Doubtful, they purchased the remaining Libyan Mirages in 2004. The remaining Pakistani Mirage 5 had already been updated or were being updated to ROSE II standards.

The engines would be very useful, the Libyan avionics wouldn’t have been very useful.

They are in the process of a huge expansion. It was the Abu Dubai Air Force in 1972, and wasn’t the unified UAE Air Force till 1999.

Modern aircraft are something like:
It was 27 Mirage 5 delivered 1974-77. Retired 1989-99.
36 Mirage 2000 delivered 1989-90. They flew some missions into Kuwait in 1991.

Then the remaining ~30 Mirage 2000 and 32 new Mirage 2000-9 delivered 2003-06.
And 55/25 F-16E/F delivered 2004-07.
More than doubled the front line strength.

Which jets are lacking the hours? How many hours do they fly a year? Where did the new pilots train – incountry, UK, France, US?

Yep the UAE is rather bemusing when you look at their airforce, they already have the most advanced F16 in the world (except maybe in some areas the Israeli F16I) and the highly capable late model Dash 9 Mirage 2000.

As you said the oldest first but I’m sure I have read somewhere that quite a few aircraft are in effect hanger queens. On another note their Hawk are going to be surplus to requirements soon, personally think the UK should buy them back with the cockpit upgrade touted by Bae Systems to supplement are Hawk T1/T2 fleet.

I’d be interested in hearing where you read about the hanger queens.

The original Mirage 2000 date back to 1990 and around 60 Mirage 2000 are currently in service.

I thought the next UAE priority was AEW aircraft?

Looks like the F-15SE is, at the very least, delayed:
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2009/06/photo-by-stephen-trimblefive-r.html

Also note the APG-63(v)4 is redesignated APG-82. I think they are looking at the designation too hard – a new name is a USAF decision.

What version is the F-15F?

Bizarre thing was originally the F/A-18F was selected for the wrong reasons, but circumstances changed….

USN had already integrated the AGM-158 JASSM before they decided to not purchase any missiles. The RAAF will use the underlying software for JASSM – a freebie in weapons integration terms!

The $6 billion covers 10 years flight costs including support, simulator integration and 3 years instructor and pilot training.

I’m not sure whether it covers any new weapons.

At one time the aircraft were expected to cost $65 million each x 24 = $1.56 billion for the aircraft (fully refurbishing the existing Hornets was costed at $12.5 million each). Fairly sure an F-15OZ would be $100 apiece?

I don’t have support costs for the F/A-18F, but the ~71 F/A-18A/B cost $300 million/year (~$4.22 million each) compared with the ~26 F-111 $250 million/year (~$9.61 million each).

Assuming $4.5 million each x 24 x 10 = $1.08 billion for 10 years.

I’m sure I’ve mixed and matched US dollars with Australian (surely the $6 billion is US, along with the 65 million?). Support costs would be $AU.

Weapons are at least 47 AIM-9X, 18 ATFLIR, 54 AGM-154, 90 HMD, 32 PVS-9 NVG, JASSM, buddy stores.

Maintainer training began in Sep 08, pilot training from 2009.
16 Jul 09: First arircraft rolled out.
early 2010-July 2011: 24 delivered to Amberley.
Dec 2010: IOC with 12 aircraft and standoff weapons.
Dec 2012: FOC with ability for deployments, in country training and EW support.
2020: Sold to USN or retained and upgraded.

The RAAF got burnt with F-111 orphan costs, got burnt with the Boeing support contract, new weapons integration costs and was shocked when a test wing failed fatigue testing (along with a fuel cell explosion).

F/A-18F was a known cost and risk and was selected.

Baseline USAF F-15E will get APG-63(v)4 from 2013 on – this is the APG-63(v)3 with APG-79 processor. Singapore F-15SG should enter service in 2010 with APG-63(v)3.