French defense minister urges Singapore to go for Rafale fig
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Visiting French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie has urged Singapore to pick the Rafale fighter over US and other European rivals as the city-state prepared to order a new generation of combat aircraft.
Alliot-Marie, who flew in from Yemen for a hectic five-hour visit, met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Defense Minister Teo Chee Hean and Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan, the coordinating minister for security and defence.
The French minister said she extended an invitation from President Jacques Chirac for Lee, who took over as prime minister last August, to visit France.
The French-made Rafale has been shortlisted along with the US-made Boeing F-15 Eagle and the consortium-backed Eurofighter Typhoon to replace Singapore's squadron of ageing Skyhawks. A decision is expected within months.
Chirac himself had pushed for the Rafale in a visit to Singapore last October. The deal, estimated to be worth one billion US dollars, is being closely watched in the arms market because affluent Singapore is regarded as a picky buyer whose choices could influence other countries' decisions.
Alliot-Marie told a news conference that she discussed the fighter issue with Singapore officials, and said buying the Rafale would bring several benefits to Singapore, which trains pilots at an air base in Cazaux, France.
"I did mention the new generation aircraft," she said when asked if she tried to convince the Singapore officials to go for the Rafale.
"Of course we would be very happy if the Singaporean government chose this aircraft because it would represent a new aspect in an already very close cooperation between our two countries," Alliot-Marie said.
France is procuring the aircraft and if Singapore makes the same choice it means that "we would be able to have the same training, the same instruction and possibly common exercises as well following the model already implemented in Cazaux."
Alliot-Marie said she flew a twin-seater Rafale recently "and I can tell you that it meets all sorts of requirements, and it represents savings in fact because if you have a general purpose aircraft, you don't need an aircraft for reconnaissance, another one for air-to-air combat or air-to-ground or air-to-sea combat."
"You have an aircraft that gives you all the capabilities," added the minister, who immediately left for Paris.
France's Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) won a contract in 2000 to supply the Singaporean navy with six ultra-modern Lafayette-class frigates in a deal that includes co-production of the warships in Singapore - AFP -
I hope we go for the rafale, the eurofighter is really very much "work in progress"
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Ya... Wonder what is going with the Americans with the F-15, like so quiet like that...Originally posted by KumSioJui:I hope we go for the rafale, the eurofighter is really very much "work in progress"
Rather it should be, MINDEF wants it to be kept low... -
Hey... Seems like something is wrong, the announcement is coming quite soon (I think so)... And this speech came....
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The F-15 is good workhorse but unfortunately it's past it's prime already. further more I don't think the yankees will sell us their state of the art stuff to go along with it.Originally posted by sbst275:Ya... Wonder what is going with the Americans with the F-15, like so quiet like that...
Rather it should be, MINDEF wants it to be kept low...
But if bush pulls rank .. who knows? -
It might be the case of the Sth Korea... Last min approval..Originally posted by KumSioJui:The F-15 is good workhorse but unfortunately it's past it's prime already. further more I don't think the yankees will sell us their state of the art stuff to go along with it.
But if bush pulls rank .. who knows?
I admit F-15 is old, but USAF will continue to use it... -
I think rafale will be high chance, remember we recently conducted a very long range exercise when our F16 flew all the way to france remember?
If our guys are not interested in the capabilities of the rafale would we have dispatched our best guys to fly all the way to france for a F16 vs Rafale dogfight engagement simulation?
I think it is in the bag already. -
Ya... But Rafale was kicked out during the F-16 orderOriginally posted by KumSioJui:I think rafale will be high chance, remember we recently conducted a very long range exercise when our F16 flew all the way to france remember?
If our guys are not interested in the capabilities of the rafale would we have dispatched our best guys to fly all the way to france for a F16 vs Rafale dogfight engagement simulation?
I think it is in the bag already.
But then why they made the statement of "Urge"? -
what F16 order? this fighter selection is for NGF to replace our aging skyhawks.Originally posted by sbst275:Ya... But Rafale was kicked out during the F-16 order
But then why they made the statement of "Urge"?
frenchy giving us a lot of things u noe. Free french classes, Tech sharing on aircraft development, radar development, no restrictions on bvr missles, a beautiful place with gallic scenary to train in, mebbe even beautiful french lady flight instructors.
