Completion of the Rafale Evaluation; Eurofighter Arrives On Thursday

The evaluation trials of the second candidate for the partial replacement of the fleet of Tiger aircraft (TTE) were completed on schedule on Nov. 3. Ground and in-flight trials of the French Rafale aircraft took place during these past three weeks at Emmen military air base. The evaluation was carried out by armasuisse, in cooperation with the air force. The two two-seat Rafales will leave Emmen today and return to France.>> The ground and in-flight trials of the second candidate, the French Rafale aircraft, began on Oct. 13 and included 39 sorties. During a total of almost 60 flight hours, armasuisse and air force pilots were at the controls.>> The Rafale will be followed by the Eurofighter, the third and final candidate. Its ground and in-flight trials will be concluded in mid-December.>> Ground and in-flight trials are an important component of the evaluation process. The air force contributed to this evaluation by flying about 50 engagement sorties with F-5E/F Tiger and F/A-18C/D Hornet fighters to simulate targets and for formation flights. Night and supersonic flight were required.>> Evaluation flights are included in the air forces flying contingent, so that there has been no increase in the number of aircraft movements on the relevant air bases.>> During these trials, the Federal Materials Testing Laboratory (Laboratoire fdral d'essai des matriaux, EMPA) measured noise levels at Emmen and at Meiringen; these results will also be taken into consideration as part of the evaluation process.>> Division Commander Markus Gygax, interim commander of the air force, was able to gain first-hand experience on the Rafale during a demonstration flight during which the aircraft was piloted by a Frenchman. A similar flight took place on the Gripen, and another is planned for Eurofighter.