Active & Future Fighter Aircrafts - Around the World

[Scorpio]

Boeing Wins $9.8 Billion to Upgrade Saudi Arabian F-15 Jets

Boeing has been awarded a $9.8 billion contract to modernize F-15 fighter jet fleet of Saudi Arabia.

This contract provides for modernization of the F-15 Saudi fleet to include hardware, software, and interface design, development, integration, test, subsystem and structural component production. It also includes installation of future modifications and enhancements to the F-15 Saudi weapon system as well as product support, a Pentagon announcement said.
Work will be performed in St. Louis and as separately specified in individual task and delivery orders and is expected to be completed by November 2025. The ordering period for this contract is five years from the date of contract award plus an option for an additional five year ordering period.

This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Initial delivery order will be awarded concurrently in the amount of $1,032,649 using FMS modification and development type 4F funds.
Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest operators of F-15 jets outside the US. Saudi Arabia had ordered 84 F-15SA fighters along with kits to upgrade existing Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) fleet of 70 F-15S multi-role fighters to the SA configuration in 2010.

The new upgrade is expected to bring the Saudi F-15s on par with the F-15QT ordered by Qatar.

 

[Scorpio]

Nigeria has received a pair of Wing Loong 2

A medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from China, a senior Nigerian Air Force (NAF) official...

Nigeria has received a pair of Wing Loong II medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from China, a senior Nigerian Air Force (NAF) official announced on 10 November.

 

[Scorpio]

USA approves $23bn sale of F-35s, MQ-9Bs to UAE

US State Department approves arms sales and then notifies the US Congress of its decision via the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
But in this case US secretary of state Mike Pompeo issued a press release declaring the sale would be approved. A formal and separate notice came about an hour later from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

The proposed deal includes 50 F-35 Lightning II aircraft valued at $10.4 billion, up to 18 General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B drones valued at $2.97 billion and air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions valued at $10 billion.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency says the 50 F-35As would come with 54 Pratt & Whitney F-135 engines. Of those, 50 would be installed and four would be spares.
Incuded with the F-35s would be air-system training devices and systems related to electronic warfare, command and control, identification, navigation, logistics and data-integration, says the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

The proposal also includes spares, maintenance equipment and personnel training, among other support items.

The sale of 18 MQ-9B unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) may also be controversial – though perhaps less so than the F-35A sale.
Typically, these armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance UAVs are restricted to the USA’s closest allies due to a Missile Technology Control Regime policy of a “strong presumption of denial”. The arms-control agreement classifies the UAVs as cruise missiles capable of delivering a weapon of mass destruction.

However, the Trump administration updated the US policy in July, allowing for case-by-case approvals to sell UAVs with maximum flight speeds less than 432kt (800km/h). Using that new policy, the USA approved Taiwan’s pending acquisition of four MQ-9Bs on 3 November.
Included with the UAE MQ-9B proposal are related weapons such as 515 Hellfire missile, Leonardo SeaSpray 7500 maritime radars and SAGE 750 electronic surveillance measures systems.

 

[Scorpio]

Germany to buy 38 T3 more eurofighter typhoons

The German parliament, the Bundestag, reportedly approved the acquisition of 38 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets from Airbus to arm the Luftwaffe, the German air force – rejecting the Lockheed Martin F-35 bid.
The variants ordered are the Tranche-3, which would replace the in-service Tranche-1 variant of the Typhoons, at a cost of €5.4 billion

Germany’s decision not to buy the F-35 stealth fighter jet was labeled a “retrograde step” that could hamper the country’s ability to operate at the same level as its NATO partners, the European head of Lockheed Martin told Financial Times in April of 2019.

Jonathan Hoyle, vice-president for Europe at the US defense group, said the German decision to exclude the F-35 prompted questions among other European governments.

He alleged that during a recent visit to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization several ambassadors had expressed “disappointment” at the German decision.
“When we go off and collaborate together operationally, if you are flying stealth, fifth-generation jets, you don’t want a fourth-generation jet in the middle of your operations because everyone can see that,” he added.

