Airplane News

[AeroplaneDriver]

I think if there were ANY indication of the Saudi's wanting a carrier the UK MoD would pull out all the stops to get them (and their $$$) aboard CVF to make it a 4-ship program.  Even the French have given up on another nuclear boat.

Maybe thats why its secret? Perhaps its not even going to be french, or built in europe? Perhaps a chinese ship?

Then why go with Rafale for it?

Still makes no sense for a country in Saudi's position to go for a carrier.  Plus there is enough anti-Saudi sentiment in the west without them going Chinese and alienating this part of the world further.

[lancer]

48 Rafale

what ? 48 Rafale for Saudi Arabia ? Mon dieu, that's not possible...  

Back a few weeks ago when the UK fraud investigation was jeopardizing the Typhoon order there were a lot of 'rumors' floating that Saudi would also be ordering Rafales regardless of the Typhoon order going ahead.

Sounds like someone is gearing up for fisticuffs with....Iran maybe..?

Not good when you read that Saudi funded Pakistan's nuke program to assure access to a weapon to counter the potential of a nuclear Iran.

Don't foret the 200+ nukes that dear old Israel has tucked away at Dimona as well.  

[B777LR]

Can the rafale do anything the eurofighter cant? Antishipping?  

[lancer]

Botrh were designed with the same sort of mission in mind, just the French wanted to do thier own thing. Hence Rafale.  

[Shasper]

Typhoons in "NAWS china lake" california

China Lake is where the Navy does alot of Live weaps trials n stuff (think the Tiffys were there for Brimbstone trials)

Shas B)

[Maverick]

Shas,

ur showing ur age 'Tiffys'...

But yeah, China Lake is the place to be to watch things of all sorts go bang.

Some worry customers on those lists tho...

My 2c

[Hobbes]

Perhaps it's a political maneuver. With 4 types of aircraft in service, the Saudis can afford to piss off someone without having their whole fleet grounded due to and embargo (lack of spares).  

Or it's a 'rich kid wants all the new toys' type of decision (not unheard-of in that region).

[Shasper]

Shas, ur showing ur age 'Tiffys'...

Yep, ripe ol' age of 22, dam I cant stay up past 2200 like I use to!  

THey aleardy have the F-15C/D/Ss and the IDS/ADV Fins, I'm guessing that the ADVs will go scrap along with some of the Egos, leaving the upgraded IDSs (similar to the GR.4) and the Mudhens (who lack nuke wiring IIRC). Then you got all those new toys...


Shas B)

[Jschmus]

I don't know if this qualifies as news.  It's more like an unsubstantiated rumor, and I was hoping someone more knowledgeable than me could clarify.  Last week I was reading the news stories about American AC-130 gunships being used in Somalia, and that prompted a search through the usual suspects for up-to-the-minute info.  I ended up on Wikipedia (I know, I know!), and I found an article there which began with the header about the article containing info with no references.  So naturally I was suspicious.  Anyway, the article claimed that there are plans to "upgrade" the firepower of the AC-130 by replacing the 25mm and 40mm cannon with 30mm Bushmaster cannon and replacing the 105mm howitzer with a breech-loading 120mm mortar.  There's also mention of giving the gunship standoff weapons capability by adding Hellfire, Hydra FFAR or something called the GBU-44B Brilliant Anti-Tank munition.

[B777LR]

I heard that they [USAF] where interested in converting the oldest C-17s into AC-17As...

Whats most likely? Upgrading very old AC-130s perhaps soon to be retired, or converting valuable C-17? Perhaps AC-130J-30 or AC-400?

[AeroplaneDriver]

Seems odd to look at a jet for a gunship when a turboprop is so much more efficient at the altitudes used.  Seems like a waste of a very useful tactical/strategic airlift asset to turn it into a gunship when the AC-130 seems to do quite well in that role.

[cthulhu77]

The scuttlebutt heard 'round here is that the 130's are going to be modified for some additional munitions loadouts...that smart anti-tank stuff is incredible.

[B777LR]

Libya to buy Rafale!

http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2007/...ench+press.html

[upnorth]

Libya to buy Rafale!

http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2007/...ench+press.html

Now that one doesn't surprize me in the least. Lybia having bought French product in the past and Ghadaffi (sp?) showing a very clear intrest and agenda in forming strong ties with the west.

Looking forward to seeing a Lybian Rafale. I just hope the Lybians still believe in desert camo and not greys.

[GTX]

Libya to buy Rafale!

Doesn't surprise me - in fact I predicted this would occur some time back.

Regards,

Greg