The Tigers and NH90 were sold to Australia as being almost production ready and as close to off-the-shelf as possible.

Turns out they needed A LOT more development.

Fixing that might mean adding more weight = loss of performance.

Finland added plywood paneling over the existing floor. The NH90 have been in service since January 2010 in SAR role. Later deliveries will use the same solution as the Australian MRH90.

Australian MRH90 Product Base Line 01 and 02 have the weaker floor. PBL 03 have the heavy duty aluminium floor as standard (13rd airframe and on of the 46). PBL 01 and 02 will be refitted.

Australian Tigers were cleared for night flying Oct-Dec 2011. All are planned to be modified by March 2012. They should ‘enter service in 2012’. AGM-114M have already been integrated.

German Tigers are due to deploy to Afghanistan in October 2012 (four each deployment). KHR 36 is planned to declare combat readiness September 2012.

Likewise German NH90 are due to deploy to Afghanistan in September 2012 in the medevac role.

No.

The USAF is binning the Block 30 (ELINT & EO/IR sensors) and retaining the Block 40 (radar). NATO is Block 40.

The plan is now for 28 HMA for Navy; 30 Army Helicopter (AH) and 8 Light Assault Helicopter (LAH).

They original plan was for 34 AH, so they actually plan an increase of 4.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm111214/text/111214w0002.htm

New pilots go to NAS Meridan in USA for wings (includes T-6 and T-45), then eother conversion at Landivisau (Rafale M) or joint Naval/Air Force ETR 2/92 at Saint-Dizier. ETR 2/92 has 3 Rafale B, 1 Rafale M (planned additional 3 Rafale M in future).

So some naval pilots will fly Rafale B first.

AH-1Z has similar agility as AH-64 and is faster. It does have less range and payload.

Check out: http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=aaq-30%20tss%20lockheed%20martin&source=web&cd=9&ved=0CFUQFjAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bellhelicopter.com%2FMungoBlobs%2F68%2F132%2FEN_AH-1Z_PocketGuide.pdf&ei=cecwT8nAFcyyiQeu463nBA&usg=AFQjCNGotvbejoD1ssBTti5l_5e7FLMZyg&cad=rja

AAQ-30 TSS sight is the first 3rd generation helicopter FLIR. Its has 640 x 512 elements, and is based on AAQ-33 Sniper. It has 2.5 times the range of the AH-64 optics (however they have since improved Apache) – it outranges the SA-15 for example. The FLIR range is also given as 21 km with ‘TV quantity’, laser designation range 9 km.

The crew use TopOwl HMD.

There is nothing wrong with AH-1Z optics.

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/TSS.html

If the Saudi single seat aircraft are FGR.50, what are the two seat aircraft designated?

Gents,

Can I be the miserable old git who makes the routine call to remember OpSec. If the boys and girls have had their phones whipped away and been told to give families the shtum routine its likely for a reason and speculation, even with as scant detail as we have here, may not be helpful.

I agree with Jonesy. At best someone will get a dressing down for breaking OPSEC, or lose their security clearance. Worst case is casualties….

Loose lips, sink ships.

RAND report on F-22 production line shut:
http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG797.html