I Found the Rafale's Weak Spot

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  • Опубліковано 22 бер 2024
  • The recent Rafale upgrade to version F4.1 has exposed a potential aircraft weak spot.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 400

  • @ArthurDelorme
    @ArthurDelorme 3 місяці тому +91

    There are some mistakes and information missing which makes the conclusion flawed :
    1) The rafale over the shoulder targeting and shooting in the late 2000's was done trough link 16. This should have been mentioned in the video and it missed it.
    2) Rafale F4.1 introduces a rafale specific directional datalink like the F35 has which is intrisincly more resilient to jamming and more discrete than link 16 + better bandwith than link 16 for video more data sharing etc.
    a) It will allow exchange of data & better passive location of ennemy sensors increasing situation awerness allowing more tactical possibilities. With F4.1 datalink you exchange & process raw data between aircraft to build a more robust SA while link 16 you are just sharing an already processed track to your wingman.
    b) It will be a first step towards collobrative fighting with drones (expected with the F5 standard based on the Neuron).
    F5 standard is still being defined but discussions are around a next gen GaN AESA radar with EA capabilities, true Sead role which is currently missing + remote carriers based on the Neuron + replacement of current ASMP-A nuclear supersonic missile with an hypersonic one.
    3) Scorpion HMS is not an american HMS, it is from Thales, France and it is ITAR free. Big mistake here for an expert video.
    4) Rafale 4.1 is the last standard for which all older rafales can be retrofitted. Newly delivered rafale 4.2 will have structural changes and will differ from the F4.1. Only new rafale 4.2 will be able to fully evolve toward future "blocks".

    • @jeanvaljean9293
      @jeanvaljean9293 3 місяці тому +3

      4) that’s no longer true.
      The plan has differend a little. Its no longer f4.1 and .2, there is a .3 coming as well.
      There is no structural change but wiring is in the structure and therefore modifying but mean disassemble the plane the change cables and they reassemble (like for the f1 of the navy).
      The first fly by light rafale is expected for 2027 tranch 5.

    • @karakiri283
      @karakiri283 3 місяці тому

      @@jeanvaljean9293 No.
      The new Rafale F4 will be able to evolve to F5 standard, while the older ones will not. Because the internal load and architecture are different between older Rafale and newly made F4 ones. Older Rafale can be upgraded to F4, but they will not be able to evolve to F5 upgrade. There is no external changes, but internally there is quite a lot.

    •  3 місяці тому

      @@karakiri283 but is it structural changes, or just the "wiring", maybe (cooling) vents...?

    • @ArthurDelorme
      @ArthurDelorme 3 місяці тому +1

      @ It is only internal changes

    • @ArthurDelorme
      @ArthurDelorme 3 місяці тому +7

      @@verdebusterAP Spectra is very capable and continuously uprgraded to keep up with modern threats. It is a self protection suit, protecting only the aircraft, hiding its true location or even cancelling its own radar signature.
      Given rafale success in exports compared to other EU designs you can tell it is ahead of the EU competi-ion - and even US designs bar the F35

  • @jeanvaljean9293
    @jeanvaljean9293 3 місяці тому +83

    It’s not a secret, it was publicly said by the french airforce.
    The f4 was always about having it’s own version of interpatrol com system allowing raw sensor data to be shared. That’s the all point of the f4 standard (the f4.1 to f4.3).
    F5 is supposed to allow for the rafale to order drones around him.

    • @bastadimasta
      @bastadimasta 3 місяці тому

      What drones?

    • @swann67000
      @swann67000 3 місяці тому +4

      ​@@bastadimastathe dassault neuron, watch the video

    • @bastadimasta
      @bastadimasta 3 місяці тому +2

      @@swann67000 nEuron made its first flight in 2012 and still isn't introduced. It's a dead project.

    • @swann67000
      @swann67000 3 місяці тому +7

      @@bastadimasta no it is a PROTOTYPE! You understand what it is? It is supposed to be the drone flying with rafale f5.
      Neuron was never built to other thing.
      Nothing dead about.
      French budget is so small they cannot have "dead" project like american. Don t have the money to throw out the window

    • @bastadimasta
      @bastadimasta 3 місяці тому +3

      @@swann67000 nEUROn is a 19 years old program. It has long passed to be called a prototype. It is hopeless.
      Turks reached the same level of stealth fighter drone in 4 years, and probably have a more capable drone right now. Are French poorer than Turks?

  • @etorepugatti9196
    @etorepugatti9196 3 місяці тому +34

    The Scorpion HMD is a Thales design and ITAR free
    "Scorpion is flying on board 700 platforms and 1,500 systems. This head-worn display (HWD) already equips platforms including Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon (Blocks 30, 40, 50 and 70), Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II, F/A-18C Hornet, Lockheed AC-130, F-5 (Aggressor fleet), H-135M, H-145M, H225M, MD-530G Block II (BII) and KAI LAH Korea. More recently it has been selected to outfit French Air Force Rafales. " thales website

    • @Desi365
      @Desi365 3 місяці тому +1

      I think the F22 pilots are being equipped with it, too.

    • @soumyajitsingha9614
      @soumyajitsingha9614 3 місяці тому

      ​@@Desi365yeah

    • @jpierce2l33t
      @jpierce2l33t 3 місяці тому +3

      Came to say the same, it's not an American system, it's made by Thales. I thought this was the case and was about to search and make sure, but figured someone had already caught it and they did! 😂

    • @kovyfra5987
      @kovyfra5987 3 місяці тому +5

      Don't fool yourself.
      The scorpion was developed in 2008 by Visionix and Intersense, 2 American companies.
      In 2009, they were acquired by Gentex, another american company, who first marketed and sold the Scorpion to equip the USAF F-16 and A-10 in 2010.
      Eventually, Thales, bought Visionix and Intersense to Gentex in 2012 and got the Scorpion HMD in the deal.
      As far as I know, the production is still in the US.

