Rafale wins over Super Hornet

Rafales has made many in roads after a slow start in its sales. It feels like in those days it was Rafales against the world. Many countries loved the idea of Rafales serving in their airforce but due to unfair disadvantages created by their competitors Rafales lack success in its international sales. The Koreans for one was very keen in deciding on the French fighter only to be politically pressured by US to choose the F15. Brazil's government was also keen on Rafales only to delay their decision because of cost, however found themselves pressured again by US government to move their choice to F18. The matter is still undecided until today. Singapore too was interested in Rafales but had chosen F15 because they had better relationship with America. Saudi was duped into choosing Eurofighter only to learn that was it not a mature fighter or a multirole one and was not allowed to used Litening pod, ended up using Damocles pod made of course by who else but the French.

This was to change when India unaffected by the unfair pressure of Rafale competitors chosen the best aircraft offered to them or rather the best in service to this date. The Indians found the French aircraft would be the best because of so many reasons ie. it's overall capability being a multirole fighter, France most fair stance on international matters and relationship ( ie. no arms embargo especially at crucial times) as well future potential of the aircraft. Hence the buy of 126 with further for more option went through.

Super Hornets in turned had a great start. Well F 18 A/B/C/D was great aircraft to begin with. Everything that was good from the old Hornets were incorporated in the F 18 E/F. Short comings from the old aircraft were addressed Ie. its size was increased to add more range, hard points and a better size radar. Better avionics were installed to allowed AESA radar and JHMCS. Most important of all and what matters to its probable clients are its potential in future development. Boeing has a stealth upgrade as well as all glass cockpit upgrade available for the Super Hornet while its arsenal ie. missiles and weapon system are always improved while new ones are developed.

However the infamous source code hingers around any sales of American fighters. Further weakness of the Super Hornets is it is just a 7.5G capable fighter. it is said the earlier Hornets are able to take in more Gs and are more manoeuvrable than E and F type. It too has 11 hard points while most fighter types has a lot more now. By the way the Harpoon air to sea surface missiles used by it is subsonic as compared to Russians and French made ones are of supersonic. Maybe these are the reasons most countries especially the current F 18 operators are moving away from F 18s for future fighter aircrafts.

Most current F18 C/D operators were very interested because they were very good for its time. However F35 stole some of the market away. Only Australia has so far bought into its Super Hornets. That also is just because there is delay in the F 35 programme. Some of its airforce officers too have question  this decision favouring the Typhoon instead. Kuwait being one of the old Hornet user  now is interested in Rafale too. She is waiting for UAE to leap first along with Qatar and Oman into buying them. While Switzerland has opted Gripen based on cost although they favoured the Rafale. Malaysia too because of cost is still contemplating on Super Hornets or even the lease of Gripen, and trying very hard not to forget Rafale because of its capability and Typhoon because of its potential.

Rafales do not have the same weakness as Hornets has above, furthermore what is best about this omnirole fighter is that it has the ability to use US and European made arsenals apart from its own, that is of the French which by themselves are quite excellent by the way.

Of course Rafales only weakness is that it is not a stealth aircraft. It is also does not has a electronics warfare type like the Growler although I hear Spectra is gud enough. One that worries most airforces the most about it is its avaibility of future development. However it is a ready made plane for all its intent and purposes, more than enough for today existing threat.

Dassault presently has manage to sell 126 Rafales abroad while Boeing has only manage to sell 24 F18 abroad units abroad. It is the sales of the aircraft abroad instead of local ones that sayhow good the aircraft is, would you agree?

Rafales and Typhoon...to lease or not to lease?

Many countries can only dream to own fighter jets in especially in the numbers they desire. However only the rich or dire straits countries can or find excuses to afford them. Truthfully they are too expensive for anybody. Many countries we know have delayed not only their acquisition but their choice in the types of aircraft, not once but again and again.

Many true 4.5 generation fighters are too expensive for many especially Asian countries. That is why they opted for Russian fighters or Gripen and even second hand F16s. Thailand too having second thoughts of buying the second batch of Gripen while Malaysia has delayed its tender for MRCA many times over. Indonesia is struggling to form full squadron of her SU 30s and F 16s.  Philippines still in want has nothing much to show. Only Singapore and India you can say comfortably bought the expensive F15s and Rafales. The same parody plays around the world where non oil rich countries lies.

