The plane that scared the F-15.

[Boca]

In 2001, the French Navy asked the US navy to enter 'War games'  out over the Atlantic pitting U.S.  F-15's  against French Dassault Rafale's . The American's ( usually eager to pit their wits against other aircraft) refused as they knew their fighters would get their backsides kicked.  This is an amazing plane and only the  F-22, SU-37 and Typhoon would be able to live with it.
But best of all, it looks good too.

[Isak922]

Oddly, I didn't like the Rafale much at first...

But it's look grows on you  :o


Nice shots  ;)

[CSM]

nice shots but i still think its one ugly bird 8-)

[Craig.]

I think you might want to check their reasons for refusal . The Americans have been quite happy to let their F-15's go up against the Typhoon in the past, and that wipes the floor with the rafael and the F-15.
Nice pics dude.

[Boca]

I think you might want to check their reasons for refusal . The Americans have been quite happy to let their F-15's go up against the Typhoon in the past, and that wipes the floor with the rafael and the F-15.
Nice pics dude.

Not according to an interview I read in 'Aircraft' magazine back a few years ago with the French pilots ( who were being interviewed because they were at some British airshow ), they stated quite clearly that the Americans "preferred not to engage the Rafale" or words along those lines. It was all good humoured, no anamosity or anything.  Anyway, where did you get your stats and assumptions that the Typhoon would "wipe the floor" with the Rafale and F-15's ?

  Who knows. Maybe it would, but it just seems as your stating speculation as fact.  ;)

[Craig.]

Well there have been a couple of engagements with F-15's and typhoons, the most famous being the two F-15E's which decided to have a little fun with a Typhoon who was on a training mission. Before the F-15's knew what had hit them, one of them had been taken out with a simulated missile lock and the other was doing his best to outrun the typhoon. Needless to say it was rather embarressing. As for the Rafale its all done through the various simulators and technicals cant remember the exact numbers but in air to air it was around 7.5 kills to 1 in favour of the typhoon over the Rafale.
And yup it is in good fun, its just lately the US has been deliberatly sending its F-15 into losing situations to show it needs the F-22.The recent Indian war games where the F-15 was spanked silly.

[C]

The Royal Navy famously scared (I assume the Bitburg wing's) F-15s with their new Sea Harrier FRS1s in about 1980. I don't know if they were ever invited to go and play with the F-15 when the AMRAAM equipped FA.2 came out!

Of course, the F-15 vs F-22, Typhoon and Sea Harrier arguments are pointless. The Rafale is different - it's French, so you can guarantee they will hapily sell it to anyone who offers the cash.

I wonder if Argentina have ordered any yet?