    • @jpierce2l33t
      @jpierce2l33t 3 місяці тому +3

      @@kovyfra5987 oh snap, totally didn't know any of that! I just knew I'd read that Thales sold it now and I knew that they're a French company. I can totally admit being wrong lol and that's actually very interesting and cool to know so I appreciate it!!

  • @salahidin
    @salahidin 3 місяці тому +17

    I always thought the rafale’s data-bus was fibre optic. At least the backbone. This seems to be corroborated by a quick search “MIL STD 1760 is the military standard electrical interface between a military aircraft and its weapon systems/on board avionic systems. This standard has a fibre optic backbone and can facilitate high speed data communication. Rafale's avionics are integrated through four MlL STD-1553B data buses and two MILSTD-1760 data buses.” (Center for Public Policy Research)

  • @Desi365
    @Desi365 3 місяці тому +10

    Very interesting video. I'm curious why you hinted the Gripen E was any different. Another day, perhaps ?

  • @tomschmidt381
    @tomschmidt381 3 місяці тому +20

    As an avionics tech back in ancient times, 1960s, I find the concept of data fusion and cooperative aircraft passive sensing fascinating. Your comment about fiber optic connection in the weapons pylons kind of took be aback. Fiber is pretty fussy and pylons are in a harsh dirty environment. I would have expected any connection to weapons would be copper.

    • @tsorevitch2409
      @tsorevitch2409 3 місяці тому +7

      You can have an optics to copper converter on the pylon end. It's dirt cheap for at least 10 years.
      I'm not an expert but it should be easier to shield the converter from interference than the whole copper line.

    • @trespire
      @trespire 3 місяці тому +5

      F-4E maintainer here. Information management started to come into its own with the likes of the Phantom & other 2 seater strike platforms. Systems have been improved and added since, but the foundational principals were there from the begining.
      Today, fiber cables and their end ferruls are resilliant to harsh environments.

    • @araxonUK
      @araxonUK 3 місяці тому +2

      Eurofighter FBW is controlled through optical fibre plus some other systems. Don't remember how much, but there was significant weight reduction by implementing optical fibre.

  • @dimbulb6443
    @dimbulb6443 3 місяці тому +6

    Colloquially, the wiring may generically refer to electronic systems.

  • @araxonUK
    @araxonUK 3 місяці тому +5

    Using another plane for targeting was done in 90's by SAAB with older generation of Gripens using their unique datalink. Six gripens could use each other sensors and weapons system and other planes or other platforms just receive data.

  • @jansolo9200
    @jansolo9200 3 місяці тому +8

    Love your videos keep it up !

  • @enchated1847
    @enchated1847 3 місяці тому +5

    Wow, this was an awesome video. I wish u could do such a deep research on LCA Tejas Mk1-A. It's also a new variet of Tejas (it's first flight will happen this month). Perhaps u can do a deep research on it as well and find its capabilities and upgrades.

  • @lucaj8131
    @lucaj8131 3 місяці тому +7

    From what I remember, all older of the rafales (F3R and under) are planed to be upgraded to the F4.1 standard at some point, but wont be upgraded to any higher standard because of the outdated hardware. But, Rafales that are manufactured at the F4 standard (so I suppose Rafale being made right now) should be of the F4.2 standard, with some internal hardware upgrades compared to the older ones, and will have the capacity to be upgraded to the F5 standard, F6 if that becomes a thing.

    • @lucaj8131
      @lucaj8131 3 місяці тому

      Does anyone know how hard it is to change the data-bus on a jet? Because that may be the separation between non native F4 rafales (F4.1) and native F4 rafales (F4.2)...

  • @umarchaudhry8953
    @umarchaudhry8953 3 місяці тому

    I learn something new every time I watch your videos. Awesome jam

  • @phelansa23
    @phelansa23 3 місяці тому +2

    Great video! Thank you.

  • @Ashecomics
    @Ashecomics 3 місяці тому +3

    2:55 a rare sight of a flight of rafale's looking for a mate

  • @Lost-In-Blank
    @Lost-In-Blank 3 місяці тому +1

    I really enjoy your highly informed engineering approach to military aeronautics. In an internet filled with stick-and-rudder people, it is information and interpretations hard to find anywhere else.

  • @phillip_iv_planetking6354
    @phillip_iv_planetking6354 3 місяці тому +31

    So basically, they added wifi to the F4.1.

    • @stephanvelines7006
      @stephanvelines7006 3 місяці тому +15

      Basically only that, and:
      - RBE-2 AESA radar
      - Improved OSF (frontal IRST, TV + laser designator)
      - MICA NG medium range air-to-air missile (passive IR or active RH)
      - Improvements to SPECTRA protection system
      - new targeting pod
      - new payload options
      - predictive maintenance and engine efficiency / extended maintenance cycle

    • @nickbrough8335
      @nickbrough8335 3 місяці тому

      @@stephanvelines7006 Still with a user base of 1 (sorry the middle east and India don't count as they will take what France offers or buy US).

