Eurocanards compared

The following table shows what is in operational service as of late 2019 based on best available open source material.

1eurocanards.png

Notes: Gripen has completed integration work with a cruise missile but this has not been seen on frontline aircraft. HMS/D may be at early stage of use with Qatari Rafale but no photos have emerged to support this. EW DRFM status is a guess based on available open source information but is most questionable. Rafale can access IR imagery from Mica IR missiles, dual waveband DDM-NG (missile warning system) and IR channel of Talios pod (Nav FLIR/IRST) and close to IR bandwidths from optical system. Much test and integration work has been done on Typhoon AESA.

 

 

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10 comments

  1. Kartik

    The Rafale now does have a HMDS..it was a part of the India Specific Enhancements package that was paid for additionally as part of the 36 Rafale contract. It is an Israeli HMDS, most likely Targo.

  2. Kartik

    Another mistake- the Rafale has OSF, which is a laser rangefinder with TV channel and also IRST and FLIR.


    Please correct these mistakes.

  3. Kartik

    Another correction- the India Specific Enhancements for IAF’s 36 Rafale jets also included a Towed Decoy. Not sure exactly which one, since Dassault did not disclose the type.

  4. Pingback: Dassault Rafale M versus F/A-18E/F Super Hornet: carrier fighters compared | Hush-Kit
  5. James

    Brimstone is perhaps the best air to ground missile for the short to medium range role in the world today, far ahead of the legacy US equivalents. The Rafale and Gripen do not have access to such a weapon. Also to add to the article, the MoD apparently plan to trial/install 6th generation Tempest features (to some extent) on the Typhoon as they become available.

    The evolution of digital stealth on the Typhoon (and the other two to a lesser extent) have essentially closed the gap in stealth between the new generation canards such as these three and the legacy static stealth designs of the 80/90’s the F-22 and F-35 are hamstrung by.

  6. emeraldharvest

    Brimstone is perhaps the best air to ground missile for the short to medium range role in the world today, far ahead of the legacy US equivalents. The Rafale and Gripen do not have access to such a weapon. Also to add to the article, the MoD apparently plan to trial/install 6th generation Tempest features (to some extent) on the Typhoon as they become available.

    The evolution of digital stealth on the Typhoon (and the other two to a lesser extent) have essentially closed the gap in stealth between the new generation canards such as these three and the legacy static stealth designs of the 80/90’s the F-22 and F-35 are hamstrung by.

    Good luck detecting a Typhoon at 60-65k+ feet fully passive using IRST and with 2018-2020+ (Typhoon evolution, which evolved the Digital stealth suite and the project continues into the 20’s) before it aces you with a lofted Meteor missile.

    Meteor has revolutionized aerial warfare in the same way the invention of radar and the jet engine had in their time. All three of these planes can fly it, with it being most effective under Typhoon while most other air forces, the US,Russia, China etc are likely stuck with legacy designs and playing catch up for the next decade.

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