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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...