Internationale fighter ontwikkelingen

[Harald]

Germany drops opposition to Saudi Eurofighter sale  de draai is gemaakt   

Germany has dropped its long-standing opposition to a follow-on sale of Eurofighter combat aircraft to Saudi Arabia, it was reported on 8 January.

German Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock announced the shift in policy in comments made to journalists during a visit to Israel, Agence France-Presse (AFP), Reuters, and other news agencies reported.

"We do not see the German government opposing British considerations for more Eurofighters for Saudi Arabia. The world, especially here in the Middle East, has become a completely different place since [the Hamas attack on Israel on] 7 October [2023]," Baerbock was quoted as saying.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/defence/latest/germany-drops-opposition-to-saudi-eurofighter-sale

[Huzaar1]

Weet je nog dat de Saudi's 100den Leo2's wilden kopen en we daar een moderne Leo2 productielijn in Europa aan over hadden kunnen houden?

We hebben geen luxe meer. De productie moet opgevoerd worden, geld moet verdient worden.
Alle block5 Typhoons naar Oekraïne, en als een wilde nieuwe gaan bouwen.

Had gisteren al moeten gebeuren. We liggen met zijn allen hier enorm te slapen.

[Harald]

Saudis Eye France's Rafale Fighter

With Germany still blocking a long-planned sale of Eurofighter Typhoons to the Kingdom, Dassault is capitalizing on the opportunity.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/saudis-eye-frances-rafale-fighter

[Harald]

Congress Restores $1 Billion For US Navy's F/A-XX

Lawmakers restored the Navy's F/A-XX to almost full funding in the recent compromise Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act

The recent version of the compromise Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), restored to almost full funding, what is believed to be a special access program (SAP) that includes the US Navy's F/A-XX fighter.

Earlier this year, the House Armed Service Committee in its version of the fiscal 2024 defense bill, cut $1.1 billion from the Link Plumeria line, citing "unjustified requirements". The Navy requested $2.1 billion for Link Plumeria in its budget request for FY2024.

The current version of the bill cuts $50 million from Project 2937, which is the F/A-XX element inside Link Plumeria, due to "unjustified requirements".

The F/A-XX is believed to be the manned fighter aircraft element of the Navy's Next Generation Air Dominance program. Structured similarly to the Air Force's NGAD, both programs are a "family of systems" that include the development of both manned fighters, unmanned drones and other technologies.

The manned fighter in the Navy's NGAD will succeed the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, while the Air Force's aircraft will replace the F-22 Raptor.

The connection between Link Plumeria and the U.S. Navy's F/A-XX was made earlier this year after the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a statement in response to the cuts. "The Administration strongly opposes the $1.1 billion reduction to Project 2937 that supports the Navy's F/A-XX program," the released stated. "The 70 percent reduction breaks the program and leaves the acquisition strategy unexecutable. Additional details can be provided at higher classification."

The bill also includes language requiring the US Air Force and US Navy to update Congress on the status of their Next Generation Air Dominance piloted fighter aircraft and the autonomous, uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft programs.

To this end, both services will need to provide two semiannual reports that each cover the cost and capability status of the programs.

The first report would detail "key milestones, development and testing events, and specific performance goals for the engineering manufacturing and development (EMD) phase," this would include the following:

- Technology readiness levels of major
- components and subsystems and key demonstration and testing events.
- Design maturity.
- Software maturity.
- Subsystem and system-level integration maturity.
- Manufacturing readiness levels for critical manufacturing operations and key demonstration and testing events.
- Manufacturing operations
- System verification, validation, and key flight test events.

The second report would provide details on the "total cost for the Secretary's service cost position for the EMD phase and low initial rate of production lots of the programs . . .  and a matrix expressing the total cost for the prime contractor's estimate for such EMD phase and production lots, both of which shall be phased over the entire EMD period," this would include the following:

- Air vehicle.
- Propulsion.
- Mission systems
- Vehicle subsystems
- Air vehicle software.
- Systems engineering.
- Program management
- System test and evaluation.
- Support and training systems.
- Contract fee.
- Engineering changes.
- Direct mission support, including Congressional General Reductions
- Government testing.
- Ancillary aircraft equipment.
- Initial spares.
- Contractor support
- Modifications.

Aside from the congressional defense committees, these semiannual reports will also be submitted to the Comptroller General of the United States, after which the matrices will be reviewed and assessed. Following assessment, the Comptroller General will submit to the congressional defense committees a report covering their findings.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/12/congress-restores-1-billion-for-us-navys-f-a-xx/

[Harald]

Taurus-LIG Nex1 developing KEPD 350K-2 for FA-50

A smaller version of the Taurus Systems KEPD 350K air-launched precision‐attack cruise missile being planned for the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 fighter aircraft could enter production two years after full-scale development is launched.

Designated as the KEPD 350K-2, this all-weather-capable missile is being developed to meet "increasing demand" for air-to-ground missiles for light combat aircraft and short-range fighters, according to Taurus. The company has signed an agreement with LIG Nex1 to jointly develop the new missile.

