VnomadSame for the 55cms value. The real value is classified so drop 55cms.
Err.. the size of the antenna isn’t classified. And its entirely independent of the T/R density.
VnomadWhat’s the diameter of RBE-2 ?
55cm give or take (IIRC).
VnomadIndians should stop behaving like gypsies in the market. Take better, but in moderate quantities, from two suppliers from different countries. Today is the best option:
LOL. There’s a cute way of saying ‘buy Russian’.
Unfortunately though, the IN is unhappy with the MiG-29K, the IAF isn’t sold on the FGFA, the LMFS doesn’t exist, and the Indian govt will derive no political capital from a Gripen buy.
But two additional squadrons of the Su-30MKI looks quite likely, for what its worth.
VnomadAs mentioned upthread, that’s pretty unfair to India. Once they selected their balance of east-west types for each role they bought them by the hundreds.
Disagree. Buying a balance of east-west did not require the purchase of types with overlapping roles. The MiG-23 & MiG-27, for example, should never have been touched, with a larger Jaguar order sufficing. And instead of the MiG-29, the IAF ought to have inducted more Mirage 2000s in the interim (maybe switching to production under license) while holding out for the Su-27 by 90s. That would have allowed for a streamlined force structure without upsetting the political apple cart.
VnomadIt appears the RAF is planning to scrap 16 two-seat Eurofighters. Interestingly, that would more or less tie the RAF & Luftwaffe as the largest operator of the type.
RAF to scrap twin-seat Typhoons
Tim Ripley, London – Jane’s Defence Weekly
29 January 2018The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) is to scrap 16 UK Eurofighter Typhoons as part of a project to save GBP800 million (USD1.13 billion) on the running cost of the service’s combat aircraft fleet.
The plans to dismantle the aircraft and harvest spare parts for use on the remainder of the Typhoon fleet were revealed to Jane’s on Jan. 29, 2018 by RAF Air Command at High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire, in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request.
The project, known as Reduce to Produce (RTP), aims to generate GBP50 million worth of parts from each airframe “back into the supply chain”, according to the FOI data.
Noteworthy another reason for withdrawing the two-seat Eurofighters from use is because the service is changing the training syllabus for its future Typhoon pilots as the RAF Typhoon Force Commander (TFC) Air Cdre Ian ‘Squid’ Duguid told more than one year ago to Alan Warnes for an extensive piece about RAF Typhoon Operations appeared in the December 2016 issue of Air Forces Monthly magazine. “We are moving towards a single seat OCU, so the need for two-seat aircraft is reducing and eventually we will be running the conversion courses and other elements of supervision without the need for two-seaters. We will have some, but the majority of the two seaters are Trache 1s, which we can take out of service.”
Currently RAF two-seat Eurofighters are operated by 29(R) Squadron the Typhoon Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), which is responsible for the technical and tactical training of all engineers and pilots for the Typhoon aircraft.
The Typhoon provides the RAF with a highly capable and extremely agile multi-role combat aircraft, capable of being deployed in the full spectrum of air operations, including air policing, peace support and high intensity conflict.
Currently the aircraft is in service with 7 air forces and has been ordered by two more. The Typhoon has demonstrated, and continues to demonstrate, high reliability across the globe in all climates. It has been combat proven during operations in Libya, Iraq and Syria.
VnomadMultiple recent foreign contests have shown that the F-35 is cheaper to buy, maintain, & upgrade than the Eurofighter.
For a new customer like Belgium or Denmark sure. For an existing EF operator like Germany, where much of the fixed infrastructure as well as the training & maintenance pipelines already exist, ordering additional EFs is quite likely to be cheaper, at the moment.
Of course, by the time the Tornado replacement begins, the situation will have reversed with the F-35’s price having fallen further and the EF’s having risen greatly on account of the overhead (the Manching FAL is to deliver the final EF to the GAF this year).
VnomadThis..
The German govt will have to factor in the positions of the Luftwaffe & the industry as well as the financial factors while coming to their decision.