Bad vibes aside, the German decision makes perfect sense.

The order is particularly beneficial for Airbus, affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The decision of the German parliament to buy 38 Eurofighters, known as the Quadriga project, is a very strong message, not only for the German air force but also for Europe, in particular for European defense manufacturers,” said Dirk Hoke, chief executive of Airbus Defense and Space.
“More than 100,000 jobs are based on programs like this.”

Another reason for Germany to choose the Eurofighter Typhoon over the F-35 was the wish to retain intellectual property of the aircraft, electronic systems and weapons within the country,

 

[Scorpio]

Canada to buy FA 50 trainer

South Korea’s highly successful FA-50 lightweight twin seat combat jet is expected to gain a new client over the coming twelve months, with the ITPS Canada Ltd tactical aviation training service expected to purchase the aircraft to replace its ageing Aero L-39C Albatros trainer jets. The FA-50 was designed for combat, and has been used extensively by both the Iraqi Air Force and the Philippines Air Force for this purpose with very positive feedback regarding its performance. The fighter’s very low operational costs and ease of maintenance, however, also allow it to serve as a highly cost effective trainer, with ITPS also intending to use the jets for adversary training to mimic the capabilities of enemy aircraft for mock air battles. ITPS has provided tactical training since 2001, and its clients have included Airbus, for which it trains company test pilots, as well as the Indonesian Air Force, the Royal Thai Air Force and the Pakistani Air Force. Indonesia and Thailand notably themselves field FA-50 jets.

ITPS plans to acquire 8-12 FA-50 jets, with the Canadian company’s President Giorgio Clementi referring to it as a “great aircraft” and stating regarding its capabilities: “The aircraft’s performance, flying qualities, and mission capabilities make it the ideal platform for tactical and adversary training missions and a great fit for ITPS to replace our L-39 fleet. A new aircraft supported by the manufacturer and with the associated engineering and logistical support ensures reliable and cost-effective operations into the future.” The FA-50 has also gained considerable interest from the U.S. Air Force, and South Korea’s defence sector is expected to build on the program’s success by developing a far more ambitious fighter under the KF-X program. The KF-X is expected to target many of the same markets as the FA-50, and also prioritises a low operational cost and ease of maintenance, although it will be a heavier aircraft with fifth generation capabilities including stealth technologies and access to a much wider range of offensive weaponry such as bunker busting cruise missiles and Meteor long range anti aircraft missiles.

 

[Scorpio]

Greece to Get F35s meant for Turkey

The United States approved the sale of fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter jets to Greece, several of which were originally destined for Turkey, Greek City Times reported on Tuesday.

Greece will buy six of 20 warplanes in 2022, along with six French-made Rafale fighter jets, the news website said, citing Greek language newspaper Estia.

Six of the F-35s were originally meant for Turkey, but will now be decorated in the blue and white national colours of Greece, GCT said.

The United States excluded Turkey from a deal to purchase the F-35s last year after the Turkish government took delivery of Russian S-400 air defence missiles. Turkish pilots had received training in the fighter jets in the U.S. ahead of their expected arrival.

 

[BATMAN]

UK bars South Korea from selling FA-50 to Argentina

The United Kingdom has effectively barred the sale of the FA-50 Fighting Eagle to Argentina, with the South Korean manufacturer informing the South American nation that...

www.janes.com

UK bars South Korea from selling FA-50 to Argentina​

 

[Scorpio]

 

[Scorpio]

Origins of China’s J-11B Air Superiority Fighter: How the ‘Flanker’ Design Was Drastically Improved

The J-11B today forms the backbone of China’s fleet of heavyweight fighter jets, and is considered one of the most capable fourth generation combat jets in service

militarywatchmagazine.com

 

[Scorpio]

The Mig-35 is an advanced development of the MiG-29. This is the version that deserves to be considered the best of the Fulcrum family​

