Rafale B video, nuclear attack run.
If you gentlemen would like an air delivered nuclear weapon, then there's at least one WE177 at IWM Duxford.
Just a warhead required?
And If you can persuade Dr Plemming, perhaps we can get the Blue steel there tooled up and loaded on to XH558?
Just a warhead required?
And If you can persuade Dr Plemming, perhaps we can get the Blue steel there tooled up and loaded on to XH558?
watching it again it might work against N. Korea IRL but hardly against any other nuclear power, except maybe as a first strike out of nowhere to catch them unprepared
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Reinhardt wrote:
Bullcrap - even as a civvie I know UK trident warheads are UK designed and built with material from the UK Nuclear industry.
Why do people persist in pushing such patently wrong information ?
Same for the nuclear warheads - so talking of an independent déterrent force is simply a joke.
Why do people persist in pushing such patently wrong information ?
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@AreOut
The role of that particular weapon, in french hands, is to provide a final warning prior to employment of slbms..
Nice picture courts it may be the angle, but do the jugs constrain the use of fuselage mraams?
The role of that particular weapon, in french hands, is to provide a final warning prior to employment of slbms..
Nice picture courts it may be the angle, but do the jugs constrain the use of fuselage mraams?
Glad Rag,
I found this picture and a couple of others, which show the outer stations available with underwing tanks. The other two (centreline) stations taken up here by the fuselage tank. Others even show planned use of METEOR with the same, 3-tank configuration. There appear to be plenty of a-a stations available even with tanks and bombs. I shall refer to my source some more and see what's around.
I found this picture and a couple of others, which show the outer stations available with underwing tanks. The other two (centreline) stations taken up here by the fuselage tank. Others even show planned use of METEOR with the same, 3-tank configuration. There appear to be plenty of a-a stations available even with tanks and bombs. I shall refer to my source some more and see what's around.
"The role of that particular weapon, in french hands, is to provide a final warning prior to employment of slbms.."
then they wouldn't have to enter enemy's airspace just detonate it somewhere near
the thing is any competent air defense on high readiness would take them down before they had opportunity to launch missiles
then they wouldn't have to enter enemy's airspace just detonate it somewhere near
the thing is any competent air defense on high readiness would take them down before they had opportunity to launch missiles
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As for the UK Trident missiles, it's simply a US-designed missile, built in America and maintained there. Same for the nuclear warheads - so talking of an independent déterrent force is simply a joke.
The missile is US, but the "physics package" is entirely UK. That includes the fissile material, the design, the assembly, the installation, etc, etc. The re-entry vehicle (RV, with the "physics package" inside) is a UK design based on US specs for mass, aerodynamics, etc. The UK even has its own "penetration aids" inside those RVs. And the most important part: UK Trident missiles are in UK submarines, manned by UK sailors, and under the complete control of UK defense authorities. They are indeed truly independent operationally, which is where it really counts.
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I do admire the way they "just get on with it" and quietly produce excellent integrated aircraft, sensor's and weapons. 500k (flight profile dependant) stand off ramjet nuke all their own work... Definitely not working for the Yankee dollar..
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Qinetiq, the "british" defence research agency, is mainly structured around American interests (Carlyle Group) since the privatisation. Fact.
So those people sold their "formerly" independant research capabilites (Boscombe Down, Farnborough) to the yankee dollar, as rightly said by glad rad
Yes, in the Rafale everything is French (engine, radar, ECM, nuclear missile) - to the great displeasure of US.
Pity our current government is currently sold to US interests (the result: a pityful 18% approval rate in the population) So things might change soon - wait for next elections ...
Back to the sub'launched missiles : Trident is american, so if they are removed, the Royal Navy can revert to combat divers on kayaks to deliver those "proudly british " warheads
So those people sold their "formerly" independant research capabilites (Boscombe Down, Farnborough) to the yankee dollar, as rightly said by glad rad
Yes, in the Rafale everything is French (engine, radar, ECM, nuclear missile) - to the great displeasure of US.
Pity our current government is currently sold to US interests (the result: a pityful 18% approval rate in the population) So things might change soon - wait for next elections ...
Back to the sub'launched missiles : Trident is american, so if they are removed, the Royal Navy can revert to combat divers on kayaks to deliver those "proudly british " warheads
Reinhardt,
Er, just exactly how on earth does a company "structure round American interests?"
It is a UK owned company that is very active in the US, the largest defence marketplace on earth by a country mile. A rather good move I would have thought for a DEFENCE and technology company.
Just who is going to "remove" the UK's Trident missiles?
Er, just exactly how on earth does a company "structure round American interests?"
It is a UK owned company that is very active in the US, the largest defence marketplace on earth by a country mile. A rather good move I would have thought for a DEFENCE and technology company.
Just who is going to "remove" the UK's Trident missiles?
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"The role of that particular weapon, in french hands, is to provide a final warning prior to employment of slbms.."
then they wouldn't have to enter enemy's airspace just detonate it somewhere near"
brings back memories of the early days of the French Force de frappe when the missiles would just about reach the Franco-German Border ............. the idea was to turn both Germanies into a blasted wasteland.....how THAT was supposed to deter the Russians was never made really clear......
then they wouldn't have to enter enemy's airspace just detonate it somewhere near"
brings back memories of the early days of the French Force de frappe when the missiles would just about reach the Franco-German Border ............. the idea was to turn both Germanies into a blasted wasteland.....how THAT was supposed to deter the Russians was never made really clear......
Eh? Force de Frappe started with Vautour bombers with free fall bombs in '55. This wasn't perfect, but neither was the Soviet atomic, later nuclear, capability at that time. Then they added the S2 IRBM - meaning a range of 3,000 to 5,500 km. Hardly the Franco-German border. Then it was Mirage IV, M4 SLIRBMs and the third largest nuclear force in the world. Added to NATO's might, I think that deterred the Russians.
..indeed, plus the fact that the French have always kept exclusive control over their nuclear forces.
A bottle (or four) of St-Emilion over lunch and who knows what the French President will order next? Creme de Cassis frappe, ou Moscow Frappe?
A bottle (or four) of St-Emilion over lunch and who knows what the French President will order next? Creme de Cassis frappe, ou Moscow Frappe?