Military aircraft retirements

[G-CVIX]

Hello all, I thought an ongoing thread to keep an eye on recent and upcoming retirements may be of use. If anyone cares to add any, that would be amazing.

The last Belgian Alpha Jets quietly bowed out on Monday.(reported by scramble).

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[Tom105]

ZH104 went to us today for storage, leaving 103 and 106 that have flown in the last year!

[psquiddy]

ZH104 went to us today for storage, leaving 103 and 106 that have flown in the last year!

That is a Boeing E3 Sentry if anyone else was wondering.

[capercaillie]

ZH104 went to us today for storage, leaving 103 and 106 that have flown in the last year!

Did it go to you for storage or is that the US as in the USA?

[Alan425]

ZH104 went to us today for storage, leaving 103 and 106 that have flown in the last year!

Although it hasn't flown for a while, ZH101 has carried out ground runs (most recently in November & December) so is still active-ish!

Alan

[Ian G]

ZH104 went to us today for storage, leaving 103 and 106 that have flown in the last year!

Did it go to you for storage or is that the US as in the USA?

It is indeed the USA

[ExVulcanGC]

Do you know what ZH102 & ZH107 of the Sentry fleet are doing?

[Alan425]

Do you know what ZH102 & ZH107 of the Sentry fleet are doing?

Both still at Waddington but haven't flown for several years.

Alan

[cg_341]

According to UKSerials both 102 and 107 were withdrawn from use in 2017.

[ExVulcanGC]

According to UKSerials both 102 and 107 were withdrawn from use in 2017.

Incorrect, the only aircraft of the Sentry fleet at RAF Waddington that has been taken out of service was ZH105 and that was reduced for spares, ZH104 must be the next planned reduction in the fleet, this leaves 5 aircraft which will be reduced further as the out of service date gets nearer. Additionally the date stated on UK serials was 2019 for the WFU date, but I still think that is incorrect information, been out of the loop for a year though and these days anything could be happening in the military

Edit to add:

I have just done a bit of research and it looks like the information is actually correct, so apologies for doubting the info provided, so that leaves three aircraft with one normally in maintenance, so I wonder when a new replacement will be announced, or if they will take a capability gap like they did with maritime reconnaissance.

[Binbrook 01]

737 AEWC is the replacement.

We are getting 5 of them, including a couple of already built white tails IIRC

[Mike]

The 5 E-7s will be fitted out at Cambridge. One of the hangars has had its cladding removed to be refurbished for the work to be carried out.

[Tom105]

when i was at Waddington in September 102 had been moved over the other side near 105 and was told it was due to be cut up.

[cabbage]

Is this an enforced early retirement of 8 Squadron's AWACs ?

It seems a bit strange to me, seeing as how the NATO version is still flying around, with the original type of engines fitted.

This would also explain the very few sitings I've had of them flogging Waddington's circuit recently. ( I live on the outskirts of Lincoln, due west of Waddington).

[Marathon Milkshake]

Money....as in there aint any, is the main reason, also a lack of crews and they are knackered.

[unanmatt]

I saw an RAF Sentry land at Lake Charles Chennault in Louisiana this today, I forgot to note down the serial.

Matt

[Mike]

We had the last Sentries off the line, yet we are the first to replace them.

[DOUGHNUT]

Because the MOD has not carried out anything other than basic maintenance during their service life. The NATO and USAF machines will have had several midlife updates and extensions. Very surprised the E-3A was never given new engines

[G-CVIX]

Just been reported by Scramble that German P-3s will be decommissioned by 2025.

[DOUGHNUT]

Think it was on Scramble last week that the French have replaced the Alpha Jet with PC-21 turbo prop trainers now. Assume that means the last user of the Alpha Jet in France is the PdF. Anybody know a timeline to replace them. Assume they will use the new turbo prop ?

[capercaillie]

Just been reported by Scramble that German P-3s will be decommissioned by 2025.

I thought they'd got them for the long run as the Dutch ones were some of the last built. Have they got a replacement lined up?

[capercaillie]

Think it was on Scramble last week that the French have replaced the Alpha Jet with PC-21 turbo prop trainers now. Assume that means the last user of the Alpha Jet in France is the PdF. Anybody know a timeline to replace them. Assume they will use the new turbo prop ?

Do any of the front line units still have any on the squadrons as hacks, used to be quite a regular occurrence back in the day. Probably a few still kicking around with the test units and test pilots squadron?

[capercaillie]

Potentially German C-160s to finish next year as well if all the A400Ms are delivered on time. French transports can't have too much time left either.

[Mike]

Potentially German C-160s to finish next year as well if all the A400Ms are delivered on time.

I suspect that the C-130J deliveries will have more of an effect on the C-160 retirement date.

[PeterR]

Whilst I haven't seen a formal announcement, I believe the Antonov An-2 of the Estonian Air Force has now been withdrawn from use as their new M28 Skytrucks have been delivered.