Internationale fighter ontwikkelingen

[Harald]

Israel to receive F35 and MK8 bombs from exceptionnal U.S. military aid
https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_april_2024_global_security_army_industry/israel_to_receive_f35_and_mk8_bombs_from_exceptionnal_u.s._military_aid.html

The United States has recently authorized the shipment of bombs and military planes to Israel, amidst ongoing tensions and conflict in the Gaza Strip, The Washington Post disclosed. This considerable military support arrives as the U.S. publicly voices concerns over potential Israeli military actions in Rafah ( southern Gaza). this package is in addition to the usual U.S. aid package, which amounts to 3.8 billion dollars annually.




Israel to receive 50 new F-15IA Eagle II Fighter Jets from US
https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_april_2024_global_security_army_industry/israel_to_receive_50_new_f-15ia_eagle_ii_fighter_jets_from_us.html

On April 2, 2024, CNN revealed that the Biden administration is preparing to formally notify Congress of its intention to approve the sale of 50 F-15EX fighter jets to Israel, in a deal valued at $18 billion. This transaction includes the acquisition of 25 new F-15EX "Eagle 2", also designated "F-15IA Ra'am II" in Israeli terminology and the upgrade of 25 existing F-15I aircraft to this advanced standard. The new jets, which will take about five years to build, respond to an initial request from Israel in January 2023 aimed at strengthening its air force.

[Sparkplug]

Last Marine Harrier Pilots Complete Training As AV-8B's End Draws Near

With the Marine Corps planning to retire its last Harriers in 2026, the final two pilots have been trained to fly the 'jump jet.'

by Thomas Newdick | PUBLISHED Apr 2, 2024 2:13 PM EDT


U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Becky Calhoun/Released

The U.S. military is gearing up for the forthcoming retirement of another iconic aircraft type, with the last pilots now having graduated onto the AV-8B Harrier II attack jet. As we have explained in the past, the U.S. Marine Corps is pressing ahead with plans to remove the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft from its inventory before the end of 2026, with this latest development a highly symbolic one within this process.

In a media release yesterday, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) announced the graduation of the final two pilots to convert to the AV-8B. Last Friday, Capt. Joshua Corbett and Capt. Sven Jorgensen received the 7509 Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). The four-digit MOS code denotes the primary occupational field and specialty of all Marines: In this case, it is reserved for pilots qualified to fly the Harrier.


The transition fully away from the Harrier as presented in the most recent Aviation Place from the Marine Corps. 2022 Marine Aviation Plan

.../...

Update: The FY25 budget documents provide additional information on the more recent status of the Marine Corps Harrier II fleet, providing fleet figures for June 2023. As of that point, the active inventory comprised 47 radar-equipped AV-8Bs (of which 10 were new-production aircraft and 37 remanufactured), plus six two-seat TAV-8Bs. Another 20 AV-8Bs were listed as being stored in the boneyard as of March 2024, according to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), though their condition was not specified.

https://www.twz.com/air/last-marine-harrier-pilots-complete-training-as-av-8bs-end-draws-near

[Benji87]

Ah duidelijk, dat bericht heb ik niet gelezen. Zal wel een politieke afweging zijn om argentinie in het goed kamp te houden.

Amerikaanse standpunt over amerikaanse toestellen is duidelijk, vandaar mijn verwarring.

Denk wel dat het zoiets is.

https://marineschepen.nl/nieuws/Waarom-China-mogelijk-stuurt-op-een-marinebasis-in-Argentinie-060223.html#:~:text=Tot%20op%20heden%20is%20China,momenteel%20nog%20sporadisch%20en%20gering.

[Huzaar1]

Blijft onzinnig. Laat Europa Oekraïne van wapens voorzien. De VS heeft zat airframes die ze kunnen doneren aan de Argentijnen.

Eens hoor, maar in deze tijden is het wel eens lastig elke zet te begrijpen.

[Lynxian]

Ah duidelijk, dat bericht heb ik niet gelezen. Zal wel een politieke afweging zijn om argentinie in het goed kamp te houden.

Amerikaanse standpunt over amerikaanse toestellen is duidelijk, vandaar mijn verwarring.

Blijft onzinnig. Laat Europa Oekraïne van wapens voorzien. De VS heeft zat airframes die ze kunnen doneren aan de Argentijnen.

[Huzaar1]

Ah duidelijk, dat bericht heb ik niet gelezen. Zal wel een politieke afweging zijn om argentinie in het goed kamp te houden.

Amerikaanse standpunt over amerikaanse toestellen is duidelijk, vandaar mijn verwarring.

[Harald]

Heb het niet over roemenie, maar Argentinië.

