Military Aviation News and Discussion

[Ananda]

Politics is always big factor if not main factor on any defense procurement. However F-16 is the main backbone of Egyptian AF. The article Eurasiantimes talk choices for J-10C not only replacing F-16 but also discarding choices for upgrade kit for V standard.

Now I know Eurasiantimes not what can be call dependable sources all the time, however sometimes it can bring out some info from reasonable accuracy. Thus for now I just put much grain of salt on this.

Because if they're doing this, I just can imagine how massive changes not only in supporting infrastructure but also in training regime will be. Not counting the Geopolitics means on this, just on the scope of logistics is very daunting.

Egypt already shown their displeasure with US always continued giving them second grade (relative) to Israel capabilities. French is one of the efforts to remedy that. However in my opinion those J-10C eventough being talk as F-16 replacement, I got suspicion that they are actually replacing older Soviet and Chinese made fighters. There's potential also they are even replacing Mig 29 considering the difficulty getting on time parts from Russia due to Russian own need in the war.

So let's see how's this develop, but the news means J-10C really got traction in Egypt. Whether they are really going to replacing US made Fighters or older Chinese and Soviet/Russian ones, remain to be seen.

 

[swerve]

Politics is a large factor for the decision to order the J-10C, but does it also means that Egypt regards the J-10C is better than the F-16? The amount of to be acquired J-10Cs is unknown, but probably the J-10C is intended to replace the first batch of 42 F-16A/B Block 15 delivered in the '80s during the Peace Vector I Program. So the J-10C seems to be good enough to replace the 40 years old F-16A/B Block 15.

I only wonder if Egypt considered to give the oldest F-16s an MLU.

AFAIK, the US restrictions on sales to Egypt include not selling AIM-120, & pressuring European countries not to sell Meteor. An MLU of the F-16A/B will still see them restricted to WVR missiles & AIM-7, & so will upgrading F-16s to F-16V, unless the USA relaxes its restrictions.

 

[koxinga]

Reputed China aviation watchers like Deino have called for caution at this Egyptian news as it is one sided.

Re why not MLU F16, I guess a question is what constraints will the US continue to apply to Egypt. EAF's fleet has always been constrained by the political agreement with Israel, such as access to BVRMs.

I don't think it means the end of the F16 in their service as they did build considerable infrastructure for it but they clearly see this as an issue.

 

[John Fedup]

This article suggests the PLAF’s J-20 along with its continuing production is a threat to USAF dominance. Hard to disagree with the continuing production and upgrades versus the F-22 fixed number (180 plus). The F-22 with upgrades will likely keep it being the top dog into the 2030s but numbers matter. Optimized J-20s with a likely 6th fighter in the mid 2030s is a real threat that doesn’t seem to register with the NGAD reset.

China's J-20 Fighter Was Built with 1 Enemy Plane In Mind

nationalinterest.org

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

The Lockheed CL-1201 was a totally insane design study by Lockheed for a giant 6000 ton nuclear-powered transport aircraft in the late 1960s.
Two variants were studied, a logistics support aircraft and an airborne aircraft carrier.

Power would be derived from the heat generated by a nuclear reactor and transferred to four jet engines near the rear, where it would superheat the air passing through to provide thrust. The craft would be capable of staying airborne for long periods of time, with an estimated endurance of 30 to 41 days. At low altitudes, the jets would burn conventional aviation fuel. In order to take off, the plane required dozens (some sources say 182) additional vertical lift engines.

The '50s and '60 were the periods that aviation developed incredible fast, with a lot of amazing groundbreaking and revolutionary designs, but the CL-1201 was simply too large, heavy, impractical and simply impossible to produce and to operate.

Lockheed's Insane Attack Carrier: The CL-1201 (youtube.com)

 

[John Fedup]

The Lockheed CL-1201 was a totally insane design study by Lockheed for a giant 6000 ton nuclear-powered transport aircraft in the late 1960s.
Two variants were studied, a logistics support aircraft and an airborne aircraft carrier.

