Leonardo has secured a launch order for six examples of the M-346FA – the fighter attack variant of its advanced jet trainer – from a major "international customer".
Hm, I wonder if it could be Austria?
The Saab 105OE is in desperate need of replacement, but Austria currently has a technocratic government, which was said to defer any major decisions until after a new elected gov. has been installed.
Hm, I wonder if it could be Austria?
The Saab 105OE is in desperate need of replacement, but Austria currently has a technocratic government, which was said to defer any major decisions until after a new elected gov. has been installed.
can the FA version fly supersonically? I think its still limited to sub-sonic speeds.
I think the FA-50 from Korea would be a better fit for Austria.
^^^ That's hardly the reason J20. They are upgrading their forces with more capable aircraft and armaments in an attempt to address the shortage they have in airframe and squadron numbers by adopting the quality over quantity method.
New
Posts: 3,337
By: BlackArcher
- 6th August 2019 at 22:53Permalink
Exactly. Upgraded MiG-29s and Su-30MKIs are to fill the impending retirement of additional MiG-21 squadrons and not because of the scrapping of Article 370 and possible internal unrest as a result. The stocking up on AAMs is to do with War Wastage Reserves that need to be maintained and the fact that the number of sorties carrying live missiles shot up dramatically post the IAF's Balakot air strikes. Consequently, older stocks would've either expired or gotten that much closer to getting expired.
For those Russian posters that may be knowledgeable about the MiG-29 purchase, is the talk centered around the RuAF's MiG-29 SMT fleet or older MiG-29s that were left un-finished as was being reported earlier? Indian media had earlier reported those as older MiG-29s that were left un-finished and in storage but reportedly in very good condition when inspected by an IAF team. But it was never really confirmed.
“These fighters were built in the 1980s but never assembled and flown,” an unnamed Indian Air Force officer reportedly told the Indian daily. “Our team visited Russia last month and found the MiG-29 skeletons to be in good condition.”
The individual offered no further details on the state of the aircraft parts, which have been in storage now for at least around 30 years. Beyond the officer saying India had been offered “a good price,” there is no word on how much the Russians want for the unassembled planes or to finish building them to a modern standard.
By: Sterne82
- 9th August 2019 at 17:28Permalink- Edited 9th August 2019 at 17:29
For those Russian posters that may be knowledgeable about the MiG-29 purchase, is the talk centered around the RuAF's MiG-29 SMT fleet or older MiG-29s that were left un-finished as was being reported earlier?
VKS doesn't - for the time being - plan to sell their MiG-29SMT, so if the IAF wants some extra MiG-29 it will be the "white tails" sitting unfinished in the MiG factory upgraded to MiG-29UPG (Izd.9.20) like the indians ones.
Sterne- you are not the same Red Samovor blog-owner, are you :) ?
Re. SMT it is a bit of a mystery. There are photos from Lukhovitsy from earlier this decade, which showed many stored air-frames (non-M), but since then Myanmar bought 20 and VKS bought 18 of those air-frames.
I have a hard time believing there are 21 almost completed frames ready for upgrading. Probably some of them will be retired VKS MiG-29s that will be "zero-houred" anyways.
The theory that they will be VKS SMTs comes from the Kursk unit replacing its planes with Su-30SMs. It is unclear where the MiG's will end up after.
Sterne- you are not the same Red Samovor blog-owner, are you :) ?
Re. SMT it is a bit of a mystery. There are photos from Lukhovitsy from earlier this decade, which showed many stored air-frames (non-M), but since then Myanmar bought 20 and VKS bought 18 of those air-frames.
I have a hard time believing there are 21 almost completed frames ready for upgrading. Probably some of them will be retired VKS MiG-29s that will be "zero-houred" anyways.
The theory that they will be VKS SMTs comes from the Kursk unit replacing its planes with Su-30SMs. It is unclear where the MiG's will end up after.
Yes I am, old pseudo from long time ago and don't wanna create a new account. Not posting here often as English is not my mother tongue ;-)
I know -SMT from Kursk being replaced by brand new Su-30SM but it doesn't mean (not saying it won't happen, BTW) that these ones are leaving VKS for good. Anyway, they're a few Vanilla MiG-29 still needing to be replaced in the VKS... -SMT can be a stopgap measure before a definitive leave.
21 almost/near completed frames still standing in Lukhovitsy is not so shocking: MiG-29 production was in full swing when USSR disappeared. When you see how big MiG factory is and the annual output they had, the amount of unfinished planes is not so surprising.
Posts: 5,905
By: TomcatViP - 30th July 2019 at 22:44 Permalink
Pakistan army plane crash leaves at least seventeen dead
Posts: 2,271
By: eagle - 1st August 2019 at 05:28 Permalink
Fighter variant of M-346 secures launch deal
Leonardo has secured a launch order for six examples of the M-346FA – the fighter attack variant of its advanced jet trainer – from a major "international customer".
Hm, I wonder if it could be Austria?
The Saab 105OE is in desperate need of replacement, but Austria currently has a technocratic government, which was said to defer any major decisions until after a new elected gov. has been installed.
