| Mako11 | 18 Apr 2013 7:22 p.m. PST |
Apparently, dismayed by the spiraling costs, and continuous delays with the program, the Dutch are considering reducing the number of F-35 Coots they plan to purchase: link Alternatives to it they are considering are the: Typhoon, Gripen, and SuperHornet. |
| Generalstoner49 | 18 Apr 2013 7:28 p.m. PST |
Not surprising at all. I think the plane that could really shine is the Super Hornet. A lot of people, including the US navy, are looking at this option. I wonder if we are not going to see naval air groups switch to 2 full squadrons of Super Hornets, 1 attack squadron on F-35's and 1 squadron of whatever attack UAV they decide on. Supported by the Growlers and E-2's it is still a potent battle group. |
| Privateer4hire | 18 Apr 2013 9:12 p.m. PST |
Maybe somebody should KickStarter the next big program? :) |
| Midgetmanifesto | 18 Apr 2013 9:19 p.m. PST |
I'm a bit of a fan of the Gripen myself. I just found a website (pro-Gripen) that has some pretty decent discussion. gripen4canada.blogspot.ca Apparently one of the risks of the Superhornet is that it will be ceasing production in the near future.
'Furthermore Boeing is set to close the line in 2015, after their final delivery to the US Navy. This may be extended by a year by a prospective Australian purchase, but it is unlikely to go past 2016 (see footnote 3).' link |
| Mako11 | 18 Apr 2013 10:03 p.m. PST |
"Maybe somebody should KickStarter the next big program? :)". I suspect most would not be fool enough to fall for something like that, given US fighter aircraft production program track records. The Gripen is a nice, little jet. I must admit to being smitten by the Typhoon myself, and would love to see those flying in the skies over the US. |
| David Manley | 18 Apr 2013 10:21 p.m. PST |
Typhoons over the US? Here you go :) link |
| Mako11 | 19 Apr 2013 12:09 a.m. PST |
Sadly, haven't seen any over my home, but thanks for sharing the link Dave. |
| boy wundyr x | 19 Apr 2013 4:23 a.m. PST |
Just got a new issue of Combat Aircraft magazine, the Danes are also re-opening their fighter competition and the Turks are getting jumpy about their order too. |
| taskforce58 | 19 Apr 2013 6:44 a.m. PST |
I've been dreaming about Canada dumping the Coot and get Su-35 instead. The Flanker family are such beautiful looking jets. |
| Mako11 | 19 Apr 2013 10:22 a.m. PST |
I agree, those Sukhoi designers are superb artists! |
| 15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 19 Apr 2013 3:10 p.m. PST |
I'm a fan of the Dassault Breguet Rafale. It's got gorgeous lines. I wonder why the Frogs have so much trouble selling their planes, even though they did win a big contract over the Eurofighter not long ago with the Indians. |
| Deadone | 21 Apr 2013 4:05 p.m. PST |
wonder why the Frogs have so much trouble selling their planes 1. Lack of NATO weapons integration. You can't just hang a Sidewinder or AMRAAM from a Rafale. 2. Poor marketing. 3. Cost – Rafale is quite expensive to buy and operate compared to say an F-16. 4. Politics – most buyers of Western gear prefer to chummy up to US than France. This is especially the case with key allies ala South Korea or Israel. 5. Issues with industrial participation – even now there is a dispute between India and France over India's wish to licence produce/assemble F-35.
Hence the F-16 still sells well and often to users of French equipment – e.g. F-16 has sold to UAE and Morroco over Rafale. F-15 as well in South Korea, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.
The F-35 was meant to be even cheaper than F-16 to buy and operate (both turned out false – at best F-35 will be $85 USD-$90m jet with operational cost 10% more than F-16) and the program offered a lot of industrial benefits (some of which are also starting to become untrue). |
| skaran | 02 May 2013 10:52 p.m. PST |
As an aside to this our government (Australia) has just released its latest Defence White Paper in which we will be purchasing an additional 12 Super Hornets bringing the number up to 36, though these 12 will be of the EA18G Growler model. The paper still says we are committed to purchasing the F35 which is due to enter service in 2020, though how many we will need then is debatable as it looks like we are being forced to reequip the older Hornets with the newer versions as the airframes wear out. |
| Deadone | 06 May 2013 5:11 p.m. PST |
Apparently RAAF are still committed to "3 squadrons of F-35s." I assume that's all 3 legacy F/A-18A/B squadrons (3/75/77). Assuming they want to keep 2 OCU as well, that means a purchase of about 72-75 F-35s. In essence force structure will remain similar to old one with F/A-18/F-111. So old combo:
75 F/A-18A/B (4 since lost)
36-ish RF/F-111C/G New combo: 72-75 F-35A
36 E/F/A-18F/G. I think the 12 E/A-18G Growlers are a sensible buy. It gives RAAF capabilities that only USA has. |
bases up the rifle teams.
