Article

2009-04-20 India-Pakistan

French Rafale out of race for IAF fighters

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Posted by Steve White 2009-04-20 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 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

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