2030 only for a new AAM seems quite fast, which makes me think it will most likely re-use technologies developped for other programs.
AESA seeker from MICA NG and propulsion either upgraded from meteor or a derivative of what is being developped for Stratus RS ?
Yeah that is what i think too, probably more from stratus.
I reckon it’s probably been in development for the past decade. They probably started work on it shortly after the meteor entered service. It could also be the continuation of the project that originally involved Japan
In any case having a new design already is quite surprising. Replacement rate is more similar the one we had during cold war than the one we were used to since the 1990s
Which… well, makes sense i suppose
A bit of Rafale + Tiger action on some drones :
https://x.com/i/status/2042655380296151340
6 figures missile on 5 figures stuff still hurts, but it seems the tiger gun has found some use
Rafale has started testing of the 24 JF12 laser guided rockets rocket pod - finally.
It appeared briefly as soon as in 2021 Le Bourget, but was officially presented more recently during the 2025 Le Bourget air show.
It’s a rocket pod carrying the same 68mm induction fired, laser guided rockets that should arrive on the Tiger Mk3, now called Tigre RMV (because of course) - which if not delayed again, is supposed to enter service this year.
Looks like this is the dassault owned testbed @WreckingAres283 ?
https://x.com/bruno_aviation/status/2044743272363376680?s=46
Edit / dates corrected
Rafale M #1 is a weird one but yea, should be one of Dassaults / DGAs.
Rocket pods on the Rafale before GTA 6 guys
Tho what I wanna see integrated is Brimstones, would make so much sense
Now 1500 wins with Rafale C in realistic battles of War Thunder
viewer discretion advised : content may include obscene KD
under 10.0 KD he really fell off
I get close but then I die couple of times. :(
Yesterday 29,5 tho (59/2).
Dang
Good, now do the same with the M for the challenge :D
Keeping that one for RP Spade bonuses if anything else. :P
This is why you dont let the french fly, they crash into the sea and need rescuing by a sub :P
/s
hey at least we have subs at sea ;P
/s
Ok i’ll admit that one was a low blow, even for me X)
But come on the RN needs its maintenance fixed, even I hate to see it like this, never cool to see a friendly rival in this state.
Not like brit ships are bad either, be it surface or subs, so the potential is there
They need their budget restored, pretty much the only issue is that the government keeps screwing them.
Decades of budget cuts will do that to you, for sure. Blair abandonning the army all the while sending it to Iraq was nothing short of treason. France was following the same path, even lost its entire small arms industry because of that.
For a long time, the army budget was the cushion from which the gov would get money when it had bled dry other critical, sovereign institutions.
Still, the solid foundations of the De Gaulle era and the healthy naval and air industries saved a lot there. The war in Mali in 2013 and the terrorist attacks starting 2015 halted that process, and the war in Ukraine jumpstarted the war machine.