"From Taurus' perspective, once the full-scale development is launched, we can be ready for production in 36–48 months, depending on the time it requires for the integration on the platform," a Taurus company spokesperson told Janes .

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/defence/latest/taurus-lig-nex1-developing-kepd-350k-2-for-fa-50

[Sparkplug]

809NAS 'Immortal'

Published: 08 December 2023 Last Updated: 08 December 2023

The motto of 809 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) is 'Immortal' and the squadron makes this come true once again!

On Friday 8 December 2023, it was re-activated at RAF Marham as the fourth British squadron to be equipped with F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft. This is the sixth time that the squadron is (re)activated in its history which started in 1941.

The British F-35 community is jointly staffed by Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm - FAA) personnel. It is therefore only fitting that next to 17 Squadron, 207 Squadron and 617 Squadron (all three RAF units), the fourth squadron to be equipped with these jets is an FAA unit. Sadly the jets do not carry individual unit markings, and it is expected that will not change with 809NAS joining the ranks.

Both 617sq and 809NAS are frontline squadrons, while 17sq acts as Operational Test & Evaluation Unit and 207sq acts as Operational Conversion Unit. Of these only 17sq is not based at RAF Marham. This unit can be found at Edwards AFB (CA) where it works closely with its American counterparts.

A very high level summary of the squadron history shows it was active in these periods: 1941-1946, 1949-1959, 1963-1965, 1966-1978 and 1982. In these periods 809NAS has used Fairey Fulmar II, Supermarine Spitfire Va, Supermarine Seafire (various marks), Sea Hornet NF21, Sea Venom FAW21, Blackburn Buccaneer S1, Blackburn Buccaneer S2 and Hawker Siddeley Sea Harrier FRS1 aircraft.

809NAS received battle honours eight times: Arctic (1941), Malta Convoys (1942), North Africa (1942), Salerno (1943), South France (1944), Aegean (1944), Burma (1945) and Falklands (1982).

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/809nas-immortal

[Harald]

ExpoDefensa 2023: Gripen full-scale model marks Saab's effort to win Colombian Kfir replacement

Saab, the Swedish defense company, is participating in ExpoDefensa 2023 with a focus on presenting a solution to replace the aging Israeli-made Kfir combat aircraft. The centerpiece of their showcase is a full-scale replica of the Gripen multirole-fighter aircraft, a key asset in Saab's bid for a contract with the Colombian Air Force.



.../...

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2023-news-aviation-aerospace/december/9435-expodefensa-2023-gripen-full-scale-model-marks-saab-s-effort-to-secure-colombian-kfir-replacement.html

[Sparkplug]

Portugal eyes F-35 buy

05 December 2023

by Victor Barreira

The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II aircraft could emerge as the next combat aircraft in the inventory of the Portuguese Air Force (FAP).

The Chief of Staff of the FAP, General João Guilherme Rosado Cartaxo Alves, described the F-35A as the preferred choice to replace the Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon on 27 November.

Speaking at the SAE Media Group Military Airlift and Air-to-Air Refuelling conference in Lisbon, Gen Alves said the replacement process must start to prevent a loss of strategic relevance and operational credibility. He also noted that most European allies had already started the transition to the F-35.

The existing F-16AM/BM could extend its operational capability until 2030, however, with increasing levels of obsolescence, he said at the event in late November. Gen Alves confirmed that an acquisition will occur after 2030 as part of the newly established 'Air Force 5.3' modernisation plan.

Portugal has been looking to replace its F-16 fleet with a fifth-generation fighter. The Director of the Engineering and Programs Directorate, Brigadier General João Rui Ramos Nogueira, told Janes that Portugal plans to acquire the F-35 through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, but declined to enter into details on the number of planned aircraft or an acquisition schedule.

Brig Gen Nogueira noted that the decision to go forward with an acquisition of the fifth-generation fighter will be made by government officials at a later stage.


.../...

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/portugal-eyes-f-35-buy

[Sparkplug]

Lockheed Martin flies first production F-35s equipped with TR-3 upgrade

30 November 2023

by Zach Rosenberg

Lockheed Martin has flown the first production F-35s equipped with Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) hardware and software upgrades, the manufacturer confirmed on 28 November. F-35 deliveries to customers have been paused until TR-3 is judged to be sufficiently mature.

"We are now flying TR-3 software on F-35 production jets in Fort Worth and flight test continues at Edwards Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Patuxent River," the company told Janes on 28 November.

The TR-3 software upgrade first flew in January 2023 aboard a US Air Force test aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base. The US Department of Defense's F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) declined to specify the number of F-35s flying with TR-3 today, citing operational security.

"The JPO and Lockheed Martin agree that the acceptance of TR-3 aircraft should fall in the April 2024 to June 2024 timeframe based on risks as we understand them today," the JPO told Janes on 28 November.

Deliveries of TR-3-equipped aircraft were paused in July 2023. Though the reasons behind the delivery pause have not been detailed, Lieutenant General Michael Schmidt, head of the JPO, told Congress in March, "The key risks ahead of us are centred around maturity and stability of the final integrated software, flight-test execution with an ageing fleet of test aircraft and infrastructure, and delivery of TR-3 hardware to the production line."