The EF is probably cheaper than the F-35 for the GAF at the moment, since its already in service, but keeping the line open past 2025 will involve a very substantial overhead which may result in unit costs going haywire.
Unless of course they decide to get them off the Italian line, which would be popular with the EU crowd but quite a bit less so with the domestic industry.
VnomadThe real question is what exactly is there on the F-35 which Germany needs so badly and which they cannot take on with Typhoons.. In my humble opinion, there is hardly such thing.. But, I, too, might be entirely wrong..
Equally one may ask what exactly there is on the EF which Germany needs badly enough to forgo the option of retiring the Tornados without replacement. Its a matter of degrees.
Ordering more EFs would provide a certain level of additional capability. The F-35 would provide a higher increment in capability, better interoperability with NATO states and more effective options against A2AD threats, while no doubt being an far inferior proposition for the domestic industry.
VnomadDoes anyone have any photos of a Rafale with AAMs on the centre hardpoint? Like so –
VnomadInterestingly, the F-35C isn’t even considered..
Its too heavy to operate off a STOBAR deck at 15.8 tons empty. That makes it 1.3 tons heavier than the Super Hornet while packing approximately the same thrust. Not a problem when launched via catapult. However, on its own power, in anything but a light configuration, it’s likely to go off the ramp and right into the soup.
Vnomad
VnomadThe extras are mostly the obvious elements – local IFF, Datalink, SATCOM, radio modules plus an Israeli LDP & HMDS and the Astra, Python V & SPICE-series. Possibly also power-pack modifications for high altitude operations.
The IAF has made statements about acquiring the aircraft with EW upgrades but that is most likely improvements over what was being negotiated under the previous deal. Just an organic replacement of the F3 with the F3R.
Makes no sense for India to underwrite the cost of SPECTRA upgrades, atleast not if they’re also going to be featured on the AdlA’s Rafales.
VnomadAnyway, more important than aircraft type imho is number of jets… 34 seems like below the absolute minimum. Didn’t the Dutch state 37 is the absolute minimum to cover QRA duties 24/7 and deploy 4 jets? They seem to realise now that 37 is not enough if the deployments become a regular thing. But again, if the choice is between F-35, EF and possibly Rafale, the budget won’t cover more than about 34 each.
The RNAF swap QRA duties with the BAC every 4 months, under a joint air policing pact signed in 2015.
Netherlands begins Benelux air policing
Two Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) F-16s began policing the airspace over Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (Benelux) for the first time on 11 May.
The Volkel-based Dutch fighters will be on 15-minute quick-reaction alert (QRA) for the next four months after taking over the mission from two Belgian Air Force F-16s that had been on QRA at Florennes in southern Belgium since 1 January, when joint air policing of the Benelux took effect under a 2015 arrangement agreed by the three countries.
Until the end of 2016 two Dutch F-16s were on QRA for the Netherlands and two Belgian F-16s for Belgium and Luxembourg.
They also coordinate closely on overseas deployments with joint bases and detachments with the BAC & RNAF aircraft relieving each other annually or biannually.
Belgian Secretary of Defence visits F-16 deployment in Afghanistan
On July 14th, 2005 the Dutch detachment was transformed into a “EEAW” (European Expeditionary Air Wing) consisting of 165 military personnel, 65 of which Belgians (pilots of the 2nd Wing and 10th Wing, military personnel of the 1st Wing, BKoks and Comopsair). In October of 2005 the Belgian 2nd Wing pilots will be relieved by their colleagues of the 10th Wing from Kleine Brogel AB.
This EEAW was enabled by the Belgian deployment of an F-16 detachment for six months to Afghanistan.
The principal tasks of the Belgian/Dutch detachment in the framework of the “EPAF” (European Participating Air Forces) will be “CAS” (Close Air Support), “QRF” (Quick Reaction Force) and “REC” (Reconnaissance) flights. A punctual cooperation is indispensable for the operational purposes such as mission planning, intelligence and operations management as well as for the joint maintenance of the aircraft.
