Internationale fighter ontwikkelingen

[Huzaar1]

Die 20 jaar is natuurlijk op het airframe, niet het type.

Daarnaast zijn de modernste F16's in niks vergelijkbaar met de eerste modellen.

Blijft knap hoor, genoeg generatiegenoten die het slechter doen. De BMW 5 serie gaat ook al sinds de jaren 70 mee.

Alsof je met de spitfire tot in de jaren 90 was doorgevlogen, geupgrade spitfires dan.

[Harald]

Uiteraard is de F-16 uit de jaren zeventig een ander beestje dan uit de jaren twintig van deze eeuw.

De vergelijking met een BMW gaat niet op. los van de nummering, een BMW 5 uit de jaren zeventig is voor velen in het heden niet meer te herkennen. De F-16 daar en tegen oogt nog steeds een F-16.

idd, aan de buitenkant is de F-16 nog steeds een F-16, het verbaasd mij eigenlijk wel dat er in al die jaren geen ge-evolutioneerd ontwerpversie gekozen is. Zoals bijvoorbeeld van de F-16XL




The Revolutionary Evolution of the F-16XL
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/1183f16xl/

F-16XL: Why America Didn't Get the Best F-16
https://www.military.com/air-force/f-16xl-why-america-didnt-get-best-f-16.html

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Die 20 jaar is natuurlijk op het airframe, niet het type.

Daarnaast zijn de modernste F16's in niks vergelijkbaar met de eerste modellen.

Blijft knap hoor, genoeg generatiegenoten die het slechter doen. De BMW 5 serie gaat ook al sinds de jaren 70 mee.

Uiteraard is de F-16 uit de jaren zeventig een ander beestje dan uit de jaren twintig van deze eeuw.

De vergelijking met een BMW gaat niet op. los van de nummering, een BMW 5 uit de jaren zeventig is voor velen in het heden niet meer te herkennen. De F-16 daar en tegen oogt nog steeds een F-16.

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

First F-16 Block 70 for Bulgarian Air Force

Het heeft er alle schijn van dat F-16 minimaal 80 jaar operationeel zal rondvliegen, misschien haalt dit type zelf één eeuw.

Niet slecht voor een model wat in jaren zeventig van de vorige eeuw het levenslicht zag als lichtgewicht systeem, geconstrueerd voor 4.000 vlieguren met een levensverwachting van 20 jaar.

[Sparkplug]

First F-16 Block 70 for Bulgarian Air Force

Published: 16 January 2024    Last Updated: 16 January 2024


Credit photo: Lockheed Martin


Credit photo: Lockheed Martin

In the second week of January 2024, the Bulgarian Minister of Defence Todor Tagarev visited the F-16 production facility in Greenville (SC) where he viewed the production of the F-16 Block 70 Fighting Falcon for the Bulgarski Voenno Vzdushni Sili (BVVS, Bulgarian Air Force).

He was accompanied by the Bulgarian Ambassador Georgi Panayotov, and the Bulgarian Defence Chief Adm. Emil Eftimov. According to Lockheed Martin there are currently seven F-16s are in various stages of production, and the inaugural flight of the first fighter is planned for later this year.

In a brief official ceremony, he signed the fuselage of the first dual-seat aircraft with c/n MY-01.

In total, Bulgaria ordered sixteen F-16C and F-16D Block 70 fighter aircraft. With the first order, placed in July 2019, Bulgaria signed up for eight F-16 Block 70 fighters. It was not specified how the order was divided between single-seat and dual seat aircraft, but Scramble Magazine assesses that this order consists of six F-16C and two F-16D models. In April 2020, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Fort Worth (TX), was awarded a USD 512 million contract for the construction of eight F-16 Block 70s for the Republic of Bulgaria. This Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract included USD 4,1 million worth of pre-priced options.

In August 2021, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence requested for a second batch of eight F-16 Block 70 fighters, consisting of four F-16C Block 70 and four F-16D Block 70 fighters plus related equipment like spare engines, missiles, bombs and Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars. On 4 April 2022, the US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Bulgaria of eight Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 Fighting Falcons and related equipment valued at USD 1,7 billion.

Next to Slovakia, Bulgaria will be the second European country to receive the F-16C/D Block 70.

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/first-f-16-block-70-for-bulgarian-air-force

[Sparkplug]

French Air Force Tranche 5 Rafale fighter aircraft

PUBLISHED: 12 JANUARY 2024   LAST UPDATED: 12 JANUARY 2024


Credit photo: Jurgen van Toor (Scramble Archive)

On 12 January 2024, the French Ministry of Defence (MoD) officially announced that late December 2023, the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA, Defence Procurement Agency) awarded Dassault Aviation an order for 42 Rafale single seat F4 standard fighter aircraft for the Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (AAE, French Air and Space Force).

This order, known as Tranche 5, will total the number of French Rafales to 234. Earlier orders are divided as: 13 Rafales in 1993 (Tranche 1); 48 in 1999 (Tranche 2); 59 in 2004 (Tranche 3); 60 in 2009 (Tranche 4); and 42 in 2023 (Tranche 5). In 2021, a special order was placed for 12 Rafales to replace the 12 aircraft transferred to Greece.

The first Tranche 5 aircraft will be delivered in 2027. The Rafale is a success in the export market, with seven customer countries to date. The order book, plus the new "tranche 5" contract, secure production activity for the next ten years.

Total export orders currently stand at 261 Rafales (new aircraft): 55x Egypt, 36x Qatar, 36x India, 12x Greece, 80x United Arab Emirates and 42x Indonesia (including 18 for 2024). In addition to the new built aircraft, Greece and Croatia have each acquired 12 former French Air Force Rafales.

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/french-air-force-tranche-5-rafale-fighter-aircraft

[Huzaar1]

Er moet geld binnenkomen, en de Duitse moreel op dit gebied is fluide.

[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