Internationale fighter ontwikkelingen

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Ik denk dat Zweden verder gaat met het door ontwikkelen van een eenmotorig toestel. Ze waren daar al mee bezig het concept Flugsystem 2020 (FS2020).

Dat lijkt een gepasseerd station, maat niet onmogelijk, er is markt voor een kleine zesde generatie kist.

Ik wacht geen nieuw eigen model meer van Saab, ik verwacht dat zij zich zullen aansluiten bij GCAP (Tempest). Een Saab Loyal Wingman type zie ik dan wel weer al een goede mogelijkheid voor de Zweden.

Het huidige partnerschap met Boeing zou misschien ook aansluiting kunnen bieden als Boeing de USN F/A-XX gegund krijgt.

[pz]

Nee dat klopt en daarom is het ook wel interessant om te zien naar hoe de Zweden hier over denken. De partijen die nu een 6e generatie fighter ontwikkelen gaan nu namelijk allemaal voor een stealth vliegtuig wat als moeder schip moet gaan functioneren voor drones. En dat zal dus sowieso uitlopen op een toestel van behoorlijke proporties. Dus hoe ziet Zweden dat voor zich? Kunnen zij ook zo'n concept ontwikkelen met een eenmotorig toestel of gaat Zweden voor 5th gen + ontwikkeling?

Ik denk dat Zweden verder gaat met het door ontwikkelen van een eenmotorig toestel. Ze waren daar al mee bezig het concept Flugsystem 2020 (FS2020).

[Benji87]

Dat is afhankelijk van hoeveel types binnen dat tijdsbestek het levenslicht zullen zien. Niet elk land heeft behoefte aan een type met een omvang van een F-14 of F-15.

Nee dat klopt en daarom is het ook wel interessant om te zien naar hoe de Zweden hier over denken. De partijen die nu een 6e generatie fighter ontwikkelen gaan nu namelijk allemaal voor een stealth vliegtuig wat als moeder schip moet gaan functioneren voor drones. En dat zal dus sowieso uitlopen op een toestel van behoorlijke proporties. Dus hoe ziet Zweden dat voor zich? Kunnen zij ook zo'n concept ontwikkelen met een eenmotorig toestel of gaat Zweden voor 5th gen + ontwikkeling?

[Sparkplug]

Per definitie zullen toestellen van de 6e generatie zware 2 motor aangedreven toestellen worden.

Dat is afhankelijk van hoeveel types binnen dat tijdsbestek het levenslicht zullen zien. Niet elk land heeft behoefte aan een type met een omvang van een F-14 of F-15.

[Benji87]

Ben dan wel benieuwd naar hoe de Zweden tegen het vernieuwde concept van lucht oorlogsvoering aan kijken dan. Per definitie zullen toestellen van de 6e generatie zware 2 motor aangedreven toestellen worden.

[pz]

Sweden Preparing For Future Combat Aircraft Studies

LE BOURGET—Sweden's defense materiel agency FMV is awaiting political approval to begin studies into a new-generation combat aircraft beyond the new Saab Gripen E.



The studies, to be carried out by the FMV, are due to get underway in the near future. They will primarily be a fact-finding effort and involve discussions with other air forces, an examination of other national programs and exploring the capabilities of national industry, Brigadier General Lars Helmrich, the director of the Air and Space Systems Division at Sweden's FMV, told journalists during the annual gathering of the Swedish Air Force Fan Club on the eve of the Paris Air Show.

"It's not about procurement of the sixth generation, it is about asking the question about how we procure it," Helmrich said.

Helmrich said it was too early to discuss any potential outcomes of the studies but noted that Sweden's combat aircraft requirements were "out of sync" with the efforts of Italy, Japan and the UK's Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) and those of France, Germany and Spain's Future Combat Air System (FCAS), because Sweden had already invested in the development and procurement of the Gripen E platform. Helmrich also noted that both crewed combat aircraft set to emerge from FCAS and GCAP are twin-engine and too large to fit around Sweden's doctrine of dispersed basing to improve survivability. Both the GCAP and FCAS manned fighters are expected to be at least a third larger and heavier than the aircraft they will go on to replace.

It is likely that any Swedish future combat aircraft would likely first replace the Gripen C/D models which the Swedish Air Force is extending the life of to give it more mass in the face of the regional security situation following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The upgraded Gripen C/Ds will be expected to operate well into the 2030s.

Alternatively, the FCAS studies could conclude that Sweden purchases more Gripen Es in the future, Helmrich suggested, which would help Sweden and Saab preserve its combat aircraft development capability.

The new studies come after Sweden elected not to pursue continued involvement in the UK's future fighter effort which evolved and expanded into GCAP, although Helmrich suggested there was still a "political arrangement" and "sharing of information" in place. This appears to confirm statements made by Saab's CEO, Micael Johansson who has previously described Sweden's relationship with the program as a "sort of hibernation," remaining part of the program, but not actively involved.

Helmrich, and air chief Maj. Gen. Jonas Wikman were reluctant to discuss details of the Gripen C/D upgrade program, for which Saab was awarded study contracts worth SEK3.5 billion ($340 million) in April. Helmrich did say that the program would remove obsolescence from the Gripen C/D's nervous system and upgrade the mechanically scanned radar, but not add an active electronically scanned array such as that developed by Saab for the platform. Wikman said the Swedish air force would be strengthened by the upgraded Gripen C/Ds which would act as a fourth-generation platform to the fifth-generation capabilities provided by the more advanced Gripen E.

