F-35 Joint Strike Fighter News, Videos and pics Thread

[HMS Astute]

Re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Thanks @A Bar Brother for fascinating post.

Much appreciated.

 

[Jura The idiot]

Re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

... So, whatever advantages the F-35 has over the Rafale today, when it comes to electronics, will be negated within the next few years with the introduction of the F3R and the tranches after that.

this afternoon I'm going to use google just to figure out what all these acronyms mean but your post sounds cool, bro

 

[thunderchief]

Re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

this afternoon I'm going to use google just to figure out what all these acronyms mean but your post sounds cool, bro

FOC - Full Operational Capability (although Rafale's AESA radar didn't achieve this, yet)
ECM - Electronic countermeasures
EW - Electronic warfare
SIGINT - Signals intelligence
ELINT - Electronic (signals) intelligence
IRST - Infra-red search and track
MCT - Mercury cadmium telluride
QWIP - Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector
EOTS - Electro-Optical Targeting System
SATCOM - Satellite Communications
MAWS - Missile Approach Warning System(s)
LaWS - Laser weapon system (although neither aircraft have that for now)
HMDS - Head-mounted display system
DDM-NG - Détecteur de départ missile nouvelle génération
HOTAS - Hands On Throttle-And-Stick
HUD - Heads-up display
OBOGS - on-board oxygen generation system
IFF - Identification, friend or foe
MDPU - modulare data processing unit
MADL - Multifunction Advanced Data Link

 

[A Bar Brother]

Re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

FOC - Full Operational Capability (although Rafale's AESA radar didn't achieve this, yet)

Are you certain because I thought the Lot 4 with B339 was the first jet with FOC radar? Delivered in September 2013.

IOC was in April 2012. FOC was scheduled for end of 2013.

LaWS - Laser weapon system (although neither aircraft have that for now)

Warning system.

 

[A Bar Brother]

Re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Thanks @A Bar Brother for fascinating post.

Much appreciated.

Anytime.

this afternoon I'm going to use google just to figure out what all these acronyms mean but your post sounds cool, bro

Thanks.

 

[thunderchief]

Re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Are you certain because I thought the Lot 4 with B339 was the first jet with FOC radar? Delivered in September 2013.

It is not fully operational yet, it needs some upgrades, mostly related to integration of Meteor and some other things :

Rafale F3Rs features software enhancements to make full use of the RBE2-AA radar, Meteor long range air-to-air missile integration, SBU-64 dual mode laser/GPS AASM smart bomb integration, improvements to Thales SPECTRA self-defence system, an Identification Friend or Foe interrogator/transponder with full Mode-5/ Mode-S-compatibility. Diagnostic improvements will make maintenance easier and more cost-effective, and there are reports that F3R will improve an overall pilot interface that has been consistently rated below the Eurofighter’s. As of September 2013, the DGA started referring to these planes as the 4th tranche (4T), and January 2014 saw a full commitment to develop all of these upgrades for fielding by 2018.

Efforts to include MBDA’s Meteor long-range air-air missiles are underway already, but it won’t be ready until 2018. That will make Rafale the last European fighter to integrate the Meteor, about 3-4 years later than the JAS-39 Gripen. It will also be the only fighter with a 1-way Meteor datalink instead of a 2-way link.

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You are probably aware of this, considering India :

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[A Bar Brother]

Re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

It is not fully operational yet, it needs some upgrades, mostly related to integration of Meteor and some other things :

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Integration of Meteor has nothing to do with FOC of the radar. FOC has a lot to do with opening up the software limitations and adding new modes. The F3R will see further upgrades, so it makes sense that the RBE-2AA has already achieved FOC.

You are probably aware of this, considering India :

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It's not clear whether IAF will go for F3+ or F3R. But F3R is just a software upgrade and will be available to the IAF. Even if the first 18 are F3+, it is possible the next 18 or even the last 60 could be F3R or higher. There have been 60+ new equipment added to the Rafale since the first RFP. The IFF will be Indian, so the new Mode 5/S won't matter.

The MKI has undergone many upgrades during production. There have been as many as 65 new upgrades to the aircraft since production started. So it makes sense that the IAF Rafale will see new upgrades. Anyway, we are entirely off topic, so let's end it here.

 

[FORBIN]

Re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

4 ème tranche (commandée en 2009) : 60 Rafale à partir de septembre 2013 (standard F3-O4T)
•Rafale B339 à B363
•Rafale C145 à C169
•Rafale M39 à M48

All with AESA radar can also be adapted on others

B339

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[thunderchief]

Re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

Integration of Meteor has nothing to do with FOC of the radar. FOC has a lot to do with opening up the software limitations and adding new modes. The F3R will see further upgrades, so it makes sense that the RBE-2AA has already achieved FOC.

It has everything to do with integration of various weapons and pieces of equipment . Otherwise , you could say that AN/APG-81 is FOC .

It's not clear whether IAF will go for F3+ or F3R. But F3R is just a software upgrade and will be available to the IAF. Even if the first 18 are F3+, it is possible the next 18 or even the last 60 could be F3R or higher. There have been 60+ new equipment added to the Rafale since the first RFP. The IFF will be Indian, so the new Mode 5/S won't matter.

It is unclear would IAF would want to wait for F3R , but that is a topic for another thread .

 

[A Bar Brother]

Re: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Thread

It has everything to do with integration of various weapons and pieces of equipment . Otherwise , you could say that AN/APG-81 is FOC .

Many of APG-81's modes haven't yet been opened up for usage. The IOC is planned for 2016.

The RBE-2AA already fires all types of weapons. I was being specific about the Meteor. I mean I doubt the Meteor is related to RBE-2AA's FOC since it already uses the MICA RF. It's not like integrating another BVR missile will make a difference only because it is better than the MICA RF.

However, okay, if the RBE-2AA is yet to undergo FOC, then it is yet to undergo FOC.