In the press, Nation Shield 476

A nice article by JM Guhl about the last Rafale systems (Damocles, Reco-NG, AASM...) can be read in the September issue of Nation Shield (UAE armed forces Magazine).
The pdf can be downloaded directly on their website

Rafale pictures of the day, MBDA dadabase

If you don't have done it yet, I recommend a visit to the MBDA image data base where several high res pictures of the Rafale B302 can be found. They are of course related to the various weapons developed by the company for the Rafale : Scalp-EG, Meteor, Mica etc. The B302 has been used by the CEAM (French Air Force trial center) to validate several weapon/systems configuations.
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 This one should ring a bell ;)

Close up of the DDM-NG (new generation missile launch detector)

Northern Mistral 2010, Rafale performs long range strike exercise with the RAF

© Dassault Aviation - K. Tokunaga

2 Rafale from the 01.091 Gascogne squadron participated in the Northern Mistral exercise on October 10th. (as part of the British Joint Warrior exercise).  The purpose of the training was to coordinate the French Air Force and RAF assets in order to  contuct a long range strike using scalp cruise missiles.
The Rafale took off from the Saint Dizier Air Base, performed inflight refueling above the North sea, strike the target located in the north of Scotland and returned to their base.

Source : defense.gouv.fr

UAE, Juppe in charge of sealing the deal

According to "Les echos", the French foreign Minister and former Defense Minister, Alain Juppe, would  be conducting the very last negociations to sell 60 Rafale fighter jets to the UAE.
More and more rumors are now converging to a possible announcement of the deal during the next Dubai Airshow in mid November.

MMRCA, the bids will be opened in 10 days

"The process for acquisition of the MMRCA is on its last lap and we should be able to open the bids in 10 days time from now" Indian Air Force chief, Norman Anil Kumar Browne said today during the 79th IAF anniversary celebration.

Yesterday, October 7th, the Defense Acquisition Council approved the offset proposals of both Dassault Aviation and Eurofighter Gmbh. This decision, eventually secures the selection of the Rafale and Typhoon made by the IAF on April 27th.

According to  Browne, determining the lowest bidder (L1) should take another 2 or 3 weeks after the bids opening because it requires complex calculations (life-cycle cost, aquisition cost and technology transfer)

"In the middle of November, we shall be able to announce to the whole world which plane we have selected, the L1 vendor"  he said

So the final stage of the MMRCA seems very clear now :

• Opening of the bids around October 18th (10 days from now)
• Anouncement of the MMRCA winner between November 7th and November14th. (2-3 weeks to calculate the lowest bid)
• Contract signed before the end of 2011 (As announced by India Defense Minister)
• First deliveries by late 2014, early 2015 (36 months after the contract is signed)

Also read : Previous RafaleNews MMRCA related posts

sources :
economictimes.indiatimes.com
ibnlive.in.com
thehindu.com
livefist.blogspot.com

French Air Force TV spot

Some nice Rafale footage in this French Air Force TV spot.

Fil'gouv

Note the Rafaut AT730 triple ejector rack loader at 0min 9s

Rafale picture of the day, Epinal-Mirecourt air show

© François-Xavier Simon

©JM Alvarez