The JPO declined to specify the number of TR-3-equipped jets that remain to be delivered.

.../...

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/lockheed-martin-flies-first-production-f-35s-equipped-with-tr-3-upgrade

[Harald]

Portugal kiest ook voor de F35 als F16 vervanger

https://twitter.com/Defence360/status/1729832609151164649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1729832609151164649%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

[Huzaar1]

Ik ken een land wat staat te springen om die S400's

Ik denk dat het niet gek zal zijn als Rusland Turkije een grote som geld zal geven ervoor. Maar Erdogan kan natuurlijk ook ons allemaal een inkijkje laten geven in de S400.

Dan zijn de Oekrainers er nog 

Het is best een troef.

[Benji87]

Ik durf te wedden dat het aantal instructeurs, reserveonderdelen en munitiestukken ze ook parten speelt.

Turkije wordt beloond voor haar keus. Er zit eigelijk niets anders op dan de S400 vaarwel te zeggen, of te accepteren dat ze niet kunnen worden voorzien in wat ze willen, tot hun eigen militaire productie het toelaat om uit de NAVO te stappen.

Dat lijkt namelijk ook wel de route.

Ik ken een land wat staat te springen om die S400's

[Sparkplug]

Eurofighter Electronic Combat lost Tornado af

29 november 2023



MUNCHEN – Na de recente parlementaire goedkeuring door de Duitse begrotingscommissie kan Airbus vijftien Duitse Eurofighters geschikt maken voor elektronische oorlogsvoering.

De Eurofighter EC (Electronic Combat) zal worden uitgerust een zenderlocatie- en zelfbeschermingssysteem van Saab, evenals AARGM-antiradarraketten van Northrop Grumman. Met beide systemen kunnen luchtafweerradars worden gedetecteerd, gelokaliseerd en worden uitgeschakeld. Ook beschikt de Saab oplossing over stoorzenders die de zelfbescherming van de Eurofighter verbeteren.

De Eurofighter EC krijgt technologieën aan boord die zijn ontwikkeld door het midden- en kleinbedrijf en een start-up. Daartoe behoort onder meer een AI-oplossing die het mogelijk maakt om radargegevens aan boord te analyseren en snel nauwkeurige zelfbeschermingsmaatregelen te bepalen.

Het toestel moet tegen 2030 NAVO-gecertificeerd zijn en zal dan in Duitsland de Tornado vervangen in de SEAD-rol (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense).

https://www.pilootenvliegtuig.nl/2023/11/29/eurofighter-electronic-combat-lost-tornado-af/

[Huzaar1]

Ik durf te wedden dat het aantal instructeurs, reserveonderdelen en munitiestukken ze ook parten speelt.

Turkije wordt beloond voor haar keus. Er zit eigelijk niets anders op dan de S400 vaarwel te zeggen, of te accepteren dat ze niet kunnen worden voorzien in wat ze willen, tot hun eigen militaire productie het toelaat om uit de NAVO te stappen.

Dat lijkt namelijk ook wel de route.

[Umbert]

The 'dual purpose' in Turkey's bid for 40 Eurofighter Typhoons: Analysts

"Turkish air power has a stopgap trouble up until the indigenous KAAN makes it," analyst Can Kasapoglu told Breaking Defense. "The [Eurofighter] can offer some relief, depending on the tranche."

To help fill its looming fighter gap, Turkey is in talks to buy 40 Eurofighter Typhoons, the country's top defense official said, in a move analysts said could give Ankara bargaining power in its years-long quest for new American F-16s but could also face resistance in Berlin.

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Gular said Thursday at a parliamentary hearing that Turkey is "working on procurement."

"Now the UK and Spain are making efforts to convince Germany, [though] we are not in talks with Germany... If possible, we plan to purchase 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets," he said.

Turkey is currently facing a fighter gap as it waits for its planned 5th generation KAAN fighter to come online in 2030. As the Turkish air force already flies F-16s, it has sought new versions of the plane from the US, but that deal has been on hold over geopolitical strain between Turkey and the US.

.../...

https://breakingdefense.com/2023/11/the-dual-purpose-in-turkeys-bid-for-40-eurofighter-typhoons-analysts/

Denk dat ze in Turkije, ze op het moment van beslissing om S400 te kopen en daarmee een exit kregen op de F35 nooit rekening hebben gehouden dat Rusland zijn ding ging doen in de Oekraine met een oververhitting van de capaciteit in het westen om toestellen welk eender type te bouwen en verkopen, zodat de Turkse exit eigenlijk geen probleem maar zegen was voor de VS en anderen. En de hoge inflatie in Turkije zal er uiteindelijk ook voor zorgen dat de mensen met kennis daar om vliegtuigen te ontwerpen en bouwen in andere landen eenvoudiger aan de bak kunnen komen want ja ze hebben kennis en ervaring. De gifbeker lijkt nog niet helemaal leeg.