I don’t really understand the Boeing position since the company will lose a sale worth perhaps $5 billion plus if Canada does not order 24 F/A-18’s while the Delta order for 75 aircraft would not be worth $5 billion if Delta switched to Boeing 737.

Defense is secondary to Boeing. Their main business is commercial airplanes and they will go above literally anything to protect it. Current CS-series isn’t a direct competitor to Boeing, but future larger versions of it will be hence why they don’t like it.

There are 96 active planes in the squadrons. Total number is down to 97 as one D was sent to Hungary as replacement for the crashed one.

My thought as well, are there seriously no moderators here?

Sweden is out of the competition in a statement from FMV, the swedish Defence Materiel Administration. No big surprise really.

I think France will join the effort, sooner rather than later. They got a new Pro-Europe president and they will have to get going with a new generation platform.

Sure Rafale is an excellent platform with more to give, but reality is still there. The aim is to have the new platform ready by 2035 and by then Dassault’s assembly lines should be pretty empty, at least at the french plant.

Partnering with Germany and Spain would also almost surly give the french the lead for the engines and the radar.

Experience.

Bitch, please.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]253639[/ATTACH]

SAAB RECEIVES ORDER WITHIN AEW&C

Defence and security company Saab has signed a contract within the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) segment. The order value amounts to SEK1.35 billion. Deliveries will be made from 2017 until 2020. The order is expected to be booked by Saab within the coming 6 months.
The airborne early warning and control system (AEW&C) provides access to a detailed situational awareness that for example can be used for border surveillance, search and rescue operations and for tackling terrorism and organised crime.
The effectiveness of the contract is subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions, among others, financial conditions. All conditions are expected to be fulfilled within the coming 6 months.
The industry’s nature is such that due to circumstances concerning the product and customer, further information about the customer will not be announced.
Work will be undertaken within Saab’s business area Surveillance and business area Support and Services.

This fall UAE signed to update their two current 340’s to the ER-radar. The value of that contract was in the same ballpark as this contract is. So my guess is that Saudi Arabia is updating their two 2000’s to the ER-radar or that Thailand is doing it with their two 340’s.

If I would bet I would definitely go for Saudi Arabia.

Oh god no!

Without additional funds the two remaining ones will have to be retired around 2020. It was a rather big story about it in the news a few months ago. The press have never been allowed in those planes before, but they were allowed to fly with them for a whole day this time which says something about how the Air Force is viewing the problem.

The politicians have promised additional strengthening of the defense budget in that timeframe, but there are so extremely many things in need of money that I’m unsure how it will unfold.

If I would speculate money will be found to upgrade the current two ones with the new radar and that will be it. The government (regardless if it’s run by the left or the right) is however always found of giving some industrial support to Saab, so two Globaleye is probably not out of the question. IMO so many sensors is unnecessary, only the AWACS part is needed. I’d rather have them spend more money on additional planes.

SAAB definitely have more 340’s and 2000’s they could take back from their leasing program and sell, but not anyones standing ready for it. However, I find it hard that any of those two would be chosen. The Air Force wishes for a bigger plan that can fly higher and longer with more speed. It should also be big enough to have some self defense system integrated.