I thought we'd be receiving at least 8 of our airframes plus another say 10 on loan from Armee de l'air to make up a squadron. With 6 airframes what does the IAF hope to achieve?
Rafale DH/EH of Indian Air Force : News and Discussions
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It was supposed to be a full squadron by Feb 2021 and then the last squadron by Feb 2022. In case it's been expedited, then perhaps a full squadron by Dec instead.
There's no mention of loaned jets yet. In case there are, then it is naturally going to be separate from our own delivery.
With 6 airframes you can destroy an S-400 battery. You can train pilots to be able to deploy more Rafale later. When we deploy Rafale in Middle east we only deploy 6 Rafale but we use it at 500 % of the peace time normal use (1250 H a year instead of 250 H).
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With all due respect there's a difference between facing Gaddafi Or Assad & facing the Chinese . Perhaps with the former, even 1 Rafale may suffice.Besides this isn't going to be a raging civil war lasting decades, it's going to be one short sharp intense border war.
If you add 6 Rafale to a SU-30 MKI strike it is likely that the 12 Scalp could help for the success of the strike. And the ability to use Rafale at 500 % means you will be able to renew it several time.
The skirmish will comprise of more advance systems used by adversaries against each other in direct face off. It will be so intense and will be a matter of few hours not days.
It's an assumption we make for all wars, and in the end they last much longer than expected.
France Accelerates Rafale Fighter Jet Deliveries To India Over Border Conflict With China - Reports
The Rafale features an integrated defensive-aids system named SPECTRA, which protects the aircraft against airborne and ground threats. Various methods of detection, jamming, and decoying have been incorporated, and the system has been designed to be highly re-programmable for addressing new...
eurasiantimes.com
Rafale to land in India on 27 July, will be combat-ready early as France diverts missiles
Rafale jets will take off from Istres and fly to French airbase in UAE before landing in Ambala. French air refuellers will carry out 2 mid-air refuelling of the fighters till UAE.
New Delhi: Amid India’s ongoing border standoff with China, at least four Rafale fighter jets are now scheduled to land in Ambala on 27 July, and will be ready for combat earlier than expected as the French have diverted an initial lot of cutting edge missiles meant for its own air force to India, ThePrint has learnt.
“The date worked out between India and France is July 27 for the delivery of the aircraft. Four aircraft will come for sure while an attempt is being made to ensure that a total of six jets come,” said a source.
According to sources, the jets can be deployed for combat quicker than anticipated as France has diverted some of the game-changing missiles — Meteor and SCALP — meant for its own air force to the Rafale jets for India. Originally, this was supposed to happen months after the delivery of the fighter jets.
ThePrint had first reported on 20 March that the delivery of the Rafale fighter jets could get delayed from its original May date due to the Covid-19 pandemic. On 14 April, ThePrint reported that the delivery will take place only in July.
Will fly via UAE, with two mid-air refuellers
According to the plan, the Rafale jets will take off from Istres in France and fly to the French airbase in Al Dhafra near Abu Dhabi in the UAE. After a night halt, the jets will fly to Ambala in Haryana, where the Indian Air Force (IAF)’s 17 Squadron ‘Golden Arrows’ is based.
“The fighters will be flown by Indian pilots and will fly straight for 10 hours (Al Dhafra). It will have a halt for the night and next day fly to Ambala,” another source told ThePrint.
The initial plan was that the aircraft would arrive after layovers in multiple countries. However, the Covid pandemic meant that the pilots would have to undergo quarantine at each base, said the sources.
It has now been decided that two French Airbus mid-air refuellers will fly with the jets. There would be at least two rounds of mid-air refuelling on the way to UAE, the sources said.
Indian mid-air refuellers will take charge the next day for the journey to Ambala. Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots are now getting trained in France for refuelling. This was not part of the original training, said the sources.
France diverts missiles to IAF
The contract India and France signed in September 2016 had said the Rafale delivery would take place in May 2020, and the main weapons package would arrive in October, said the sources.
However, following a request, France has diverted the missiles made for its air force to India. These have started arriving already.
