Military Aviation News and Discussion

John Fedup

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
Considering how long it took Boeing to sell off the C-17 Whitetails and where they sold them, I guess the Western market decline was visible. A lack of money is the driver and as the article points out, strategic lift isn't as important to Euro members. The A400 provides sufficient strategic lift for them but reliability and cost have ruined its chances. The 50 plus year old Hercules will continue its successful run because of the A400's difficulties. I think it will take the introduction of a Chinese BW designed military transport to stimulate any US replacement transport within the next 30 years or more.
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
Other partners might consider an R&D contribution similar to the JSF program but on a smaller scale with no commitment to purchase. The F-35 has soaked up funding for 20 years unless some major technological advance forces a fleet replacement.
 
ngatimozart

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #129
Farnborough 2018 News.

Airbus has announced plans to use the A320 as a MPA, the A320M3. The intention is for a modular multi mission aircraft with the possibility of AEW, ISR and SIGINT capabilities as well. SAAB have also been in talks with Airbus about an AEW collaboration. So if Canada starts its procurement process now, it just might be in a position to order some by 2035 when it is due to enter service in Europe if it succeeds in the Franco - German future maritime airborne warfare system project.

Airbus states that it is close to an export order for the A400M. They said that they could possibly sign a contract in the next few months. The potential buyer hasn't been disclosed by they said that Indonesia was looking at acquiring 2 A4ooM for freight haulage around Indonesia. Another country due to make a decision soon about its C-130 replacement is New Zealand. The NZ decision was originally to be made in November 2018, however this has been brought forward. It hasn't been publicly stated what the new date is.

The UK has released details of its NEXTGEN aircraft concept to be known as the Tempest. They are looking for partners, but whether there will be any European partners remains to be seen.
Aero Vodochody has displayed a model of a new variant of its L-159 LIFT. The new variant is the F/A-259 Striker and is a late entry into the USAF OA/X CAS program.
SAAB is pushing ahead with development of the Gripen E. Two new test aircraft will be added to the flight testing program, taking the number of testing aircraft to three. The Gripen E has eight hardpoints and the Gripen F twin seat variant has yet to make its first flight.

TAI have displayed a full sized mock up of its Hurjet light attack/advanced jet trainer aircraft.

The proposed joint venture between Boeing and Embraer, includes collaboration on upgrades and modifications to the KC-390. Also Boeing will responsible for sales, marketing and after sales service of the KC-390. If this goes ahead then some of the risk will have been mitigated.

Other Boeing news from Farnborough.

Lockheed news from Farnborough.
A story about UK aerospace capabilities.
 
Last edited:
John Fedup

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
The Tempest is a twin engine 6th Gen fighter concept. The Flight-Global article implies it is essentially sole U.K. Project that will compete against future jets from possibly Japan, the French-German project and whatever 6th Gen fighters Russia, China, and the US come up with. Given the state of the UK economy going forward, the feasibility of a solo effort is questionable.
 
H

hauritz

Well-Known Member
John Fedup said:
The Tempest is a twin engine 6th Gen fighter concept. The Flight-Global article implies it is essentially sole U.K. Project that will compete against future jets from possibly Japan, the French-German project and whatever 6th Gen fighters Russia, China, and the US come up with. Given the state of the UK economy going forward, the feasibility of a solo effort is questionable.
Click to expand...
They will be looking for partners ... who knows Canada might want to jump on board. The way things are going it could be a candidate for replacing the Canadian F-18s.
 
S

swerve

Super Moderator
John Fedup said:
The Tempest is a twin engine 6th Gen fighter concept. The Flight-Global article implies it is essentially sole U.K. Project that will compete against future jets from possibly Japan, the French-German project and whatever 6th Gen fighters Russia, China, and the US come up with. Given the state of the UK economy going forward, the feasibility of a solo effort is questionable.
Click to expand...
As hauritz say, the UK is looking for partners. Some of the reports quote BAE & IIRC RAF senior personnel saying so at the Tempest unveiling.

The interesting question is, which partners will the UK end up with.
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
I guess the partner issue will be influenced by the Brexit procedure. An ugly divorce would probably eliminate France and Germany leaving Sweden and maybe Italy. Canada might be a possibility if Bombardier and other Canadian aerospace firms could secure a reasonable amount of content. Australia is more likely to stick with the US for future needs IMO. I recall some mention of British-Japanese cooperation on aerospace developments but my understanding is any future Japanese fighter will have a very high Japanese design and manufacturing content.
 
Todjaeger

Todjaeger

Potstirrer
ngatimozart said:
I believe that time for last orders is quite near, because otherwise the NZG wouldn't have been ordering now.
Click to expand...
I do believe (barring new/additional orders) the P-8A Poseidon line will be shutting down in the next few years (2022-ish) and due to long-lead items, orders need to be placed basically now or in the next couple of months.

Having said that though, I would not be surprised if Boeing would be able to developed a newer, P-8BCD Poseidon version using the body of a newer Boeing 737 MAX airliner mated to an appropriate wing. Not unlike how the P-8A Poseidon is a modified 737-800 body with a modified 737-900 wing.
 
ngatimozart

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #139
Ukraine and Turkey are working together on a new Antonov AN-188 four engine turbo fan transport with a range of around 3,800 nm and a max load capacity of 35 tonnes. The aircraft is a variant of the AN-170, with four contra-rotating scimitar propellers making it some what noisy. The interesting thing about the AN-188 is that it is being built to NATO standards and can have the D-436-148FM turbofan engines, AI-28 new-generation engines, or CFM International LEAP high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines. Now if they could scale up the aircraft to carry another 20 - 30 tonne, they could be on to a winner, especially if built to NATO standards using western engines.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top