Eurofighter Typhoon Photos

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1. Yossf

   September 3, 2012 at 11:15 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment

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   Well, I would say the Rafale choice was the most cohreent choice. Industrially, politically, militarily, and technologically of course.- Industrially: Dassault holds the most complete knowhow in military aviation in Europe as a single company, and its only equivalent are americans. Who else has the capacity to build from scratch the most complicated piece of human-build products ? Dassault is one of these rare enterprises that have built a long term industrial heritage, and made balanced choices throughout the history: the Mystere, Ouragan, Mirage III, Mirage F1 & Mirage 2000 are perfect proofs for this. I don’t mean that BAe & co couldn’t make this, but the Eurofighter programme shows how complicated it is to complete such a project with foreign institutions and keep a long term support from the governments. They failed in a way. The product itself is obviously good, but the industrial complication that resulted showed the limits of a multinational cooperation.- Politically: Tough times in Europe now for military programs. The french government as its counterparts made cuts in defence programs, but kept in mind the goal of having a credible military power, and therefore supported the Rafale (many people in france were upset about it). This obviously did not happened in the rest of Europe.- Militarily: Indian-French long-time cooperation is the best commercial argument for the sale. Dassault is well known worldwide for its top quality customer service. Highly priced perhaps, but at least 100% reliable. Nowadays, people easily think that one can change things with wishes and hope. Who could guarantee the support of 4 governments to a plane for 40 years ? Military cooperation does not work this way, and the reasonable and durable cooperation between the two partners gave a natural advantage to the Rafale.- Technologically: The french rafale hold 17 out of the 23 critical strategical technologies (according to an american typology). The indians are playing cleverly as they will make a huge technological progress. The rafale’s systems are considered to be more advanced to those of the EF Typhoon (sensor fusion, EW suite, etc…)I think the EF has some very good arguments, and he deserves to be exported as well. But by judging the recent facts (order cancellations from UK, Germany & Italy), the governments of these countries gave the place a huge blow and sent a very negative signal to India. EADS is a huge company, it can offer huge ToT and industrial cooperation to India, but do not forget that a 30% stake is hold by France (as well as 30% by Germany), and the French wouldn’t have authorized the company to offer industrial cooperation out of the strict military domain. Many people thought that EADS would give civil aviation cooperation, I personally think that this analysis lacks the element: Who does belong EADS belong to.Greetings from Germany & France (I actually live in both countries).