    • @jeffreyspinner9720
      @jeffreyspinner9720 3 місяці тому

      @@stephanvelines7006 ...you act like this ain't gonna happen if they fly within 160km of an Su35 or equivalent. I'm waiting for these "warplanes" to take their chances along with the "F16s" and "Gripens" over Ukraine.
      I got my popcorn and beer... this should happen really soon now, at least covertly. The Russians can get a lock on F35 at about 90km, but see them from much farther, and they have overflown Ukraine before and the Russians have tracked them.
      So: ua-cam.com/video/xoSJCzLlgk0/v-deo.html Let's get ready to rumble. It took Russia over 2 years to figure out they are at war... but they declared they were in a war just in the last few days... alrighty then.

    • @spiral83
      @spiral83 3 місяці тому +1

      ​@@nickbrough8335 this is so wrong its hilarious.
      -Croatia
      -Egypt
      -Greece
      -India
      -Qatar
      Future ones include:
      -UAE
      -Indonesia

    • @nickbrough8335
      @nickbrough8335 3 місяці тому

      @@spiral83 how many of these did France finance (loan money to the Govt to buy Rafale ?)

  • @steelrad6363
    @steelrad6363 3 місяці тому

    Always enjoyable. Thank you. The data-bus is the literal backbone of all modern aircraft.

  • @milosterzic6452
    @milosterzic6452 3 місяці тому +2

    I hope your health is ok man, i remember seeing a video a while ago about you talking about it

  • @Space_Maniac
    @Space_Maniac 3 місяці тому +7

    i'm thinking that the Passive sensing exists but isn't correlated between aircrafts yet.
    also that such old data buses make some sense for the period where it was engineered (early 80s)
    it's good to be back, couldn't watch your vids for a while due to IRL stuff

    • @forzaelite1248
      @forzaelite1248 3 місяці тому

      iirc MADL collaborates to track and send passive data to other F-35s or other compatible systems

  • @kevinkilleen6375
    @kevinkilleen6375 3 місяці тому

    Can’t stop loving that music with info that makes sense.

  • @ivancho5854
    @ivancho5854 3 місяці тому +2

    I don't follow this channel much, but I have been very impressed by some videos which I've seen in the past.
    A couple of things.. if the Raffle is a carrier aircraft, why don't the wings fold? I was stunned when I saw them in the hangar! If the wings folded an extra 50% more could comfortably fit! I'm baffled, unless this is just a land based system adapted to carrier use.
    Secondly about high speed data links and incredible computing power - are they hardened against nuclear EMP, as I imagine that this is more difficult using cutting edge architectures than (say 5nm) than the larger architectures (like 90nm). I know that spacecraft, at least the ones which are designed to operate beyond the Earth's magnetic shield use large computer architectures to remain functional. Doesn't this apply to military aircraft, or since the end of the first Cold War is it assumed that EMP won't exist?
    Do say if I'm completely wrong about either point.
    All the best. 🇫🇷🇬🇧

    • @Kollum
      @Kollum 3 місяці тому +1

      The Rafale was designed to be carrier capable from day one. the air force variant is slightly modified to remove unnecessary weight (there is more than 90% commonality between the three rafale variants, as for the F35 I heard it is lower than 40%. It means that Rafale air force variants is treated against corrosion just like any naval fighter). But it is a small aircraft. Without folding wings, it is closer to the wingspan of the f18 folded than not folded. If you were to modify the Rafale wing to fold with the target to have the same wingspan as a super hornet, you would fold a ridiculously small (1 and a half foot each side) part of the wingtip
      Additionaly, the delta wing puts the wingtip at the rear, making the plane a nice triangle witch I heard is easier to move in tight space
      Finaly, the Rafale was designed as France's air delivered nuclear vector, that has to

    • @ivancho5854
      @ivancho5854 3 місяці тому

      @@Kollum Thanks for the info. 👍

    • @hwkdfs
      @hwkdfs 3 місяці тому +1

      Folding the wings is unnecessary weight and complexity. The Rafale has been navalizable since the beginning
      Its weight and small size are the consequence of the naval aeronautical need.

  • @Marcellogo
    @Marcellogo 3 місяці тому +1

    Let's add that AFAIK cooperative engagement capability is something current 3F release of the F-35 just doesn't have (together with a lot of other things Lockeed advertisements gave for granted or imminent already long time ago) and would be implemented just in the new versions after increment Three.

  • @ghostindamachine
    @ghostindamachine 3 місяці тому +2

    Great info!

  • @MacChew008
    @MacChew008 3 місяці тому +6

    Side note: Home wiring data speed can achieve Gigabits level, as most home are not subjected to strong electronic interference. ie radar of the aircraft or that of another aircraft next to it.
    Copper wiring shielding and various EMC reduction measures can only protect to certain interference levels.
    My Guess, why some Aircraft are able to transfer at higher data rates, usage of Fiber optic cable.

    • @justacomment1657
      @justacomment1657 3 місяці тому +3

      Fibre is alsow way lighter and you can simply update performance by changing the transceiver from 1 to 100 Gbit...
      Imagine the weight and size requirements for Letzt say 48 shielded cooper cables...compared to 48 fibre pairs....one can pass through a 2cm diameter....the other needs magnitudes of that.
      On top of that the shielding for the cooper core must be pretty comprehensive as in the air you do have solar and radar radiation on multiple frequencies on top of the basic EM shielding....a cooper wire will be heavy as fuck and easily damaged.
      It's much easier to have a cooper to fiber media converter in the pylon.

    •  3 місяці тому

      @@justacomment1657 and you just need few fibre pairs as the bandwith is 10x easy

    • @justacomment1657
      @justacomment1657 3 місяці тому

      @ you don't even need new pairs if you have om3 you can use the same fibre for all.

