Spitfire9The never-ending Canada saga:
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140406/DEFREG02/304060010/Canada-No-F-35-Buys-Before-2018
Delaying purchase until 2018 seems quite a good idea to me.
– the F-35 should be cheaper if bought later
– if there should be a big cut in the number of F-35A ordered by the USAF resulting in a higher F-35A price, it may leave sufficient time to re-consider other types such as F/A-18 (if still available) and Typhoon (if still available). Better than committing to F-35 then discovering anticipated prices have risen
– if the F-18C force will not require heavy maintenance to keep it flying longer, it will be cheaper to operate rather than F-35 during the years of delay in receiving F-35
Spitfire9Sweden Will Lend Ten Fighters to Brazil Until the Arrival of the new Gripen NG
Spitfire9The Baltics didnt even look as a potential client, but due to Putins actions they might want a joint fighter force based in another country, Like Sweden/Gotland or something like that.
Interesting idea but I don’t see why Sweden should ditch its neutrality.
A little bit of perspective is required here, I think. A Ukrainian province with a majority of Russian speakers opted to secede then rejoin Russia. It could have been done in a considered manner but was rushed through by the Crimeans and the Russians. Let’s be realistic. Had it been that the Ukraine wanted closer links to Russia and the Crimea to the west the USA and NATO would have done all they could to help Crimea secede.
Spitfire9No, no, no. From Minister of Defence and Brazilian Air Force Commander official words, the Gripen NG will have 100% of its IP (intelectual property) given to Brazil, 80% of the plane will be Brazilian built, 40% of the development made in Brazil, etc.
It is the NG logic, don’t try to defy it.
I see that SAAB can share 100% of Gripen IP. The 80% build in Brazil can be arranged. Obviously all development work done so far by SAAB has been done. None of that can be shared retrospectively, so the question is how much more development work is required to get the Gripen E design completed? According to Wiki the detailed design of the production Gripen E was revealed in March 2014.
Gripen F could be developed in Brazil (presumably no design work done so far by SAAB). Sea Gripen development could be taken over by Brazil (preliminary design already completed by SAAB). I can see Brazil undertaking 40% of ongoing development.
Spitfire9I don’t think I would bother to bid if I were Airbus.
Spitfire9Both Czech and Slovak fighter squadrons should be more closely interconnected after 2016 when the service contract on MiG-29s expires. Slovakia will probably buy or lease up to eight fighters from the West, while Gripens are favorites, LN writes.
The FXM Swedish export firm has been negotiating with Bratislava about Gripens’ possible purchase or lease, it adds.
If the CzechRepublic and Slovakia had the same type of supersonic fighters, a joint squadron would be formed with one main and one minor air base, LN writes.
The Czech and Slovak governments have planned meetings to debate a joint protection of the countries’ airspaces where a few agreements are to be signed.
In addition, a joint purchase of airport radars has long been considered, LN writes.
It says both countries also want to intensify cross-border cooperation in the case of natural disasters, such as floods, and cooperation between both military education systems.
Slovak soldiers could study some fields or subjects at the University of Defense in Brno, LN writes.
Gripen for Slovakia looks like a very good fit with the Czech Republic, benefitting both countries. As well as the advantages outlined, further mutual benefits could accrue from the Czech Republic providing training and logitics sharing.
Spitfire9Unless Bulgaria start cooperating with an existing Gripen nation (which I think is unlikely) then most likely they would rather go for second-hand F-16, like Romania did.
Where can you find F-16’s for sale that do not need a major overhaul/upgrade? Was it Romania that was offered ex-US F-16’s for free… + $50 million each (I think) to upgrade?
Spitfire9Swedish Defence Minister Calls for More JAS Gripen to Counter Russian Threat
Bulgaria wants to stop relying on Russia for support of its fighters:
Bulgaria’s small air defense force has been scrambled numerous times in the last two months to meet a growing number of surveillance flights being launched by Russia over the Black Sea following developments in Ukraine, according to minister of defense Angel Naidenov. Although none of the flights violated Bulgarian airspace, they approached and flew along the coast and were operating without flight plans, in turn requiring investigation. Between March 1 and 26 Russian aircraft approached Bulgaria on nine occasions: among the types to be intercepted was the Ilyushin Il-20M, a signals intelligence version of the Il-18 airliner. In recent years Bulgarian aircraft have scrambled only two or three times annually.
