I don't buy it.
A 10mm nut / bolt is just that.
What, they made the contact points into a triangle?

I watched contract guys work on the F-21 Kifr's at NAS Miramar back in the day.
They used regular tools.

I understand the difference between a Dzus fastener, a Phillip's head fastener, a camlock fastener, Nazi screws....

I understand that specific aircraft have specific tools to work on it.  

At the risk of getting serious in a GD thread, "peer" is not simply a question of weapons systems, it's about relative force-on-force parity, and the availability and use of force multipliers.

Rafale is a good Gen4/4+ air superiority weapons system. Of the adversaries UAE *might* have to stand up to, few are peers, and none have systems to whom they might lose simply from having Rafales instead of F35s. Worst case scenario there is a confrontation with the Saudis, or Iran with hybrid Gen 4.5 systems courtesy of China. If they chuck up against NATO, or Russia, or Chicoms, they're at a disadvantage without having F35s, but it's not like they'd win those conflicts even with F35s.

Well good for them.

Because their aircraft industry has to support their hand tool industry?

Because Facom? They make nice tools though.

 

While the US decided to go with magnetic EMALS launch systems the French,just to do everything the opposite of the US,went with a magnetic landing system. The lack of magnets in US aircraft is why this Hornet is just performing a touch and go on the CdG.




Attached File


 The French system is known as the Systéme Arrêter  Avion de Juggalos.