France tells Belgium 'do the right thing….' (buy Rafale!)
 

Quel surpris!

French Armed Forces Minister Tells VRT

"France’s Armed Forces Minister on Friday called on Belgium to do the right thing when choosing its next fighter, and to pick the competitor that would best support the emerging European defense compact as well as Belgium’s own defense capabilities.

"During a June 8 interview with VRT Flemish radio-television, Florence Parly also took a swipe at the two aircraft that are competing for an order…..

"If Belgium were to opt for the F-35 to replace its current F-16s, Parly told VRT NWS "it would be a terrible choice…..The American offer is an expensive one, and comes at a very particular time, when the United States has launched a trade war against Europe,” she said.

"For Belgium, “a founding nation of the European Union, it would be a terrible choice,” because it wouldn’t support the Europe defense compact, she said.

"Parly dismissed the Eurofighter Typhoon, made by a four-nation consortium but represented by British company BAE Systems in the Belgian competition, in a few words.

"The British plane has not yet demonstrated its performance, and we think that performance is rather mediocre," the French minister said."

Good old Flo! She obviously didn't notice Libya in 2011, or Shader, or any of the Red Flags….. Seven or eight years ago she's have had a point about 'not demonstrated', perhaps, but now…..?

I wonder whether Trump's recent 'diplomacy' will have helped Typhoon's chances in Belgium and Canada?

Plus ca change -----

(PS: Jacko, 4May PM)

Typhoon will have AESA by the time Belgium comes to operate it, it has 'sensor fusion' (whatever that actually means) to at least the same degree as the Rafale, cost benefits of the Rafale over the Typhoon are marginal (procurement and operating), and Rafale can carry less over a shorter distance at a lower altitude and slower speed (important for Meteor). Other than that, yes go for Rafale.

It's Belgium - range doesn't matter as they never go anywhere..............

Must have been some other Belgium that flew its F-16s in Afghanistan. Belgium goes as far as anyone, and further than most.

Interestingly, Dassault and the French government declined to answer the Belgian RFP, did not submit a proper bid, and now expect to take the prize on the basis, presumably, of Francophone solidarity. :rolleyes:

There was a time when the Rafale did look like a better bet than a narrow and inflexible Typhoon, but with all the weapons integrations and capability enhancements achieved since then, and looking at the configuration being offered to Belgium, Typhoon looks to me to be a much better option for Belgium than does Rafale.

Anyone who understands Belgian politics, please raise their moules-and-frites stained hand.

Why bother with all that paper work and angst when , as George points out, Belgian politics will deliver the result not some "evaluation"

TBH people should do the same thing with the Indian AF requests for bids

Thats a naive statement HH ....like all of NATO air arms they deploy Out Of Area

Belgian F-16s end operations over Afghanistan

They do other deployements such as provide CAP during Op Ellamy in 2011.

cheers

Typhoon a bomb truck ??
Hardly. It is now becoming a true multi role weapons platform with the ability to deliver its Swing Role capability. It is also extremely reliable and supports a much larger European Base.

Back in 2014 I got chatting with a Belgian AF engineer in a Bar in Bree, he was stationed at Kleine Brogel, he said that whatever replaced the F-16 would need to be able to carry the 'Bomb'. I did hear that the Germans and Dutch still retain their M61s. Perhaps someone can confirm that the BAF have a handful of the old instant sunshine bucket loads an' all? Further, could the Tiffy carry M61s?

FB

The M61 is a gun. The Belgians are still in on the NATO weapon program with dual-keyed B61s, which are being upgraded into the dial-a-yield, JDAM-tailkit-equipped B61-12. Integrating the weapon on to Typhoon or Rafale is technically possible because both are MIL-STD-1760 compliant. (The precedent is that German and Italian Tornados carry B61s.) The question is whether the US will be cooperative, or whether it will use the nuclear arrangement as a lever to sell F-35 in Belgium and Germany.

There are about 150 B61s in Europe, including 50 at Incirlik AB that are US-only, although aircraft would have to be deployed there to deliver them. The weapons in Italy, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands are held under an arrangement where the US can keep the weapons on European soil, as long as the hosts have a role in their delivery.

I don't think the strategic rationale for this element of the nuclear force has been deeply studied in recent years.

Dial-a-yield, I resemble that years ago (1960?)

Frankly, I cannot understand how some european countries feel so proud about being submitted to US, with those bombs locked in a secure area at their own base, with US MP to guard them. But if it pleases them, why not ? And for sure " a Belgian engineer at the bar" is the most reliable source in international politics….

Quote:

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Originally Posted by melmothtw

Typhoon will have AESA by the time ….

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Yes, in time, everything said ! And it will be landing on carriers, also ….
And if things keep going like that, at that moment Scotland will have been separated from England, so it will be less trouble with that country divided in two. And maybe Belgium also, the way it goes (they don't talk to each other in that artificial country !) And western Europe will look like Africa also.

My apologies George my dear plum, B61s of course!

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.gmf...4ad9b0c4eb.jpg

Alpha & Rafale
Sorry to intrude -

Saw this on the Belgian Air Force F-16 Solo Display Facebook page, an 11 Squadron Alpha Jet in new markings for the display season.

Interesting choice of a silhouette to decorate an Alpha jet with -
Appears to be an issue with the link, so here's the photo:-

WILL is not HAS and no typhoon correlation of tracks is definitely way behind Rafale sensor fusion. Rafale can carry way more and to a much longer distance.