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Dubya

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August 7, 2006 at 1:50 am in reply to: Back-up ordered for next warplane #2594276

Dubya
Participant

In regards to Raptor capability, it has not been cleared yet for most air-to-ground ordnance. I know it’s currently cleared for JDAM, WCMD and SDB but I haven’t seen it cleared for any other munitions yet (I might be wrong). But how long will it take to integrate these other weapons into the Raptor, if at all?

Australia has been expanding it’s range of AG ordnance including AGM-142 and Harpoon Anti-Shipping missiles. Would an F-22 be able to haul this sort of ordnance?

August 7, 2006 at 1:34 am in reply to: Formiddable Oldies #2594295

Dubya
Participant

It’s interesting that MiG-21 derivatives are still being produced in China and that they are continuing to win export orders (Nigeria and Bangaldesh being the latest export customers).

Most countries don’t need an F-35 or even F-16 Blk 50. They need cheap and nasty bomb trucks or point defence interceptors. However the West with it’s obsession with expensive technology has effectively priced itself out of the market. So whereas in the 1960’s and 70’s relatively cheap Mirages and F-5’s sold like hotcakes, the 21st century sees the Chinese and Russians taking over these markets. And those that still buy Western usually can only afford 2nd hand F-16’s.

August 7, 2006 at 1:31 am in reply to: Formiddable Oldies #2594299

Dubya
Participant

It’s interesting that MiG-21 derivatives are still being produced in China and that they are continuing to win export orders (Nigeria and Bangaldesh being the latest export customers).

Most countries don’t need an F-35 or even F-16. They need cheap and nasty bomb trucks or point defence interceptors. However the W

August 7, 2006 at 1:23 am in reply to: Malaysia to place MiG-29s in storage #2594301

Dubya
Participant

Actually it’s not a pilot shortage, it’s combat pilot shortage.

We don’t have enough LIFT. Plain and simple. The RMAF loaths to use the Hawk 108 for the LIFT mission as our Hawks are top of the line items – with nose FLIR and so on -quite different from other mk100s and are actually more used as combat assets.

The Macchi are used as LIFT but they are not enough of them to go around. Plans for additional MB339 has been floating around for some time and only now about to be resolved.

Azhar

I think this is a bit silly. They want to use Hawk 100’s as combat assets, so they put the more capable MiG-29 in storage? This doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.

I think the Malaysian procurement strategy is seriously flawed. To a layman like yself they seem to be engaged in an arms race with Singapore. However Singapore with it’s much greater financial resources can easily beat them.

So the Malaysians do silly things such as acquire new combat jets, but no trainers. They also sign up to huge international programs such as the A400M even though reprots out of the country specify a current transport shortage.

Shouldn’t they focus on building up basic capabilities such as training and transport first and then splurge on expanding the combat fleet with really expensive Russian super-fighters?

August 7, 2006 at 12:59 am in reply to: 5th C-17 At Last!! #2594319

Dubya
Participant

Am I correct in assuming the following: the A400M is a paper aeroplane, while the C-17 and C-130J actually exist.

I’d say given the protracted procurement of any modern Europeans program and the extremely protracted nature of the A400M, the Brits should bail out on the A400M and simply purchase more C-17’s and C-130J’s. This would also simplify maintenance requirements as you have 2 aircraft instead of 3.

August 2, 2006 at 1:54 am in reply to: Back-up ordered for next warplane #2598146

Dubya
Participant

I would pi$$ myself laughing if they replace the F/A-18 with an F-16.

August 1, 2006 at 7:01 am in reply to: Malaysia to place MiG-29s in storage #2598547

Dubya
Participant

Probably the main reason is that it doesn’t pay that well.

August 1, 2006 at 5:34 am in reply to: Malaysia to place MiG-29s in storage #2598573

Dubya
Participant

Just like there’s no Malay fighter pilot in Chinese dominated RSAF…

At least the Singaporean AF is operational.

August 1, 2006 at 5:33 am in reply to: Malaysia to place MiG-29s in storage #2598583

Dubya
Participant

What about the Hawk 100/200’s and remaining RF-5E/F-5E/F’s? Are any of these operational? And why don’t they just use some lateral thinking and use the Hawk 100’s for Lead-In fighter training?

August 1, 2006 at 1:00 am in reply to: Saudi to get Eurofighters earlier? #2598667

Dubya
Participant

I am pretty much surprised how quickly Rafale is being doomed to the dust of the past. The bird has just started its carreer, for God’s sake.. Look at Mirage 2000 or F-16s getting orders even 20 years after their introduction.

I just don’t think the market is there. Not as many countries acquire expensive fast jets nowadays compared to the the 1970’s and 1980’s. Basically many of the tinpot dictators that would sooner buy Mirages than feed their starving people are gone.