The Mig-35S is equipped with modern avionics systems, integrated electronic warfare equipment, and 10 hard points. The fighter possesses super maneuverability, powered by 3-dimensional thrust vector engines. The MiG-35 is considered the world’s best multi-role fighter for all missions.
The Su-35, known as the elite Sukhoi 4++ generation fighter, is also a super maneuverable aircraft. The single-seat and two-engine aircraft is a derivative of the famous Su-27 heavy fighter. While both the fighter jets, the MiG-35, and the Su-35, deploy similar technologies, the two are different in their fundamental designs. Although an assessment of their capabilities and key differences can provide insight into the nature of both programs and their possible futures.
Mig-35S
According to Russian military experts, the heavy Flanker is needed to escort long-range bombers, to attack strategic locations deep in enemy territory, as well as to break through fortified air defense areas.
Discover More
In turn, the purpose of fighters like the MiG-35S is to deploy it closer to the frontlines. On the other hand, the Mig-35 is the most preferred fighter to carry out air combats, aerial reconnaissance, striking surface targets and providing support to troops and forces at land.

The Su-35 is designed with intent and mission to gain air superiority thereby capable of spotting and destroying targets at air and ground. With the help of Irbis-E radar, the range of detection is over 400km and can damage up to 30 airborne targets simultaneously.
The MiG-35, employs the first active electronically canner array radar (AESA) which is more sophisticated and lighter than Irbis-E. Despite this, the Su-35 is preferred as it has an edge over MiG-35 in situational awareness.

The export potential of the MiG-35S is enormous with its asking price of only $45 million. By comparison, the F-16 with a similar configuration, the F/A-18 Super Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon and the Dassault Rafale will cost $68M, $75M, $120M and $130 million, respectively.

Why Does Russia Need The Mig-35S When They Already Have The Su-35S? - Military-wiki

The MiG-35, employs the first active electronically canner array radar (AESA) which is more sophisticated and lighter than Irbis-E.

military-wiki.com

 

[Scorpio]

Not the F-35, Rafale Is The Russian Su-35’s Threat On The Battlefield And Marketplace​

Not the F-35, Rafale Is The Russian Su-35's Threat On The Battlefield And Marketplace - Military-wiki

The French Rafale fighters can completely threaten the export position of Russia's Su-35 fighters. Many countries have turned to the Rafale.

military-wiki.com

 

[Scorpio]

F-35 Failed, The US Considered Developing F-36 King Snake To Replace F-16​

The F-36 King Snake is a new US concept, it is light weight, cheap and does not emphasize stealth performance. It could be called “5-” generation fighter.


The F-35 has won over other candidates to replace the F-16, but the F-35’s price is too expensive and is inferior to the F-16 in some features. Therefore, the F-35 can hardly replace the entire F-16 in a short time.
The average service life of 783 F-16C fighters, currently in service in the US Air Force is 28.7 years, so the F-16Cs are nearing the end of their service life. This makes a new fighter jet’s 20-year development cycle impossible. Instead, experts want to quickly design, define the specifications of a new fighter within a year, and relies on simpler construction techniques to quickly begin mass production.
F-36 concept
The F-36 will reuse existing technologies to speed production. For example, the F-36 could use the F119 turbofan engine on the F-22 Raptor to reach Mach 2, without having to completely redesign the engine. Or the F-36 can also be equipped with the advanced AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array radar, like the latest version of the F-16. It could also be equipped with a new infrared sensor system and photoelectric targeting system.

Like the F-16, the F-36 will be a multi-role fighter that can perform air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to-surface missions. The aircraft will also be equipped with an internal weapon bay. As a fighter that does not focus on stealth, the F-36 will also have hard points under the wings. In addition, the F-36 will be equipped with a cannon to carry out air strikes on enemy ground targets.
The development philosophy of the F-36 is rapid development, in accordance with the financial capacity and the ability to upgrade with new technologies in the future. If the F-35 is compared to a Ferrari supercar, the F-22 is the Bugatti Chiron, the F-36 that the US Air Force needs is just a popular car that is good enough and as durable as a Toyota.

