Last issue of Fox3 magazine available

The 18th issue of Fox 3, Dassault Rafale official magazine, is available here.

Qatar could buy 24 Rafale

Qatari Mirage 2000-5 © Kuray Tolonguc

Several sources in the French media report that Qatar would be close to buy 24 Rafale Fighter jets. Qatar is looking for a replacement of its 12 Mirage 2000-5 which are mainly air superiority fighters.

Sources :
Europe 1
Les Echos

Starting 2014 on the right track

Aerospace Diary: EXCLUSIVE! MMRCA- New Year Tidings http://t.co/oiMAEChpBp
— neelam mathews (@neelammathews) 2 Janvier 2014

F3-R launched in 2013 ?

Seen in La Tribune...

Jean-Yves le Drian (French MoD) told La Tribune that he plans to launch the development of the future F3-R standard before the end of 2013.






Reminder :

A risk reduction contract was signed earlier, in December 2012, for the preliminary studies one this standard which will give the Rafale :

• the Meteor ;
• the PDL NG to replace the Damocles ;
•  IFF mode 5/S ;
• improved L16 ;
• Spectra upgrades ;
• Reco NG upgrades.

http://rafalenews.blogspot.fr/2012/10/future-rafale.html

Dubai Airshow : Air & Cosmos in the cockpit

What happens when A&C is allowed to set a GoPro in the Tao's cockpit ?

Here's the answer :

http://www.air-cosmos.com/defense/video-avec-le-rafale-solo-display-a-dubai.html

Rafale M10 retrofit

It's not yet the kind of news we may find in the press, but the well informed people on Delta Reflex have informed us that during November, the Merignac assembly line is receiving the different parts to be integrated on Rafale M10.

The aircraft has bee totally disassembled and distributed in various plants before being re-assembled with all up-to-date parts.

The work should be completed in 8 months, making the delivery to the Marine possible in June 2014. The M9 should follow in August.

Copyright Eric Estrade

By the way, the Charles-de-Gaulle carrier will be back to sea on Thursday for training purpose, after an overhaul by DCNS and Areva, according to CorseMatin.com.
The "CdG" last mission was Lybia in 2011.

Dubai Airshow 2013

Today started the Dubai Airshow on his 13th edition.

The Armée de l'Air is once again showing the Rafale, for the last time in 2013, with the Cpt Planche "Tao". The two aircraft comes from the Al Dhafra airbase in UAE.

With BAe and the UK prime minister pushing hard to sell the Typhoon in the disputed deal to replace the Mirage 2000-9, it's quite good to read something slightly different, on Reuters. The decision may not come soon.

Some interesting pics :

Dubai Airshow #DXB13, dernière date du calendrier 2013 pour le #Rafale #Solo_Display http://t.co/l3SfrFW2VN pic.twitter.com/0YjS2klEju
— Alpha_Rafale (@AlphaRafale) November 16, 2013

Today first démo for #Rafale #Solo_Display by the Cne Planche "Tao" at @DubaiAirshow 2013 http://t.co/l3SfrFW2VN pic.twitter.com/rPSTUIiFRA
— Alpha_Rafale (@AlphaRafale) November 17, 2013

Falcon 7X and Rafale Flying Higher Together #DXB13 pic.twitter.com/5FAxZv8NFe
— Dassault Aviation (@Dassault_OnAir) November 16, 2013