  • @indentifiantalacon52
    @indentifiantalacon52 3 місяці тому +8

    No need to watch to said "good job"

  • @darkofc
    @darkofc 3 місяці тому +2

    👍👍 very interesting analysis - like your "strange" videos .. 😉

  • @sorryociffer
    @sorryociffer 3 місяці тому +1

    LOVE the look of the tandem seat Rafale….

  • @nasosst3092
    @nasosst3092 3 місяці тому +2

    No elephant and no Otis today signiore.... I hope they are OK. Thanks for the interesting info.

  • @billhanna2148
    @billhanna2148 3 місяці тому +4

    Thank you again for an ever enlightening and current video ...and the Gripen never ceases to surprise !!💪👍

  • @cannonfodder4376
    @cannonfodder4376 3 місяці тому

    An excellent explainer as always.

  • @zvonkoprosen4096
    @zvonkoprosen4096 3 місяці тому

    nice video,very educatinal as usual...

  • @patrickchase5614
    @patrickchase5614 Місяць тому

    I noted with interest the part about you having your doubts about Rafale's active radar cancellation system being "the only" EW suite capable of active cancellation. I would note that active cancellation is easiest when:
    1. The RCS of the protected aircraft is relatively simple and changes gradually with azimuth and elevation. The more complex the aircraft's shape, the harder it is to correctly estimate the required amplitude of the cancelling signal. Note that diffractive/resonant returns are fairly easy to predict, while specular ones are much more complex.
    2. The radar to be canceled has relatively low frequency and bandwidth. It's a lot easier to cancel a VHF-band surveillance radar than it is to cancel an X-band targeting set.
    So if I were designing an aircraft with active cancellation in mind I would design it to use shape and RAM to defeat higher-frequency radars, and I would keep the shape as simple as possible to make cancellation of lower-frequency radars as easy as possible.
    If you look at the stealth aircraft landscape, there are three that seem tailor-made for active cancellation in these respects: B-2, RQ-180, and B-21. The fact that the US abandoned the B-2's low-level-specific "beavertail" in the B-21 further suggests that it believes that it has solved the problem of ground-based low-frequency radars, and active cancellation is perhaps the most obvious way that might have happened

  • @ArveEriksson
    @ArveEriksson 3 місяці тому

    ... This reminds me of the Sega Saturn. It also had a funny A-F control bus.

  • @MN-vz8qm
    @MN-vz8qm 2 місяці тому

    They call it omnirole not only because it is indeed multirole, but also because mission profile change can be done on the fly in the air.

  • @julians7268
    @julians7268 3 місяці тому

    I really cannot wait to see the first public display, or declassified information of from a successful test with tactics, maybe a BFR engagement with a dogfight component, using either the F-35 or one of the new NGAD fighters utilizing CCAs, Collaborating Combat Aircraft, that can pull whatever G's the drones are designed to sustain and can be specialized for specific tasks such as electronic warfare, air superiority, missile truck, decoys, some carrying fuel, and whatever else people think up. Those CCA's could also fly escort for B-21's which could even turn out being the best setup of all.

  • @romain5706
    @romain5706 3 місяці тому +1

    9:50 The logo is that of the PSG football club, not the institutions

  • @GuigEspritDuSage
    @GuigEspritDuSage Місяць тому

    I paused @8:21 and searched on the wikipedia for VMEBus : the two CPUs seems to be plug in a VME industrial bus :
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMEbus
    The early versions supports only 40 MB/s speed (byte, not bit), as rafale was designed on the 80's, it's probably the system speed of prototypes and F1 variants. As far as I remember, SPARC CPUs have been upgraded at least one time, if it's still on VMEBus, the last revision (1997) is limited to 320MB/s, so it could support a network card up to 2.56Gb/s, which depending on the low level bus protocol used on the F35, could match its 3.2Gb/s but no more and can saturate the computer system bus.

  • @elyw2174
    @elyw2174 3 місяці тому +3

    To use the comment of this video on another website by Picdelamirand-oil :
    "The video makes unjustified assumptions and errors about the Rafale's characteristics. For example, a key point in the reasoning behind the low throughput of the Rafale's internal data buses is based on the fact that there is a need to upgrade the throughput of these buses to be able to use the Talios pod, which would only be possible with F4.1. But this is completely untrue, since Talios is already in use with F3R, so there's no need to upgrade. From that point on, everything falls apart.
    In any case, if by chance he was right, we wouldn't try to pass video on a 1553 system bus, which is a control bus, but we'd add a Video bus to the architecture, for example a 7221 bus."

  • @engineeranonymous
    @engineeranonymous 3 місяці тому +1

    The wiring also might something to do with power. The computers in fighter jets are not latest generation so their electronic systems tend to have a rather high power requirements. To receive, process data there might not be enough power for the computers to work and cool.

  • @slmyatt
    @slmyatt 3 місяці тому +21

    An Italian, talking to Americans, about a French jet. I guess we can all get along.

    • @The_ZeroLine
      @The_ZeroLine 3 місяці тому +6

      Only Americans are allowed to watch UA-cam? That’s new.

    • @shubs3566
      @shubs3566 3 місяці тому +2

      @@The_ZeroLine ha ha...the bubble is difficult to break with muricans

    •  3 місяці тому

      "talking in english"

    • @Ghredle
      @Ghredle 3 місяці тому

      You forgot to mention that this Italian is a true expert

    • @The_ZeroLine
      @The_ZeroLine 3 місяці тому

      @ Speaking American you mean. He said “An Italian, talking to Americans…” Although it should be “An Italian, speaking to Americans…”

  • @mban2748
    @mban2748 3 місяці тому +1

    Great video.

