Normaly the Rafale should strike AASM.

But since the AASM is late (end 2007 normaly), they had to finish the integration of the GBU which wasn't supposed to be fully integrated now. The GBUs are for M2000D and SEM in the french forces and they didn't need another vector to drop them yet. That's why the Damocles pod qualification isn't finished as well but they don't need it. The Rafale is already a huge improvement with 6 GBU12 instead of 2 for the 2000D and a better range.
The GBU integration in the Rafale was made in 2 month because of the AASM delay, which is good enough.

The statment about the Scalp is ridiculous. The Scalp-EG is qualified for a long time. The mission planing system used is the one of the 2000 and it's perfectly all right for now.

Just note that the AdA had planed several time test missions to drop Scalp-EG to Djibouti with 2000D, and the way back, so they do it routinely.
(Also strike Scalp-EG in Afghanistan  >D ... to do what? strike Bin Laden in his cave?)

The gun problem, I've heard about it. It work fine on the ground but has problem in the integration. It's a ambitious gun with a world reccord fire rate, give it time (the M2000's gun had problems at the begining too)

Quote:
even though it doesn't work


We'll ask the Talibans what they think about that...

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