FedaykinI think also Turkey and Greece can produce an aircraft carrier together.In the future Turkey will get F-35 aircrafts and they can get also F-35B naval version.Greece can also purchase Rafale’s naval version or whatever Greece authories decides.And also Turkey has the capasity of producing it’s own destroyers.Today in Turkey there is an project which is about to produce it’s own warship ”milgem” which will increase Turkey’s naval power and also it’s producing it’s own latest technologically coast guard ships.Milgem is projected to float in 2011.And also it has lots of projects some of these;own helicopter project and lots of domestic military equipments.The radar system of milgem will be produced by Tübitak and software of the ship will be awarded milsoft software.The biggest military equipment manufacturers in Turkey are;Aselsan,Roketsan,Tai,Milsoft,Havelsan,Mke and Tübitak.In the future F-35 aircraft will assemble in Turkey and some of the equipments will change with Turkey’s domestic equipments.These can be Helmet mounted night vision system,mission computer,Laser tergetting pod similar(LANTRIN) and more.I think both countries have the potential of producing an aircraft carrier.
When I read this post I almost wept I laughed so much!:D
The day that Greece and Turkey embarks an a joint millitary project will also be the day that hell freezes over.
On a serious note as has already been stated in the Med with proximity to land based fighter cover neither nation has much need for a carrier. I think there is a case for a LPH or LPD which I think both nations could find a use for.
On another note isn’t Pakistan interested in some of those Turkish corvette designs?
FedaykinOh and I was amused to read that some crew were hauled up to be disciplined due to their response to the senior officer involved.
FedaykinNot sure that I believe it either but its in todays Times. It would appear that the Nimrod R1 may have to be grounded.
If its true then its a horrifying prospect 😮 It was bad enough when the Canberra was retired without replacement!
Of course the government will sell it with their usual BS of increased efficency and reduced costs whilst gaining interoperability with the Americans.
No offence to the Rivet joint and its crews but it just isn’t as capable as the
R1. It was always a gold plated capability which we brought to the fight, not that the average White Hall pen pusher would understand that.
I always thought that we would go out and purchase some second hand Airliner type. Something like the Boeing 757 would be ideal to my mind or if the RAF wanted commonality the A330 or Global express. Or if they wanted Super cheap their are several Tristar up for sale at comically cheap prices.
Why spend all that time and money developing a new system like Helix and then not put it in an aircraft? Haven’t the MOD heard of spend to save?
FedaykinI could see them purchasing used Gripens over any other option. Saab is offering pretty liberal terms on the deal. Will the U.S. state department allow it? With Bush and Cheney in office they’ve stabbed their traditional partners in the back on such matters in order to force 100% American options.
Highly unlikely that America would block the deal, the only way they could is by blocking the licenced engines and what would be the point of that?
FedaykinGiven the situation with the Canadian Hornets, a left field option could be to try and get some more Hornets. They might be willing to part with enough for Switzerland to standardise on a single basic type, and one with which they seem quite happy.
On the other hand, if we witness the Thailand competition, they might be able to strike a roughly similar deal – $1.1bn for twelve Gripens and two Erieye AEW aircraft, so they may be able to afford around double these numbers! The sad thing being that Sweden had been looking to dispose of around sixty early JAS-39A/Bs, that were primarily air defence oriented. These could have been an excellent indirect replacement for their F-5s – have them handle air defence, and use the Hornets for dual role. This option, however, seems to have evaporated, with some to be rebuilt into -C/D spec. A great pity…
Well we then go back to the stupidity of ceasing production of the regular Hornet. If Boeing had kept it in their product lineup they would of been laughing all the way to the bank. Certainly some of the competitions won by the F16 and Gripen might of gone the Hornets way if it had still been available, also some follow on orders from the Navy/Marines were more then possible.
Those JAS-39A/Bs are certainly a tempting choice, plenty of life left on the airframes and well looked after. I bet its cheaper to bring them up to C/D standard then NG. Might be easier to sell to the Swiss public as well…
Fedaykinthat is an interesting question in regards to the F35B conventional mode it would have a greater range but not as long range as A,C. I thought that MBDA have already decided to intregreat METEOR on the JSF as it wouldn’t just be the UK who would like a METEOR armed F35. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/meteor-missile-will-make-changes-to-accommodate-f35-0599/ [intesting as it would give a similar range to the old Tomcat AIM-54 combo]
The F35B in conventional mode (if thats what you call it) is something interesting that gets missed out I think. If I was the RAF I would be mighty tempted to do a trial deployment down south to the Falklands just to see how she worked out operating off a nice long runway with tanker support.