  • @lukedogwalker
    @lukedogwalker 3 місяці тому +1

    Stop the video at 4:17
    Damn, that's a good looking thing. Almost like a scifi vehicle design from a 1980's anime movie.

  • @meca_8964
    @meca_8964 6 днів тому

    What i read long time ago, but i'm noy very sure, is: F4 variant are the brand new rafale build in this standard, for French Army. The F4.1 gonna be the F3r upgrade at F4 standard for French Army. When the F4.2 gonna be the version on sale for other countries. Nothing to do with improving the standard. If anyone can comfirm, i don't remenber where i read that.

  • @pentinou
    @pentinou 3 місяці тому +1

    As the rafale infrastructure is at least 25yo, I do not doubt some legacy parts are aging fast. 4.2 standard should change completely the infrastructure of the plane to be compatible with future F5. And Omnirole means, it can switch role during a single flight and totaly reconfigure the plane instantly for the new role without having to go back to the base for a reconfiguration.

  • @fidem15893
    @fidem15893 3 місяці тому

    Certe cose le vedo solo su questo canale. Grazie!!!

  • @j.celgoog3275
    @j.celgoog3275 3 місяці тому

    I remember that a future variant (F4.2 or F5) should have a totally revamp internal wiring that make previous version mechanically incompatible with the previous one, a first with the Rafale.

  • @-qsprey7881
    @-qsprey7881 3 місяці тому

    Professionals always have some unexpected perspectives and discover key details.
    the mf 1553b

  • @rikardnorlen752
    @rikardnorlen752 3 місяці тому

    @16:53s I think the computational capability and upgrade-ability is all SAAB talkes about!

  • @michaelberger6699
    @michaelberger6699 3 місяці тому

    I think the only problem with the mirage is production volume. That and depth of armament inventory and production volumes.

  • @jeanvaljean9293
    @jeanvaljean9293 3 місяці тому

    @millenium.
    Please have a look at tragedac, you will understand a lot.
    Passive ir targeting vs stealth plane.
    You will also notice that the faf is very heavy relaying on future mica ng ir missile.
    Also new osf ir sensor and the 3 are very coherent. The faf will use ir is air to air much more than radar.
    (Until multistactic radar solution has matured probable after 2030).

  • @bernarrcoletta7419
    @bernarrcoletta7419 3 місяці тому

    It would be interesting to see how a Generation 4.5 fighter with advanced computing would do against, say, an F-35.
    Also, in the news this week were some photos of stealth external fuel tanks. I wonder how the RCS of a Generation 4 fighter would be affected if you installed a stealth tank, particularly from the side, versus a clean wing.

  • @jj-eg5up
    @jj-eg5up 2 місяці тому

    Great video

  • @AmauryJacquot
    @AmauryJacquot 3 місяці тому +10

    the processors themselves don't really matter if you have sufficient hardware accelerators to do the heavy calculations (think FPGAs and ASICs)
    the new fiber optic cable may be required as a specialized communication channel between the pod and the pod-controlling computer

    • @justacomment1657
      @justacomment1657 3 місяці тому +2

      I would guess that you can save a few hundred kilogrammes if you go fibre optic instead of cooper. Nothing to sneeze at in an aircraft.
      As long as your data bus uses some sort of standard the medium does not matter for the processors.

    • @0MoTheG
      @0MoTheG 3 місяці тому

      I have never seen ASICs but plenty of FPGAs in military gear.
      The field upgradeability is nice and the numbers are just too low for ASIC.

    •  3 місяці тому

      @@0MoTheG and cheaper too

  • @patrickchase5614
    @patrickchase5614 Місяць тому

    I belive that most 4th-generation aircraft have similar databus limitations, unless they've been substantially redesigned as in the cases of the Block 70 F-16 or the F-15EX. That's arguably the biggest differentiator between those aircraft and their respective predecessors.

  • @Abhi-lq7qm
    @Abhi-lq7qm Місяць тому

    SDR has been implemented with Indian Rafales which are f4.1 equivalent

  • @Moontrue1on1
    @Moontrue1on1 3 місяці тому +2

    The J35 Draken missile engaged a target designated by another aircraft in the late 70's The JA37 Viggen successfully achieved radar lock on the SR-71and simulated hit in the mid-1980s... The missile was guided by the ground station, which had the power to penetrate the SR-71's defenses. Both the J35 and JA37 radars and sensors could link up to four jets and one ground station. Jakt Länken (hunting-link) It's even declassified by now. lol

  • @pippotopazio2400
    @pippotopazio2400 3 місяці тому +2

    Bravo, molto interessante

  • @zaffazad4040
    @zaffazad4040 3 місяці тому

    Thanks for updating us on Rafale, your knowledge and understanding of systems are second to none. The network fusion may be relevant for coalition missions, the US and any other country, such as Japanese F35s and the US F35s, and non-NAT countries. or among NATO countries. However, interoperability requires the same bus speeds, network cabling data transportation, and power generation to process and run the onboard computers. The most important thing is the architecture and computational power itself.
    Your presentation and research have indicated some serious limitations for the 4.1 gen. Rafales' capability to use the onboard computers' data fusion and computational power is compromised or below the threshold because of the speed lag from sensors to the bus and computer and to ground stations, air or even satellite networks, as indicated in the presentation. I think the French are pitching Rafales to possible coalition partners, let us say the Indians to buy more or the Qatari AF, about the future integration of their aircraft with the F35 sensor fusion system and network regime for interoperability.

