this forum is still horrible, it takes forever to post a simple reply and its F-CK-1ng slow!
i thought after more then a month this issue was resolved bit its still terrible and i get constant error messages!

i dont like the new forum either, its much slower then the last one.
i would like the old one back!
if it aint broke, dont fix it!

Assembly has begun on first Luxembourg (MSN104) and Belgian Airbus A400M’s (MSN106)

the range of A320 will be too low and will need long runway once equipment is installed.

a standard A320 yes, but not one equiped with additional fuel tanks like the ACJ320 series, witch gives the aircraft a transatlantic range.
STOL requirements these days are not a requirement, just look at the Boeing P-8/737.

Belgian F-16’s could fly until 2029.

according to report from Lockheed-Martin & the BAF chief of staff, that was withheld from the MoD, the F-16’s in belgian service could fly up to 2029, 6 years longer then was previously noted.
this has caused an upstir in parlement, that could see the F-16 replacement program put on hold.

as a result, the chief of the air force, the general in charge of the replacement program and 2 more generals have been suspended.

yes, that the atricle is nothing more then bull****, there has been no official statement on that and the idea is too absurd, even for Belgium.
i dont know where they get the idea, but this idea is ridiculous.

Belgium to buy armable drones

these will, in a first batch, consist of 4 MALE drones, with 8 more to be bought in the 2025-2030 timeframe.
they will replace the current fleet of IAI B-Hunters, witch will reach obsolecense by 2021.

the prefered choice is the Sky Guardian, better known as the Predator-B or MQ-9 Reaper.
the IAI Heron TP and a joint EU MALE UAV project are also in the running. a decision is expected to be made soon.

My selection would be for the Mirage III, as it is a very performant aircraft in that age, could easely be customiszed to meet demands and low in maintainance.
if the Mirage III wasnt available, then i would have gone for either the F-5A or the F-8E.