twong Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 (edited) This image is from the AP which is supposedly a French Rafale over Libya. According to the Revell 1/48 instructions it says that the Rafale cannot carry the under fuselage missiles if you use the wing tanks. In this image you can clearly see the under fuselage missiles with wing tanks. I am guessing that Revell was wrong? Also, what is the pod under the centerline attachment point? This is the link to the article I got the picture from. It seems they changed the picture already. Good thing I saved it. http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/19/french-f...military-inter/ Edited March 19, 2011 by twong Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DONG Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Recce pod. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jwest21 Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 This image is from the AP which is supposedly a French Rafale over Libya. According to the Revell 1/48 instructions it says that the Rafale cannot carry the under fuselage missiles if you use the wing tanks. In this image you can clearly see the under fuselage missiles with wing tanks. I am guessing that Revell was wrong? Also, what is the pod under the centerline attachment point? This is the link to the article I got the picture from. It seems they changed the picture already. Good thing I saved it. http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/19/french-f...military-inter/ I am not a Rafale expert by any stretch of the imagination, but maybe Revell was giving data for the F1 and this is an F2? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Benner Posted March 20, 2011 Share Posted March 20, 2011 This image is from the AP which is supposedly a French Rafale over Libya. According to the Revell 1/48 instructions it says that the Rafale cannot carry the under fuselage missiles if you use the wing tanks. In this image you can clearly see the under fuselage missiles with wing tanks. I am guessing that Revell was wrong? Also, what is the pod under the centerline attachment point? This is the link to the article I got the picture from. It seems they changed the picture already. Good thing I saved it. http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/19/french-f...military-inter/ I'm no expert, but if that's over Libya ... doesn't it look like the gear bay doors are open? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twong Posted March 20, 2011 Author Share Posted March 20, 2011 The gear doors look like they are down to me too but I was just quoting what the news report said. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paolo Maglio Posted March 20, 2011 Share Posted March 20, 2011 Fors sure this is not one of the Rafale that hit Libyan tanks, it has 8 Air-to-Air Missiles but no Air-to-ground weapon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stephen Posted March 20, 2011 Share Posted March 20, 2011 Rafales are flying recce over Libya.The centreline store is a RecoNG pod.The pic was probably taken when taking off from St Dizier. Stephen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mumbles Posted March 20, 2011 Share Posted March 20, 2011 Rafales are flying recce over Libya.The centreline store is a RecoNG pod.The pic was probably taken when taking off from St Dizier.Stephen News here has been running video of Mirage 2000's, Rafales and Tornado's taking off for points south, so if it is a current shot it would likely be from the same time. Unaccountably I am sure I saw a CG Tomahawk launch as part of the feed (including real Tomahawk launches) as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MarkW Posted March 20, 2011 Share Posted March 20, 2011 (edited) The Rueters bit I saw had the Rafales taking off from Orlean. The ones I saw on CNN had three gas bags (I think) and standard AAM (Mica and Magic)--picture was a bit fuzzy. Keeping in mind they are on a no fly mission, and the Mica can also be used on surface targets, the all AAM loadout makes sense. Besides, you gotta figure those 110 Tomahawks did a number on the IADS. Edited March 20, 2011 by MarkW Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fishwelding Posted March 20, 2011 Share Posted March 20, 2011 (edited) It might pay to keep an eye on the French Ministry of Defense websites for official photography. My French is really, really rusty, so I'm having trouble translating, but I think the French AF will probably post more than stock footage. Armee de L'Air For example, what's this plane armed with? Edited March 20, 2011 by Fishwelding Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ST21 Posted March 20, 2011 Share Posted March 20, 2011 (edited) For example, what's this plane armed with? AASM precision guided munitions. Basically the French equivalent to the JDAM. Edited March 20, 2011 by ST21 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
blackhawk7 Posted March 20, 2011 Share Posted March 20, 2011 For example, what's this plane armed with? At first glance I thought it might have been GBU-12's, but they don't have the seeker head. After a quick search it looks to be AASM's, an French designed air-to-ground weapon, wikipedia link Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grey Ghost 531 Posted March 20, 2011 Share Posted March 20, 2011 Unaccountably I am sure I saw a CG Tomahawk launch as part of the feed (including real Tomahawk launches) as well. I read that and thought, of course they launched from cruisers as well as submarines. Then I figured out you meant "Computer Graphics", not "Guided Missile Cruiser". Actually, it seems they lauched from DDGs but not CGs! ;) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Platypus Posted March 20, 2011 Share Posted March 20, 2011 (edited) Interesting blog if you wanna follow Rafale, but also French AF/Navy moves/loadouts: http://rafalenews.blogspot.com/ So far Rafales have performed CAP (armed with Mica)/CAS with AASM bombs (not sure if they are only using the GPS version or the mixed IR/GPS one), and Recce. Edited March 20, 2011 by Platypus Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fishwelding Posted March 20, 2011 Share Posted March 20, 2011 Actually, it seems they lauched from DDGs but not CGs! The distinction to me is hazy. When our current DDGs displace as much as a World War II heavy cruiser, I suspect keeping the old designation is a shell-game for DoD budgeteering. :unsure: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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