Internationale fighter ontwikkelingen

[Sparkplug]

Lockheed Martin Statement: First TR-3 Delivery

SEPTEMBER 06, 2023

We have updated our F-35 TR-3 schedule projections with a first TR-3 aircraft delivery between April and June 2024. As a result, we now expect to deliver 97 aircraft in 2023, all in the TR-2 configuration. We are producing F-35s at a rate of 156 per year and expect to continue at that pace while simultaneously working to finalize TR-3 software development and testing. Additionally, we remain focused on receiving the necessary hardware from our suppliers to deliver this critical combat capability for the F-35.

https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/statements-speeches/2023/lockheed-martin-first-TR-3-delivery.html

[Harald]

extra info :

Boeing offers F-15EX for Poland, but details are scant

Boeing declined to talk about "price and delivery schedule" on a potential F-15EX sale to Warsaw, but clearly has high hopes for Poland as a market.

Boeing today announced it is actively seeking to sell its F-15EX fighter aircraft to Poland — but for now, both sides are keeping their cards close to their chest.

Boeing held a Thursday press conference at the annual MSPO defense trade exhibition, although offered little in the way of details about what a potential F-15EX buy would look like.

Rob Novotny, director of business development for Boeing's F-15 program, declined to talk about "price and delivery schedule" for the American firm's offering to Warsaw. He also acknowledged that "there is no negotiations and no contract talks, only some conversations with Polish Air Force."

.../...

https://breakingdefense.com/2023/09/boeing-offers-f-15ex-for-poland-but-details-are-scant/

[Lynxian]

Hoe duur is een oorlog?

Kan zijn dat ze de F16's op termijn doorschuiven naar Oekraïne.

Dat is geen slechte gedachte. Dan houden ze F35 en F15EX over voor hun hoofdmacht en de FA-50GF voor het opleiden van de vele piloten die ze nodig gaan hebben.

[Enforcer]

Maar kun je deze mix met 4 vliegtuigtypen wel betalen, onderhouden ?

De defensie investeringen van Polen zit op ca. 4% ! dat is nog meer dan de Amerikanen

Hoe duur is een oorlog?

Kan zijn dat ze de F16's op termijn doorschuiven naar Oekraïne.

[Harald]

De interesse voor de F-15EX begint te groeien ! Indonesië, Polen

Voor de Polen snap ik wel de interesse, de Mig-29 en de SU-22 willen ze vervangen, met de F-15EX hebben ze een hele goede mix, namelijk F-15EX, F-35A, F-16C/D en FA-50GF.
Maar kun je deze mix met 4 vliegtuigtypen wel betalen, onderhouden ?

De defensie investeringen van Polen zit op ca. 4% ! dat is nog meer dan de Amerikanen


https://www.thedrive.com/uploads/2023/09/07/nato-defense-spending-by-percent-of-gdp.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440

[Parera]

Poland Eyeing F-15EX Buy Amid Weapons Buying Spree

Poland has an active interest in buying F-15EX Eagle II fighters, according to the jet's manufacturer Boeing. This announcement comes amid continued uncertainty about the U.S. Air Force's F-15EX plans and a massive Polish defense spending spree that has already included the purchase of new combat aircraft.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/poland-eyeing-f-15ex-buy-amid-weapons-buying-spree

[Sparkplug]

Lockheed Martin delays F-35 deliveries further because of TR-3 issues

07 SEPTEMBER 2023

by Gareth Jennings

Lockheed Martin has had to delay again the delivery of Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3)-standard F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft to international customers as it looks to finalise software developments.

The manufacturer announced the move on 6 September, saying that TR-2 configuration aircraft will continue to be delivered as planned.

"We have updated our F-35 TR-3 schedule projections with a first TR-3 aircraft delivery between April and June 2024. As a result, we now expect to deliver 97 aircraft in 2023, all in the TR-2 configuration. We are producing F-35s at a rate of 156 per year and expect to continue at that pace while simultaneously working to finalise TR-3 software development and testing," Lockheed Martin said. "Additionally, we remain focused on receiving the necessary hardware from our suppliers to deliver this critical combat capability for the F-35," the company added.

News of the extended delay of TR-3 deliveries through to the second quarter of 2024 came weeks after the company had to trim its planned delivery rate for 2023 from 147–153 aircraft down to 100–120 aircraft, also because of delays in developing the TR-3 upgrade.

Up to that announcement in mid-July, Lockheed Martin had delivered 50 TR-2 jets to customers. It said at that time that it "remained fully dedicated" to delivering its first TR-3 aircraft in 2023. The company noted that it had not changed its expectation that annual deliveries will increase to 156 F-35s in 2025 and "the foreseeable future". Lockheed Martin delivered 141 F-35s in 2022. It is unclear if this latest delay will impact this expectation.

