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mrmalaya

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March 13, 2018 at 8:56 am in reply to: Eurofighter Typhoon discussion and news 2015 #2156125

mrmalaya
Participant

Mil, of those upgrades I would most like to see SPEAR3 and the Bright Adder follow-on for the radar. Both of those are crucial if Typhoon is to be useful for another twenty years, and I would argue that they actually both have relevance when it comes to developing ne tactics and aircraft over that period.

March 12, 2018 at 4:19 pm in reply to: Eurofighter Typhoon discussion and news 2015 #2156294

mrmalaya
Participant

Sintra, That article is a painful read.

On another note, I must say I hadnt realised Airbus had tied with UK Gov. to market Typhoon in Canada….

As to AESA, once the RAF Typhoon clears its advanced weapons this year, I would imagine the radar is one of the main things to look at in the coming few years.

March 11, 2018 at 10:58 am in reply to: Japan Self-Defense Forces – News & Discussion – Season 1 #2156579

mrmalaya
Participant

A new, more detailed RFI has been sent to London and Washington for help with the F3:

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/191426/japan-seeks-new-jet-fighter-proposals-based-on-existing-western-designs.html

Is London’s inclusion just a nod towards burgeoning defence ties, or are they actually interested in what BAE etc have to offer?

March 10, 2018 at 8:47 pm in reply to: Anglo-French UCAV (FCAS) #2156715

mrmalaya
Participant

Halloweene, personally I think it’s better to have both sides working together (if only to make the damn thing more secure).

The project seems to allow plenty of national freedom, so ideally they will approve it with changes that get the demonstrators flying in 3 years time ,:eagerness:

March 9, 2018 at 4:43 pm in reply to: Eurofighter Typhoon discussion and news 2015 #2157224

mrmalaya
Participant

48 Typhoons for Saudi Arabia:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43347848

Details pending (apparently BAE have sold the Typhoon to Germany in the past according to the article :))

More information here:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/03/09/bae-systems-poised-unveil-long-awaited-saudi-order-48-typhoon/
This article also contains information about Malaysia looking at Typhoon in place of Rafale after EU trade problems over palm-oil.

March 9, 2018 at 12:39 pm in reply to: Anglo-French UCAV (FCAS) #2157270

mrmalaya
Participant

I see that but I have to wonder if the delay is actually more to do with not wanting to commit to the joint programme yet, than not having funds for something.

We have just (finally) undertaken to come up with an industrial strategy for the sector, and are absorbed in the F35 induction (a point actually listed by the Dassault chief yesterday). I just wonder if Brexit is one of a few factors as opposed to the only factor which has given the government pause for thought on the next stage. Afterall, the whole process is being stretched out to fit the timescales of both parties- it needn’t take another several years to get a demonstrator in the air, but that is what we were told.

I think it’s a bit disingenuous to say its just the UK worrying about Brexit that has held up the next stage. Since signing that agreement the French have decided to jump in on the next fighter with the Germans and are also trying to make the most of Rafale upgrades all the way through the 2030s and 40s.

March 9, 2018 at 7:08 am in reply to: Anglo-French UCAV (FCAS) #2157323

mrmalaya
Participant

I don’t see how the UK leaving the EU is going to stop this progressing?

March 8, 2018 at 2:39 pm in reply to: Anglo-French UCAV (FCAS) #2157578

mrmalaya
Participant

Dassault think FCAS is stalling:

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/brexit-throws-anglo-french-fcas-programme-into-doubt-446592/?cmpid=SOC|Twitter|Flightglobal|sf183961242|sf183961242&sfid=701w0000000uP3H#sf183961242

I personally wonder if the UK industrial strategy side of things is cooling interest in this as much as potential friction over Brexit (which I still don’t see as relevant to FCAS cooperation).

March 7, 2018 at 3:47 pm in reply to: Japan Self-Defense Forces – News & Discussion – Season 1 #2158122

mrmalaya
Participant

It’s all hot air at the moment and I think the talk of going to LM is partly driven by the help they received with the F2, the fact they wanted the F22, the fact they bought the F35 etc.

The UK/Japan situation will be slightly less murky when the Future air strategy gets published. The main problem with working with Japan is purely the tendency for them to fall back on US involvement. That said, the F2 was pursued despite the fact it would have been cheaper/easier to buy American.

I can’t see the UK government working with Turkey to produce a fighter if only because the needs and expectations are different.

March 7, 2018 at 10:18 am in reply to: Japan Self-Defense Forces – News & Discussion – Season 1 #2158258

mrmalaya
Participant

Right! if Japan has come to the conclusion that it can’t go it alone with the next fighter project, does that automatically mean they are heading to LM for a Japanese F22?

Isn’t that a bit linear?

March 6, 2018 at 8:54 am in reply to: RAF Fighter Jets: What’s the point? #2159034

mrmalaya
Participant

I wonder what the OP’s views are?

March 4, 2018 at 10:32 pm in reply to: RAF Fighter Jets: What’s the point? #2159819

mrmalaya
Participant

Freehand, I agree.

I was reacting to the idea that the USAF were there to defend the UK (which they are not, even if they were to “jump in for the big win” when they were asked to).

I make no doubt that UK/US are in it together but there is a subtle difference.

March 3, 2018 at 7:41 pm in reply to: RAF Fighter Jets: What’s the point? #2160177

mrmalaya
Participant

You could argue that the development of small smart and relatively long legged munitions such as SPEAR3 have made the type of aircraft less relevant.

Does it matter if the Typhoon, F35 or Scorpion is carrying a brace of them? You need the technology to find the target in the first place though.

I do agree that you can’t plan for a 30-40 year operational cycle simply by looking at the war you have just fought.

March 3, 2018 at 5:48 pm in reply to: RAF Fighter Jets: What’s the point? #2160254

mrmalaya
Participant

Surely the US jets have nothing to do with the practical defence of the UK.

The UK has provided a mostly risk free staging post for US forces since the Second World War. No resentment (excusing Greenback Common) and very little chance of political obstruction.

March 3, 2018 at 9:21 am in reply to: Anglo-French UCAV (FCAS) #2160379

mrmalaya
Participant

I don’t think there is any need for such drama. The whole point of working on Taranis, and then with France was to avoid reliance on the US. Effectively, all we know is that France doesn’t operate an LO strike aircraft and might like the idea of this system filling such a role.

Taranis was not designed to drop bombs, just simulate them. That suggests to me that the UK was more interested in the stealth and AI aspects of the design than whether they could integrate a weapons bay into the aircraft.

In either case the FCAS UCAV is going to need to be able to sense its environment admirably whilst at the same time working to be unseen and unchallenged. Those traits are important regardless of whether bombing is the driving force of the design.
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