Military Aviation News and Discussion

[John Fedup]

Used KC-10s are up for sale. I would have thought sale opportunities would a better for forest fire fighting rather than private aerial refuelling albeit they are expensive to operate and are limited for low level drops in many fire prone areas. Have to like the huge tankage capacity.

KC-10 Extender Tankers Are Up For Auction

 

[Ananda]

Sweden authorizes the signing of agreements to finalize the sale of 12 Saab Gripen E/F fighter jets to the Peruvian Air Force

Building on the recent selection of the JAS-39 Gripen E/F by the Colombian Aerospace Force, Sweden is stepping up its efforts to position Saab’s fighter

www.zona-militar.com

Swedes seems securing internal permission for selling up to 12 Gripen E/F. I believe Brazil facility will be use to supply all Gripen to South America market. Means Brazil themselves, Columbia and now Peru.

Question for Gripen now is their reliance on GE-414 engine. Eventough it is build by Volvo, it is still GE-414. SAAB should get options for another engine, as Trump antics on export already shown reliance on one source have problematic Risk. Something that Turkiye found out when they want to sell their Attack Helicopter to Philippines.

 

[John Fedup]

Sweden authorizes the signing of agreements to finalize the sale of 12 Saab Gripen E/F fighter jets to the Peruvian Air Force

Building on the recent selection of the JAS-39 Gripen E/F by the Colombian Aerospace Force, Sweden is stepping up its efforts to position Saab’s fighter

www.zona-militar.com

Swedes seems securing internal permission for selling up to 12 Gripen E/F. I believe Brazil facility will be use to supply all Gripen to South America market. Means Brazil themselves, Columbia and now Peru.

Question for Gripen now is their reliance on GE-414 engine. Eventough it is build by Volvo, it is still GE-414. SAAB should get options for another engine, as Trump antics on export already shown reliance on one source have problematic Risk. Something that Turkiye found out when they want to sell their Attack Helicopter to Philippines.

Saab should have began a development program for a modified EJ200 with Eurojet years ago.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

A CN235-110 from UAE recently landed on 14 april in Bandung, for a Service Life Extension Program at IPTN's facility. From which i can remember, Abu Dhabi ordered 7 CN235-110s from IPTN in the '90s.

Two more CN235s will arrive soon in Bandung for the same SLEP.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1371268267374627&id=100034744016794

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

The Peruvian government has been negotiating a government-to-government deal for twelve JAS39NG Gripens.

Peru has upgraded its Mirage 2000P/DP and MiG-29 in 2008-2010, but these aircrafts are nearing the end of their life. In 2013 Peru was already looking around for replacement of the Mirages, these are planned to be retired in 2025, this year. So this is a little bit late.

Peru eyeing JAS39

Peru eyeing JAS39 The Peruvian government has been negotiating a government-to-government deal for twelve JAS39NG Gripens. The request to authorise this deal was necessary from the...

scramble.nl

 

[Ananda]

Cairo and Seoul Sign Agreement for Local FA-50 Fighter Jet Production

Egypt and South Korea have reached a major deal that will see South Korean FA-50 light combat aircraft built in Egypt.

www.aeronewsjournal.com

Another FA-50 win, and it's big one. Up to 100FA-50 with up to 70 will be assembly and manufacture in Egypt. In the very competitive global market for LCA-FLIT market, FA-50 so far manage to out perform it's competitors on getting market.

The likes of Italian T346, Russian Yak-130, China-Pakistan JF-17, India Tejas, Turkiye Hurjet and Czech L-159 already crowded the market for this segment. Thus what Korean achieve in outperform latest LCA-FLIT deals are quite an achievement.

I do wonder if T-7A being green light to be developed in to LCA version.

 

[At lakes]

Cairo and Seoul Sign Agreement for Local FA-50 Fighter Jet Production

Egypt and South Korea have reached a major deal that will see South Korean FA-50 light combat aircraft built in Egypt.

www.aeronewsjournal.com

Another FA-50 win, and it's big one. Up to 100FA-50 with up to 70 will be assembly and manufacture in Egypt. In the very competitive global market for LCA-FLIT market, FA-50 so far manage to out perform it's competitors on getting market.

The likes of Italian T346, Russian Yak-130, China-Pakistan JF-17, India Tejas, Turkiye Hurjet and Czech L-159 already crowded the market for this segment. Thus what Korean achieve in outperform latest LCA-FLIT deals are quite an achievement.

I do wonder if T-7A being green light to be developed in to LCA version.

