Airplane News

[B777LR]

Got hold of  Air Forces Monthly today:

Interesting news:

Polish air force considers EX-USAF T-38As to replace TS-11 Iskras

First flight for lituanian C-27J

Unidentified customer for the now retired netherlands air force Fokker 60s

New serbian markings

Rafale going to afganistan

Spanish sea king in UN markings

T-2 buckeye retires

Eight-bladed C-2 greyhound

AH-1Z and UH-1Y undergo flight testing

Bolivian air force acquires 2 BAe 146

Netherlands F-16s arrive in kandahar

More details on saudi arms deal: 72 EF2000, 48 Rafale, upgrade 155 F-15 and 96 tornadoes, 25 apache longbow, 64 NH90, 48 UH-60L, 12 Eurocopter tigre`s, 20 cougars (helicopters), replacement of 43 BAe hawks.

First indian BAe hawk undergo final assembly

China and pakistan to make a AEW aircraft

Taiwan to build more AIDC F-CK-1 C/Ds from 2008

Malaysia buys 8 MB-339s

Singapore buys 19 pilatus PC-21s

Upgraded indian Il-38 (ugly as hell, TV antenna on top of roof!)

More details on Shaanxi Y-9 military transport, crew of 4

India buys surplus US sea kings

RAAF C-17 delivered

RAAF Caribou fleet going strong

Libyan mirages to be refurbished in france

CQ-10A Snow Goose cargo UAV in service in iraq. Revealed when it crashed.

Thats it for now!  

[Gervasius]

More details on saudi arms deal: 72 EF2000, 48 Rafale, upgrade 155 F-15 and 96 tornadoes, 25 apache longbow, 64 NH90, 48 UH-60L, 12 Eurocopter tigre`s, 20 cougars (helicopters), replacement of 43 BAe hawks.

Wow.    That is a LOT of hardware.    

[AeroplaneDriver]

Dont forget the article on the Nimrod MRA.4 that mentions its latent bomber capability.  I'd read before that it was to be wired for Storm Shadow, but the article also mentions that it will be wired for, and capable of carrying 16 x 500lb JDAMs internally.  

I imagine the chaps in 'Stan would appreciate an MRA.4 loitering over the battleground for hours dropping a JDAM whenever called upon.

[Captain Canada]

RAAF Caribou fleet going strong

Ya baby !

           

As we all know...the only thing that can replace a Caribou...is a Caribou !

 

[K5054NZ]

           

So I guess y'all would greatly appreciate some pics of the RAAF example which is set to perform at Omaka this Easter? I'd be rather happy to oblige! I can't wait m'self!    B)  

[B777LR]

I also forgot: Exercise Indra Dhanush, RAF tornadoes go for donkey whooping in india!

Typhoons in "NAWS china lake" california

French and german pilots train to fly the eurocopter tiger attack helicopter in southern france

CIA flies Mi-8s in afganistan

Poland gets F-16

F-117 25th aniversary

Albania to scrap lots of migs

   

[rallymodeller]

RAAF Caribou fleet going strong

Ya baby !

           

As we all know...the only thing that can replace a Caribou...is a Caribou !

Or a Buffalo, right Todd?

[upnorth]

Man, the Saudis have waaaaay too much money to play around with!

Interesting about the Polish possibly purchasing T-38s to replace the Iskra. I'd think if the Polish didn't have the budget to develop a new trainer indigenously (they certainly have the talent pool to do it) they'd be better off with one of the newer Hawk family members or maybe stick their pride in their back pocket and scoop up some new build weapons capable L-39s from the Czechs.

[B777LR]

Interesting about the Polish possibly purchasing T-38s to replace the Iskra. I'd think if the Polish didn't have the budget to develop a new trainer indigenously (they certainly have the talent pool to do it) they'd be better off with one of the newer Hawk family members or maybe stick their pride in their back pocket and scoop up some new build weapons capable L-39s from the Czechs.

Strange, yes. Didnt they develop a jet trainer themselves? It looked almost exactly like the alpha jet, and a flying prototype was completed. I dont know much more...

[Spey_Phantom]

Strange, yes. Didnt they develop a jet trainer themselves? It looked almost exactly like the alpha jet, and a flying prototype was completed. I dont know much more...

yes, they did, but the project was cancelled due to budget cuts, following the end of the cold war, was a nice plane though    

[Archibald]

48 Rafale

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

[AeroplaneDriver]

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.

[B777LR]

Strange, 4 different fighters. Perhaps they want to buy a carrier for those rafale? One of those new french nuclear carriers? Tornado to be reduced to interceptors? F-15 to be used as bombers along with tornadoes? EF-2000 as main fighter? And why 2 different attack helicopters?

[AeroplaneDriver]

Strange, 4 different fighters. Perhaps they want to buy a carrier for those rafale? One of those new french nuclear carriers? Tornado to be reduced to interceptors? F-15 to be used as bombers along with tornadoes? EF-2000 as main fighter? And why 2 different attack helicopters?

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.

In Saudi's position with Iran as their main near term 'enemy' a Saudi carrier in the PG would be little more than a big, fat target for Iranian SSKs and sea-skimmers.

[B777LR]

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?