Looking there is almost no info on it
AIM-260 to my understanding still has yet to go into production. Was supposed to go into production by late 2023 and delivered in 2024, but there had been some delays.
We do know however that MICA NGs were set to come into service in 2026, but was recently sped up to 2nd semester of 2025, so in relatively less than a year by now.
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That’s one hell of a pod !
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The AIM-260 is an AMRAAM replacement in AMRAAM form factor. Concept images show essentially a wingless AMRAAM with the tail controls remaining.
The staged design fits the “VLRAAM” concept which is not an AMRAAM replacement but rather a reaction to Eastern AAM’ developments.
There is also an AMRAAM equivalent in a smaller than AMRAAM form factor being funded as well.
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I don’t understand how someone who put whatever years in one plane can judge others planes that he never flight himself.
Also EF build so slick ? With those heavy square airtake? And while rafale can supercruise and i don’t remember the EF can ?
Anyway why we always end with fighting… it’s the Rafale thread, go lick your EF on your own topic.
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I was just bringing up comparative info relevant to the discussion at the time, no need to get so mad xD
And idk why everyone forgets the Eurofighter can supercruise, its the second fastest supercruising production combat aircraft, only behind the F-22, and faster than the Rafale.
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MICA NG will be in a weird spot
basically a very good medium range missile, with a “2nd burn” near its target to increase PK.
what’s more interesting than the range increase are the sensor upgrades :
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Matrix for the fox 2 version (i don’t even know what the hell that is, compared to IIR or dual band)
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AESA for the fox 3 version (possibly low probability of intercept by the targeted aircraft, and much better acquisition range and solid lock on stealth aircrafts)
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From my understanding, matrix is the optical equivalent to AESA, meaning it can use lots of different wavelengths for lock. As of now, I think it’s fair to go from the point of view that the missile can’t be defeated with CMs
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For the people interested i found this thread about in depth view of the aerodynamics of the Rafale, F22 and EF
I don’t know what’s in worth, some of them look like they know what they’re talking about
It’s kinda heated argument, where everyone defends their preferred plane but there are some interesting insight
I mean if you die to a Tornado in WT, especially in close combat, you’re just exceptionally bad, or playing an F-104.
(love being flagged 2 weeks after posting)
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This is because it can produce a high level of dry thrust and seemingly (to me) at the cost of fuel efficiency. It might have a higher level of supercruise… but the point of “cruise” in that term is the efficiency of “cruising” at supersonic speeds. It defiles the basic underlying meaning of the term. The capability of “supercruise” SHOULD be defined as the ability to cruise (efficiently) beyond the speed of sound.
Which highlights my points as Tornado pilots have been caught claiming they are superior to Tomcats and MiG-29’s.
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My only question will be if they’ll put it on Rafale F.3s even though the initial statement is that it’ll come on Rafale F.4s.
Having it on the Rafale F.3 would mean that Gaijin would be able to save the Meteor for the F.4 variant. Cause as it is right now, Rafale F.3Rs have Meteors, MICA EM and MICA IR
Having just 6 MICA NGs available for Rafale F.3R would be a nice available option, and Rafale F.4 would be able to carry 8 MICA NGs.
the way i understood it is the following :
Current F3 Rafales are to be updated to F4.1 standard, and it will be the last upgrade for these airframes.
Newly built Rafales will be F4.2 from the get go, and upgradable to F5 later on.
So F3 Rafales can’t carry Mica NG (we can’t rewrite the past), but the F3 airframes will be updated to F4.1, which, in fact will be able to carry it.
As for Meteor, It came online with F3R, so basically it’s going to be a longer range missile with a worse seeker, it kind of balances out in a way, i suppose.
Then again, it depends how gaijin decides to implement Rafale variants, because they are very messy in a way. Having Meteor On F3R, and then F4.1 or 4.2 with the same meteor and MICA NGs in game wouldn’t shock me, although it would in fact create a bit of a gap between F3 and F3R standards.
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This is only the case for claimed BVR engagements, ive never seen a tornado pilot claim to be superior to anything in a dogfight, its usually that “it can be done” if you enter the merge in an advantageous position.
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Seems like some one didn’t like this
Yet F-16s smoke MiG-29s and Su-27s in WVR simulations whereas Gripen’s lost without a single win against the same aircraft. Then the Gripen goes on to claim it can beat the F-16. This is why the claims are worthless regarding Eurofighter or Rafale vs whatever.
The F-86 vs MiG-15 debate is similar… Yet in war thunder the MiG-15 wins dogfights.
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woah AIM-9L vs R73 i wonder who will win
The F-16s equipped with AIM-9L overcame their troubles with the R-73 when facing MiG-29’s and Su-27’s with R-73. Why couldn’t the Gripen if it has superior instant turn rate?
In fact, some of those F-16s had to get to the merge without SARH missiles in the first place.
I’ll say it before it happens; I’ve an eye on this thread and wont hesitate to inform the Forum Moderation, if the discussion leads to the same result as in the EFT thread.
Keep your insults and personal problems in the DMs or elsewhere, this forum is not the place for that.
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There is a MLU planed for the Meteor with that it will maybe get an upgrade to the seeker
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