Air Force weighing turning T-7 into F-7 armed light attack jet: Official - Breaking Defense

Despite not talking to Boeing about development of a F-7 armed light attack aircraft based off the T-7A Red Hawk, a USAF official has revealed the service is interested in such a concept, and could look to replace older F-16s with it.

breakingdefense.com

With regard to your question regarding the T7 the short answer is yes. The USAF are believed to be exploring options for the T7 to replace the F16, it will be dubbed the F7 if it goes ahead

 

[Ananda]

Thanks for that F-7 info, perhaps there's interest and intention to develop T-7 further. However seems it is not official yet. Developing FLIT (or use to be call LIFT), is only creating LCA. Thus I don't think the intention is to replace F-16.

First F-16 Block 70 Emerges From Lockheed Martin’s New Factory—128 More on Order | Air & Space Forces Magazine

The first F-16 of the Block 70/72 configuration has rolled out of Lockheed Martin’s Greenville, S.C., facility.

www.airandspaceforces.com

Besides, USAF Block 70 upgrade just like brand new V is already make F-16 still relevance 2 or even 3 decade from now. F-35 and F-16 Blok 70 combo seems what USAF aiming for. For US, F-5 being build also to provide allies or friendlies on cheaper US Fighter. However from US pov, it is already being fill by FA-50, in which basically already part of LM fighter anyway.

LCA users mostly use it on the function that F-5 or Mig-21 has in the past. Do USAF still really need something like F-5 ? I think that will be determined whether this F-7 ever come to fruition. Thus if US ever decide to build this F-7, I think it is more likely for export market.

No Doubt Boeing and SAAB wants to enter increasing lucrative LCA market. However will both of them want to invest independently to develop F-7 without USAF order ? That's the economic scale question for them to decide.

 

[swerve]

Air Force weighing turning T-7 into F-7 armed light attack jet: Official - Breaking Defense

Despite not talking to Boeing about development of a F-7 armed light attack aircraft based off the T-7A Red Hawk, a USAF official has revealed the service is interested in such a concept, and could look to replace older F-16s with it.

breakingdefense.com

With regard to your question regarding the T7 the short answer is yes. The USAF are believed to be exploring options for the T7 to replace the F16, it will be dubbed the F7 if it goes ahead

Has the USA completely abandoned its military aircraft designation system now? F-35, now F-47 & F-7 - random numbers! It shouldn't have reached F-30 yet.

F-7 was the Convair Sea Dart, redesignated from the USN F2Y.

 

[Terran]

Has the USA completely abandoned its military aircraft designation system now? F-35, now F-47 & F-7 - random numbers! It shouldn't have reached F-30 yet.

F-7 was the Convair Sea Dart, redesignated from the USN F2Y.

F7 isn’t an official thing yet. F35 got its designation from the X35. F47? I think the X plane numbers are at X67 with the X66 being a Boeing demonstration aircraft and X47 was an NG UCAV demonstration program.

 

[swerve]

F7 isn’t an official thing yet. F35 got its designation from the X35. F47? I think the X plane numbers are at X67 with the X66 being a Boeing demonstration aircraft and X47 was an NG UCAV demonstration program.

I know where F-35 got its designation, & it was contrary to the rules of the designation system. F-47 completely ignores the system.

 

[John Fedup]

No surprise that SAAB is proposing Global Eye Canada. This competition isn't like the P-8. Global Eye is a reasonable alternative to the E-7, perhaps it could be even better integrated into the new Bombardier 8000. PM Carney is hyping a new Euro defence arrangement so this would fit into this goal. Then there is the Trump/Tariff&51st state BS. Politically, an E-7 award is a tough sell to the Canadian public, especially if the F-35 deal remains as is.

Saab GlobalEye Set To Challenge Boeing E-7 As Canada’s New Radar Plane

 

[swerve]

Global 8000 is set to have a GE engine, isn't it? 6500 has a RR engine . . .

 

[John Fedup]

Global 8000 is set to have a GE engine, isn't it? 6500 has a RR engine . . .

Yes GE, I thought RR use was going to continue with the 8000. Therefore 7500 is a better choice to minimize US content.

 

[John Fedup]

Will post this here but the issue affects the C-17 fleet besides the B757 fleet. A good example of the complexity of producing exotic state-of-the-art jet engines. Chinese designed jet engines will absolutely have similar setbacks, likely more given the shorter history developing (copying).

FAA Draft Rule Links PW2000 Parts To Powder Metal Issue | Aviation Week Network

A powder metal part-contamination problem affects hundreds of Pratt & Whitney PW2000 engines on Boeing 757s and C-17s that will require inspections.

aviationweek.com

 

[Ananda]

Thai air force plans to acquire 12 Gripen jets

The Royal Thai Air Force plans to acquire a total of 12 Gripen JAS 39 fighter jets built by Sweden's Saab over 10 years, air force chief ACM Punpakdee Pattanakul said on Wednesday.

www.bangkokpost.com

Bit late for a week, but Thai finally choose Gripen E/F over F-16V. This to replace their oldest F-16A/B. Interesting that Thai AF seems want still to keep their F-5TH Upgrade, but choose to let go their oldest F-16A/B.