What are the yankees giving? -
I mean last time lah...Originally posted by KumSioJui:what F16 order? this fighter selection is for NGF to replace our aging skyhawks.
frenchy giving us a lot of things u noe. Free french classes, Tech sharing on aircraft development, radar development, no restrictions on bvr missles, a beautiful place with gallic scenary to train in, mebbe even beautiful french lady flight instructors.
What are the yankees giving?
Yankees ar? Dun know, who knows what we have with them... -
Maybe now we got discount for buying F15 from the US coz we just bought the Helos too (S-70)...or maybe got free gifts like a nuclear bomb?
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Her statement is diplomatic speak for a last minute plea as she might probably know who is already the final runner in the race.
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It does sound like a last minute plea to buy French aircraft. They may know something already.
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It may well turn out to be more F-16s!
If not, then Boeing's got the contract. Hurray. -
f16s were out of the list a long time ago, together with the f18 and the su37Originally posted by Warren Buffet:It may well turn out to be more F-16s!
If not, then Boeing's got the contract. Hurray.
anyway i highly doubt they will put anymore aircrafts from the yanks. Better not to put too many of your eggs in one basket. -
Great video link abt Making of Rafale
http://www.armysky.com/bbs/dispbbs.asp?boardID=6&ID=165135&page=2 -
French minister queries Asia bribe case leaks
SINGAPORE, March 1 (AFP) - French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie raised questions Tuesday over "leaks" about a bribery case involving a Singaporean allegedly claiming to represent European aerospace giant EADS.
Alliot-Marie told journalists at the end of a brief visit, during which she urged Singapore to buy the French-made Rafale in an imminent fighter supply contract, that she was surprised by "leaks" about the bribery case.
"My visit had been planned a long time ago and actually we were all very surprised by the leaks and we were wondering about what's at stake, what is the interest of these leaks," she said.
The minister, who flew to Singapore from Yemen for a hectic five-hour
visit, said her trip was "not at all" connected to the EADS case.
Alliot-Marie met Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean and Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan, the coordinating minister for security and defence, to discuss military cooperation.
She said she discussed the fighter issue with the Singapore officials. The Rafale is competing with the US-made Boeing F-15 and the Eurofighter Typhoon, manufactured by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS).
EADS, partly owned by the French government, last week said it had no association with a man who was charged with trying to bribe a Singaporean official for information about an earlier naval helicopter deal.
The helicopter deal was eventually won by a US contractor.
Eng Heng Chiaw, 46, was charged last week with offering a defence ministry official SGD 500,000 Singapore dollars (EUR 233,100) to secure tender details about an EADS competitor.
Alliot-Marie reiterated Tuesday that "EADS management expressed a wish to have an inquiry very quickly on these rumours and these leaks."
"The EADS really wants an investigation to be conducted because they do not know who has an interest in setting up these accusations against them," the French minister said.
The contract in question was for six naval helicopters and was awarded to Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. from the United States.
A copy of the charge sheet said Eng wanted information "about the price offered by the competitor in a naval helicopter project so that a company, European Aeronatics Defence and Space (EADS) SEA P/L, could price its offer to secure the said project." - AFP -
Originally posted by sbst275:
hmmm.. this may changes everything, if really bribery then mindef may need to uphold the image of being squeaky clean procurement system no?
[b]French minister queries Asia bribe case leaks
SINGAPORE, March 1 (AFP) - French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie raised questions Tuesday over "leaks" about a bribery case involving a Singaporean allegedly claiming to represent European aerospace giant EADS.
Alliot-Marie told journalists at the end of a brief visit, during which she urged Singapore to buy the French-made Rafale in an imminent fighter supply contract, that she was surprised by "leaks" about the bribery case.
"My visit had been planned a long time ago and actually we were all very surprised by the leaks and we were wondering about what's at stake, what is the interest of these leaks," she said.
The minister, who flew to Singapore from Yemen for a hectic five-hour
visit, said her trip was "not at all" connected to the EADS case.
Alliot-Marie met Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean and Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan, the coordinating minister for security and defence, to discuss military cooperation.
She said she discussed the fighter issue with the Singapore officials. The Rafale is competing with the US-made Boeing F-15 and the Eurofighter Typhoon, manufactured by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS).
EADS, partly owned by the French government, last week said it had no association with a man who was charged with trying to bribe a Singaporean official for information about an earlier naval helicopter deal.
The helicopter deal was eventually won by a US contractor.