If MBDA is going to stump up for METEOR fitment that would be a very pragmatic and sensible solution to me. Of course to do this it would have to be the UK trial aircraft as the UK is the only country to have independant operation od the type allow the integration of new systems.
Fedaykinwe are getting the pre productions F35B in 2009 and the F35B should be arriving to the USMC in 2011 and the first commission carrier is 2014 so there should at least a OCU unit of F35B so not quite true that we will JSF less;)
good news that the contracts should be start propping up soon
Buying into the pre production F35B was one of the more sensible moves made by the MOD recently. It should allow the services time for a gentle work up ironing out any issues that may be faced.
What interests me is MBDA and the Meteor in respect of the UK F35B, apparently the manufacturer is keen to adapt the system to the aircraft but the UK MOD won’t stump up the money for integration stating AMRAAM will do. If I was MBDA I would be putting forward some of its own money to fund some fitment and partial integration trails on the UK’s pre production airframes.
Another thing that I have been pondering is the F35B’s range and payload capability flying an entirely conventional flight profile. There is nothing stopping the pilot not using the STOVAL systems fitted to the aircraft and taking off then landing the same way as the A model on a runway. What interests me is there is a lot of talk in respect of range and payload when flying off a Ski Jump and landing vertically but what about operating off a standard runway? I would think the B would be able to fly further carrying more operating conventionally.
FedaykinFairey Delta 3
Hawker P.1121
The Fairey Delta III looks interesting, actually it looks to have a similarity to the AVRO Arrow.
Pity projects could of been merged.
FedaykinI just noted your Footer Unicorn….so i’m not the only person who shares in an interest in a particular series of books:)
FedaykinYeah the profile of the mission doesn’t require stealth, get up and intercept to fly the flag is the name of the game.
I have a hunch the F22 probably didn’t even use its radar rather relying on GCI data. No point giving too much away and the extra fuel will give a safer margin for the mission. I have no doubt that the Russians would be very happy if the F22 lit up its radar, lots of useful information to be gained.
FedaykinGreat picture Scorpion.
Fascinating see them fly together.
FedaykinUK considers alternatives to Nimrod R.1 upgrade
Safety concerns have prompted moves to significantly reorganise UK plans to upgrade Royal Air Force (RAF) British Aerospace Nimrod R.1 electronic intelligence (ELINT)-gathering aircraft and to start efforts to find an alternative platform.
The loss of a RAF Nimrod MR.2 maritime patrol aircraft – which has the same airframe as the R.1 variant – in a mid-air fire over Afghanistan in September 2006 was subsequently linked by investigators to safety problems with the aircraft’s fuel systems. Jane’s understands that this has forced the UK to think again about the GBP400 million (USD786 million) Project Helix to sustain the three-strong Nimrod R.1 fleet in service until 2025.
UK military sources have told Jane’s that alternative platforms are now being considered and proposals have been made in the current defence spending round to secure additional funding to allow the Helix mission system to be installed in a different airframe.
Following a competition against Lockheed Martin, US company L-3 Communications was selected in April 2007 to upgrade the Nimrod R.1s and was awarded a GBP11 million assessment contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).
In a tightly worded statement an MoD spokeswoman moved away from the commitment to upgrade the R.1s. She told Jane’s that the MoD was “currently assessing a range of options and it is too early to get into details.
For me I hope they go for a sensible choice, ideally the Global express or the a330.
Both are types that will enter RAF service, the a330 might be a bit big but the airframes will be available second hand and spare space will be no harm. Just think of the endurance both range and crew (plenty of room for a spare crew on board).
FedaykinWow thanks Flanker MAn!
Your pictures are fantastic, I will have a good look when I get back from my business trip ( I’m sitting in the bar of the Ibis Wembly at the moment).
I must admit she looks in a worse state then in the book i have, I don’t doubt the work of the volunteers out there caring for the aircraft but it does show how leaving old aircraft out in the open has its price. Certainly i have seen aircraft at Cosford and Duxford suffer the same problem.
Monino is on my list of must visit aviation museums.
FedaykinThat may be a Romanian Alouette. I`ll make some questions arround here to see what I find out.
That would be interesting press, Romania seems a likely source.
FedaykinYes, a Vertol (Piasecki, pre-Boeing) 44 (H-21).
Given by the U.S. government as a gift…i believe before a high-level visit.
Thanks for the clarrification J Boyle, I have the picture in a book at home but as I’m in a hotel on a business trip at the moment i couldn’t check.
If I remember correctly shes tucked up in a corner of the museum at the mercy of the elements (not that thats unusual Monino – a great many great types are sadly rotting in the open there).
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