 

[SolarisKenzo]

MBDA unveiled the new european VSHORAD missile called FULGUR.
It is intended to replace the FIM-92 Stinger in Europe (of course not every country will adopt it immediatly, since some still have many new stinger missiles in stock or on order) in both ground-to-air and air-to-air.
The italian military is the launch customer.

The new missile, as shown, completes the "low" segment: it should be lighter than a Stinger and perfectly complement the MISTRAL, which is too heavy to be used from the shoulder.




Europe will now be fully independent in building AA missiles in all segment.
Of course the stinger will still be used in Europe for a long time too.

 

[Ananda]

Boeing In Talks To Restart C-17 Production

The ability to operate from short fields and haul heavy loads at jet speeds is coveted, but a C-17 production restart would be far from easy. Few airlifters combine the ability to operate from short fields and haul tanks, but a C-17 production restart would be far from easy.

www.twz.com

Now this is being talk in Paris Airshow, and I don't know if Boeing will consider there will be enough demand to justified the cost in reopening the line. Bit not optimistic on that side, afterall they refuse to reopen 757 which have more potential market.

However with China Y-20, Russia IL-76MD-90a and even talk of Russia developing AN-124 succesor. Who knows US decide it is time for more C17. Has to be new US order as base, as I don't think enough export can be justified for reopening the production line. As it is basically at this stage, similar to opening new line altogether.

 

[Terran]

Boeing In Talks To Restart C-17 Production

The ability to operate from short fields and haul heavy loads at jet speeds is coveted, but a C-17 production restart would be far from easy. Few airlifters combine the ability to operate from short fields and haul tanks, but a C-17 production restart would be far from easy.

www.twz.com

Now this is being talk in Paris Airshow, and I don't know if Boeing will consider there will be enough demand to justified the cost in reopening the line. Bit not optimistic on that side, afterall they refuse to reopen 757 which have more potential market.

However with China Y-20, Russia IL-76MD-90a and even talk of Russia developing AN-124 succesor. Who knows US decide it is time for more C17. Has to be new US order as base, as I don't think enough export can be justified for reopening the production line. As it is basically at this stage, similar to opening new line altogether.

Something that you have to consider here is that it’s been 10 years since the last C17 was delivered. Now in the past the USAF reactivated production of the C5 Galaxy but the situation was that it took years to go from contract to line and they had the advantage of having the tooling because they were doing modifications to fix the C5A.
C17 (and in your comment 757) have the problem that everything is more or less gone. The C17 line wasn’t just closed it was demolished. The Tooling and documentation are over 20 years old, the supply chain is long gone.
Thats why Boeing won’t reopen 757 production and would have a hell of a time restarting C17 production. It’s also why the Russians haven’t been able to deliver An124 planes on their own and have had a long drama with Il76. It’s why the USAF launched NGAD as opposed to getting F22s.
When you close a factory line for a prolonged period eventually someone cleans house. This is made more difficult as between the 1990s and today much of the tooling and documentation has changed to a new standard of digital. Add in advances in engine and avionics technologies and even if they launch a C17R program the results are likely to be an aircraft with more in common to 787 than C17. This is similar to the C130J program where at a glance Hercules is Hercules but LM went to town building a “Retro” airplane.
For the USAF they are likely shopping the option to see what the cost benefit is but on the other end of it the amount of money involved and the degree of R&D is such that it will cost just as much as a scratch designed replacement for C17.

 

[Ananda]

they are likely shopping the option to see what the cost benefit is but on the other end of it the amount of money involved and the degree of R&D is such that it will cost just as much as a scratch designed replacement for C17.

I agree on reopening C17 line at this stage is just similar to opening new line altogether, which is why I put it as last sentence on my previous post. However Boeing now seems seriously doing studies on that area, and talked about it in Paris Airshow.

This is again still at early studies, but it also means they are serious considering that. In my opinion Boeing executives seems have other calculations that triger this studies. For a big company like them, any action like this means, even still in early studies, substantial resource need to allocate.

Boeing not really in good shape at this moment. They need all resources to priority projects. For me, I put 757 as example just shown Boeing is not historically type of company that want to dig out old project/production line. Thus bit surprising they talk about this on one of big Global aviation event.

Company like Boeing I believe don't talk easy chit chat on event like Paris Airshow. Personally I just see this as serious studies they want to conduct, at the time Boeing can not wasted resources.