Jets & Planes but no UAV's here. - Page 16

FASTBOAT TOUGH · #1 January 25th, 2015, 04:46 AM

India was to have pulled off one of the largest single purchases of fighters in history with the MMRCA Program which I believe I started posting on about 3-4 years ago in this thread. It had initially involved the following candidates EUROFIGHTER, FA-18E/F SUPER HORNET, F-35, RAFALE and JAS GRIPEN. The winner was the RAFALE well sort of maybe and probably not. Remember the Indian MOD also had the wonderful 30+ year ARJUN tank program and gave me and by default Don about a good two or three year headache as well (And I still have not finished with them yet.). So who are likely the real winners here? The Indian Sukhoi SU-30MKI the joint T-50/PAK-FA and yeah I did emboldened the GRIPEN well, that's because Brazil has [b]signed the contract[b] for the latest JAS GRIPEN as one of the largest export fighter deals now and it fits the niche of being considered the only true 4th Generation + fighter in the world. What that means in theory is only the F-22 (Which it is.) F-35, T-50/PAK-FA are better. The new JAS GRIPEN is easily on par with the EUROFIGHTER and RAFALE as it is a larger fighter with increased payload as well. so in order I hope of the above...
http://www.janes.com/article/47850/i...a-cancellation
http://www.janes.com/article/48232/i...fgfa-programme
http://www.janes.com/article/47115/r...ak-fas-by-2020
http://www.janes.com/article/47805/h...dian-air-force
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...program-04179/

And with all the talk we've had of the F-35 this is the latest from NAVAIR and as Suhiir and I have cleared up hopefully in this Forum when it comes to everything that fly's for the USN/USMC if they don't say it's so well it just isn't so then. With that in mind this is the latest from them on the F-35 and note the date.
http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm...sStory&id=5766

It least for what we "think" is happening we still have JANE'S and DID (And a couple of others.) to let us know what's going on, they kinda reminds me of those "silly" French soldiers in a certain Scottish Castle mocking King Arthur (NAVAIR) in that knowing way of "we have it and know what's going on" and if you know what I'm talking about here then you remember what those "silly" French soldiers did to King Arthur!?! But Andy how did they ever get into Scotland to take the castle in the first place!?!

Anyway off to the rack to get some sleep to finish the work week off. Take Care and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Regards,
Pat

Suhiir · #2 January 26th, 2015, 02:33 AM

Basically testing is proceeding more-or-less as planned.
Bugs and teething issues are being found and worked out.
It took about 4 years (1970-1974) between the time the F-14 Tomcat first flew and it's initial deployment with a US Navy squadron. And it was designed by and for the US Navy, and only the US Navy. Far fewer hoops to jump thru and people to please.

FASTBOAT TOUGH · #3 February 9th, 2015, 03:25 AM

SOFTBALL #3...CANADA/F-35A/NONE/ADD/In doubt currently accessioning airspace requirements and budget concerns./
Regards,
Pat

Ahem................... type CF-35 into mobhack search when in the CDN OOB and you'll find 4 units

ARGHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!------SORRY PAT.. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A REPLY NOT AN EDIT. I tried going back to save your work but it was gone by the time I realized what I'd done

DRG · #4 February 9th, 2015, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FASTBOAT TOUGH

SOFTBALL #3...CANADA/F-35A/NONE/ADD/In doubt currently accessioning airspace requirements and budget concerns./
Regards,
Pat

Ahem................... type CF-35 into mobhack search when in the CDN OOB and you'll find 4 units. One of the issues here is it's a single engine aircraft and that is a legitimate concern given where it will be flown most of the time but there is a LOT of hot air being blown around about the aircraft but ultimately I wouldn't want to guess how it will go one way or the other at this time...... ask me again after the election in the fall but even then...IDK. Right now the OOB's have a 6/2018 start date and that's fine by me until we know more but if anything is really going to kill this deal it's the current currency exchange rate

Don

FASTBOAT TOUGH · #5 February 9th, 2015, 05:33 PM

That sounds fine to me concerning 6/2018 for those OOB's and UNITS. We have plenty of time. Suhiir should have pretty reliable dates for the F-35B and F-35C we worked those pretty hard. USMC IOC is still on track for I believe it was 07/2015 for the F-35B. Sorry about the CAF jets as I didn't start there. The other countries I searched under "JSF" and they came up that way.

These were a couple of the posts I used to support my last post. On the second ref. just click on the "FLAGS" to see the type F-35 each country ordered and information associated with that order.
http://www.jsf.mil/program/prog_intl.htm
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/pro...tnerships.html

Now about that OOPS! Here's I how work I have to first

with my

which causes me to sometimes just to

: and at other times just

but if I hang in there it's just

all around!!
I wish to thank you for the opportunity to tell a smilie story!!

Don likes those you know!?! Kinda like he enjoys putting trucks into OOB's!! Alright I'll stop!?!
Have a good day!!

Regards,
Pat

Suhiir · #6 February 9th, 2015, 06:03 PM

Actually the dates I have at the moment are:
F-35B 01/2017
F-35C 01/2018
EF-35 Ferret 01/117 - and this should probably use the the F-25C icon/LBM, be changed to 01/2018, and perhaps given a pair of 500# JDAMs (since it has the larger internal weapon bay the F-35B). Chances are they'll use the 'C' variant for a "wild weasel".

There is TONS of rumor, speculation etc. concerning the F-35 but until someone actually deploys them in an active squadron all we can do is take a best guess.

Suhiir · #7 February 9th, 2015, 06:06 PM

ACK !
F-35C icon/LBM for the Ferret
((damn "no edit" for Firefox))

FASTBOAT TOUGH · #8 February 13th, 2015, 04:22 AM

By way of sending a message to someone, and also note related articles at the bottom of this "featured" one. As a side we will be sending more armor to Europe as well. If I remember, it was around Oct. 2013 when I posted the last tanks were leaving. Served during the official "Cold War" now it looks like the "Cool War" scratch that, with the "Chilly War" has started.
http://www.janes.com/article/48878/u...-10s-to-europe

Regards,
Pat

dmnt · #9 February 13th, 2015, 06:09 AM

Finnish F-18 mid-life upgrade 2:

FDF news (in Finnish)

"Uusilla kyvyillä varustettuja koneita on saatu Ilmavoimiin palveluskäyttöön keväästä 2013 alkaen. Vuoden 2014 loppuun mennessä MLU 2-koneita oli käytössä noin 30."
"The planes with new capabilities have been received to Air Force service from spring 2013 onwards. By the end of 2014 there were about 30 pieces of MLU 2 fighters."

Improvements list at the end of article (selected ones):

Sensori- ja omasuojajärjestelmän päivityksiä
Sensor and self protection (=EW) upgrades
Ilmasta maahan -täsmäaseistuksen käytöönotto (lyhyen kantaman ohjautuva JDAM-pommi, keskipitkän kantaman JSOW-liitopommi sekä pitkän kantaman JASSM-rynnäkköohjus)
Air-to-ground precision munitions (short range JDAM bomb, medium range JSOW glide bomb and long range JASSM missile)
LITENING-maalinetsintäsäiliö
LITENING targeting pod

Suhiir · #10 February 13th, 2015, 07:54 PM

"Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response (SPMAGTF-CR) units are well shaped to fill a gap in rapid response when an Amphibious Ready Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) is not available, but are not capable of replacing the ARG/MEU's capabilities ..."

Interesting.
Seems someone has decided to augment the Amphibious Ready Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) concept with one specifically tailored to probably independent company vice battalion size operations.