And multi-national programs such as the JSF and Eurofighter really shrink the market because countries become committed to a type from the outset.

The second issue is the fall of the Soviet Union which has flooded the market with cheap Russian designs such as the MiG-29 and Su-27 as well as the Su-25 ground attack aircraft.

Besides each Dassault product is less and less successful when it comes to finding export customers. The Mirage III/V sold to about 19 export customers, the Mirage F1 to 10 and the Mirage 2000 to 8 (includes Brazil). This may be due to the increasing cost and sophistication of each new Dassault offering.

Egypt for example acquired a large number of Mirage 5’s, a small-ish number of Mirage 2000’s (I’ve seen anything from 12 to 20 quoted) and then received 220 F-16’s from the USA. Jordan (Mirage F1 user) has switched to second hand F-16’s as has Chile (both new and second hand F-16’s to replace Mirage V). Peru (Mirage 2000/V) has switched almost exclusively to procuring Russian equipment while long time Mirage III/F1 user South Africa is acquiring Swedish Gripens. Iraq is no longer a Mirage user and will probably get 2nd hand F-16’s should they ever get an airdefence component.

The Rafale is a high end platform for those with cash and many existing Mirage customers can’t afford it or have switched political affiliations (e.g. Egypt to the USA). Most Asian countries are exclusively Russian or Chinese or US. Europe is about the only place where the Rafale would have a chance except there the Eurofighter and JSF dominate, with the Gripen coming a distant third.

The Rafale may be an excellent jet but it’s simply not competitive in this day and age.

August 1, 2006 at 12:22 am in reply to: RNZAF Update please #2556691

Dubya
Participant

…maybe some of those Aero Vodchody L-159 light fighters which the Czech airforce have in storage would be good.

They would be good for what? Pretending to have jet fighters perhaps?

There is not even an airpolicing issue in NZ.

They do not need a jet fighter of any sort. Jet fighters are a waste of tax payers dollars that could go towards a more worthy cause.

July 28, 2006 at 4:07 am in reply to: Australian F-35 Lightning-IIs tipped to be top spy planes #2558576

Dubya
Participant

I have no problems with getting the JSF for the RAAF to defend Australia. I have a problem with the government’s current Deputy Sherriff act.

July 28, 2006 at 1:33 am in reply to: Saudi to get Eurofighters earlier? #2558593

Dubya
Participant

Yes I realise that Brazil is not exactly a poor country. And my comments did refer to government spending. I never understood why people would even bother with comparing the whole economy with military budgets especially with daft statements such as the “military budget is 3% of country X’s GDP.” Well that does not mean anything as it doesn’t take into account how much of that GDP is in the hands of the government (this depends on taxation etc). So even though a military budget is only 3% of the country’s GDP, it could well amount to 10% or more of the government’s expenditure.

As for being in dire need of new aircraft, this is South America we are talking about. Aircraft are flown until they literally fall out of the sky. Even Brazil does this. They were one of the last Mirage III operators and will probably be one of the last F-5 operators.

Even rich countries now fly aircraft until they fall out of the sky. Look at the RAAF’s Caribous and F-111’s, the now retired Italian F-104’s, the USAF B-52’s and KC-135’s or the British Canberras.

Military budgets are tight everywhere.

So I doubt Brazil will all of a sudden magically open up the purse and splurge on replacing about 60 F-5’s (and in the future the 12 M2000’s) with Rafales or Eurofighters or even Gripens. I still maintain that they will fly their current fleet of F-5’s and gradually replace them with second hand M2000’s.

July 28, 2006 at 12:28 am in reply to: Australian F-35 Lightning-IIs tipped to be top spy planes #2558609

Dubya
Participant

Yeah I’ve heard that evil global terrorists in Chechnya are planning to invade Australia with a massed amphibious invasion supported by naval air power and something they are calling a Deathstar.

Combatting terrorism requires police work and not heavy military equipment. I’ve even heard the US Navy stating the new attack submarines will be an extremely effective weapon in the global war on terror.

July 28, 2006 at 12:19 am in reply to: Saudi to get Eurofighters earlier? #2558612

Dubya
Participant

I doubt Israel would ever go French again. The French left them in the lurch after 1967 because of the Six Day War. And the French are still opposed to many Israeli policies today as well.

Israel wants a supplier that is cheap, reliable and doesn’t ask too many questions. And right now the US is performing this role superbly.

As for Brazil, I don’t think they will ever have the funds to acquire the Rafale. As I said my own prediction is that they will acquire more ex-French Mirage 2000’s as they become available. Brazil is upgrading and expanding it’s fleet of F-5E/F’s and is leasing a very small “silver bullet” fleet of ex-French M2000’s. I can’t see any new aircraft being chosen for at least 10v years.
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