Future Jet Training

Hey guys, yeah I haven’t been around much, some are saying good, thing is I’ve been rather busy in my personal life.

Anyway I have a question about the future jet training needs of a few countries, hope someone out there can shed some light.

Kicking off the list is Sweden:
I realise that the SK-60’s have just been through a modernisation including the FJ-44 Engines and semi glass cockpit, but the airframes can’t last can they. So is there any plans in the Flygvapnet to replace them with a new SAAB model or something else (PC-21’s perhaps)?

This now leads me to Austria:
Austria has the same type though slightly different and not as modern as the Swedish examples. The Osterich Luftstrikeskraften’s SAAB 105Oe’s are also used in the light strike role and as back up to the main fighter force. I know that training for the Typhoons is done in Germany , but does this mean the Jet Training is also? If so then replacement for the 105Oe’s doesn’t need to be a jet right? A turboprop might be just as capable- especially with the likes of the Super Tucano or the A-67 Dragon soon to come on line from the US.

Sticking to the same region, Finland is now looking for replacements for the Hawk’s that they have had in service for many years. The only replacement for the Hawk Mk51’s would be Hawk Mk12x series

Other countries that are due to look for new trainers are:

Spain with their C-101’s

T-37’s are still in use around the world, Pakistan, Turkey, Chile.

France, Belgium and Portugal will need to replace their Alpha Jets in the near future, is there anything being developed or even concidered? I read that the French pilots are jealous of the Belgian pilots who fly the Alpha’s there, since the BDF/AC’s Alpha’s are better suited for a wider range of training duties.

Finally ending this fact finding mission is Canada:
Now I expect Canada to give up on the Jet training roles altogether and send it’s pilots to the NFTC where they use the Hawk Mk115’s, while this is all well and good for cutting costs, what then will become of the Snowbirds? There is also a heap of pride in the CL-41’s but I don’t see Canada building a new plane to replace these stalwart jets.

There are more that I could go on with, but I think this is a good start.