number fighter aircraft operational/maintenance?

[korvo]

out of curiosity:
suppose a country orders new fighter aircraft. what is the split between operational aircraft and aircraft in short/long term maintenance? i always heard that the rule of the thumb is as follows: 1/3 operational, 1/3 maintenance but what about that last 1/3?
thx for the info!

 

[Ozzy Blizzard]

I guess it depends on the airframes, the quality of your maintinance people and your level of funding. AFAIK, the RAAF has a squadron size of 16~18 with 12 platforms being operational at any one time, so its more like 2/3 are operational with 1/3 being down at any one time, i think this includes "normal" long term maintainance. But if your running old russian platforms with shonky crews and not enough cash to keep enough parts that ratio drops a fair bit.

 

[funtz]

But if your running old russian platforms with shonky crews and not enough cash to keep enough parts that ratio drops a fair bit.

Old platforms, Shonky(?) crews , not enough cash to keep enough parts , will that not have an effect on every platform from every nation? :unknown

 

[Ozzy Blizzard]

Old platforms, Shonky(?) crews , not enough cash to keep enough parts , will that not have an effect on every platform from every nation? :unknown

I only mentioned russian platforms because AFAIK they have lower reliability rate's than wester platforms. IIRC reliability problems with RD 33 was a big sticking point with the Indians, and a redesigned engine with more durable materials was introduced with the MiG 35 in the MRCA competition to adress these concerns. This sort of thing seems to be quite frequent with russian platforms, however with western counterparts it apears to be less of a problem. I wasnt haveing a dig at the russians, you also get comperable capability for a much lower cost, not bad?

 

[qwerty223]

I only mentioned russian platforms because AFAIK they have lower reliability rate's than wester platforms. IIRC reliability problems with RD 33 was a big sticking point with the Indians, and a redesigned engine with more durable materials was introduced with the MiG 35 in the MRCA competition to adress these concerns. This sort of thing seems to be quite frequent with russian platforms, however with western counterparts it apears to be less of a problem. I wasnt haveing a dig at the russians, you also get comperable capability for a much lower cost, not bad?

2/3 is a rate of only 66.66%. Thats is a worst scenario for MiGs in India. If F/A-18 too is about that... thats no comparison to the Russian made. I believe Hornets are average around 70~75%.

 

[vivtho]

out of curiosity:
suppose a country orders new fighter aircraft. what is the split between operational aircraft and aircraft in short/long term maintenance? i always heard that the rule of the thumb is as follows: 1/3 operational, 1/3 maintenance but what about that last 1/3?
thx for the info!

Some aircraft from the buy are also kept in long term storage as attrition replacements. This number is not as high as 1/3, but is still an appreciable fraction of it.