Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Don,
Another answer to your earlier ? in this thread on how long it takes to train pilots until they get fielded in their planes. If you remember I responded by using the RTAF and their GRIPENS at one year. The below from Iraq supports that when you include their prop training as well in Iraq, just a little follow up from a different part of the world. From DID full article immediately below.

Jan 20/12: Training begins. Gannett’s Military Times reports that:

“The first of the Iraqi pilots that will learn how to fly F-16s recently arrived in Tucson with the 162nd Fighter Wing, an Air National Guard unit that specializes in training foreign pilots to fly F-16s, said wing spokesman Maj. Gabe Johnson. The Iraqi pilot is slated to start the academic part of his training on Jan. 23 followed by hands-on flying from February through September, Johnson said"
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...ighters-05057/

Early fallout from the US defence budget $500 Billion cutbacks:
1) The immediate effects for the USAF.
http://www.militarytimes.com/news/20...ns-cut-013012/

2) Australia to review it's F-35 but timetable as the F-35 gets pushed back again here.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nati...-1226257503229

Swiss and the F-5 TIGER II replacement.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...ts-f-5s-04624/Pics:

Don you might or might not find the Swiss F-18C useful.

Swedens GRIPEN on the move.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...ld-card-02401/
Pics:

Hungrian GRIPEN C/D. SAAF GRIPEN D.

Czech GRIPEN C/D.
Again these might be useful or not. But are easy on the eyes!?!

The GRIPEN D is the advanced two-seat air to ground attack version. See Post # Item . for further details on this fighter (C), fighter bomber (D)it has really come on in the last couple of years as the cheaper, stealthier but highly reliable alternative to the EUROFIGHTER and RAFALE.

All articles from DID.

Regards,
Pat