De Amerikanen zijn wel akkoord met de deal, beter gezegd... ze willen dat deze deze deal doorgaat.

Should the deal fall through for any reason, one key player will likely be especially disappointed: the US government.

The State Department approved the transfer of the US-made F-16s back in October and was quick to praise Milei's suggestions online last week that it was happening. More recently, USSOUTHCOM's Richardson announced her visit Buenos Aires "to discuss the longstanding defense partnership."

The US has identified Argentina's fighter jet acquisition as one front in its global competition with China, as Buenos Aires was also considering the Sino-Pakistani CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder or India's HAL Tejas fighter jets to replace its Mirages.

Breaking Defense reported in September that a former Defense Department analyst said a Chinese fighter jet in Argentina would not be a threat to the US on its own, but be a "camel's nose under the tent" that could lead to more Chinese influence in Buenos Aires and the region.

Jakob Linnet Schmidt, an analyst at the Danish Institute for International Studies, said it may seem a "surprise" the jets aren't instead heading for Ukraine, considering Europe's pledge to provide just such airframes to Kyiv and Washington's support for arming their Eastern European partner against Russia's invasion.

But officials previously told Breaking Defense that Denmark can do both, and Schmidt said that by working with Argentina, Copenhagen is working in concert with US interests.

https://breakingdefense.com/2024/04/argentina-denmark-f-16-deal-would-be-boon-to-us-in-south-america-analysts/

[Huzaar1]

Staat letterlijk in het bericht dat de Amerikanen dit goedkeuren

Heb het niet over roemenie, maar Argentinië.

[Benji87]

Bijzonder, en vreemd. Denk niet dat de Amerikanen dit goedkeuren.

Met een dergelijk soort beleid wint Oekraine natuurlijk nooit.

Staat letterlijk in het bericht dat de Amerikanen dit goedkeuren

[Harald]

Jawel, al het beschikbare dient naar Oekraine te gaan. De amerikanen hebben dit standpunt zelf ingenomen.

Exact omdat draken niet doorging zou ik het gek vinden dat dit wel door zou gaan. Ik zou niet weten waarom Denemarken niet alle beschikbare F-16's aan Oekraine zou moeten geven.

A. Ze krijgen er dan evengoed voor betaald
B. We zijn een oorlog aan het vechten enzo, als je niet wilt winnen en alle gedane inspanningen teniet wilt doen, is dit de way-to-go.

NL heeft ook zijn Draken deal beëindigd en de F16's aan Oekraïne gedoneerd.
Hoeveel NL f16's gaan er naar Oekraïne dan ?

Beide punten, A en B, is waar. 

[Huzaar1]

Denemaken verkoopt er 24 aan Argentinië en doneert er 19 aan Oekraïne.

Er zal toch wel een gedachte achter zitten dat niet alles naar Oekraïne gaat.
Ook Noorwegen heeft F16's (32 stuks) aan Roemenië verkocht en een aantal gedoneerd aan de Oekraïne. Ik dacht 12 stuks welke eerst aan de Firma Draken zouden verkocht worden. 

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/norway-finalises-f-16-sale-to-romania

Jawel, al het beschikbare dient naar Oekraine te gaan. De amerikanen hebben dit standpunt zelf ingenomen.

Exact omdat draken niet doorging zou ik het gek vinden dat dit wel door zou gaan. Ik zou niet weten waarom Denemarken niet alle beschikbare F-16's aan Oekraine zou moeten geven.

A. Ze krijgen er dan evengoed voor betaald
B. We zijn een oorlog aan het vechten enzo, als je niet wilt winnen en alle gedane inspanningen teniet wilt doen, is dit de way-to-go.

[Harald]

Bijzonder, en vreemd. Denk niet dat de Amerikanen dit goedkeuren.

Met een dergelijk soort beleid wint Oekraine natuurlijk nooit.

Denemaken verkoopt er 24 aan Argentinië en doneert er 19 aan Oekraïne.

Er zal toch wel een gedachte achter zitten dat niet alles naar Oekraïne gaat.
Ook Noorwegen heeft F16's (32 stuks) aan Roemenië verkocht en een aantal gedoneerd aan de Oekraïne. Ik dacht 12 stuks welke eerst aan de Firma Draken zouden verkocht worden. 

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/norway-finalises-f-16-sale-to-romania

[Huzaar1]

Bijzonder, en vreemd. Denk niet dat de Amerikanen dit goedkeuren.

Met een dergelijk soort beleid wint Oekraine natuurlijk nooit.

