The Rafale is cleared for SCALP and APACHE, which is basically a
solid warhead cruise missile(Scalp) and a area denial weapon
containing various bomblets(Apache). I have not heard specifics,
but the general consensus, as well as what I've been told is
basically that "technology transfer is not a problem with the
Rafale", which would mean that what we want, we should be able to
get from the French. Of course, let me stress, I've got no
specifics, but thats the impression I was left with. MICA has
already been exported, so I don't really see the problem
there.
One factor that could work in our favour is that the Rafale has not
really found much interest at home or abroad. This is not so much
due to capabilities, but costs at home and politics abroad. The
French government has spent a lot upgrading the Mirages 2000s to -5
standard, and that has worked against the Rafale as the -5 is a
very capable aircraft, and replacing them with Rafales, at a time
of defence budget cuts, won't be a very popular decision. This has
left Dassault desperate to sell Rafale abroad, and a high profile
sale to Singapore would really kick-start the program.
As stated before, SCALP is simply Storm Shadow. And yes, a
sea-launched version of the SCALP is in development, so with RSN's
purchase of French frigates, it might really be exciting knowing
that theres the prospect of eventually fitting the frigates with
this.