"With two different versions, that gives us the possibility to combine fourth-generation capabilities and fifth-generation capabilities, enhancing our strength from different platforms," Wikman said.

https://aviationweek.com/shownews/paris-air-show/sweden-preparing-future-combat-aircraft-studies

[Harald]

Spanish Navy eagerly awaiting decision on purchase of F-35B fighter-bombers

In Opex360, Laurent Lagneau reminds us that the Spanish Navy (Flotilla de Aeronaves, FLOAN) has been equipped with AV-8B Harrier II fighter-bombers for nearly 40 years. Currently, there are 13 aircraft in service with the 9th Aeronautical Squadron, which operates from the amphibious assault ship Juan Carlos I. Their retirement is planned for around 2030, with maintenance assured until 2028.

Although these aircraft have been modernized since their introduction, including being upgraded to the EAV-8B+ Matador II standard between 1996 and 2003, they will soon reach the end of their operational life. However, at the moment, no decision has been made regarding their potential replacement. This is causing concern for Captain José Emilio Regodón Gómez, the commander of FLOAN.

So far, the only decisions made by the Spanish government regarding FLOAN have involved ordering new MH-60R and H135 helicopters (NH-90 in transport version) and notifying Airbus of a new contract for the operational maintenance of its aircraft, including the AV-8B Harrier II.

To replace its combat aircraft, FLOAN has limited options, with the only suitable option being the Lockheed Martin F-35B, specifically the STOVL (Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing) version of the fighter-bomber. However, the cost of these aircraft and the potential political implications of the decision have delayed the acquisition. Captain Gómez believes that the indecision has gone on for long enough. Furthermore, he argues that not replacing the Harrier II would pose a problem since such carrier-based fighter-bombers are the only ones capable of effectively supporting amphibious operations or naval forces.

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2023-news-aviation-aerospace/october/9332-spanish-navy-eagerly-awaiting-decision-on-purchase-of-f-35b-fighter-bombers.html

[Huzaar1]

Verzamel ze allemaal.

[Harald]

Saudi Arabia considers purchasing French Dassault Rafale jets

Saudi Arabia is considering the purchase of 54 multi-role Dassault Rafale fighter jets from France, marking what could be the kingdom's first-ever acquisition of a French combat aircraft. According to reports from the French financial newspaper La Tribune, Riyadh has officially requested a complete quote from Dassault Aviation and has set a deadline of November 10 for the company's response.

.../...

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2023-news-aviation-aerospace/october/9313-saudi-arabia-considers-purchasing-french-dassault-rafale-jets.html

[Sparkplug]

Welk aanbod van de VS?

Dit loopt al sinds zeker begin augustus.

Argentina gets closer to US green light for F-16 and P-3 deals

Published: 09 August 2023    Last Updated: 09 August 2023

Argentina is one step closer in obtaining a new fighter jet, after numerous attempts, facing financial problems and boycots from the United Kingdom.

The Biden administration recently asked the US Congress to approve the sale of former Flyvevåbnet (RDAF, Royal Danish Air Force) F-16s for possible export to Argentina. This permission is required because of the contract F-16 users have with the United States. The value of the 38 F-16s involved, up to six F-16 Block 10 and up to 32 F-16 Block 15 variant, is USD 339 million.

Along with this requested permission, a positive decision on the four Luftforsvaret (RNoAF, Royal Norwegian Air Force) P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft was also asked. This is valued at around USD 108 million.

Next steps after Congress grants permission will be to work out the details, formalising the contracts and finding the millions to pay for all of this. Scramble Magazine suspects that the United Kingdom will urge Denmark not to go through with this deal. But maybe the US have finally also convinced the UK that their worries over the Falkland Islands do not merit driving Argentina into China's arms, the latter country being willing to provide JF-17 fighters.

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/argentina-gets-closer-to-us-green-light-for-f-16-and-p-3-deals

[Huzaar1]

Welk aanbod van de VS?

[Harald]

U.S. clears transfer of 24 F-16s to Argentina

The U.S. State Department has cleared the transfer of 24 F-16s from Denmark to Argentina. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Security in the State Department, Mira Resnick, delivered the letter approving the transfer to Jorge Argüello, Argentina's ambassador to United States on Oct. 11.

Also cleared was the transfer of four P-3 maritime patrol aircraft from Norway to Argentina. The Argentinian government will now have to decide whether to accept the offer from the United States.

https://alert5.com/2023/10/12/u-s-clears-transfer-of-24-f-16s-to-argentina/

[Sparkplug]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5zvgaLW0AAlqGz?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

Rendering van Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) ... mooie plaat !

Zeker. Vraag mij af wat de omvang van dit type zal worden. SCAF wordt bijvoorbeeld duidelijk groter dan de Eurofighter Typhoon en de Rafale.

[Harald]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5zvgaLW0AAlqGz?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

Rendering van Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) ... mooie plaat !

[Sparkplug]

New Acquisition Report: F-15EX Unit Cost Will Be $94 Million

Oct. 3, 2023 | By John A. Tirpak

The F-15EX Eagle II unit cost will be $93.95 million per plane in then-year dollars, assuming the Air Force sticks with its plan to buy 104 of the fighters and Congress concurs, the service said in its most recent annual Selected Acquisition Report.

.../...

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/new-acquisition-report-f-15ex-unit-cost/