The Belgian detachment at Lieutenant Muwaffaq Salti Air Base consisted of 110-120 personnel, around half of whom were technicians and armourers. The other half was made up by pilots and staff personnel, about 20 mission support specialists (mainly intelligence and mission planning) and roughly 20-30 force protection troops. Each rotation lasted about two months. In total, 618 personnel were deployed, of which 48 were pilots. Pilots accomplished 75 flying hours during their rotation. Personnel originated from the 2nd Tactical Wing at Florennes Air Base and the 10th Tactical Wing at Kleine-Brogel Air Base. Most flying personnel participating in “Operation Desert Falcon” had previous experience from missions flown in Afghanistan (“Operation Guardian Falcon”) or Libya (“Operation Freedom Falcon”).
The Belgian detachment closely collaborated with a similar detachment of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, Royal Netherlands Air Force) which was also based at Al Azraq.
.
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The return of the F-16 detachment does not mean that Belgium has left “Operation Inherent Resolve” completely. It still provides force protection for the F-16 detachment of the Royal Netherlands Air Force at Al Azraq Air Base and will continue doing so until at least 31 December 2015. The Belgian government has the intention to prolong this mission later this year until 30 June 2016. A pair of liaison officers remains at the Coalition Air Forces’ CAOC at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar allowing the Belgian Air Component to stay well informed on the situation and developments in Iraq pending the government’s decision to resume air operations in July 2016.The Belgian and Dutch military are at present setting up an integrated EPAF EAW (European Participating Air Forces Expeditionary Air Wing (EEAW)) detachment in the Middle East. The detachment should enable the two air arms to continue supporting the multinational coalition in a cost-efficient way by six month rotations between both countries.
Belgian and RNLAF F-16s Go Dutch Supporting Iraqi Forces
A Belgian air force F-16 dropped a GPS-guided bomb in support of Iraqi forces Oct. 5. It was the first time Belgium used munitions against Islamic State forces.
The bomb was delivered by one of a pair of Belgian F-16s conducting armed reconnaissance east of Baghdad. In addition to guided bombs, the aircraft were equipped with sniper targeting pods.
The first such mission since six Belgian F-16s deployed to Azraq, Jordan, Sept. 27 was conducted Oct. 1.
Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) F-16s conducted their first reconnaissance mission over Iraq Oct. 5, after Belgian technicians introduced the necessary cryptographic codes in the Dutch aircraft systems. The RNLAF detachment of eight F-16s, including two reserve aircraft, was due to reach full strength in Azraq Oct. 6.
Vnomadit’s funny how you don’t want to look at reality in front of you and spend your time trying to derail it from what it is…
every country is unique in that it is, normally, independant, has its own policy (normally), its own needs (normally), and so on… we’re talking about belgium, I tell you what I know from belgium (west vlaanderen) where I lived a number of years (and still live some 40km from their border). The flamish nationalist party that has the majority, spends its time fighting anything french-sounding.. a bus going from town to town between french and flamish speaking parts must remove french markings every time it crosses to flamish part… in one-way trip it can be several times.. the driver was fined because once he forgot one of the markings on the outside of the bus… I tell you these guys are completely nuts and you “and UK, and Norway and.. yada yada yada…” the fact is that you have no clue who you’re taking about, barely more than JSR
Right right. The flemish nationalist party is francophobic so that makes Belgium a “US suburb” and makes the Belgian contribution to NATO missions worthless. :rolleyes:
Vnomadof course itu’s up to belgians to define what their needs are.. pity their deciders from N-VA are nationalistic guys who are more thinking about how to split Belgium in half and be a US suburb in Europe rather than being concerned about the future of Belgium as a country
If the Belgians do go ahead and order the F-35, they’ll still only be sixth “US suburb” in Europe after UK, Italy, Norway, Netherlands & Denmark. With Spain, Finland, Germany & Poland waiting in the wings, its unsurprising that the “do what’s right for Europe” argument doesn’t generate much traction with the BAC. That Europe is running three parallel overlapping fighter programs is certainly not the fault of the Belgians.
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