Saab is smart to take this opportunity by offering Gripen for lease. By doing so they can block other war jets being sold. In the long run if the country accept their lease the said country might just buy into them at the end of the lease because the Gripen by then is fully develop to address its weakness and the country's economic condition has improved or grown enough after the years to own them. After all many European countries for decades have practised leasing fighters for decades and some of them have actually bought them in the end.

I am quite sure if Bae or Dassault offer leasing as an other option many countries would jump to the opportunity. Typhoon much like the Gripen, Multirole fighter that lacks maturity would best follow Gripens path.

Dassault with a mature multirole Rafales may do better of course. Even Brazil being at the other end of the world of Asia would take this leap of faith leasing the aircraft. Malaysia's RMAF that will seriously consider Saab offer should MRCA programme be delayed again will gladly lease other types especially Typhoon and Rafales should they be offered the same.

Off late it would seem Dassault has made a good pitch to the Malaysian Goverment. It's best to also include leasing Rafales as the other or last option. By doing so if Rafales is chosen for leasing, no other aircraft is chosen and they later could be bought at a later date when Malaysian economy is doing much better. A number of 24 units can also be offered instead of the 18 that RMAF wants if these numbers are found to be cheaper if bought rather than leased.

Malaysian also bares no risk because let say in ten years she decide on any stealth fighters she can just return Rafales to the French. By that time the French may be able to afford and need more fighters. They got a ready made ones if they decide on this path. They can be sold as second hand which with great sureness many country would jump to the excellent opportunity to buy.

Of course the Europeans got to be really careful not to be too greedy in making to much profit through sales or even leasing. Just remember anyone can come up with the viable idea of leasing Super Hornets as well or better yet especially if the term is so right, the cheap lease of second hand but upgraded (with the Boeing Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) )F18 Ds. That will put the rest definitely out of the game.

The new Europe should be in Asia to compete

European build fighters jets are considered among the dearest in the world. This is so true when  you compare them Russian and American made ones. Their high aquisition cost negatively effect their sales, and we have not begin to compare them to present or even future Asian made jets. At the end Europe Aviation companies will lose out to their competitors, especially the Asians.

One way out of this mess is that the Europeans must build assembly lines in a few Asian countries to bring down the cost of manufacturing them so that they can be successfully sold back to the Europeans as well as other customers in the middle east and Asia at cheaper rate.

Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and even the Philippines are countries Europeans can build their parts in. The parts can later be export to Europe for the final assembly in European factories. Better yet assembly lines should be build in Asia to build these aircrafts.  Both option will definitely make their aircrafts a whole lot cheaper, the second option more than the first of course. That way European fighters are more affordable and many sales can be made there on. Money gain from the sales shall be used to finance the design and build their future stealth fighters and even futuristic drones as well as weapons. Furthermore they need to compete with Americans and Russian stealth products right now instead of later. And this is the only way to do it.

Even by the ways mentioned above the Europeans can dratiscally bring down on their acquisition as well as their maintainence cost when they buy into these aircrafts. Of course this will cause more unemployment in Europe. However money saved from buying cheap aircraft and operating it and also the profit made from selling cheaper aircraft can be use to create future as well as other lines of products where new jobs are made available for them.

Singapore security...or insecurity?

Singapore has the the most powerful airforce in Southeast Asia. This is understandable considering the fact that she is a small rich state surrounded by many big but not so rich ones.

Her Fighter jets such as 24 F 15s, 62 of many types of F16s and few early airborne warning aircrafts contribute to such projection of power.  Apache attack helicopters and even M346s fulfills the air to ground attack role. She also keep many of her war jets abroad for training as well as for "just in case" scenarios.

Her latest acquisition of 24 F15 was a result of Malaysia as well as Indonesia owning numerous SU 30s and its variations, and they made sure the Eagles they bought were the most advanced that was availabled in the market. Earlier right after Malaysia bought her 18 Mig 29s, Singapore went on to order more of the newer types F16s to add on to the many they already have had. Phyton missles to were bought from Israel to counter the Russian archer missles bought by the Malaysians Air Force. It would seem that she has to compete and win even at the acquisition level.