Such intense operations are placing a considerable strain on Bulgaria’s small interceptor force, which relies on the aging Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters of the 3rd Air Base at Graf Ignatievo, near Plovdiv. Although Bulgaria is a NATO member, the small fleet still depends on Russia for spares and support. Sofia would like to change that by buying a new fighter force that is not beholden to Russian support, according to foreign minister Kristian Vigenin, but Bulgaria has critical defense budget issues that have prevented any acquisition in the past. While NATO’s suspension of cooperation with Russia does not affect Bulgaria’s bilateral support agreement with Russia, the current situation is likely to accelerate the fighter acquisition process.
Ideally Bulgaria wants to switch to non-Russian fighters ASAP, given the instability in the Ukraine area. If the funds for a Gripen lease could be found I guess that would be the quickest solution needing the smallest immediate cash outlay.
Spitfire9Yes, i think that is the alternative, but then work share will be little.
The yanks were politely advised by Swizz not to participate, as it was going to be Euro either way,
in fact that is a quality to tell it straight away
IIRC the F/A-18 would not have fitted the shelters used to protect aircraft and it would have been a big additional cost to modify those.
Spitfire9I wonder if this is a permanent reduction in the orders which the DoD was adamant would not happen.
The DOD does not hold the purse strings. I think that one way of cuts occurring will be by Congress restricting funds. If unanticipated incidental costs crop up (I refer to reworks of built airframes, any further development problems), the number of frames that can be produced drops. LM are not going to sort out development problems, rework existing frames or manufacture new aircraft without being paid.
Spitfire9All this talk about backdoors in military equipment and never any actual proof that it has been used. Sure, Snowden did prove that OS usually had backdoors as well as routers… but these are closed source solutions.
Also, considering that the FA18 they currently use is all out American with the link 16 I have to call the bluff on this one. Either their current FA18 fleet has backdoors in everything from the radar to datalinks (and probably Russia knows about them) making the aircraft useless OR its just fud from a sour loser in the tender.
If SAAB allows full access to the software (as they do) then this isis a non issue. It is clearly targeting the voters/public
The public is not going to learn about existing communications systems in Gripen that may have backdoors. They know that the USA spies on opposing countries (eg Russia). Since Snowden’s revelations they know that the USA also spies on its allies. If the USA spies on the countries to which it is allied, logic says that it will be even more likely to spy on independent countries (eg Switzerland).
The latest poll I read showed that the majority of voters were opposed to Gripen being acquired. Ditching a Swiss firm in favour of an American one reduces the industrial benefits to Switzerland. That’s a vote loser. Appointing a US firm undermines security. That is another vote loser.
As things stand with the voting public, the Gripen deal will be rejected. That position needs to be turned round – more votes in favour are needed, not less.
Spitfire9GENEVA — Ahead of a Swiss referendum on the country’s plan to buy 22 fighter jets from Sweden, a report raised concerns Sunday that a US-made communication system onboard could be used for spying.
According to a report in Swiss weekly Le Matin Dimanche, Swedish defense firm Saab last year brought in US company Rockwell Collins to replace Roschi Rohde & Schwartz of Switzerland, which had originally been contracted to build the communications system.
While the Swiss would still be making their own encryption keys, the physical box and the software inside would be American made, according to the report.
Several experts quoted by the paper cautioned that the US company could potentially build a “backdoor” into the system, making it possible for US intelligence to see the information gathered during reconnaissance flights.
Following the trove of disclosures by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden of Washington’s widespread spying efforts, the American firm’s reported role raised eyebrows.
“With the Americans, it would be surprising if there were no backdoors,” Richard Morva, head of the Swiss Crows association that deals with electronic warfare, told the paper.
Mmmm… Unless the Swiss firm concerned was not up to the job, this looks like a stupid move by SAAB. If Gripen loses by a small percentage in the referendum on May 18th, this move could be the reason.
Spitfire9Or…
Eurofighter.
F/A-18.
Gripen.
I don’t give F/A-18 much of a chance of anywhere except in the USA in the form of a few more Growlers. The USA is cutting back in many areas to fund the ongoing overspend on F-35 development, remedial work on aircraft already produced and production. I don’t see the US government funding further F/A-18 development.
Spitfire9Qatar has ordered 2 A330 tanker/transports. The Qatari M2K aircraft do not have a refuelling probe. Does this mean that Qatar is preparing to buy fighters with refuelling probes? eg Rafale
Spitfire9PARLIAMENT HILL — The government has delayed its current schedule to sign a contract for an initial delivery of Lockheed-Martin F-35 stealth fighter jets to Canada until after the 2015 federal election year,
Bad for any chances of F/A-18 being selected instead?
Sign In