  • @karlvongazenberg8398
    @karlvongazenberg8398 3 місяці тому +1

    Given that passive radars (analysing changes ín electronic "chatter") were shown ín expos like 15 years ago, as a gut feeling I risk that Low Observability gives diminishing returns.

    • @kathrynck
      @kathrynck 3 місяці тому

      Well, better sensors always erode the detection range of stealth aircraft. But they don't really eliminate the value, quite the opposite.
      Versus a sensor which can detect a stealth aircraft at 60km, you'd better have stealth, or you'll get detected at 300km instead.
      Camouflage never goes out of fashion.

    • @karlvongazenberg8398
      @karlvongazenberg8398 3 місяці тому

      @@kathrynck Distributed sensors and data links make it from 60-300 to 80-100 as an educated guess. And if you throw ín reduced flyaway and "per flight hour" costs, the "lifetime" price comparison makes the case more difficult. Its especially true in the Gripen-F35 comparison, IDK the numbers for Rafale-F35 comparison .

  • @JoJo-vm8vk
    @JoJo-vm8vk 3 місяці тому

    6:18 No, the first AASM variant was for 500lbs/ 250kg bombs.

  • @petersanderson8307
    @petersanderson8307 3 місяці тому

    Thanks!

  • @gerhardris
    @gerhardris 3 місяці тому +2

    Great video as always.
    I'm very worried that in fact (as many have stated in the past of history repeating itself) humanity is again building technologies that have implications that are so complex decission makers always will get it wrong.
    In a war one or the other side wins or both lose.
    A win win scenario isn't possible.
    France prudently whishes to remain independent. It wants to rearm on a more war footing.
    In the (mid) long run France won't be able to keep up in the arms race. Europe could as a whole build non exportable high tech weapons outside a closely agreed amount of nations.
    These should be both the extreme costly high end weapons. AWACS replacements etc.
    But also within these selected nations such as Japan South Korea, Australia besides NATO stand alone weapon factories to produce slightly superior to the rest prolongend war weapons for conscript large armies. MAG, .50 cal, basic Fiat G91 philosophy mass weapons that work.

  • @buildingandfixing4397
    @buildingandfixing4397 3 місяці тому +1

    this is my favorite plane for being named after my favorite teenage mutant ninja turtle. what a great idea to name a fighter jet after him

    • @kf8228
      @kf8228 2 місяці тому

      It’s Rafale not Rafael. That’s French for hail of bullets. Rafael was definitely the best turtle, agreed.

  • @jpierce2l33t
    @jpierce2l33t 3 місяці тому

    Great catch, this is so interesting! One of my favorite topics, and you covered it beautifully as always!

  • @bitrage.
    @bitrage. 3 місяці тому

    I absolutely love the way Rafale looks, maybe on par with the SU-33....

  • @EduardOganesian
    @EduardOganesian 3 місяці тому

    The definition of "stealth" IS "low observable"

  • @raphofthehills4405
    @raphofthehills4405 3 місяці тому +1

    _"They needed the Rafale to replace the venerable Crusader 2"_
    Hmmm, afaik the Rafale replaced the Super Etendard.
    Crusaders were long gone by the time the Rafale entered service 😂

    • @benmol_
      @benmol_ 3 місяці тому +3

      The french navy kept it's Crusaders until 1999. They didn't have the same missions as the SE : the Rafale F1 were introduced as soon as possible with only a few weapons available and no real capacity in a2g because the navy didn't have much choice

  • @Rospajother
    @Rospajother 3 місяці тому

    Very good point

  • @yveslisiof5434
    @yveslisiof5434 3 місяці тому

    Looking into the limitations of link 16 might give you some insight on this subject...

    • @mrico523
      @mrico523 3 місяці тому +1

      🤔 that would probably make sense. Even the old Gripens had to be downgraded to link 16 for NATO use.

  • @CausticLemons7
    @CausticLemons7 3 місяці тому +1

    France is getting Phantoms? Awesome!
    /s

  • @Marcellogo
    @Marcellogo 3 місяці тому +4

    A correction: the first 4.1 consigned was not the French one in the new but the ones to Croatia that were taken to such a standard from the F3R one before being consigned last year.
    Deal made between France and Dassault for developing the new version obliged infact France to not retrofit older planes (almost for the moment) with it but to acquire new ones.
    So France had to find someone to take the older ones, Greece was first and Croatia followed so taking the most modern ones (F3R is from 2018) but NOTHING forbade them to upgrade the planes to the new standard.
    Only difference is that Croatia got mostly single seat planes (10 on 12) while new ones for France are all two seats, given that new standard is moslyt about A2G missions so an extra operator is definitively an advantage there.

  • @smellysam
    @smellysam 3 місяці тому

    Could it be that they have added a direct fibre connection to the pod, bypassing the fibre loop that all the other systems use?
    The various optical systems are capable of generating stupid amounts of data, so secondary direct bypasses would make a lot of sense.

  • @kilianklaiber6367
    @kilianklaiber6367 3 місяці тому +2

    Very insightful... since the avionics and electronics develop at a much faster pace than the air frame, shouldn't a "6th Generation" aircraft have a modular electronic structure, such that it can be easily adapted with time? If stealth is losing importance, what does that mean for future aircraft? Is the F-35 going to be outdated in 10 years because its electronics are going to be outdated?

    • @brunol-p_g8800
      @brunol-p_g8800 3 місяці тому

      To answer quickly, yes. GaN AESA radars make stealth as viewed by the Americans obsolete.

