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ThePointblank wrote:Being reported that the conformal external fuel tanks for the Super Hornet could be dropped from the development for the Block III upgrades due to technical, sustainment, and structural risks:
https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/ ... ef-upgrade
Ozair wrote:ThePointblank wrote:Being reported that the conformal external fuel tanks for the Super Hornet could be dropped from the development for the Block III upgrades due to technical, sustainment, and structural risks:
https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/ ... ef-upgrade
Interesting if the conformals never happen, it is a significant issue for SH competitiveness for Finland and Canada but shouldn't be that much of an impact for Switzerland. It also puts into question the impact of the Blk 3 refit for the USN. No conformals means less range with the same weapons or keeping the wing tanks for same range and less weapons. Neither option is good and perhaps this is the reason for the recent USN interest in F-35 carriage of LRASM.
Turkey’s indigenous fighter program, dubbed TF-X (or MMU in its Turkish acronym), has been crawling over the past years due to technological failures and issues with know-how transfers. Turkish engineers must first select an engine for the planned aircraft before finalizing the design phase.
TAI has been in talks with British engine-maker Rolls-Royce for engine know-how and co-production, but a final contract has yet to emerge.
ThePointblank wrote:Ozair wrote:ThePointblank wrote:Being reported that the conformal external fuel tanks for the Super Hornet could be dropped from the development for the Block III upgrades due to technical, sustainment, and structural risks:
https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/ ... ef-upgrade
Interesting if the conformals never happen, it is a significant issue for SH competitiveness for Finland and Canada but shouldn't be that much of an impact for Switzerland. It also puts into question the impact of the Blk 3 refit for the USN. No conformals means less range with the same weapons or keeping the wing tanks for same range and less weapons. Neither option is good and perhaps this is the reason for the recent USN interest in F-35 carriage of LRASM.
Don't forget that the centerline external tank with the IRST also looses 150 gallons of fuel due to the space taken up by the IRST.
According to Korean lawmaker Shin Won-shik, Indonesia has only paid 227.2 billion won out of the 831.6 billion won it promised for this year. The payment made by Jakarta so far only covers around 13 percent of its commitment.
Indonesia has held back from further financial commitments. In addition, it did not send back the 114 technical specialists from its aerospace firm PT Dirgantara, who were repatriated in March due to outbreaks of the coronavirus in South Korea.
"Starting from this year until 2024, we will immediately realize the acquisition of various modern defense equipment in stages. Some of these are multi-role combat aircraft F-15 EX and Dassault Rafale, Radar GCI 4, aircraft with Airborne Early Warning capability, aircraft. tankers, namely Multi Role Tanker Transport, C-130J transport aircraft, UCAV capable of MALE and various other defense equipment, "said Fadjar Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force (KSAU) Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo in his official statement, Friday (19/2/2021).
South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) insists that Indonesia is still committed to the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-X fighter programme, despite media reports that Jakarta will obtain Dassault Rafales and Boeing F-15EX fighters in the coming years.
mxaxai wrote:But Korea hasn't given up on Indonesia yet:
https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/se ... 27.articleSouth Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) insists that Indonesia is still committed to the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-X fighter programme, despite media reports that Jakarta will obtain Dassault Rafales and Boeing F-15EX fighters in the coming years.
"Starting from this year until 2024, we will immediately realize the acquisition of various modern defense equipment in stages."
744SPX wrote:Why would they detune it? Most aircraft powered by the F414 need more power.
744SPX wrote:Why would they detune it? Most aircraft powered by the F414 need more power.
art wrote:744SPX wrote:Why would they detune it? Most aircraft powered by the F414 need more power.
Air intakes would need to be changed to allow greater mass flow for a more powerful engine, wouldn't they, if an engine were installed that provided significantly more thrust than the F414 - 110kN versus 98kN?
art wrote:744SPX wrote:Why would they detune it? Most aircraft powered by the F414 need more power.
Air intakes would need to be changed to allow greater mass flow for a more powerful engine, wouldn't they, if an engine were installed that provided significantly more thrust than the F414 - 110kN versus 98kN?
ThePointblank wrote:744SPX wrote:Why would they detune it? Most aircraft powered by the F414 need more power.
Increased engine service life for starters.
Prabowo paid a visit to South Korean president Moon Jae-in on 8 April, where they discussed the KF-X programme, among other issues.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Moon said after the meeting that the joint fighter programme “symbolically shows the high level of trust and cooperation between the two nations”.
He also said Prabowo’s attendance of the prototype launch represented Indonesia’s “robust commitment” to the programme.
The CEO also said the TF-X, Turkey’s first indigenous fighter jet in the making, will make its maiden flight in 2025, with plans for the aircraft to enter the Turkish Air Force’s inventory in 2029. He added that the TF-X will come at a cost of $100 million per unit.
TAI will produce two TF-X aircraft per month, hoping to generate $2.4 billion in annual revenue from its fighter jet program. At present, Kotil said, 1,000 of TAI’s 4,000 engineers are working on the TF-X program.
mxaxai wrote:Photo:
RJMAZ wrote:KAI KF-21 Boramae weighs approximately 10% less than the F-35A yet has 3% more thrust and 7% more wing area. Nice!
art wrote:Taiwan developing new fighter.
