping to secure a lucrative contract with the world's biggest arms importer. India says it's nearing a decision on which fighter jets it will buy, having eliminated all options but France's Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon, which is built by a consortium of Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain. French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet discussed the $11 billion deal to supply 126 jets to India's air...

Rafale Ramps Up: In Squadrons and Capability Posted by Robert Wall at 5/26/2011 5:38 PM CDT The French navy next month expects to inaugurate its second operational unit, 11F, to be collocated with 12F at Landisvisiau near Brest. The move comes as the inventory of single-seat Dassault Aviation Rafale Ms is starting to grow. (credit: DGA) Meanwhile, combat operations continue to drive new efforts for the French military when it comes to Rafale. Soon to be launched is an upgrade of the Thales Damocles laser targeting pod to augment the infrared channel with a TV channel. The latter should improve...

Does Typhoon Have Upper Hand in India? Posted by Christina Mackenzie at 5/18/2011 8:02 AM CDT Close and experienced observers of the Indian defense sector are placing their bets on the Eurofighter Typhoon beating the Rafale in the competition to provide India with new combat aircraft. They say the two aircraft down-selected at the end of last month are very similar performance-wise and so the decision is likely to swing to the Typhoon. And why? Because Dassault in December signed a $2.1 million contract to upgrade India's fleet of 51 Mirage-2000s and, these observers say, India is likely to buy...

France tries to tie Rafale with Mirage upgrade RAHUL BEDI New Delhi | 27th Mar Insidious French attempts to link the Indian Air Force's (IAFs) long-postponed and contentious Mirage 2000H fleet upgrade to the $10 billion acquisition of Dassault's Rafale fighters in support of the IAF's requirement of 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), have further delayed the pending retrofit. Ostensibly, the deal to upgrade the IAFs 51 Vajra (Thunderbolt) Mirage 2000Hs, widely expected to be confirmed by end-March with fighter manufacturers Dassault Aviation, official sources said, had been further deferred beyond the March 2011 deadline following unresolved price differences...

Kuwaiti MP links Rafale deal with performance against Gaddafi A Kuwaiti lawmaker has linked his parliamentary bloc's approval of a deal with French Rafale fighters with their performance, in efforts to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. By Habib Toumi, Bureau chief Published: 11:07 March 23, 2011 Manama: A Kuwaiti lawmaker has linked his parliamentary bloc's approval of a deal with French Rafale fighters with their performance in efforts to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Militant MPs have repeatedly warned the Kuwaiti government against purchasing the French-made Rafale warplanes, saying technical reports have recommended the rejection of the deal. "We warn...

Libya, a commercial lifeline for the French Rafale PARIS - A military intervention airline launched Saturday in Libya by an international coalition offers a great opportunity to show action in the French fighter Rafale, which Paris and Dassault manufacturer tried to sell, so far unsuccessfully, for several countries, including Brazil . Saturday, eight Rafale flew into the sky to establish a Libyan-fly zone in compliance with a resolution of the UN Security Council to protect civilians from the military offensive of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Domingo foram seis. Sunday was six. All performed reconnaissance missions and / or attack. Outros...

Obama's Brazil trip may influence possible F/A-18 Hornet deal By Robert Koenig, Beacon Washington correspondent Posted 4:24 pm, Fri., 3.18.11 WASHINGTON - When President Barack Obama travels to Brazil this weekend, one of the many items on his agenda eventually could have an impact on thousands of aerospace workers in St. Louis. Aside from signing agreements on topics such as patents and scientific cooperation Obama and Brazil's president, Dilma Vana Rousseff, are expected to discuss opportunities for American companies in Brazil - and for Brazilian firms in this country. One of the U.S. companies with a potentially huge interest in...

French Rafale is best at dogfight Prashanth G N, TNN, Feb 12, 2011, 04.45am IST BANGALORE: If there is one thing the French Rafales can do best, it's the dogfight. Small and menacing, the Rafale can plunge in and out rapidly for short distances, hitting the enemy aircraft swiftly. Five French pilots have flown the Rafale all the way from France to Bangalore -- over 5,000 miles. "We flew in with three air-to-air refuellings. It was a beautiful flight with the two fighter aircraft following the fuel tanker in front. We had a stopover at UAE before coming to India....

Rafale F3 and AREOS Reco NG: The 21st century reconnaissance team The Rafale F3 will take over recce duties, using the AREOS Reco NG pod developed by Thales. (Photo: Dassault Aviation) 15:10 GMT, February 9, 2011 The AREOS Reco NG pod, an integral part of the F3 standard for Rafale fighters, brings France into the world of all-digital reconnaissance. As a veritable “omnirole” fighter, the Rafale has already replaced several types of warplanes in the French air force and navy. This trend is set to continue in the coming years with the retirement of France’s last Mirage F-1 fighters, the...