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https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/lockheed-martin-delays-f-35-deliveries-further-because-of-tr-3-issues

Lockheed Martin trims F-35 jet delivery outlook after supplier delays

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/lockheed-martin-trims-f-35-jet-delivery-outlook-2023-09-06/

[Sparkplug]

US Navy F/A-XX programme

PUBLISHED: 05 SEPTEMBER 2023   LAST UPDATED: 05 SEPTEMBER 2023

The US Department of the Navy stated that three US aerospace defense contractors are competing to build the US Navy's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) strike fighter aircraft, known as the F/A-XX. The contractors are Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.

The Department also stated that Pratt & Whitney and GE Aerospace are the engine competitors.

The F/A-XX programme has now entered the next phase, from the Concept Refinement Phase to the Design Maturation Phase. The idea of crewed and uncrewed variants is still open, it might even become a mix.

The F/A-XX will replace the current fleet of F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornets, which are already showing their age.

According to a Congressional Budget Office report, the Super Hornet is deteriorating faster than the fleet of classic F/A-18A/B/C/D Hornets which the service used before. The faster wear and tear even results in lower availability rates for the Super Hornets versus its predecessor compared to similiar age.

Replacement of the Super Hornets is planned to start from 2030.


Photo by Marco Dijkshoorn (Scramble Archive)

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/us-navy-f-a-xx-programme

[Harald]

Japan Britain and Italy forge tri-nation partnership for next-generation air-to-air missile

Japan has initiated a joint project with NATO members Britain and Italy to develop a new generation of air-to-air missile for upcoming fighter jets. This collaboration is set against the backdrop of increasing global security issues, such as Russia's activities in Ukraine and China's military expansion.

The primary objective of this tri-nation collaboration is to engineer a new air-to-air missile. Initial studies by Japan and Britain suggest that the missile in development could offer enhanced performance at a potentially lower cost compared to the existing Meteor missile. The Meteor program itself is a significant European defense collaboration involving six countries, including Britain and Italy. Unlike conventional air-to-air missiles, the Meteor utilizes a ramjet to maintain thrust at speeds exceeding Mach 4, thereby increasing its range and effectiveness. It is currently compatible with Europe's frontline fighter aircraft such as the Gripen, the Eurofighter Typhoon II, and the Rafale.

The new missile inspired by the Meteor and expected by Japan, is currently in the design phase and aims to incorporate advanced radar and other systems. It is expected to be capable of receiving targeting information from multiple platforms, including drones and airborne early warning and control aircraft.

Key features under consideration include advanced radar systems for improved target detection, seamless integration with other military assets like drones, and the utilization of gallium nitride semiconductors to enhance radar performance. Additionally, a new engine is under development to increase the missile's range and speed. The missile is also anticipated to be compatible with Japan's future 6th-generation fighter jets, although specific technical details are yet to be finalized.

This missile development is part of a broader defense strategy that also includes the creation of a 6th-generation aircraft. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is the primary developer of this new aircraft, unofficially known as the F-X or F-3. BAE Systems is actively participating in this project, which aims to replace Japan's aging fleet of Mitsubishi F-2 jets by the mid-2030s.

Initially, Japan and Britain had laid out plans to jointly develop next-generation fighter jets with stealth capabilities and drone coordination technology. Italy later joined the effort, making it a tri-nation initiative. Lockheed Martin Corp. from the United States was initially considered for technical support but was ultimately not chosen due to confidentiality concerns related to defense and security information.

With the initiation of this next-generation air-to-air missile project, the collaboration between Japan, Britain, and Italy appears to be oriented toward long-term engagement. This tri-nation partnership extends beyond a single project and could potentially encompass future technological developments in defense. The alliance reflects a mutual interest among the three countries in addressing global security concerns through cooperative efforts. As such, the collaboration is expected to continue, given the shared objectives in the evolving landscape of international security

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2023-news-aviation-aerospace/august/9186-japan-britain-and-italy-forge-tri-nation-partnership-for-next-generation-air-to-air-missile.html

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

U.S. Navy's F/A-XX in Design Maturation, Competing Companies Announced

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/budget-policy-operations/us-navys-fa-xx-design-maturation-competing-companies

[Harald]

https://gagadget.com/nl/299717-saoedi-arabie-koopt-mogelijk-100-200-franse-rafale-gevechtsvliegtuigen-omdat-duitsland-leveringen-van-eurofighter-typhoon/

Saoedi-Arabië koopt mogelijk 100-200 Franse Rafale-gevechtsvliegtuigen omdat Duitsland leveringen van Eurofighter Typhoon blokkeert

Saoedi-Arabië heeft problemen met het bestellen van Eurofighter Typhoon gevechtsvliegtuigen. Daarom stapt het koninkrijk mogelijk over op de Franse Dassault Rafale straaljagers.