Eng Heng Chiaw, 46, was charged last week with offering a defence ministry official SGD 500,000 Singapore dollars (EUR 233,100) to secure tender details about an EADS competitor.
Alliot-Marie reiterated Tuesday that "EADS management expressed a wish to have an inquiry very quickly on these rumours and these leaks."
"The EADS really wants an investigation to be conducted because they do not know who has an interest in setting up these accusations against them," the French minister said.
The contract in question was for six naval helicopters and was awarded to Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. from the United States.
A copy of the charge sheet said Eng wanted information "about the price offered by the competitor in a naval helicopter project so that a company, European Aeronatics Defence and Space (EADS) SEA P/L, could price its offer to secure the said project." - AFP[/b]
This smacks of james bond intrigue, the whole thing looks as though it has the finger prints of the CIA all over it.
maybe the rafale is really unbeatable and the yanks try to torpedo the deal and get their spooks to dress up as wine guzzling french arms dealers and try to bribe our ppl.
don't worry folks I was ask nathan to look into the matter.
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The yankees have been quiet during the past yearOriginally posted by KumSioJui:hmmm.. this may changes everything, if really bribery then mindef may need to uphold the image of being squeaky clean procurement system no?
This smacks of james bond intrigue, the whole thing looks as though it has the finger prints of the CIA all over it.
maybe the rafale is really unbeatable and the yanks try to torpedo the deal and get their spooks to dress up as wine guzzling french arms dealers and try to bribe our ppl.
don't worry folks I was ask nathan to look into the matter. -
Maybe they make a pact with the europe counterparts.They take the helo and let the Dassault/EADS fight it out for the fighter contract! Since the Yankees know what they r offering is old stuff from Helo to Fighter.Originally posted by sbst275:The yankees have been quiet during the past year -
Maybe they know that the whole NGF is off and the decision is to buy more F-16s instead.
Either way it will go to the Yanks and only them???
Now they have to figure out how to fit the F-15s into the PDS or build new ones. -
Mebbe try the russian SU, what the point of going thru the hassle of vetting process to get a more expensive airfraft whose capabilities exceed only by a bit and have it torpedo in the end by grasping rivals, why not get the same as some of our regional neighbours, in the end if everybody has the same capability thats not superiority but thats deterrance which better than nothing.Originally posted by Warren Buffet:Maybe they know that the whole NGF is off and the decision is to buy more F-16s instead.
Either way it will go to the Yanks and only them???
Now they have to figure out how to fit the F-15s into the PDS or build new ones.
the whole purpose of NGF is New Generation Fighter, F-15 and F-16 is hardly new and able to outmatch the russian SU so far.
Mebbe the russians will share tech with us on radar development. -
Well... The yankees are determind to get the Europeans out too...Originally posted by zenden9:Maybe they make a pact with the europe counterparts.They take the helo and let the Dassault/EADS fight it out for the fighter contract! Since the Yankees know what they r offering is old stuff from Helo to Fighter. -
Well it's true that the russians SU are better fighters than the US or Europeans ones. However, when it comes to maintenance, it would be a nitemare for the RSAF. Imagine we have to translate all the russian manuals, personnel have to learn russian and go russia for training. If anything needs repairs still have to send to russia.... What I'm tryng to say is, singapore is not just looking for a GREAT FIGHTER, but one that's easy to maintain. No use if it's a SUPER FIGHTER if most of the time it has to sit at the runway waiting for spares..... Dunno come from which city of russia.... it's all about speed of the recovery of aircraft... I think Singapore will choose the Euro Aircrafts coz they help in reducing the time of maintaining the aircraft. And cheaper too..
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Cheaper?Originally posted by Cosmic_Rain:Well it's true that the russians SU are better fighters than the US or Europeans ones. However, when it comes to maintenance, it would be a nitemare for the RSAF. Imagine we have to translate all the russian manuals, personnel have to learn russian and go russia for training. If anything needs repairs still have to send to russia.... What I'm tryng to say is, singapore is not just looking for a GREAT FIGHTER, but one that's easy to maintain. No use if it's a SUPER FIGHTER if most of the time it has to sit at the runway waiting for spares..... Dunno come from which city of russia.... it's all about speed of the recovery of aircraft... I think Singapore will choose the Euro Aircrafts coz they help in reducing the time of maintaining the aircraft. And cheaper too..