Peter GIf the F-35 can be sold to a customer, then you can be sure they will be cleared for the 120D.
Initially no. RAAF have stated the first version with the F-35A will be the AIM-120C7.
Peter GIsn’t it the case that the C-295 has more customers than the C-27J? And then there’s also little brother, the CN-235, that is operated by dozens of air forces.
Are there times when the RAF has to use a Hercules to carry a relatively small number of people and/or supplies, simply because it’s the only tactical transport aircraft?
No idea on the RAF.
Greece is said to be happy with its C-27J. It’d be fine for internal missions in Greece – flying a new engine out to an F-16 or Mirage at a FOL. If it also has to carry maintainers and bulky specialized gear on the same mission, they ca move it the load to a C-130.
Peter G120D haven’t been cleared for export.
Peter G11 F/A-18F have arrived – five in 26th March, six on 6th July. IOC is due in December with 12 aircraft. Last of the 24 is due in October 2011. There are no plans for additional Super Hornets. A decision on retaining the 24 is due in 2014.
AFAIK no F-35A are to be assembled locally. The initial order is for 14, approval for the second batch is due in 2012 (~58 a/c). First of the 10 to be delivered to Eglin AFB, USA from 2014 for pilot and maintainer training. In 2017 the 4 operational testing are due to be arrive in Australia. Finally first squadron is due to be operational at Williamtown in 2018 with 16 Block 3 a/c (AIM-120C7, JDAM, etc).
Looking at deliveries – 2 in 2014, 4 in 2015, 8 in 2016 = 14 a/c is the 10 for initial training and 4 for OT. Follow on is possible 15/year 2017-19, then 13 in 2020.
Peter GIts a poorly written way of saying TERCOM navigation and DSMAC terminal homing.
Peter GCheck out the payloads: http://www.a400m.com/Capabilities.aspx
Some of them really are bulking out, before weighing out – although the CV9030 does look a little lonely!
The UH-60 was designed to fit in a C-130 cargo box with some dis-assembly – that was the Black Hawk size driver.
C-17 is 20.8 (plus 6 m ramp) x 5.5 m wide and 3.76 m high
An-70 is 18.6 (plus 3.8 m ramp) x 4 wide x 4.1 m high
A400M cargo bay is 17.71 (plus 5.4 m ramp) x 4 wide and 3.85 m high
C-130J-30 16.7 m (plus 3 m ramp) x 3.1 m wide x 2.7 m high (as C-130H-30)
C-130J is 12.2 (plus 3 m ramp) x 3.1 m wide x 2.7 m high (as C-130H)
C-27J is 11.4 x 3.33 x 2.6 m
C-295: 12.7 (3 m ramp) x 2.36 m wide x 1.9 m high
C-295 has lost out to C-27J due to its smaller cargo bay.
Peter GMe too, i really want to see the source of that data, is showing a very, very bad performance, if is true, then this A400 deserves a halting in it program, and probably a cancellation…
With a empty weight of 75 TM, only capable of a 32 TM payload, i think is not news that something went wrong, what was the original empty weight goal?
This will follow the C-17 path, that plane is overweighty as well, 125 TM of empty weight for a 70 TM payload, although it has a better ratio (
Although, regarding fatty planes , nothing beats the F-22..yet 😀
Never underestimate the danger of ‘technological miracles’ (composites)
The website gives
MTOW 141000 kg
Fuel 50500 kg
Max Payload 37000 kg (which is probably 32000 kg).
Possibly empty weight 53500 kg or worst case 58500 kg.
Peter GPeter G, what’s your source for those numbers? They’re so bad they’re hard to believe. The last official specs were 30t to 4450km and 20t to 6400km. Those ranges were already revised downwards by ~8% compared to the early 2000s.
I cannot find a source.
Actual real world ranges need to factor in reserves – the 30 tonnes to 4445 km and 20 tonnes to 6390 km include MIL-C-5011B reserves (30 minutes hold at 1500 ft and 5% trip reserve). Same reserves (by Airbus) claim 16 t to 1850 km for C160 and 20 t to 2965 km for C-130J-30.
