Quote:
Originally Posted by hello
Yeah, that's true, the APG-79 AESA is superior to the RBE-2 PESA, although I don't know any exact stats(do you?). However, drop a Rafale into the SuperHornet's seat(on a Nimitz class) and this is not a disadvantage, because of the E-2 Hawkeye. Given the same infrastructure, the Rafale is a better air-defender(even if it can't use the Meteor missile) but the SuperBug is the better bomb truck.
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Specs` and radar range are highly contentious so I would rather not quote figures, which are classified anyway and I don`t have access to! I can only look to the manufacturer's official blurb on both radars.
Dassault say that RBE-2 PESA range was sacrificed to a degree to enable better interleaving mode capability. The Rafale M has E-2C back-up so RBE-2 Max` range is less of an issue for the French navy, as you suggested. The ADA use AWACS. It MAY point to difficulties with the technical side of the radar which has had it`s difficulties in-service as I have read. The main sensor/suite on Rafale seems to be SPECTRA which seems a powerful system. With the RBE-2 AESA upgrade, Rafale M could turn out to be the fighter they really wanted all along...
I can`t see the Rafale being at a disadvantage in the "turn and burn" arena with a SH, but this thread is about individual capability and what it can do for a air arm, rather than 1V1? In 2002, the French carrier CdG did a tour with the USN in the Indian Ocean, with 7 embarked Rafale M and some training was done between Rafale and F-18 E/F.. See below..
Rafale, Dassault-Breguet (Not Jane's but the only reference to hand!).
Rafale M will use Meteor, French carrier Rafale M has already carried Meteor test rounds for cat and trap testing extensively.
Basically, SH is mature right now, ready to go anywhere with the FULL range of A2G stores, Rafale is not, it depends on whether a customer is prepared to wait.. Singapore wasn`t, they also didn`t want to wait for Typhoon to develop it`s A2G capability.