F-35 Failed, The US Considered Developing F-36 King Snake To Replace F-16 - Military-wiki

The F-36 King Snake is rapid development, in accordance with the financial capacity and the ability to upgrade with new technologies in the future.

military-wiki.com

 

[space cadet]

This Is Our First Look at the Air Force’s Secret New Fighter Jet

Here's everything we can see on the mysterious sixth-generation plane.

www.popularmechanics.com

This Is Our First Look at the Air Force’s Secret New Fighter Jet​

Here's everything we can see on the mysterious sixth-generation plane.

Last fall, the U.S. Air Force shockingly revealed it had designed, built, and tested a secret new fighter jet in the span of just one year. The mysterious fighter is part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, an Air Force project designed to supplement and eventually replace the F-22 Raptor.

Beyond admitting the plane exists—and uses F1-style engineering—the Air Force has told us little else about its NGAD fighter. But the service might have just dropped its most concrete clue yet: intriguing concept art of a fighter aircraft being built under the NGAD program. Is it the secret new fighter jet?

The image above appears on page 55 (“Next Generation Air Dominance”) of the Air Force’s biennial report for acquisition, which it released last week. The aircraft depicted is a large, diamond-shaped fighter jet with large engine air intakes over the airplane’s wing, trailing to the left and right of the cockpit, where the intakes would be shielded from radar from below. The aircraft also features two engines, a bubble canopy cockpit, and two vertical stabilizers that can be retracted to fold flat into the wings.

Here’s what the NGAD section of the report says:

“Designed to complement the F-35, F-22, joint, and partner forces in the Air Superiority role, Next Generation Air Dominance is an advanced aircraft program for development of penetrating counter air platforms with multi-domain awareness, agile resilient communications, and an integrated family of capabilities.”

The image also hints at the capability to refit the aircraft with weapon and propulsion upgrades. The fighter is seen alongside three versions of air-to-air missiles, landing gear, and engines labeled V1, V2, and V3. Modern combat aircraft receive new weapons all the time, but refitting an existing aircraft with new engines is generally considered too complicated.

Concept art of a future U.S. fighter jet shooting down incoming missiles with a laser weapon system.

The Air Force developed the secret fighter jet with digital engineering technology designed to dramatically shorten the development time of new aircraft. Digital engineering involves the use of virtual modeling and simulation tools. NGAD’s ability to rapidly absorb new, complex upgrades may be partly due to digital engineering.
So, is the image a viable NGAD design? Indeed, the aircraft looks like a fighter jet built for speed and all-around stealth. It’s hard to get a sense of the size, but it could well be bigger than the F-22.

The blended body and wing configuration would yield a large internal volume that could store fuel and weapons carried in internal weapons bays. The Air Force reportedly wants a fighter with the range to accompany bombers into deep penetration missions, just as the P-51D Mustang flew alongside the B-17G Flying Fortress in World War II. That requires a fighter with a large internal fuel supply.

The folding vertical stabilizers would increase stealth in the down position, but why have them at all? Keeping them around likely has some benefit versus deleting them, such as increased maneuverability or fuel efficiency.

The NGAD fighter wouldn’t work alone. In the concept art, two vertical lines emanate from the aircraft nose and are aimed upward, indicating connections to satellite and airborne communications nodes. That would allow the NGAD pilot to jack into a stream of data from nearby friendly forces, from Air Force airborne early warning aircraft to Navy destroyers, and obtain a picture of the battlefield without turning on his or her own radar and other sensor systems. That’s the “multi-domain awareness” to which the Air Force refers.

It’s impossible to know for sure if the NGAD image is representative of the real aircraft. It does seem like the image properly depicts the kind of plane and capabilities the Air Force has said it wants. Whatever the case, we’ll hopefully know what the new fighter jet looks like soon.

 

[Scorpio]

 

[Scorpio]

Pentagon achieves $3 billion air-to-air missile sales milestone
The U.S. Department of Defense has announced that Air-to-Air Missiles Program Office (PMA-259) International Programs team has reached a first-time Foreign Military Sales (FMS) portfolio value of $3 Billion for 34 countries and two NATO member countries.

Pentagon achieves $3 billion air-to-air missile sales milestone | Defence Blog

defence-blog.com