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4177818
art wrote:Taiwan developing new fighter.
Indian Air Force completes first Rafale fighter squadron
The Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) first squadron equipped with Dassault Rafale multirole fighter aircraft is now complete after the final four aircraft arrived at Jamnagar Air Force Station (AFS) in western India on 21 April. ...
Within the next few weeks Dassault is expected to begin aircraft deliveries for the IAF’s second Rafale squadron, which will operate from Hasimara AFS in northeastern India, close to the country’s disputed border with China.
Turkey’s top defense procurement official, Ismail Demir, said in an April 30 TV interview that the government will prioritize the production of its indigenous TF-X fighter jet...
TAI CEO Temel Kotil said in an April 27 TV interview that “the government has earmarked an additional $1.3 billion to Phase 1 of the TF-X program. A total of 6,000 engineers are working on this program.”
744SPX wrote:Taiwan developing new fighter.
Similar wing and tail design to the YF-23. That design is just too good to be relegated to the dustbin of history.
aumaverick wrote:744SPX wrote:Taiwan developing new fighter.
Similar wing and tail design to the YF-23. That design is just too good to be relegated to the dustbin of history.
Got a source?
art wrote:Turkey to put more resources into TF-X programme.Turkey’s top defense procurement official, Ismail Demir, said in an April 30 TV interview that the government will prioritize the production of its indigenous TF-X fighter jet...TAI CEO Temel Kotil said in an April 27 TV interview that “the government has earmarked an additional $1.3 billion to Phase 1 of the TF-X program. A total of 6,000 engineers are working on this program.”
https://www.defensenews.com/industry/te ... tf-x-work/
As part of the ‘Roadmap 2030’, they agreed to work closely together in support of India’s indigenous development of the Light Combat Aircraft Mark 2.
alberchico wrote:I just don't know how Turkey's tanking economy and overstretched defense industry can sustain a program of this magnitude. Once Erdoğan is out of power this will be the first project to be cancelled. Not to mention this program depends heavily on technology transfers that may not receive approval.
art wrote:What should Turkey do, given that the F-35 is no longer coming?
(d) ?
alberchico wrote:Once Erdoğan is out of power this will be the first project to be cancelled.
mxaxai wrote:Ask other countries nicely for an affordable LO aircraft, like Korea's KF-21 (KF-X), Russia's Su-57 or China's J-31.
Devilfish wrote:
art wrote:alberchico wrote:I just don't know how Turkey's tanking economy and overstretched defense industry can sustain a program of this magnitude. Once Erdoğan is out of power this will be the first project to be cancelled. Not to mention this program depends heavily on technology transfers that may not receive approval.
What should Turkey do, given that the F-35 is no longer coming?
(a) wait for TF-X and make do with updated Phantoms and F-16's in the meantime?
(b) try to accelerate TF-X?
(c) try to buy a few squadrons of ex-RAF and ex-Luftwaffe Eurofighter T1 as an interim make do until TF-X arrives?
(d) ?
alberchico wrote:art wrote:alberchico wrote:I just don't know how Turkey's tanking economy and overstretched defense industry can sustain a program of this magnitude. Once Erdoğan is out of power this will be the first project to be cancelled. Not to mention this program depends heavily on technology transfers that may not receive approval.
What should Turkey do, given that the F-35 is no longer coming?
(a) wait for TF-X and make do with updated Phantoms and F-16's in the meantime?
(b) try to accelerate TF-X?
(c) try to buy a few squadrons of ex-RAF and ex-Luftwaffe Eurofighter T1 as an interim make do until TF-X arrives?
(d) ?
Not to get too much into politics, but option D would be to simply wait for a new government to come into power and reset relations with Washington, thus allowing the F-35 program to get back on track. I just don't see the TFX ever entering service. They're already having technology transfer issues.
https://www.defensenews.com/industry/20 ... t-support/
petertenthije wrote:Devilfish wrote:
That one really reminds me to the MDD/Northrop/BAe proposal for the JSF programme.
petertenthije wrote:Devilfish wrote:
That one really reminds me to the MDD/Northrop/BAe proposal for the JSF programme.
art wrote:alberchico wrote:art wrote:
What should Turkey do, given that the F-35 is no longer coming?
(a) wait for TF-X and make do with updated Phantoms and F-16's in the meantime?
(b) try to accelerate TF-X?
(c) try to buy a few squadrons of ex-RAF and ex-Luftwaffe Eurofighter T1 as an interim make do until TF-X arrives?
(d) ?
Not to get too much into politics, but option D would be to simply wait for a new government to come into power and reset relations with Washington, thus allowing the F-35 program to get back on track. I just don't see the TFX ever entering service. They're already having technology transfer issues.
https://www.defensenews.com/industry/20 ... t-support/
However quickly Turkish companies can get the systems for the aircraft designed, I do not see an acceptable TRMotor designed engine reaching full development in the next 10 years. Perhaps they could get there sometime in the 2030's? But what would be the point in investing a lot of money in something that would arrive too late to be useful? At the moment Turkey is aiming for TF-X to enter service in 2028. I guess that early 2030's is the soonest that will happen.
TF-X is planned to be built initially using GE F414 engines. I think that 'initially' probably means forever. I can see Turkey continuing with the project if they end up planning to produce 200+ aircraft.