By Singapore acquisitions and operations of her war jets as well as her other military equipments we can feel and see that she is distrustful of her peaceful neighbours. The lion island seemed to act like they are at anytime going to be overiden by them. Funny, we usually judge others base on how we see ourselves to be.

Malaysia's Corruption...or the World's?

Malaysia is heading for another election. Her opposition is depending on allegations of corruption practices of the ruling government to win. The Scorpene submarine deal was said to have clinched the local brokers RM 500 million. There were also desperate attempts to link the stolen of 2 F 5Es jets by RMAF personals to the politicians of the governing party. Even the long ago acquisition of secondhand Skyhawks in the eighties were brought up in this present time in attempts to link it to dodgy deals as a result of RMAF could only used 44 out of the 88 jets that have been bought. In actual truth , in this latter case, Malaysia, a new and naive nation got con by the Americans.

But what is corruption? It is when you give something in value to someone who can give an advantage above others. However this definition is too general to take real operative and constructive effect.

So in truth corruption is defined by the countries you lived in. And every country is corrupted by their own design.

In America the lobbyist are said to only be legally allowed to charge three percent of commission of the award value. However the pricing are inflated so that the lobbyist can earn a whole lot more. That is why a single hammer used for military purpose cost USD 10,000 while a ladder for an F 16 cost USD 16,000. A ladder to a MIG 29, only cost USD 2000. The money earned by the lobbyist will help put or senators, congressmen and presidents in power. In return future contracts worth in USD trillions are awarded for their financial support once elected. Strangely these are not acts of corruption by American capitalist democratic standard.

It has come to the point where "at what cost does not matter" as long as the American lobbyist make can make loads of money ie. National Rifles Asscociation lobbyist bought over politicians to support a no ban sales of assault weapons at the cost of priceless civilians lives inespecially children.

I have also heard British politicians mets businessmen in private rooms of gentleman club, arranged by its owner for a percentage of the deal.

Even Singapore, known to be a squeaky clean is not that clean. They just know how to eat without having any chili stuck between their teeth.

The Korean Kid with his War Toys

Remember when we were so much younger, girls would be playing with their dolls while boys with their toy guns. When we grew up most of us started playing with real toys, woman with their babies and men in America buy and shoot their assault rifles and pistols.

When we were kids as boys we would line up miniture soldiers along their tanks against its enemy, fly warplanes on them and make explosive sounds with our voice.  From doll or playing houses to plastic soldiers as well as many more, I am sure there is always a kid inside of us that will never grow up.

Now there is a new kid in the block and guess what, he has real war toys in his hands. His plastic soldier are made of more than 1 million real lives and souls. His got jet fighters, artillery, rockets, missiles at his disposal. Military exercises with real explosions liken to us playing soldiers in the play ground.

America should have never poke the bees nest by sending in nuclear-capable B-52s and B-2 stealth bombers for its joint military drills with South Korea. Now this young Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader has got great excuse to play around with his toys. There is no telling what he might do as he might be young and naive and high spirited enough to try out his war toys, unlike his mature father who have seem what damage war could do and try to avoid it as much as possible. Video showing him observing and instructing war exercise made it seem war is very likely. Or he could also be pulling our leg. There is no telling how this young man can react, that is why it has got the rest of the world worried.

US has no other option than to back off rather than than risking a nuclear war or at least a war of missiles and artillery with jets, ships and submarines in which the American have no doubt of winning, but to what cost?

LIMA 2013...to ifinity and beyond!!!

LIMA is unique as it is the only show in the world that exhibits both aerospace and maritime technologies at a single venue and time. Such was possible because it is being held on an island of Langkawi, north west of Malaysia. Of course nearly every country in Asia has an event or two to call their own but none so far has the uniqueness of LIMA. Apart for the fusion of both landscape based products offered, it also not only offer assets that comes from the west or pro west countries but also at the same time from the east, Russia and its pro east countries. The Mig 29 procument ensured Russia participation. Even China took up the opportunity to participate; intorducing the many types of ships at their display booth. This is something you would not get anywhere around the world, not at the level found in neutral Malaysia's LIMA. Government and military personnels all over the world have used this window to survey what' is available on the market at the same time to check out their competitors capabilities and offers. For instance more than 25 top airforce comanders and 300 senior military delegates attended it. That is why LIMA considered one of the best gate way to Malaysia's and even Asia's, not forgetting of course the world's markets. This is where the multibillions deals are pursued and signed.

