Free NH90 for Australia due to 3 year delay

Brings Aussie fleet up to 47 a/c. Eurocopter is proving to be quite useless in terms of both Tigre and NH90 programs.

I’d say non-US/European fighters have a near 0% chance of selling anything in Europe in the same way European fighter manufacturers generally don’t get a real look in in North Asian and many South East Asian airforces.

Politics plays a huge role in things like fighter procurement. Other issues are spares/maintenance support, national interest and local industrial requirements as well as pride.

I agree with Sign in that countries like Romania will rely on used 4th generation jets (i.e., F-16AM/BM) and then they will operate pathetically small numbers – 8-14 a/c.

Come 2025-40 the Western Europeans will probably be launching another joint fighter. France might even stick around as their reduced fleet of 225 jets is no longer viable for sustaining fighter production.

Great little thread.

F-11 was certainly an elegant jet.

The period 1946-1970 was a great time for aerospace.

I love the variety of jets flying in USAF/SUN colours in those days. Heck you even had F-86H Sabres still doing ANG duty to 1972.

The markings were also really cool – none of this tedious low viz crap. In fact given air 2 air combat is extinct, maybe we they should go back to hig-viz markings.

A lot more interesting than todays dull “F-15/-16/-18/A-10 in dull gray line up” – at least from an aviation enthusiasts perspective.

Because of old age and high fly hours of modernised F-4ET and RF-4ET, both aircraft due to be retired before the end of 2013.

I assume this refers to the Turkish upgraded F-4s and not Israeli upgraded F4E Terminator 2020?

What’s happening to 113 and 173 Filo (RF-4ETM) and 112 Filo (F-4ETM)?

There are issues with some details of the contract and in particular licence production/assembly of Rafale by HAL. Dassault doesn’t think they can do it.

Canadair CL13B Sabre Mk6

General Dynamics F-16N

Mig-19/Chengdu J-6

Dassault Mystere IV

Dassault Mirage III

Vought F-8 Crusader

Nearly forgot:

de Havilland Vampire