  • @direwolf7491
    @direwolf7491 3 місяці тому

    Could we have an episode on SPECTRA and electronic warfare suite?
    Please.

  • @non-human3072
    @non-human3072 3 місяці тому

    Why are you in the car?
    Oh security, it's secret squirrel stuff 😲

  • @frederickastorgav7991
    @frederickastorgav7991 Місяць тому

    I go with @arthur, though I think interoperability between different types of aircraft is a too a bigige risker to take

  • @somaliano99kingkonghimself75
    @somaliano99kingkonghimself75 3 місяці тому +1

    You got 2 good eyes bravo

  • @exharkhun5605
    @exharkhun5605 3 місяці тому

    I wouldn't compare the internal bus of a single user system to internet architecture. 21 megabit, probably bidirectional, on a managed local network segment where every component has strict transmission slots, can push a LOT of data around without "choking".

  • @ghostmourn
    @ghostmourn 3 місяці тому

    Today nearly every town in France has a Fiber optic connection (Or they are very close.) Very early on France made the forward thinking decision to install fiber optic connection across the whole country but it ended up taking much longer than planed so only large city's like Paris had Fiber and fast internet and for a long time and many small towns had to suffer with really really slow French phoneline DSL! (Like the Rafael I suppose.)
    Ironically the US did not opt for ubiquitous fiber in the early days but internet over cable TV advanced so fast that my internet in the USA was 100X the speed I got in France. Now they are catching up across the board.

    • @phillipphil1615
      @phillipphil1615 3 місяці тому +1

      I live in a small town 2000 ppl. In Brittany, we've had fiber since before COVID.

    • @Desi365
      @Desi365 3 місяці тому +3

      the internet service in the US is far more expensive than in France, it has to be noticed, too.

    • @youloulou6591
      @youloulou6591 3 місяці тому +1

      I guess the quality of the fiber (and the quality of its setup) for the Thalios pod is not exactly the same that the one of our houses

  • @IMAN7THRYLOS
    @IMAN7THRYLOS 3 місяці тому +1

    Nice video. What it struck me was the SPARC CPU architecture. SPARC was a joint venture between Sun Microsystems and Fujitsu. Practically it is a DEAD architecture for 10+ years, ever since Oracle acquired Sun, X86 CPUs became more competent and affordable for big enterprise workloads and ARM CPUs came in to offer more power efficient solutions.
    My guess is that Dassault would need to redesign the computing hardware to new architectures and then port Rafale's software into the new system.
    I can assume that would cost them billions of Euros. Investing in such endeavour would cost them time and resources from the development of FCAS. It would make sense to upgrade Rafael only if they have many orders and contracts to justify it.

    • @0MoTheG
      @0MoTheG 3 місяці тому +2

      Quote:
      Binary compatibility guarantee simplifies modernization
      The Oracle Solaris Binary Application Guarantee ensures that current applications will run unchanged on new SPARC systems, simplifying customers’ system upgrades and reducing risk.
      Scalability reduces complexity
      Oracle SPARC servers support up to 384 cores and 48 TB of memory so customers can efficiently consolidate UNIX applications, reducing data center complexity.

    • @IMAN7THRYLOS
      @IMAN7THRYLOS 3 місяці тому +1

      @@0MoTheG Oracle bought Sun in 2010, long after the Rafale had entered service. Also the Solaris that used to be sold back in the day to banks and telcos to run critical applications, had significant differences from Solaris that was used for defence. That was a version of Solaris with Trusted extensions that was based on Solaris 8. We can’t know what Solaris was deployed inside Rafale’s computers. But it wasn’t something that could run Oracle.
      Regardless, my point is that SPARC is DEAD. It is irrelevant if later iterations of SPARC could run Rafale’s code.
      What I believe will happen is that they will use some ARM based CPUs and will deploy a custom build of Linux.

    • @0MoTheG
      @0MoTheG 3 місяці тому

      @@IMAN7THRYLOS In the long term that is realistic.

    • @IMAN7THRYLOS
      @IMAN7THRYLOS 3 місяці тому

      @@0MoTheG If there are a few Billion Euros available for R&D, it can be done.

    • @benmol_
      @benmol_ 3 місяці тому +1

      From what I understand SPARC CPUs were replaced by PowerPC by the F2 version. And from the beginning the software was designed to run in a virtualized environment, so changing the CPU architecture is more manageable

  • @skipsteel
    @skipsteel 3 місяці тому

    Btw HD FHD 4K video requires 3 Mbps, but go down to HD in Grey scale it goes down under one. FYi looks like thats what their doing the software is criticle here, and that is probably why they chose this road.

    • @Kollum
      @Kollum 3 місяці тому

      The thing is, for data analisis to be performed on the images/videos, you need the full uncompressed stuff if you want the software to be usefull

  • @stephanvelines7006
    @stephanvelines7006 3 місяці тому +1

    Amazing BS in the comments already.. some didn't watch the video apparently.
    Thanks for the heads-up on the Rafale F4.1. Rafale (only) got a viable platform with the upgrades and especially the F.3. Upgradability and the speed of implementation and validation by DGA is one of the strengths of Rafale.
    As I understood it the F4.1 standard is more an upgrade program for existing airframes (especially Rafale M) whilst F4.2 will be newly build airframes which likely have improved wiring.
    For now a possibility could be separate wiring for the systems (not the prettiest solution but a stopgap measure for pre-existing airframes with remaining life).
    Especially with the focus on cooperative fighting and new AESA radar (RBE2-XG) these hardware issues needs to be addressed. Challenges also include cooling requirements (as seen with F-35).
    Love to hear your thoughts.