Since Malaysia is in need for 18 multiroles combat aircrafts, fighters like  F18, Rafale, Eurofighter and also Gripen provide static and air displays to impressed her governmental, military and civilians visitors. Their models, their armaments as well as by products are exhibited at their booth respectively. 

Malaysia's Mig 29 and SU 30 provided ground and air display. 

Maybe LIMA should add land vehicles for the armies as part of the show, but then again maybe they should not as that would change its positioning. After all why fix something that is not broken. 

How can Malaysia improve her air arms based on Lahad Datu operation?

RMAF F 18 and Hawks superbly executed their roles in Ops Daulat in Lahad Datu. The army's old but reliable war horses Nuris also perform without any glitches.  Nuri However are not attack helicopters and can only be used to transport armed personnel and maybe conduct light attacks on the enemies. Two more  helicopters Augusta Westland 109 are sent to help Malaysia's arm forces along with eight armour vehicles.  The army can use them for recon missions as well as air assaults with its heavy machine guns. The same applies to Navy's Lynxes if needed..

There is no sign that the skirmishes will end any time soon because of the difficulty finding the Sulu intruders in the said terrain. No doubt sulu does not have a chance against the Malaysian military arms, however they will definitely cost a substantial injuries and cost of life. This however will not hamper Malaysian defending Sabah as part of its sovereign territory. At the end of the day Sultan Kirams effort would be totally fruitless.

There are many lessons that can be learnt from this turmoil.

1. Rafales can also do the same job as the F18 D, only better as proven in Libya and Mali. So Rafales should be the the popular choice, if affordable.

2. F 18D are lethal in its multi roles platform, although old and short in range. More F 18 secondhand can be bought to supplement the current available unit if Rafales or other reliable types are found to be unaffordable. Malaysia is lucky that they can bomb the intruders this time, I assume that source codes were given. A second hand F18 D is considered an ok buy in this case.  Paying not so high for these aircrafts helps, especially to ease the graze ego and tight pocket when source codes are not given for needed security operations. Their are cheap being secondhand, logistically easy to operate as proven so in the past all have high rate of operability or servility, and since we already have them commonality cost are as good as zero, but most importantly they are very effective in their roles.

3. Of course acquiring a few eyes in the sky in the likes of Hawkeyes or Erieyes would tremendously help to monitor the movement at Sabah's coastal line, so that there will be no more or lesser intrusion of Sulu terrorist onto the land.

4. More Lynxs and Fennecs should be acquired to help the navy ships and boats patrol and chase infiltrators. Their guns and missiles will be there to back the special forces when things get worse.

5. Malaysia should sign up for attack helicopters like the Europters Tigre. It will help reducing loss of life of her military personnel, especially in this Lahad Datu scenario. Leasing options should seriously be considered for at least six Tigres or even Mil 28s as the need is dire. They can be sent in a hurry from Europe or Russia as they would not be using them any time soon, fast enough for the army air arm to train and put it to good use after. Countries in Europe and Russia would jump to this opportunity just because they need the money. The choppers can be bought as secondhand units if both parties find it agreeable later.

6. Local industry should locally invent and build more types of drones that can locate and destroy targets. They can work together with foreign counterparts so that they can evolve the local technology at a faster rate. This can also help pushing forward local industries and reduce future fatalities.

RMAF Hornets sting while Hawks claw in Lahad Datu

RMAF attack in Tanduo Village,  Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia began on Tuesday 5th March at 700 am. Three RMAF F 18 D Hornets and five Hawks 208 lead the attacks by bombing the Sulu Armed intruders positioned at Tanduo. Artilery and mortar bombardment followed after. Drones were used to assess the destruction caused. Ground troops, namely police and army forces then went in mopping up the areas of any survivors. Couple of fire fights took place with what is left of the enemies. A classic war tactics, where projection and concentration of firepower in their sequences was well executed!

