Fórum Defesa Brasil

Le Rafale Marine se mesure à l'Eurofighter

Deux Rafale Marine au catapultage sur le Charles de Gaulle
crédits : MER ET MARINE - V. GROIZELEAU

22/02/2007

Le transit du porte-avions Charles de Gaulle vers l'océan Indien a été l'occasion de mener un exercice avec l'armée de l'air italienne, les 15 et 16 février. Pour l'occasion, les Italiens ont engagé leur tout nouvel Eurofighter, l'avion de combat européen, réalisé en coopération avec la Grande-Bretagne, l'Allemagne et l'Espagne. Des exercices de combat aérien l'ont opposé aux Rafale Marine de la flottille 12 F, embarqués sur le Charles de Gaulle. Aussi redoutables l'un que l'autre, les deux chasseurs se sont donc mesurés au dessus de la Méditerranée, dans un combat fictif dont le résultat n'a pas été communiqué. Après un premier vol d'essais du prototype en 1994, le premier Eurofighter opérationnel a été livré à l'Allemagne en 2003. Les quatre pays partenaires prévoient l'acquisition de quelques 600 avions. D'une longueur de 15.96 mètres pour une envergure de 10.95 mètres et une masse de 21 tonnes, l'Eurofighter dépasse Mach 2. Côté armement, ce chasseur polyvalent dispose d'un canon de 27 mm et de 13 points d'emport pouvant servir à l'embarquement de 6.5 tonnes de munitions, dont des missiles AMRAAM et ASRAAM. Après avoir rejoint le programme en 1983, la France s'en était finalement retiré trois ans plus tard pour développer son propre appareil, le Rafale de Dassault Aviation. En service depuis 2001 dans l'aéronavale, dans sa version intercepteur, et depuis 2006 dans l'armée de l'air dans sa version air sol, le Rafale aura une masse de 21 tonnes dans sa configuration F3. En plus de son canon de 30 mm, il pourra, à terme, embarquer des missiles Mica EM, Mica IR, AASM, AS 30 laser, Scalp EG, ASMP-A et Exocet AM 39.

Wolfgang escreveu:Para o Brasil seria muito interessante saber o que deu nisso tudo...

Hallbergmoos – Eurofighter Typhoon has demonstrated its potential for introduction of new capabilities with the first flight of a Eurofighter aircraft carrying an electronically scanning radar antenna, using Development Aircraft Five (DA5) on 8 May flying from EADS Military Air Systems’ Manching facility, Germany.

DA5 has recently been retired from the main Eurofighter Development programme, its primary work completed and future development activities now being focused on Instrumented Production Aircraft. During its earlier programmes DA5 had been the principle test aircraft for the CAPTOR radar currently in service in Typhoon, and was therefore ideally suited to trial the new antenna. The Euroradar consortium of EADS Defence Electronics (Germany), SELEX Sensors & Airborne Systems (United Kingdom), Galileo Avionica (Italy) and INDRA (Spain) had previously tested the antenna in ground rigs and flown it in a BAC 1-11 trials aircraft. This was the first opportunity which had arisen to allow the radar to be trialed in flight fitted into a Typhoon aircraft.

Eurofighter GmbH and the NATO Eurofighter Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) had agreed to use DA5 for this series of antenna test flights, using funding provided by the German Procurement Agency BWB through NETMA. Eurofighter GmbH managed the international clearance process and together with EADS Military Air Systems, resolved life extension issues on certain components in DA5. Support throughout the duration of the trials is being provided by EADS and Eurojet as well as Eurofighter GmbH and its partner companies.

The new antenna emphasises and demonstrates the policy of continuous capability enhancement in the Eurofighter programme, and production embodiment of this feature could be available for Tranche 3 or as a retrofit in Tranche 2 aircraft. While maintaining the excellent performance features of the CAPTOR radar, the new antenna provides a significant reduction in operating costs as well as certain performance enhancements, and can be readily fitted as a replacement for the current antenna with no significant aircraft modification.

The accumulated data from the trials programme of three flights will be assessed and evaluated on ground rigs of the Euroradar consortium, and will be an input to customer considerations on the future development and operation of their Eurofighter Typhoon fleets.

MANCHING, Germany --- With the successful first flight of an E-Scan radar on board a Eurofighter aircraft at EADS Defence & Security's (DS) Military Air Systems Flight Test Centre in Manching/Germany, new capabilities of next-generation radar as well as the feasibility of its insertion into the Eurofighter weapon system have been demonstrated.

Eurofighter Development Aircraft 5 made the first flight with the CAESAR (CAPTOR Active Electronically Scanning Array Radar) demonstrator system.

CAESAR is based on the CAPTOR radar developed by the EuroRadar consortium which is in service on Eurofighter production aircraft. The consortium comprises the European radar system companies EADS (Germany), SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems (UK), Galileo Avionica (Italy) and INDRA (Spain).

The new generation of radar introduces Active Electronically Scanning Array (AESA) technology which replaces mechanically steered antennas and high-power transmitters with an electronically steered array on the basis of transmit/receive modules. This array is made up of more than 1,000 transmit/receive modules which give the radar unprecedented versatility and reliability. This enables new mission capabilities for combat aircraft such as simultaneous radar functionalities, air surveillance, air-to-ground and weapon control.