Yet other A400M ranges were given as
30 tonnes to 4537 km
20 tonnes to 6574 km
including 5% reserves, missed approach and 370 km poor weather diversion with 30 minutes hold at 1500 ft.
Peter GWhat I have is:
“If fitted with ATLIS, Damocles, ASMP, CRM280, Exocet or AS.30L then internal guns replaced by additional avionics.”
Peter GSame as the Paveway III kit with the Mk84 – GBU-27. More accurate, can hit the target horizontally, can be lofted from low altitude and glide towards the target under cloud cover, etc. Also much more expensive.
Look at it from the French point of view. Practical Mirage 2000N loadout:
2 Magic 2, 2 2000 L drop tank and targeting pod as standard, leaves the centreline free for weapons. This is either 1 GBU-24 or 2 GBU-12/22. The extra expensive is worth the effort. US bomb kits are cheaper (due to the much higher volume purchased) than the defunct BGL series.
Have a look on the Raytheon site – GBU-22 cleared for F-16 (was tested on US) and Mirage 2000.
http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/paveway/
Rafale with 6 GBU-22!:
http://www.air-defense.net/forum/index.php?topic=10082.0
SEM has GBU-49 (GBU-12 with dual GPS/laser), as has Mirage 2000D
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4394861
Other than range, this a cheaper replacement for AASM integration on Mirage 2000D.
SEM doesn’t carry GBU-22
Peter GSo what are the more realistic estimates of the A400M’s final payload capability? I assume the 37 ton goal has been written off by now.
Yes. They are saying this was never a requirement, and the 37 t is payload plus customer defined options such as cockpit armour, etc. Most recent figurs i have are:
Max 32 t
25 t to 3700 km or 17 t to 5550 km.
The cargo bay is 22.65 m x 4 wide x 3.85 m high and is quoted as 120 troops or parartroops or 9 pallets or two 20 ft containers or 1 IFV or 2 APC or 1 Cougar/NH90 or 2 Apache/Tiger , etc.
Like many transport aircraft, a realistic cargo load will probably ‘bulk out’ before ‘weighing out’.
Peter GSimilar to the Mirage 2000N, the Mirage 2000C uses either another aircraft or ground team to designate (same with Mirage F1CR) – many aircraft can carry LGB, but cannot designate for them.
No, I meant the Mirage 2000D is my favourite French variant.
As for the Mk82 – I meant to say of course its possible, I just haven’t seen it. They are plenty of photos getting around with SAMP 250 bombs, bot I’m not sure whether these are in current French service.
Its kinda like the Rafale – its not currently cleared for unguided weapons (the Gripen was originally the same – no unguided weapons). Mirage 2000s can certainly carry unguided weapons, but I am unsure of asymmetrical loadouts.
France for example is the sole (?) export customer for the GBU-22 Paveway III – this is an expensive kit with a Mk82 warhead, its not used by the US.
Peter GThe head of the Boeing F-15 section has said that the F-15SE is aimed mainly at South Korea and possibly Japan. Saudi Arabia will not be offered the F-15SE.
Peter GOkay so anyone who knows me from here knows that I like to try and figure out what all stores and munitions given aircraft can carry. I figured that I would try that with this thread and go by variant and country. Hopefully I can learn some stuff from the rest of you that I may not know. I’ll start with France:
Mirage 2000B/C
DEFA 554 cannons (2000C only) – 125 rounds per gun
R.550 Magic II – 2
Super 530D – 2
CC630 cannon pod – 2 (twin 30-mm w/ 300 rpg)
Mk-82 500-lb. bomb – 18
Mk-84 2,000-lb. bomb – 3
345-gallon fuel tank – 1 (centerline)
450-gallon fuel tank – 2 (inboard wing pylons)
530-gallon fuel tank – 2 (inboard wing pylons) (??)
Never seen the CC630 cannon pod on French Mirages. Anyone?