A small number of Sulu army, less than 100 or so, unrecognised by the Philippines of course, entered Sabah and claimed it for their Sulu Sultan, Kiram the III. Malaysia's government called for negotiations but was refuse by the intruders. Malaysia government exhaust all peaceful means when some members of her police and army was ambushed and killed by them. Hence the country's defence forces then initiated Ops Daulat. The plot played out sounds ridiculously like it is from a action novel or movie script. But this is real news. It really happened!

According to local media reports Malaysian Hornets used laser guided bombs, most probably lasered by ground troops, possibly Paskaus (RMAF ground elite unit), even army Commando themselves.

Hawks also bombed the said targets with dumb bombs, it is unclear if they used rockets.

Reports has it the the jets turned and made a couple of pass over the targets, most probably these were Hawks because Hornets could hit many targets in one pass, the advantages of a true multirole fighters. However Hawks 208 are specially designed ground attack aircraft, able to fly slower enabling them to hover around and identify the targets and hit it with bombs, rockets and cannon if its carrying one. Of course attack helicopters could do some of jobs better in aspect of ground attack (Malaysia has not any at the moment) . Be as that may it definitely can be said that the RMAF used whatever assets that are available to them strategically spot on.

Malaysia's local military magazines in the past had reported many similar exercises was held, similar from the aspect of the sequences and even nature of the attack by different arms of her defence forces. Its true what they say "practice makes perfect" and it is "just like practice".

This is the first time Malaysia has used their acquired modern jets in fury. Now that has been a long time since her Skyhawks and F5Es was used to counter the communist insurgency more than 20 years ago. Hornets and Hawks never had the chance to use their stings and claws for Malaysia was peaceful until now. Their Sukhoi 30s and Mig 29 missed the boat this round as they are more of air superiority fighters or interceptors, although I am sure a few of them would patrol the respective areas to maintained a clear sky for the air operation to take place. The least they would be on standby ever ready to execute their respective duties.

All in all Malaysians are aggrieved by the lost of personnels of their arm forces, at the same time proud of their police and arm forces for the courage shown and sacrifice made as well as congratulate them for a job well done.

My condolences to the families who have lost their love ones in this struggle to defend their great nation.

This post this dedicated to the fallen heroes.

MRCA, the qualifiers?

SU 30 MKs, F 18s, Rafales and just maybe F 15 as well as the little F16 are the only available MRCA available in the market today. The rest are just desparate wannabes, ever unshamefully claiming to be in the exclusive group.

Gripen and Typhoon are trying very hard to be accepted in mile high club. There is much work to be done until they qualify if ever they do.

Majority of future fifth gereration stealth fighters that are from Russia/India Korea/Indonesia and China are lasing their sights towards the multirole concept too. F 35 seem to take the same path too, whether its one engine allows it to be so reamins to be seen. Even surprisingly Iran have stated that their just out of the news stealth fighter will have multirole capabilities.

While F22 and one of Japan have never stated that is their intention apart from maintaining only air superiority role. There have been talks of F 22 having multirole capability but no actuall decision to the effect have been made, topics on this are rather ignored by the relevant authorities. Of course America have other types to do the job.

However not all countries can afford many types of fast jets in their airforces. Majority of the buyers market wants only one type of aircraft, the most two to do the required jobs that are needed.. That is why one type that would do most jobs would be best for many, especially for economic and logistic sustainability.

Europe and Japan stealth merger

It is no secret that US will not sell its F 22 to anyone, even to it's closest allies, so to get at least some of fifth generation capabilities many countries have bought into the JSF programme, with also the hope of profiting from the soon to be created industry as incentive for their support.

Any future fighters programes of Europe after Typhoon may not be conceivable due to failure of merger of BAE and EADS. It is no surprise that this engagement miserably failed. Could this be because BAE already comfortably have its hands in JSF cookie jar, a sizeable portion too I must say.

The rest of Europe and Japan must come together to came up with new stealth fighter to counter the threat of stealth fighters from China, Russia/India and also Korea/Indonesia.

Eureopean and Japanese Monies and technology will help to push the programme to its furthest while their economic scale will help to keep it well alive and its price down. Foreign sales will ensure its profitability.