"The successful maiden flight on Eurofighter DA5 demonstrated that the existing CAPTOR radar could easily be upgraded to an AESA system, demonstrating extensive operational expandability and resistance to obsolescence of the system", explained Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of DS´s Defence Electronics unit. "EADS has developed all the capabilities needed to take a leading role in the design and manufacturing of AESA systems."

"Our vast expertise in the Eurofighter weapon system and the responsibility for its attack and identification system facilitated the integration and flight testing of the CAESAR demonstrator", said Johann Heitzmann, CEO of DS’s Military Air Systems unit. "Our Flight Test Centre again proved to be an invaluable asset for leading-edge flight evaluations."
The CAESAR demonstrator, which incorporates software modifications to take advantage of the E-Scan capability, was developed and financed by the EuroRadar consortium in only four years. Following system integration, the radar system was tested within the British/German CECAR programme in spring 2006 aboard a BAC1-11 aircraft.

Under a demonstration programme funded by the German Ministry of Defence, CAESAR was integrated on the Eurofighter Development Aircraft by Military Air Systems in less than a year's time from initial contract award – including avionics ground rig testing, extensive analysis and clearance work. These efforts also involved Eurofighter Partner Companies and German National Airworthiness Authorities.

EuroRadar plans to continue the development of CAESAR to series production level in order to have an E-Scan system for introduction on Eurofighter. The functionalities enabled by the incorporation of AESA technology will ensure that Eurofighter Typhoon Operational Capability will remain ahead of competing fighter aircraft of its class.


Defence Electronics (DE) is the centre of competence for radar technology within EADS Defence & Security. It is participating in all major AESA programmes such as the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance radar TCAR and the MEADS air defence radar. Among others, it also delivers radars to the German K130 corvette and the "Deepwater" US Coast Guard vessels.

Military Air Systems (MAS) is the centre of competence for all manned and unmanned flying weapon systems within EADS Defence & Security and a major partner within the Eurofighter consortium.

DE and MAS are both integrated Business Units of the EADS Defence & Security Division (DS). DS is a systems solutions provider combining military air systems, missile systems, communications and intelligence systems, global security solutions, sensor and avionics systems, as well as test and support solutions into a single effective network. In 2006, DS – with its around 23,000 employees – achieved revenues of EUR 5.9 billion.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2006, EADS generated revenues of EUR 39.4 billion and employs a workforce of about 116,000.

old escreveu:Segun parece convertir a los Captor en Caesar es una operacion relativamente sencilla lo cual facilitara mucho su incorporacion masiva.

Poco a poco se va completando el Euro caza.

Es una lastima lo del Rafale. Supongo que es el precio que debe de pagar Francia por producir en solitario.

Strider escreveu:Se a FAB encomendasse hoje 12 Typhoons, por quanto sairia o lote

Sintra escreveu:

Strider escreveu:Se a FAB encomendasse hoje 12 Typhoons, por quanto sairia o lote

Nada barato... O "Unit Cost Production" do Tiffie T2 (Block5 a block10)anda pelos 40 milhões de libras esterlinas (ligeiramente mais, até), junta a isso 7% que está contratualizado entre a EUROFIGHTER GMBH e os quatro governos do consórcio, que estes recebem no caso de venda ao exterior, mais uma margem de lucro para a empresa e já estamos a falar de nºs "Australianos" (vide a compra do "Super bug" pelos "Cangurús"), junte-se a isto, o treino, mais um contrato de apoio logistico a 25 anos como a Austria assinou, e estamos a falar de uma quantidade ENORME de dinheiro...
Mexendo um bocado na Maionese, qualquer coisa como 1,2 biliões de dólares para a compra directa dos aviões, junte-se a isto um contrato de apoio logistico a 25 anos e é mais 50% em cima, estamos nos 1,8 biliões de dólares.
Note-se que estou a ser conservador, no concurso Romeno para 48 caças que está a decorrer agora, os valores apresentados pela EUROFIGHTER GMBH são bastante inferiores aos nºs acima, isto segundo a imprensa Romena. Na ultima proposta efectuada à Turquia os nºs apresentados foram quase 1/3 inferiores ao que apontei acima.

Sintra escreveu:

Strider escreveu:Se a FAB encomendasse hoje 12 Typhoons, por quanto sairia o lote

Nada barato... O "Unit Cost Production" do Tiffie T2 (Block5 a block10)anda pelos 40 milhões de libras esterlinas (ligeiramente mais, até), junta a isso 7% que está contratualizado entre a EUROFIGHTER GMBH e os quatro governos do consórcio, que estes recebem no caso de venda ao exterior, mais uma margem de lucro para a empresa e já estamos a falar de nºs "Australianos" (vide a compra do "Super bug" pelos "Cangurús"), junte-se a isto, o treino, mais um contrato de apoio logistico a 25 anos como a Austria assinou, e estamos a falar de uma quantidade ENORME de dinheiro...
Mexendo um bocado na Maionese, qualquer coisa como 1,2 biliões de dólares para a compra directa dos aviões, junte-se a isto um contrato de apoio logistico a 25 anos e é mais 50% em cima, estamos nos 1,8 biliões de dólares.
Note-se que estou a ser conservador, no concurso Romeno para 48 caças que está a decorrer agora, os valores apresentados pela EUROFIGHTER GMBH são bastante inferiores aos nºs acima, isto segundo a imprensa Romena. Na ultima proposta efectuada à Turquia os nºs apresentados foram quase 1/3 inferiores ao que apontei acima.