These missiles include the beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile, Meteor, which has the capability to hit targets over 120 km away, and the long range air-to-ground stand-off cruise missile, SCALP, which can strike targets 600 km away.
“This means that the Rafale could be combat-ready much earlier than expected. The Meteor and SCALP have already been integrated with the Rafales which are coming in,” another source said.
The integration of Meteor into the Rafale weapons system means an Indian Rafale would be able to shoot down an enemy aircraft over 100 km away without even crossing the Indian air space.
The 5.1-metre-long SCALP can be carried in either one missile or two missiles configuration on the Rafale. Its inclusion means Indian Rafales would not have to cross the Indian airspace to hit a target that is about 600 km in enemy territory.
Rafale jets will take off from Istres and fly to French airbase in UAE before landing in Ambala. French air refuellers will carry out 2 mid-air refuelling of the fighters till UAE.
“The date worked out between India and France is July 27 for the delivery of the aircraft. Four aircraft will come for sure while an attempt is being made to ensure that a total of six jets come,” said a source.
According to sources, the jets can be deployed for combat quicker than anticipated as France has diverted some of the game-changing missiles — Meteor and SCALP — meant for its own air force to the Rafale jets for India. Originally, this was supposed to happen months after the delivery of the fighter jets.
ThePrint had first reported on 20 March that the delivery of the Rafale fighter jets could get delayed from its original May date due to the Covid-19 pandemic. On 14 April, ThePrint reported that the delivery will take place only in July.
Will fly via UAE, with two mid-air refuellers
According to the plan, the Rafale jets will take off from Istres in France and fly to the French airbase in Al Dhafra near Abu Dhabi in the UAE. After a night halt, the jets will fly to Ambala in Haryana, where the Indian Air Force (IAF)’s 17 Squadron ‘Golden Arrows’ is based.
“The fighters will be flown by Indian pilots and will fly straight for 10 hours (Al Dhafra). It will have a halt for the night and next day fly to Ambala,” another source told ThePrint.
The initial plan was that the aircraft would arrive after layovers in multiple countries. However, the Covid pandemic meant that the pilots would have to undergo quarantine at each base, said the sources.
It has now been decided that two French Airbus mid-air refuellers will fly with the jets. There would be at least two rounds of mid-air refuelling on the way to UAE, the sources said.
Indian mid-air refuellers will take charge the next day for the journey to Ambala. Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots are now getting trained in France for refuelling. This was not part of the original training, said the sources.
France diverts missiles to IAF
The contract India and France signed in September 2016 had said the Rafale delivery would take place in May 2020, and the main weapons package would arrive in October, said the sources.
However, following a request, France has diverted the missiles made for its air force to India. These have started arriving already.
These missiles include the beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile, Meteor, which has the capability to hit targets over 120 km away, and the long range air-to-ground stand-off cruise missile, SCALP, which can strike targets 600 km away.
“This means that the Rafale could be combat-ready much earlier than expected. The Meteor and SCALP have already been integrated with the Rafales which are coming in,” another source said.
The integration of Meteor into the Rafale weapons system means an Indian Rafale would be able to shoot down an enemy aircraft over 100 km away without even crossing the Indian air space.
The 5.1-metre-long SCALP can be carried in either one missile or two missiles configuration on the Rafale. Its inclusion means Indian Rafales would not have to cross the Indian airspace to hit a target that is about 600 km in enemy territory.
The new Rafale configuration with 2 one-ton AASMs:
The new Rafale configuration with 2 one-ton AASMs:
Sir is there Anyway , France can increase The Range of this Hammer Missile like that of Spice
Perhaps India could do it with the help of SAFRAN? And sell it to Qatar Egypt...
First time I see a one ton AASM Hammer.The new Rafale configuration with 2 one-ton AASMs:
I've read some years ago that the powder engine si be the same than the 250kg one. it's true? I hope not.
We are developing our own series of Hammers.
Right now, we have glide bombs that go over 100Km; 120Kg, 250Kg, 450Kg and 1000Kg versions.
The next step is to add seekers on them and make two versions, one for gliding and another powered version which will increase the range to over 150Km, starting with the 120Kg version.
That's the best landing I've ever seen. And yes, it's a Rafale