The French Fighter Jet That Nobody Wants The Rafale has cost $53 billion and is the key to France's defense economy, but it's not selling abroad By Carol Matlack The Rafale fighter, made by France's Dassault Aviation, is loaded with high-tech avionics, radar, and targeting systems. Now all it needs are customers. France has been peddling the supersonic jet since 2000 and hasn't sold a single one. In the latest setback, Brazil said on Jan. 17 that it would reopen bidding for a fighter contract worth up to $7 billion—a deal France had thought it was close to sealing last...

France Orders 200 Air-to-air Missile to Equip Rafale 2011-01-04 01:19:17 Xinhua Web Editor: Jiang France has ordered 200 air-to-air Meteor missiles to equip its Rafale fighters serving in the air force and navy, the defense ministry said on Monday in a statement. Defense Minister Alain Juppe welcomed the order of the long- range missile designed for French jet Rafale under the cooperation between France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Spain and Britain, according to the ministry. The French General Direction for Ordnance (DGA) has awarded the order to multinational missile producer MBDA. "The first Meteor missile will be delivered to the French...

Close up of Rafale over Swiss Alps winner in Best of the Rest in cover competition By Will Horton on December 27, 2010 This stunningly up-close photograph of a Dassault Rafale at Sion Air Base in Switzerland earned a place in our cover competition's "best of the rest" category. Taken with a Canon EOS 500D by AirSpace photographer Niels_Boswinkel. Look out for details next November for 2011's cover competition. Until then you can upload your photos to AirSpace for a chance to have one featured as our Image of the Week, or to be printed in our publications.

No scalp for Libya ? According to the Defense journalist Jean-Marc Tanguy, the Rafale sale to Libya woud have been jeopardized by the Refusal of the French government to include the sclalp-EG cruise missile in the bid. The scalp-EG is a stealthy subsonic cruise missile using IIR terminal guidance with a range between 250 and 400 km. It is in Service in the French Air Force / Navy on the Mirage 2000D and Rafale B/C/M since the F2 version (2006). It was developped with the UK (where it is known as the Storm shadow and carried by the Tornado GR4)...

)--Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will leave the decision on a multi-billion dollar jet fighter contract to his successor, Dilma Rousseff, who will take over as president Jan. 1. Brazil is looking to buy 36 fighter jets as part of the modernization of its armed forces, a contract which is believed to be worth between $4 billion and $10 billion. The deal has been postponed several times and it now looks that it won't be finalized while Mr. da Silva is in power. Mr. da Silva has expressed a preference for buying the Rafale jets manufactured by France's...

A decision by Brazil to buy 36 modern fighter jets was to take a step closer Monday when president-elect Dilma Rousseff was to ask current Defense Minister Nelson Jobim to stay on in her team to see the deal through, media reported. They were to formalize an agreement made during Rousseff's campaigning ahead of elections October 31 that Jobim would remain in his job for at least the next two years, the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper said. Brazil's defense ministry did not immediately respond to AFP's requests for confirmation of the information. Rousseff takes over as president from her...

Brazil wanted to buy, make French Rafales-WikiLeaks Sun Dec 5, 2010 2:00pm GMT * France ready to transfer Rafale coding to Brazil-WikiLeaks * Nov. 2009 US cables suggest Franco-Brazilian deal near PARIS, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Brazil has sought to buy French Rafale jets and acquire the technology to build them at home for export to other Latin American countries by 2030, the daily Le Monde reported on Sunday, citing leaked U.S. diplomatic cables. Brazil has been negotiating with several nations including France, the United States and Sweden, over a deal to acquire fighter planes as it seeks to renew...

Flying the Eurofighter and France's Rafale FRANCE 24 journalist Apoorva Prasad takes flight in two of France's modern fighter planes in a cockpit comparison between the Eurofighter (pictured) and the Rafale, which recently came under fire from King Hamad of Bahrain. By Apoorva PRASAD (text) "There it is, on your HUD, your ground target!" A box encircled the nuclear power station, showing me the large cooling towers of the target. On the right hand colour display screen, a close up image of the plant appeared. The plane was in a shallow dive : I was flying closer and closer to...

Bahrain denies disparaging France’s Rafale jet fighter A document in the Wikileaks trove released recently said that the King of Bahrain disparaged France’s frontline jetfighter as “yesterday’s technology”. Bahrain disavowed the comments Wednesday. By Apoorva PRASAD (text) According to one US embassy document in a trove leaked by the whistleblower website Wikileaks, King Hamad of Bahrain called France’s frontline fighter jet “yesterday’s technology”. On Wednesday, Bahrain officially denied the comments. A foreign ministry spokesman called them "inaccurate and taken out of context," as reported by the Bahrain News Agency. The relevant US diplomatic cable is classified “secret//noforn”, meaning that non-US...