Dit is wat we weten
Het Verenigd Koninkrijk wil Eurofighter Typhoon-gevechtsvliegtuigen van de vierde generatie verkopen aan Saoedi-Arabië. Maar vanwege de oorlog in Jemen en de moord op journalist Jamal Khashoggi blokkeert Duitsland de deal.

In dit verband overwegen de autoriteiten van de grootste staat op het Arabische schiereiland de aankoop van Franse Rafale gevechtsvliegtuigen. Op dit moment heeft de Koninklijke Saoedische Luchtmacht meer dan honderd Eurofighter Typhoon en F-15SA Eagle vliegtuigen.

Het koninkrijk is terughoudend om Amerikaanse gevechtsvliegtuigen te bestellen vanwege de niet al te beste betrekkingen met de VS. De regering vreest dat Amerika in de toekomst de levering van vliegtuigen of onderdelen voor hen zal blokkeren.

Daarom valt de keuze op de Franse Rafale. Volgens La Tribune overweegt Saoedi-Arabië om 100-200 gevechtsvliegtuigen te kopen.

[Harald]

https://www.defensenews.com/global/the-americas/2023/08/23/brazil-to-double-air-fleet-as-part-of-106-billion-investment/

Brazil to double air fleet as part of $10.6 billion investment

Brazil plans to invest 52.8 billion reals (U.S. $10.6 billion) for research, development and equipment acquisition efforts for its military, including nearly doubling the size of its Gripen fighter fleet and financing projects by local aircraft manufacturer Embraer for aerial refueling planes, the government announced earlier this month.

[Harald]

https://gagadget.com/nl/299367-indonesie-is-van-plan-om-24-gemoderniseerde-f-15ex-eagle-ii-gevechtsvliegtuigen-te-kopen-voor-een-bedrag-van-80-106-miljo/

Indonesië is van plan om 24 gemoderniseerde F-15EX Eagle II gevechtsvliegtuigen te kopen voor een bedrag van $ 80-106 miljoen

[Harald]

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2023/08/new-engine-for-the-next-generation-fighter.html

New Engine for the Next Generation Fighter

GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney are in the prototyping phase for the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) engine which will power the next generation air domination fighter (NGAD 6th generation figher). They both participated in the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) meant for the F-35 and are instead bringing that engine technology over to the new project. The advanced engine should allow for 20% more speed and 30% more range.

The GE XA100 adaptive engine on the test stand. The 45,000 lbf (200 kN) thrust class engine is expected to be significantly more powerful and efficient than existing low-bypass turbofans.

The AETP engines—Pratt's XA101 and GE's XA100 fit in the F-35A but would need a redesign to fit the carrier-capable F-35C and short takeoff/vertical landing F-35B.

The military chose the F135 Engine Core Upgrade offered by Pratt & Whitney instead of the AETP. The ECU is a limited scope upgrade. It looks very similar to the existing motor in the F-35 but adds the latest design tools into the same supply base. The upgrade wouldn't require any of the F-35's interfaces to change and is limited to just the core of the engine. An upgraded F135 would be production cost neutral, despite having a budget of $200-250 million a year for the next several years. The initial cost of a brand-new adaptive engine would be about two and half times that of current the F135 and would add about $4 billion in production costs across the life of the program. Other estimates were the adaptive engine could cost more than $6 billion and force the military to buy roughly 70 fewer F35 fighters. The ECU upgrades will start to be added to operational jets sometime between 2030 and 2032 (if current timelines are met).

The ECU engines supports far higher cooling demands for new computers and upgraded sensors and electronics for block 4 F35s. Previously, they military wanted 15 kilowatts of cooling but with block 4 and block 5 the total cooling demands could end up being double or more. ECU is a lot of thermal management and cooling improvements and should allow for 80 kilowatts of cooling.

The AETP engines are 25% more fuel efficiency, 10% additional thrust, and significantly better thermal management by by using advanced materials and composites, ceramic matrix materials, thermal management improvements, and additive manufacturing. The new materials and technology for bleeding edge ("expensive") increased capabilities will go into the next generation fighter and its new engine.

[Sparkplug]

Men wil 32 F-35A's aanschaffen in Roemenië voor een bedrag van 6,5 miljard dollar, waarbij de eerste toestellen in 2032 beschikbaar moet zijn.

46 F-16's  + 32 F-35's dat is geen kleine luchtmacht voor een land zoals Roemenië.

De ex-Noorse F-16's hebben elk nog 2.500 vlieguren over en kunnen hiermee nog circa 10 jaar vliegen. Zij moeten de MiG-21 LanceR vervangen die nu twee squadrons vormen. Dit geeft hen in totaal drie F-16 squadrons (17 ex-Portugees en 32 ex-Noors).

https://issuu.com/theaviationmagazine/docs/076_-_2022-01_02/s/14435820