Interesting Internet

[FarnboroJohn]

I would like very much to see more British orders for the Typhoon, but there have been noises off that the F-35 is the better aeroplane and cheaper

I can believe that the F-35A is currently cheaper because the deals other European nations have been getting are nonsensical except in the context of a determined attempt by the USA to kill the European defence industry and turn everyone into helpless client states. I wonder if similar pricing is available for the F-35B and how long any maintenance deals might be before renewal turns out to be at a premium?

[Orion]

I would like very much to see more British orders for the Typhoon, but there have been noises off that the F-35 is the better aeroplane and cheaper

I can believe that the F-35A is currently cheaper because the deals other European nations have been getting are nonsensical except in the context of a determined attempt by the USA to kill the European defence industry and turn everyone into helpless client states. I wonder if similar pricing is available for the F-35B and how long any maintenance deals might be before renewal turns out to be at a premium?

OK but these same noises off are claiming that F-35 is cheaper than the F-15, F-16 and F-18. So is it a campaign against the European defence industry?
I suspect that the 4th generation fighters are better at some roles than the F-35 and the F-35 protagonists are making a lot of noise to disguise it

[Tommy]

A bit cringe, but still.

[Tommy]

Some neat (brief) F-CK-1 footage (the locals call it the “IDF” - Indigenous Defence Fighter) from ROC/Taiwan. Note what looks like live munitions equipped.

[Orion]

https://www.navylookout.com/proteus-rot ... this-year/
Article on Leonardo UK helicopter drone

[Orion]

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/bae-sys ... -aircraft/
Article on BAE high altitude drone

[Tommy]

Argentina cancels its tender for three UH-60s amid concerns of bias toward one particular bidder (or at least, that’s how the translation reads).

[Orion]

BBC News - Britten-Norman picks up order for 15 'green' Islander aircraft - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20n08l1p38o

[TEXANTOMCAT]

Brilliant news!

TT

[Tommy]

The drone was flying despite a Temporary Flight Restriction TFR imposed by the FAA over the area from Jan. 9 to Jan. 23 to prevent any aircraft, manned or drone, from interfering with firefighting efforts. The drone was being flown by a photographer taking video of the flames, the LA Times reported.

[CWS]

The drone was flying despite a Temporary Flight Restriction TFR imposed by the FAA over the area from Jan. 9 to Jan. 23 to prevent any aircraft, manned or drone, from interfering with firefighting efforts. The drone was being flown by a photographer taking video of the flames, the LA Times reported.

I saw a few things on 'X' but wasn't sure if it was just a load of waffle. Shocking if true. The perpetrator would need to be punished big time. You couldn't really ever quantify the 'extra' damage caused due to that aircraft being out of action. But it must obviously have some kind of impact. What a ****. We unfortunately live in a world now where to some people getting that shot is all that matters, wouldn't even consider the repercussions of their actions.

[Blackbird]

Well said CWS

[Orion]

https://www.forcesnews.com/services/raf ... e-district
RAF Typhoon flying over lake district

[Orion]

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/h ... d9Fg%3D%3D
Possible development at Cambridge

[Orion]

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/militar ... from-2025/
Article on RAF's use of SAF

[Orion]

https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/ ... amsterdam/
AA 787 issues at Schipol

[Tommy]

[Orion]

Interesting that they have chosen the PC7 and not the PC9. I wonder why

[Canberra TT.18]

Interesting that they have chosen the PC7 and not the PC9. I wonder why

The PC-9 is not mentioned on Pilatus aircraft website as an option. The PC-9 is not in production anymore the PC-21 is now top aircraft.

The PC-7MkX is an updated hybrid PC-7/PC-9.
The PC-7 and PC-21 is a logical combination.

[GeeRam]

I would like very much to see more British orders for the Typhoon, but there have been noises off that the F-35 is the better aeroplane and cheaper

I can believe that the F-35A is currently cheaper because the deals other European nations have been getting are nonsensical except in the context of a determined attempt by the USA to kill the European defence industry and turn everyone into helpless client states. I wonder if similar pricing is available for the F-35B and how long any maintenance deals might be before renewal turns out to be at a premium?

OK but these same noises off are claiming that F-35 is cheaper than the F-15, F-16 and F-18. So is it a campaign against the European defence industry?

The US GAO publishes cost reports on all the types flown so its not secret about how much they cost to operate, so anyone that is claiming the the F-35 is cheaper than other types is living in cloud cuckoo land (or has received one of those famous LM brown envelopes ). As of last GAO report, while the F-35 costs have been coming down, they are still significantly more than ALL the types it is supposed to be replacing in USAF/USN/USMC service, which in the GAO's view is not sustainable.

F-35 = $42,000/hr
F-16 = $27,000/hr
F-18 SuperHornet = $30,500
A-10 = $22,500
AV8-B Harrier = $39,000

Given most of the European countries are replacing their F-16 fleets with F-35, this is why their proposed F-35 fleet size is a fraction of the F-16 numbers, and while capability is greater, the tiny fleet sizes mean huge risk of availiability given poor F-35 servicability issues still, plus in a real shooting war, you wouldn't have to loose that many before compromising operations.

[Orion]

Interesting post! Do you know the number of maintenance hours per flight hours?

[Tommy]

KC-135 demo team dates. Nothing European listed as far as I can see.

[bobby 1211]

RAF Typhoon demo are teasing big news for tommorow. A new paint scheme?

[jasonT1981]

RAF Typhoon demo are teasing big news for tommorow. A new paint scheme?

New pilot I think. Seems they are going with a grey jet for 2025 according to quite a few.

[Tommy]

RAF Typhoon demo are teasing big news for tommorow. A new paint scheme?

As a reminder, please quote your sources.