F-22 undefeated at Al Dhafra: 27th FS pilot

[GTFPDQ]

By
Stephen Trimble
on December 17, 2009 12:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

Thanks to Virginian-Pilot producer Brian Clark for an excellent video.

At the Advanced Tactical Leadership Course at Al Dhafra Air Base, six F-22s apparently faced off against F-16 Block 60s and Mirage 2000-9s, presumably both operated by the United Arab Emirates. If the F-22s also sparred with French Air Force Rafales and Royal Air Force Typhoons, which also participated in the exercise, the pilot does not say. But there were reports last month that the F-22's were withdrawn from such sorties at the last minute.

In the judgment of this pilot, the F-22s are also now ready for combat duty. Of course, technically, the F-22 has been operational since late 2005, but let's not be picky.


http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/


I wonder what they mean with "But there were reports last month that the F-22's were withdrawn from such sorties at the last minute."

[Reactor-Axe-Man]

If they were in fact pulled from sorties, it may have something to do with the fact that the French have been known to use these exercises to 'hoover' up electronic intel about the F-22's sensors and datalinks. They pulled a stunt like this at a recent Red Flag. The Indian Air Force did not fight at full capability with their top-flight Russian made aircraft at Red Flag for precisely this reason, not using their all their sensors and other capabilities so as to avoid giving out info on their capabilities.

[GTFPDQ]

That seems a likely scenario, although Im not sure what the Rafales sensor suite is capable of the Typhoon has a comprehensive sensor suite that can work passively collecting data. Since the Typhoon and Rafale came from the same initial concept, your assumption makes perfect sense.

[nastyleg]

I agree