A
Aussie Digger
Guest
I think the Rafale is an excellent aircraft, I simpyl referred to the fact that it has lost every aircraft acquisition competition it has entered to date (bar French Air Force/Navy). There may be other reasons, but I think capability versus cost would be the main reason it has yet to win a foreign order. Yep be wary of French support. They refused to supply us with aircraft and weapons support when we intended to deploy our Mirage 111's to Vietnam. They themselves had only just finished (lost) their war there, but wouldn't allow us to deploy our assets (that they had any control over) there. Sweden was the same. We used the Carl Gustav anti armour weapon, (and still do, albeit in an upgraded form) but they refused to supply us with munitions for it, if we deployed that weapon system to Vietnam. They didn't have any choice in the recent Iraq war. We took the Carl Gustav (in it's upgraded form) to Iraq but never used it, (the Javelin was far superior) in any event the war only lasted 6 weeks and we wouldn't have used up our war stock in that time frame anyway. I also saw the other day that Australia placed an order with SAAB for the supply of RBS-70 SAM's (the latest "Bolide" Missile) ($32 Million) and additional Carl Gustav 84mm rounds, ($46 Million). So Sweden don't appear to be holding a grudge against us anyway. Here's the article:
Australian Army Awards Saab Orders Valued at More than MSEK 400
(Source: Saab AB; issued April 27, 2004)
Saab Bofors Dynamics has received orders from the Australian army for RBS70 Air Defence missiles and ammunition for the Carl-Gustaf anti-armour system.
"We are of course very pleased and proud to be given this further expression of confidence in our ability to deliver qualified systems to such a demanding customer as the Australian Army", said Mr. Tomas Samuelsson, President, Saab Bofors Dynamics AB.
The RBS70 contract is for the recently developed BOLIDE missile version and it is a follow-on order to the two previous contracts signed in 2003. The contract value is MSEK 180 circa. The RBS70 system first entered service with the Australian Army in the 1980´s.
The contract for ammunition for the man-portable Carl-Gustaf anti-armour systems includes several different types of ammunition. The contract value is MSEK 260 circa.
The above orders will not mean further job recruitment within the company.
Saab is one of the world’s leading high-technology companies, with its main operations focusing on defence, aviation and space. The group covers a broad spectrum of competence and capabilities in systems integration.
[This web add does not lead to the actual article, find alternative source] (press releases, April 27).
Australian Army Awards Saab Orders Valued at More than MSEK 400
(Source: Saab AB; issued April 27, 2004)
Saab Bofors Dynamics has received orders from the Australian army for RBS70 Air Defence missiles and ammunition for the Carl-Gustaf anti-armour system.
"We are of course very pleased and proud to be given this further expression of confidence in our ability to deliver qualified systems to such a demanding customer as the Australian Army", said Mr. Tomas Samuelsson, President, Saab Bofors Dynamics AB.
The RBS70 contract is for the recently developed BOLIDE missile version and it is a follow-on order to the two previous contracts signed in 2003. The contract value is MSEK 180 circa. The RBS70 system first entered service with the Australian Army in the 1980´s.
The contract for ammunition for the man-portable Carl-Gustaf anti-armour systems includes several different types of ammunition. The contract value is MSEK 260 circa.
The above orders will not mean further job recruitment within the company.
Saab is one of the world’s leading high-technology companies, with its main operations focusing on defence, aviation and space. The group covers a broad spectrum of competence and capabilities in systems integration.
[This web add does not lead to the actual article, find alternative source] (press releases, April 27).