Power would be derived from the heat generated by a nuclear reactor and transferred to four jet engines near the rear, where it would superheat the air passing through to provide thrust. The craft would be capable of staying airborne for long periods of time, with an estimated endurance of 30 to 41 days. At low altitudes, the jets would burn conventional aviation fuel. In order to take off, the plane required dozens (some sources say 182) additional vertical lift engines.

The '50s and '60 were the periods that aviation developed incredible fast, with a lot of amazing groundbreaking and revolutionary designs, but the CL-1201 was simply too large, heavy, impractical and simply impossible to produce and to operate.

Lockheed's Insane Attack Carrier: The CL-1201 (youtube.com)

The project can be restarted once fusion reactors are developed.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

The project can be restarted once fusion reactors are developed.

According to some scientists, nuclear fusion will be within the next 30 years. But 30 years ago, they said the same.
Niek Lopes Cardozo: ‘Kernfusie is er binnen dertig jaar’ (tue.nl)
Still i think the fusion reactors will be too heavy and large to install in aircrafts, the next 100 years.

And i was also thinking about this: with around 400 passengers, the waste tank of current wide-body airliners starts to become full in less than 18 hours of flight. The transport version of the CL-1201 would be able to carry more than 800 people for more than 30 days....just think about it....

 

[John Fedup]

According to some scientists, nuclear fusion will be within the next 30 years. But 30 years ago, they said the same.
Niek Lopes Cardozo: ‘Kernfusie is er binnen dertig jaar’ (tue.nl)
Still i think the fusion reactors will be too heavy and large to install in aircrafts, the next 100 years.

And i was also thinking about this: with around 400 passengers, the waste tank of current wide-body airliners starts to become full in less than 18 hours of flight. The transport version of the CL-1201 would be able to carry more than 800 people for more than 30 days....just think about it....

No worries, the waste tank will allow the aircraft to do bombing missions. WRT fusion reactors, yes many promises on when they will arrive. Remember LM's compact fusion reactor, it was to arrive early this decade!

 

[John Fedup]

An absolutely desirable thing to have but given the likely threats, even an unmanned aircraft with the required specs will have a huge price IMHO. How many can you afford to lose?

Search For Cargo Drone That Can Lift Twice As Much As A CH-53K King Stallion Kicks Off (twz.com)

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

An absolutely desirable thing to have but given the likely threats, even an unmanned aircraft with the required specs will have a huge price IMHO. How many can you afford to lose?

Search For Cargo Drone That Can Lift Twice As Much As A CH-53K King Stallion Kicks Off (twz.com)

|"Unlike the CH-53K, the new uncrewed aircraft would be a shorter-range platform focused primarily on moving outsized payloads between ships and beachheads ashore, as well as across wide rivers and other similar ‘gaps’ inland.

At the same time, there are questions about how effective and efficient a fleet of future heavy-lift drones, especially ones with limited range, might be in addressing the aforementioned issues. "|

I think gou are right. It will be quite large, and only built for short ranges. And while transporting heavy loads also probably a slow and easy target. And if not in use, you have to store these things somewhere. Big chance only small quantities will be built of it, which make the costs per piece even higher.

 

[Ananda]

Details emerge on Lockheed Martin's F-16 offsets proposal to Thailand

Lockheed Martin has proposed technology upgrades and direct industrial investment as part of offsets in its proposed sale of F-16V Block 70/72 fighter aircraft to the...

www.janes.com

If I'm Thai MinDef defense planner, I will seriously goes with Gripen E/F. Sorry but LM already play this card too long for many F-16 users. Upgrading existing F-16 should not be tied up toward F-16V procurement. F-16 users upgrading their existing F-16 only as stop gap for next gen fighters. If LM can't give it, then goes somewhere else.

 

[swerve]

According to some scientists, nuclear fusion will be within the next 30 years. But 30 years ago, they said the same.
Niek Lopes Cardozo: ‘Kernfusie is er binnen dertig jaar’ (tue.nl)
Still i think the fusion reactors will be too heavy and large to install in aircrafts, the next 100 years.

And i was also thinking about this: with around 400 passengers, the waste tank of current wide-body airliners starts to become full in less than 18 hours of flight. The transport version of the CL-1201 would be able to carry more than 800 people for more than 30 days....just think about it....

