Thanks for the update Halloweene.

The interesting thing about French deferring Rafale deliveries again, is that it will put more pressure on Armee de l Aire in 2020s as well as potentially put the French behind in terms of capability.

So by 2020 France will have some 135 Rafales (not including 5 already lost in accidents) as well as some 90 Mirage 2000s of various models.

That will mean that in the 2020-2030 period when other larger NATO airforces (USA, Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Norway and probably Canada, Denmark and Belgium) are converting en masse to fifth generation F-35s as well as Russians adopting larger numbers of Pak Fas, the French will still be buying 4.5th generation jets.

Apparently operated by Army’s 50 Air Assault/Cavalry Battalion together with Z-9s and MD500s.

First flight of Mi-28UB trainer model

Also updates on orders:

– 4 delivered to Kenya (16 on order)
– Iraq has ordered 12 out of 40
– Algeria and Venezuela have signed Letters of Intent for 42 and 10 respectively. Note these aren’t a firm order.
– Russia – 63 in service, 34 on order and a further 40-60 as Letter of Intent

We may get more than three Zumwalts. As it will be many years before the last one is completed and by time it is. The budget will likely be able to afford more of them………..Happens all the time!

It probably won’t happen as US is buying Arleigh Burke’s instead of Zumwalts.

It’s the same as Seawolf class submarine – large and super capable and super expensive. They built 3, cancelled 26 and then replaced them with smaller and cheaper Virginia class subs.