Varyag wasn’t fitted with engines or a rudders:
http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/surface/varyag.asp

Its probably slightly harder than upsizing, but doable.

NONE of which have anywhere near the requirements of the US.

RAAF requirement was offload 54500 kg (120151 lbs) at 900 nm with 90 minutes on station. Also 200 passengers er aircraft (important when deploying troops overseas). The 5 tankers are support two constant fighter CAPs at 216 nm. Lastly capable of deploying 12 fighters to Butterworth in Malaysia.

What where the requirements for the UK, India, Saudi Arabia & UAE?

Yea it’d be from FMS credits – the requirement is for 2-4 KC-767. Their domestic defence budget is already maxed out paying for new systems. The Boeing 707 are t remain in service for the future (to be given airframe and engine upgrade for further 25 years service).

And India – although selected, the contract hasn’t been signed. However contender in this case was Il-78MK, not KC-767.

Israel did request 2 KC-767 in a sole source contract in 2008, but was refused. These probably still feature in future plans, but are as much an extension of existing Boeing 767 experience in Israel (El Air is an all Boeing airline supported by Bedek for maintenance). Note the Boeing 767-200 MMTT:
http://www.iai.co.il/33166-34243-en/Bedek_AircraftandPrograms_ProductsandServices_Tailored.aspx

MMTT pdf link:
http://www.iai.co.il/33169-34671-en/Bedek_AircraftandPrograms_ProductsandServices_Special_Conversion.aspx

You really want short takeoff capability and a tanker that will fit two to a KC-767 parking area? How about the Gulfstream G550 fitted with a boom, itself refueled by KC-30/KC-10?

G550 TST fuel is 25000 kg (55155 lbs). Offload is 18800 kg (19400 lbs) at 1000 km (540 nm) radius.

Mirage 2000 training was 70% nuclear, 30% conventional attack a few years back. AFAIK only EC 3/4 will be equipped with ASMP-A.

EC 1/91 (Rafale) should be operational with ASMP-A in mid-2010. They are also tasked with air to ground and interception tasks.

Two-three more Rafale squadrons are due to stand up 2010-2011 – would make 4-5 total.

As already mentioned the 234 (84 Rafale B, 150 Rafale C) have been cut to 228. I think its 8 Rafale squadrons total?

Can anyone confirm the following:
Mirage F1CT (interceptor/attack) retired from frontline service mid 2009.

Mirage F1CR (recon/attack with ER 1/33, ER 2/33) retired 2009/2010 or 2012/2014. EC 1/7 (Rafale) should be operational with Reco NG pod in 2010.

Mirage 2000C
EC 2 retired its last aircraft in 1998.
EC 2/5 remains as OCU?
EC 2/12 went July 2009, EC 1/12 is due 2010?

Mirage 2000D due to retired 2025+?
Still to receive the Mica IR to replace Magic 2?

Mirage 2000N due to retire 2018?
Still to receive the Mica IR to replace Magic 2?

Mirage 2000-5F
EC 2/2 went July 2007, leaving EC 1/2 – due to go 2021?

Over the next 20 years the USAF is changing its aircraft and hence doctrine.

As C-5 are retired, the C-17 will take up more and more of the long range missions. These will require additional tanking.

P-8A (refueled by boom) replaces P-3C (cannot be refueled). Depends on how the USN operate these – will they use the refueling capability? Yes. How much? Who knows.

The F-22 and F-35 cannot use external drop tanks during the ‘first week of war’ (beating down the SA-10s, etc). They will require additional topping up before doing the deep strike thing.

And of course the KC-X can itself be tanked (as can the KC-10, 8 KC-135R(RT) and around 43 KC-135T).

Its a no brainer the USAF needs a larger tanker, but numbers have also dropped. There were more tankers available in 1991 than today.

When do we hear back from Northrop/EADS and Boeing?

We will not see these factored in – these are the classified war scenarios mentioned in the RFP.

Steve,

Check out the EL/M-2022 PDF:
http://www.iai.co.il/33693-35738-en/ELTA.aspx

Page 2 (Image 5) shows an ISAR image of an merchant ship at 82 nm (150 km). Still not at nice range to be at…. The movie also explains how ISAR is used.

During the Falklands war the RAF reported the Argentinean aircraft carrier based on the Searchwater ISAR/Nimrod (1979 in service date). The RAF didn’t report is was a single ship – they reported is a carrier. In fact is was a neutral tanker. If the RAF had reported it was single ship, the RN could have requested additional information….

‘RSK MIG’ needs the money, so a Mig-29K order is good news from that perspective. I wouldn’t be surprised if we soon hear of an order for further Mig-29 SMTs or Mig-35s

Some news…

Anyone know what this might be?

Janes suggest the first use of GPS guided bombs (KAB-500S?):
http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jdw/jdw091005_1_n.shtml