ATLC in the UAE: F-22s, Rafales, Typhoons and more
A significant exercise will take place right after the conclusion of the Dubai Airshow in the United Arab Emirates. The Al Dhafra airbase will host teams of six AdA Rafales, six USAF F-22As and six RAF Typhoons as well as the local UAE & French squadrons (and also Pakistani F-16s but unconfrimed). This is the first time that (officially that is) Rafales and F-22As will participate in a large joint exercise such as the Advanced Tactical Leadership Course (ATLC). Al Dhafra is a joint UAE and USAF base and is the home of the majority of the Emirates F-16s and Mirage 2000-9s.
The UAE Air Warfare Center was the very first tactical center to be set up in the Middle East. It has been developed by the UAEAF to conceive and evaluate combat tactics, an especially important effort since the entry in service of large numbers of F-16s and 2000-9s.
Al Dhafra AWC is very similar in goal to two other major tactical centers, Nellis AFB for Red Flag and Florennes AB for TLP. The goal of ATLC is to train forces in a multinational & large scale exercise environment and raise the interoperability and the combat effectiveness of the participating air forces by developing pilot leadership skills while improving improving tactics, techniques and procedures. ATLC typically lasts about four weeks and consist of large scale exercises and training sorties designed to specifically improve aircrew mission skills. Week three of the four week exercise is typically dedicated to large scale night exercises. So, this is a “routine” event, not the sensational duel reported by Le Point magazine in France, and a good opportunity for participating nations to improve joint operations.
Note: F-22s, although present, are not participating directly to ATLC after all. This is confirmed by The Dew Line. Le Point and a few others ought to perhaps check their sources, trust but verify…
Revisit the very good flight test report from Peter Collins and read why Rafale is perhaps the best pure dogfighter currently in service.
Our June 2009 research note is all about Combat Aircraft Market, we remain very positive about the Rafale outlook, with a market potential exceeding 300 aircraft to 2019, more if it clinches the MMRCA deal in India. However, the Indian procurement is not necessarily logical, and still heavily bureaucratically impacted. While Rafale is the logical choice for India as a combat asset, the packages put together by Lockheed Martin and Gripen Team are quite impressive and attractive.
UAE Air Force Photo
G2 Solutions @ November 18, 2009
[...] Not Ranked : +0 / -0 0 score Re: Dubai Air Show 2009 ATLC in the UAE: F-22 vs. Rafale vs Typhoon A significant exercise will take place right after the conclusion of the Dubai Airshow in the United Arab Emirates. The Al Dhafra airbase will host teams of six AdA Rafales, six USAF F-22As and six RAF Typhoons as well as the local UAE & French squadrons. This is the first time that (officially that is) Rafales and F-22As will go head to head during the Advanced Tactical Leadership Course (ATLC). Al Dhafra is a joint UAE and USAF base and is the home of the majority of the Emirates F-16s and Mirage 2000-9s. The UAE Air Warfare Center was the very first tactical center to be set up in the Middle East. It has been developed by the UAEAF to conceive and evaluate combat tactics, an especially important effort since the entry in service of large numbers of F-16s and 2000-9s. Al Dhafra AWC is very similar in goal to two other major tactical centers, Nellis AFB for Red Flag and Florennes AB for TLP. The goal of ATLC is to train forces in a multinational & large scale exercise environment and raise the interoperability and the combat effectiveness of the participating air forces by developing pilot leadership skills while improving improving tactics, techniques and procedures. ATLC typically lasts about four weeks and consist of large scale exercises and training sorties designed to specifically improve aircrew mission skills. Week three of the four week exercise is typically dedicated to large scale night exercises. So, this is a