Mk82 entered service in mid 90s. AFAIK they were only clear on the 4 fuselage HP.
Mk84 never seen this.
Yes its 1300 L on centre and either 1700 L or, from mid-90s, 2000 L.
I’m unsure, but the Mirage 2000C might have been cleared for 4 Mk82 (fuselage) and 2 GBU-12 (centre) recently.
Mirage 2000-5F
DEFA 554 cannons – 125 rounds per gun
R.550 Magic II – 2
Super 530D – 2 (??)
MICA EM – 4 (6?)
MICA IR – 2 (6?)
Yet to see Mica IR on anything but the outer HP and have yet to see Mica EM on the outers. You’d be unlikely to see Mica IR on the rear fuselage HP for example as the fuselage, drop tanks would hugely restrict seeker FOV.
Mirage 2000D
R.550 Magic II – 2
MICA IR – 2 (after upgrade if it occurs?)
CC630 cannon pod – 2 (twin 30-mm w/300 rpg)
AS.30L – 2
GBU-24 Paveway – 3
GBU-12 Paveway – 6 (10?)
Damocles targeting pod – 1 (front right fuselage pylon)
SCALP EG/APACHE cruise missile – 1
Mk-82 500-lb. bomb – 18
Mk-84 2,000-lb. bomb – 3
AM.39 Exocet – 2 (??)
BAP 100/BAT 120 bomb packs – 3 (18 bombs per pack)
My favourite of the bunch!
We’re already covered the Mica IR and again yet to see gun pod mounted.
I’ve only seen GBU-24 on the centre (the Mirage 2000 series needs those 2000 L drop tanks due to range), same for APACHE and SCALP EG.
GBU-12 has only be sighted on the centre (carried in twos). It can also carry the GBU-22 the same way.
Only ever seen Mk82 on the four fuselage
Yet to see the Mk84 on any French Mirage.
French Air Force Mirages do not carry Exocet – some export customers do have.
BAP/BAT, Belouga cluster bombs and F4 rocket pods were retired 2003. Mirage 2000C also used F4.
Hopefully the Mirage 2000D will still go ahead with the planned updated targeting pods. These were/are and will be:
PDL-CT from 1993?
ATLIS II from 1998 – they only had 20-30 PL-CT.
PDL-CTS from 1999? – plus earlier PDL-CT upgrades
Damocles planned from 2011.
PDL NG from 2014.
Last two shared with Rafale B/C.
Mirage 2000N
R.550 Magic II – 2
MICA IR – 2 (after upgrade if it occurs?)
CC630 cannon pod (twin 30-mm w/300 rpg)
Mk-82 500-lb. bomb – 18
Mk-84 2,000-lb. bomb – 3
ASMP nuclear missile – 1
ASMP-A nuclear missile – 1 (after upgrade if it occurs?)Thoughts?
Again we’ve already mentioned no upgrades, so no MICA.
They can also carry GBU-12, GBU-24.
Same comments on unguided weapons as Mirage 2000D.
They were actually first with ASMP-A in October 2009 (see earlier post)
Peter GThe latest Australian Aviation has an article on JSF costings.
It mentions the CAPE costings of $130 million are US-specific only and include MILCON (airfield improvements, training centres, basing infrastructure), initial sustainment and spares. LM started LRIP negotiations 20% below that, of which the Pentagon started a further 20% down.
The $60 million is the estimated average costings across all three models and is expected to occur at the 1/3rd production run (1200-1500 a/c). Further delays would drive this average cost and the cost point further to the right.
Australia’s AUS$3.22 billion is roughly 1/3rd for the 14 aircraft (AUS$76 million or US$64.5 million) and 2/3rds for the MILCON at Williamton and Tindal – new squadron HQ, maintenance facilities, grouns support equipment, ordnance loading areas, runway and ramp modifications, administrative costs, initial spares, training in US (pilot and maintainers material and courseware; establishing training and support infrastructure at Eglin). It doesn’t include Amberley as this depends on last 28 or not.
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