[Harald]

(was al even bekend, maar nog niet hier voorbij zien komen)

Denmark signs LoI regarding sale of 24 F-16 fighters to Argentina
https://euro-sd.com/2024/03/major-news/37297/denmark-f-16-sale-to-argentina/

Denmark has agreed in principle to sell Argentina 24 F-16 fighters. A letter of intent (LoI) regarding the sale was signed in Buenos Aires on 26 March 2024 by Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Argentine Defence Minister Luis Alfonso Petri.

"I have had a good and extremely fruitful meeting with my Argentinian defence minister colleague, who is happy that Argentina can become part of the wider community of F-16 nations worldwide," Poulsen was quoted as stating in a 26 March press release issued by the Danish Ministry of Defence.

Paulsen added that the F-16 sale to Argentina "has been done in co-operation with the US" as the original producer of the aircraft. The US State Department announced on 11 October 2023 that it had approved the transfer of 24 Danish F-16s to Argentina.

The Royal Danish Air Force (Flyvevåbnet – FLV) has operated a fast jet combat fleet of 30 Lockheed Martin F-16AM and 13 F-16BM fighters since 1980, but is transitioning to a fleet of 27 Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighters, the first four of which arrived in Denmark on 14 September 2023.

Argentina, meanwhile, has for years struggled to find a replacement for its dwindling fleet of Douglas A-4AR Fightinghawk attack aircraft that entered service from 1998, of which only a handful are likely to remain airworthy. The Argentine Air Force does also operate a small fleet of around seven indigenously produced FAdeA IA 63 Pampa III advanced jet trainers adapted for the light attack role, but this fleet was originally intended to be 40 strong.

Previous Argentine attempts to procure a new fast jet type, including the Korean Aerospace Industries FA-50 and the Chinese/Pakistani-produced CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder, failed to materialise. This was down to a lack of funding but also a UK veto on military exports to Argentina, given the historic tensions between London and Buenos Aires since the 1982 Falklands War. This has meant that any fighter sold to Argentina would have to be free of UK components.

Denmark is donating its remaining 19 F-16s to Ukraine to help recapitalise the Ukrainian Air Force amid the Russian invasion of that country. The FLV began training Ukrainian pilots and technical specialists on the F-16 in August 2023.

[Harald]

Airbus greenlights Saab to put Arexis sensor suite, with 'AI platform', on German Eurofighters

Micael Johansson, Saab's CEO, said that "combining advanced hardware and AI-enabled software, our Arexis sensor suite will strengthen the German defence with future-proof electronic warfare capability for decades to come."

Airbus has agreed to a three-year contract with Saab for the Swedish manufacturer to integrate its Arexis modular electronic warfare (EW) sensor equipment on German Eurofighter EK (Electronic Combat) fighter jets.

The order comes after the German defence procurement office selected Arexis for the role in June 2023 and "marks the first phase" of delivery on the program, said Saab in a press release today. A contract value was not included.

A total of 15 Eurofighter EK jets will be fitted with the sensor suites alongside other EW "solutions" added the manufacturer. The new aircraft are set to replace German Air Force Tornado ECR (Electronic Combat/Reconnaissance) platforms when they retire in 2030.

Saab also noted that Arexis will feature an "AI platform" supplied by partner Helsing, a European AI defense start up.

In November 2023, Airbus said that an AI "solution" selected for Eurofighter EK jets, "makes it possible to analyse radar data on-board and quickly determine precise self-protection measures."

Initially developed for integration on Saab Gripen E/F fighter jets, Arexis is marketed as an "invisible wingman" and a system "featuring smart software and high-tech modular components with [a] small footprint in a proven and tested architecture."

Micael Johansson, Saab's CEO, said that "combining advanced hardware and AI-enabled software, our Arexis sensor suite will strengthen the German defence with future-proof electronic warfare capability for decades to come."

German Eurofighter EK aircraft are also set to be armed with Northrop Grumman made AGM-88E2 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM). The combination of AARGM and Arexis will allow the planes "to detect, localise and disable anti-aircraft radars," according to Airbus.

The anti-radiation missile was developed by Northrop for the US Navy and is fielded with F/A-18C/D, FA-18E/F and EA-18G fighter jets, though the service has since prioritized production of an extended range version (AARGM-ER) based on modification of the weapon's guidance and control sections and integration of a new rocket motor.

The main mission of the missile is to detect and strike "re-locatable Integrated Air Defense (IAD) targets," according to a NAVAIR factsheet.

https://breakingdefense.com/2024/03/airbus-greenlights-saab-to-put-arexis-sensor-suite-with-ai-platform-on-german-eurofighters/

https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-releases/2024/saab-receives-order-for-arexis-sensor-suite-for-german-eurofighters

https://www.saab.com/products/arexis

https://www.edrmagazine.eu/the-electronic-warfare-suite