It'll be making methane to use for auxiliary power . . . .

 

[John Fedup]

Spain lost a highly experienced pilot and F-18. No cause yet but their Hornet fleet isn’t much newer than Canada’s.

Spanish EF-18 Hornet Crashes Killing Pilot

Experienced Spanish Air Force pilot dies in EF-18 Hornet crash near Teruel. An F-18 Hornet of the Spanish Air Force crashed near Peralejos in the province

theaviationist.com

 

[Ananda]

Thai MinDef defense planner, I will seriously goes with Gripen E/F. Sorry but LM already play this card too long for many F-16 users.

ความคืบหน้าโครงการจัดหาอาวุธยุทโธปกรณ์ของกองทัพไทยในปี ๒๕๖๗-๙

Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Saab Gripen C/D of 701st Squadron, Wing 7 Surat Thani. (Royal Thai Air Force/KATSUHI...

aagth1.blogspot.com

Thai Defense Blog indicating Thai AF selection for Gripen E/F over F-16V, already close to final. However with new government coming in, seems the decision can still potentially overruled by New Administration.

Something that LM still hope to lobby to tip back the decision balance toward F-16V. LM seems quite desperate to get V deal from any F-16 users that want to trade their A/B/C/D versions for something new.

 

[John Fedup]

A multi engine lift fan in wing concept….nice capability but landing on unprepared surfaces will be challenging on crap getting into the engines and cross connecting four engines will be a complex task.

New Vision For Lift Fan Aircraft Family Grows From Special Operations X-Plane Program

A new fan-in-wing concept could be scaled to offer valuable runway-independent capabilities for more than just special operations missions.

www.twz.com

 

[John Fedup]

Another tilt-rotor, UR-6000 has been introduced by China. Uses similar tilt technology as the V-280, doesn’t rotate the entire engine assembly. Clearly will see service supplying China’s carriers with some kit albeit probably not aircraft engines.

China’s Large Tiltrotor Drone Breaks Cover

The UR6000 appears to be China's first foray into the large tiltrotor segment and such a craft could have significant military applications. Reports suggest the prototype of the new UR6000 tiltrotor drone will be formally unveiled at next month’s Zhuhai Airshow.

www.twz.com

 

[SolarisKenzo]

Interesting development.

Italy intends to negotiate up to 30 M-346 light fighters for Brazil - Air Data News

The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, and the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, will discuss a possible agreement for at least 30 M-346

www.airdatanews.com

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Interesting development.

Italy intends to negotiate up to 30 M-346 light fighters for Brazil - Air Data News

The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, and the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, will discuss a possible agreement for at least 30 M-346

www.airdatanews.com

The M-346 will be a logic choice as an AMX replacement for Brazil. The AMX is around 30 years now and I don't know how good the Mectron SCP-01 Scipio radar is, but the M-346 should be undoubtedly more advanced. The brazilian Air Force has now around 24 AMXs in service, but the M-346 can maybe also replace the large fleet of F-5s in service with the brazilians. And then the best solution is probably licence production in Brazil.

 

[John Fedup]

I wonder how much effort China puts into acquiring information on the Su-57 compared to Western fighters? How does the the Su-57 compare to the latest production versions of the J-20? Certainly there is a huge production advantage for the J-20 and a would bet on other advantages as well. The most interesting difference would be engine performance and durability IMHO.

Su-57 makes debut appearance at airshow China 2024

 

[Ananda]

x.com

x.com

Deino said in his X, the one that come is not actually Su-57, but T50-4. Means it is one of early prototype. So Russia send it to shown capabilities of early prototype without shown in Airshow their current production examples.

Russian sources on other media talks some modifications on Su-57 current production is not shown on that prototype. Some claimed even this is prototype, but battle ready and being tested already in Ukraine war. So, if this's true T50-4 that they have send, then they want to send to International show (that's still open to them) the working prototype without actual current examples of production ones.

I suspect they don't want to only aim to China. However Zhuhai Airspace also being visit by potential customers from Middle East and even India aka BRICS partners.