  • @JoJo-vm8vk
    @JoJo-vm8vk 3 місяці тому

    7:11 Talios is already available on F3R.
    So that wiring story doesn't make sense.

  • @sergarlantyrell7847
    @sergarlantyrell7847 3 місяці тому

    I thought that was only true of the older Typhoon variants. I was under the impression that Tranche 3 onwards they inalled a new processing unit and new fibre optic bus.

  • @damien2198
    @damien2198 3 місяці тому +1

    "20 megabit per second" is that dialup modem ? cannot be fiber

    • @Hebdomad7
      @Hebdomad7 3 місяці тому +1

      Good ADSL or 4G internet is about 30 megabits. Dial up was measured in kilobits... 56 kilobits was considered fast for dial up. 3mb files could take 3+ hours.
      Fiber Internet starts at 100 megabit bit can easily go to gigabit speeds.
      So several orders of magnitude difference means in the past 30 years, we have gone from going from a 32x32 GIF of a Cat. To 4k 60fps live stream of a Cat.

  • @andresimon5654
    @andresimon5654 3 місяці тому +1

    Scorpion system is french and made by Thalès it is not not american. It was bought by the US to equip their National Guard F16 pilots. Open source info…

  • @marcbrasse747
    @marcbrasse747 3 місяці тому

    Something is missing! That’s what they also said about that Boeing door.

  • @hwkdfs
    @hwkdfs 3 місяці тому

    The talios pod dates from 2018 a new order took place in 2022... It is not new and in service since 2020
    The mica NG is not new either, it dates from 2028, it is the mica ng ir version which arrives in 2026... There are EM and IR versions on this missile.
    It's always funny to see English speakers discussing the omnirole. You should know that multi-role planes in France have existed since the 1970s, the two best known are the Mirage F1 and its counterpart the Super Etendrdard or SEM, which were called the Swiss Army knives...
    For optical fiber this is not surprising and fiber cables are old and very resistant.
    The Scorpion helmet visors come from Thales and in my opinion do not have US components...
    The Rafale helmet is an Arlesian...

  • @newtypealpha
    @newtypealpha 3 місяці тому

    Here's a theory: interoperability with the F-35 will require the installation of some "black-box" hardware that cannot be produced under license. They need to install a new data bus that will be compatible with the new hardware.

  • @JoJo-vm8vk
    @JoJo-vm8vk 3 місяці тому +1

    France chose Scorpion because French company Thales bought the company making Scorpion 😂

  • @doncalypso
    @doncalypso 3 місяці тому +2

    Interoperability with the F-35 makes sense since Rafale-Ms are compatible to operate from American supercarriers.
    A squadron of Rafale-Ms stationed on an American carrier will definitely be useful in wartime if they can seamlessly share data with American F-35Cs.

  • @jasons44
    @jasons44 3 місяці тому

    Connectivity and communication is it equal

  • @ObeyNoLies
    @ObeyNoLies 3 місяці тому

    Can't the Gripen do the same thing when it comes to canceling radar returns?

  • @notificationguys5128
    @notificationguys5128 3 місяці тому

    F4 variant upgrading their data bus speed is a safe bet

  • @olle1983swe
    @olle1983swe 3 місяці тому

    Saab will deliver to competing planes.
    Saab is to deliver the Arexis sensor system to German Eurofighter planes. What is the difference between Rafale and gripens EW capacity?

    • @Nassos83
      @Nassos83 2 місяці тому +1

      From my understanding the SPECTRA is on par with the Arexis, however the Arexis of the Eurofighter EK is going to integrate Artificial Intelligence and the HARM missile, thus a proper EW aircraft like the F/A-18 Growler, something the Rafale already lacks (SEAD operations). From the schematic published by Airbus DS, it won't have the pod, but rather the sensor suit replacing the current DASS system.
      SAAB doesn't seem to have a problem integrating systems and weapons to "competing" aircrafts. If requested they can also integrate the RBS-15 anti-ship missile as stated on their webpage. For the Indian MMRCA they're also offering integration of the SCALP missile upon request.

  • @Lost-In-Blank
    @Lost-In-Blank 3 місяці тому

    I do not think one would ever design an aircraft with a bus that was going to be at even 20% of capacity on day 1. So I don't know how accurately the bus speed of a NEW model of aircraft predicts that actual peak traffic the components connected to it can attempt to demand.

  • @willyvereb
    @willyvereb Місяць тому

    Hmm, given that Saab offers to upgrade Gripen-C/D models to the E/F standards I feel mayhaps they still lack the capability to approach the F-35's data fusion. The amount they can achieve IS impressive and Saab is the leader in Europe in terms of fighter avionics. I just can't imagine that 20 years old data buses and cables would match semi-modern ones. Of course it's entirely possible that Saab is willing to disasemble old planes and put them back together with new wires. If anyone is crazy enough to streamline such process it's Sweden. IKEA plane is not that much of a joke, I swear.

  • @zmajew
    @zmajew 3 місяці тому

    I believe the situation is worse than that. Europeans have that habit of investing enormous money in projects that in the end obsoletes (recall the ISDN communication standard)

  • @wilburnprice9886
    @wilburnprice9886 3 місяці тому

    Aircraft systems are constantly being upgraded.

  • @sohrabroozbahani4700
    @sohrabroozbahani4700 3 місяці тому

    Who remembers the opening demo of Tom Clancy's HAWX (1) ????