Military Aviation News and Discussion

swerve

Super Moderator

Seems according to some media including in Morocco, France already give permission for UAE export of Mirage 2000-9 to Morocco. According to this from 69 Mirage 2000-9 in UAE inventory, 30 will goes to Morocco, while the rest goes to Egypt.

This seems stop the speculation before that France want to use that UAE Mirage 2K for grant to Ukrainian AF. There's still Mirage 2K from Qatar that's still not finding new owner, as Indonesia that supposedly taking them, decide to freeze the deal due more to Internal Political opposition.

Either way, considering UAE Mirage 2K reportedly the most advance in the Market, it is consider good deal for Morocco.
The UAE Mirage 2000-9 fleet is made up of two batches. The UAE bought 36 Mirage 2000EAD/RAD in the 1980s, & 32 Mirage 2000-9 later, delivered in the early 2000s. About 30 of the 2000EAD/RAD were brought up to 2000-9 standard, but obviously they're significantly older than the new-built -9s. 30 for Morocco could be all the surviving new-built -9.
 

Sandhi Yudha

Well-Known Member

Seems according to some media including in Morocco, France already give permission for UAE export of Mirage 2000-9 to Morocco. According to this from 69 Mirage 2000-9 in UAE inventory, 30 will goes to Morocco, while the rest goes to Egypt.

This seems stop the speculation before that France want to use that UAE Mirage 2K for grant to Ukrainian AF. There's still Mirage 2K from Qatar that's still not finding new owner, as Indonesia that supposedly taking them, decide to freeze the deal due more to Internal Political opposition.

Either way, considering UAE Mirage 2K reportedly the most advance in the Market, it is consider good deal for Morocco.
I wonder why India was never interested in Mirages 2000 from Qatar or UAE. It would be a cost effective and quick solution to replace the MiG-21s.
 

Ananda

The Bunker Group
wonder why India was never interested in Mirages 2000 from Qatar or UAE. It would be a cost effective and quick solution to replace the MiG-21s.

India shown interest to acquire Mirage 2k-5 from greece. Thus I do believe they potentially will be interested with Qatar ones. However do remember the talk in market that Qatar fleet already been alocated to Indonesia. If Indonesia really 'canceled' the contract, then those fleet can be available again to the market. Question now, are Indonesia really canceled or just postponed ;)
 

swerve

Super Moderator
I wonder why India was never interested in Mirages 2000 from Qatar or UAE. It would be a cost effective and quick solution to replace the MiG-21s.
Qatar thought about getting rid of its Mirage 2000s a long time ago, & India expressed an interest, but accoring to the reports I remember from the time the Indians thought Qatar wanted too much for them, & the Qataris were reported to be offended by the Indian attitude, seeing it as bazaari-style negotiation, not serious. The Mirages were fairly new, in excellent condition, & offered with weapons & large stocks of spares.

So the Qataris kept them, & have used them.
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group

Terran

Well-Known Member
Simply amazing how many applications for 747 airframes there are, sad the line couldn’t be kept, especially as new Boeing products aren’t up to the engineering standards of the greatest commercial jet ever made.

Airliner, Airborne laser demonstration aircraft, airborne stellar observatory, freighter, tanker, nuclear command and control aircraft, rocket launcher, water tanker and used to transport the Space shuttle.
it’s been stripped for parts to build an even bigger flying rocket launcher.
it’s been conceptualized as a Bomber, flying aircraft carrier and ICBM launcher.
747 have played the role of flying royal/ Presidential yacht for Kings, Sultans, Emperors, popes, Presidents, Prime ministers, Secretaries and Rock stars living and dead for The US, Japan, South Korea, India, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Pakistan, the UAE, Peoples Republic of China and more.

The VC25 has been as much a symbol of the United States of America as the Statue of Liberty. It’s something of an irony that it’s next generation the VC25B are being built on aircraft originally ordered for a Russian airline. That the same aircraft family that carries the leader of the free world also carries the leader of its great rival in the same capacity.
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
An interesting refuelling application for the USMC. Somewhat risky as the Hercules is at its lowest speed as the CH-53K can only manage 100 mph while slinging the F-35C. Can’t remember if the Marines also operate the C as well as the B version. I assume moving the B version is also doable.

 
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Terran

Well-Known Member
A shame a dozen or so 747s weren’t ordered for storage in the boneyard before production ceased. Would have made things easier for E-4B replacement.

On the upside. With the decline of 4 engine airliners the chances of getting 4-8 late model low mileage second hand 747-8i is actually pretty good.
 

Terran

Well-Known Member
Perhaps but a relatively new 747-8i is looking like a keeper compared to some new twins from a troubled vendor.
Let me remind you that the last 747-8F rolled off the line at the same time as much of the troubles you are pointing at. The last 747-8I models rolled off the line for Air Korea next to the first 737Max. Boeing has its issues. Which is why not bidding for the E4C (presumptive) SAOC or not signing a fixed price contract is probably a blessing for them. It lets them eat what is on their plate.
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
Let me remind you that the last 747-8F rolled off the line at the same time as much of the troubles you are pointing at. The last 747-8I models rolled off the line for Air Korea next to the first 737Max. Boeing has its issues. Which is why not bidding for the E4C (presumptive) SAOC or not signing a fixed price contract is probably a blessing for them. It lets them eat what is on their plate.
Boeing seems to have several issues including design/engineering, QC, and supply chain monitoring. I haven’t noticed any negative stories about the 747. Besides being the best Boeing design perhaps as the flagship product for decades it has always had the best people working on it.
 

Terran

Well-Known Member
The C-130 floatplane project has been put on hold. Good decision, a C-130 with pontoons doesn't seem prudent. Other programs mentioned in the link are superior solutions. For immediate needs, purchase or license build Japan's existing seaplane and follow up with new designs when ready.

C-130 Floatplane Program Put 'On Pause' By Special Operations Command (twz.com)
Full disclosure. I am in the comments section of TWZ. So if this sounds like a comment you read there. Hello.
The aim was a cargo plane retrofit kit. Something that AFSOC could bolt on and remove in a day before and after the mission. This is different from the US-2 Japan builds or other Amphibious aircraft.
Most modern Amphibious aircraft fall into one of two categories like the US2 Maritime patrol and interdiction or Light Utility. The kind of capability the Amphibious MC130 was looking for hasn’t been available in a new airframe since the 1950s.
US2 would be great in my opinion painted in the White and orange of the United States Coast Guard. Not so much for AFSOC.
Basically a study never hurt anyone and we should expect a bit of spaghetti on the floor when trying to develop new concepts. That his is being shelved shows that they were serious enough to determine its worth or lack there in.
 

Terran

Well-Known Member
SNC will be purchasing 5 747-8s from Korean Airlines. One of them is the last production passenger 747-8. They will be used for the E4-B replacement, a contract SNC recently won.

The conversion process will likely involve a strip of the aircraft to base components so they will probably zero the airframe hours along the way. Requirements for SOAC include an it to air refueling receiver unlike the E4B it will be over the cockpit.
 
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