Posts: 126
By: Vans - 1st August 2019 at 09:10 Permalink
can the FA version fly supersonically? I think its still limited to sub-sonic speeds.
I think the FA-50 from Korea would be a better fit for Austria.
Posts: 2,271
By: eagle - 1st August 2019 at 16:45 Permalink
No its subsonic.
But it would be a replacement for the subsonic Saab 105, not the EF which stays.
Posts: 697
By: pilatus - 1st August 2019 at 17:33 Permalink
Posts: 5,905
By: TomcatViP - 3rd August 2019 at 13:17 Permalink - Edited 3rd August 2019 at 13:19
Crash, death and civilian injured (Fr tourists) in death valley Star war canyon/US (US Navy SH):
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/navy-fi...ay-2019-08-01/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/navy-fi...rles-z-walker/
Pilot killed.
Posts: 333
By: XB-70 - 5th August 2019 at 17:30 Permalink
India to load up on Russian arms?
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2019-08-03/india-expected-sign-more-mig-29s-and-su-30mkis-october
Posts: 163
By: J-20 - 6th August 2019 at 16:17 Permalink
yup. they are doing something big in Kashmir right now, and are expecting some major violence.
Posts: 697
By: pilatus - 6th August 2019 at 22:21 Permalink
^^^ That's hardly the reason J20. They are upgrading their forces with more capable aircraft and armaments in an attempt to address the shortage they have in airframe and squadron numbers by adopting the quality over quantity method.
Posts: 3,337
By: BlackArcher - 6th August 2019 at 22:53 Permalink
Exactly. Upgraded MiG-29s and Su-30MKIs are to fill the impending retirement of additional MiG-21 squadrons and not because of the scrapping of Article 370 and possible internal unrest as a result. The stocking up on AAMs is to do with War Wastage Reserves that need to be maintained and the fact that the number of sorties carrying live missiles shot up dramatically post the IAF's Balakot air strikes. Consequently, older stocks would've either expired or gotten that much closer to getting expired.
Posts: 697
By: pilatus - 7th August 2019 at 22:09 Permalink
Posts: 697
By: pilatus - 7th August 2019 at 22:11 Permalink
Posts: 3,337
By: BlackArcher - 8th August 2019 at 22:38 Permalink
Image confirms J-20 fighter assigned to PLAAF unit at Wuhu
Posts: 3,337
By: BlackArcher - 8th August 2019 at 22:40 Permalink
European FCAS fighter to be optimized for carrier ops
French influence coming through in what seems like a wise decision.
Posts: 3,337
By: BlackArcher - 8th August 2019 at 23:29 Permalink
F-16Vs ordered for Slovakia ; Bulgarian F-16V buy reinstated
Posts: 3,337
By: BlackArcher - 8th August 2019 at 23:34 Permalink - Edited 8th August 2019 at 23:57
India expected to sign for more MiG-29s and Su-30MKIs in October
For those Russian posters that may be knowledgeable about the MiG-29 purchase, is the talk centered around the RuAF's MiG-29 SMT fleet or older MiG-29s that were left un-finished as was being reported earlier? Indian media had earlier reported those as older MiG-29s that were left un-finished and in storage but reportedly in very good condition when inspected by an IAF team. But it was never really confirmed.
From an earlier article
Posts: 163
By: J-20 - 8th August 2019 at 23:43 Permalink
wooo hoo!!
Posts: 47
By: Sterne82 - 9th August 2019 at 17:28 Permalink - Edited 9th August 2019 at 17:29
VKS doesn't - for the time being - plan to sell their MiG-29SMT, so if the IAF wants some extra MiG-29 it will be the "white tails" sitting unfinished in the MiG factory upgraded to MiG-29UPG (Izd.9.20) like the indians ones.
Posts: 9,579
By: TR1 - 9th August 2019 at 17:56 Permalink
Sterne- you are not the same Red Samovor blog-owner, are you :) ?
Re. SMT it is a bit of a mystery. There are photos from Lukhovitsy from earlier this decade, which showed many stored air-frames (non-M), but since then Myanmar bought 20 and VKS bought 18 of those air-frames.
I have a hard time believing there are 21 almost completed frames ready for upgrading. Probably some of them will be retired VKS MiG-29s that will be "zero-houred" anyways.
The theory that they will be VKS SMTs comes from the Kursk unit replacing its planes with Su-30SMs. It is unclear where the MiG's will end up after.
Posts: 47
By: Sterne82 - 9th August 2019 at 18:19 Permalink
Yes I am, old pseudo from long time ago and don't wanna create a new account. Not posting here often as English is not my mother tongue ;-)
I know -SMT from Kursk being replaced by brand new Su-30SM but it doesn't mean (not saying it won't happen, BTW) that these ones are leaving VKS for good. Anyway, they're a few Vanilla MiG-29 still needing to be replaced in the VKS... -SMT can be a stopgap measure before a definitive leave.
21 almost/near completed frames still standing in Lukhovitsy is not so shocking: MiG-29 production was in full swing when USSR disappeared. When you see how big MiG factory is and the annual output they had, the amount of unfinished planes is not so surprising.
#My2Cent