Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

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Flanker2
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by Flanker2 »

@Flanker:
If you want Crembo to buy a Russian plane. Please stop talking drivel and contact him @ http://www.pieterdecrem.be/index.php?id=261
Ministry of Defense is reachable via +32 (0)2 550 28 11 and located in
Rue Lambermontstraat 8, 1000 Brussels. Tell Wiske I said hi.
De Crem is an idiot like all of his friends. If he's your friend, tell him that from me. :lol:

MH17 has nothing to do with anything, if not that it was probably staged to slow down increasing cooperation between Europe and Russia.

As long as human beings are idiots that go after greed, ie having more than the next guy, there will be war, victims, hate and weapons.

As far as I'm concerned, countries should stop wasting money in weaponry and start thinking bigger.
We face sufficient challenges as it is: global warming, poverty and hunger, diseases, incoming meteorites, natural disasters, etc...
Humanity claims to hold superior intelligence compared to other species. Yet, while we waste energy and resources developing weapons to kill eachother, we remain vulnerable to the same threats that can and have wiped out other species in the past.

Can we say that our intelligence is being put to good use? I doubt it.

For me this discussion is thus silly from the outset. Belgium has in this context, the opportunity to play a unifying role and stop our dependence on the most greedy corporations in the world, most of which are U.S. ones. As long as we support that greed system, there will be war and weapons.

brusselsairlinesfan
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by brusselsairlinesfan »

Rafale pls !

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Airbus330lover
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by Airbus330lover »

to expensive

Boavida
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by Boavida »

Looks like it's official: the new government will order new fighter jets to replace the F-16s.

(In Dutch: http://www.demorgen.be/binnenland/nieuw ... -a2079935/)

eurojet
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by eurojet »

Denis Ducarme (MR) will probably become Minister of Defence .. He is far less a fan of Lockheed Martin than Decrem ... Heard him a while ago on RTBF, most probably correctly claimed economic compensations (which if you like it or not are an important issue when you pay up to EUR 5 Bn) were disappointing in case of the JSF ... No doubt he prefers Rafale... Rafale as such is a combat proven jet, exactly capable of what is written on the box (unlike Eurofighter which has proven to be a weak air-to-ground plane). Saab: not enough large NATO partners that support it .. Issue with Rafale: the Rafale Second Generation is not yet on the horizon, and so far only one (but large) NATO partner flying it. On the other hand: Belgian pilot training already completely in French hands, so makes sense in a way ... JSF: despite all issues, NL, DK and NO will fly it, so all the advantages off the old F16 consortium ...

Heart says Rafale (what a sleek plane ...), brain says JSF ... Will be funny to watch this play out ...

Flanker2
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by Flanker2 »

If I were Belgian defense minister,I would be talking about building a licensed version of the Flanker (and I don't mean a flying version of myself but the SU-35), with 100% (and mostly Belgian) Western content.
Belgium has quite an extensive aerospace industry that can support this, from engine specialist Techspace Aero, final assembly specialist SABCA, airframe specialist SONACA, to a whole bunch of former Ford and Opel subcontractors who have the capability to build parts and assemblies and don't have any job.
The IT sector is also extensive and could support a modification of software.

There already is a good precedent:
A very succesful example of such East-West cooperation is found in the now hot-selling Aermacchi M346 Master, which is basically an Aermacchi-improved Yakovlev trainer and ground attack aircraft.

If Belgium can then put a good European EASA radar in it, it's perfect.

If they can achieve this, then Belgium could sell the thing instead of receiving bids from other manufacturers,and if the cooperation proves successful, they can transform this cooperation into a cooperation for the 5th gen fighter with Sukhoi.

Obviously it would limit the availability of the compatible U.S. hardware on its aircraft, but that also makes it less reliant on the U.S., which is a favorable characteristic if we look long-term.

Development cost would be minimal as Russia is prepared to give full technological transfer for a licensed version.

Boavida
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by Boavida »

eurojet wrote:Denis Ducarme (MR) will probably become Minister of Defence .. He is far less a fan of Lockheed Martin than Decrem ...
Apparently, Steven Vandeput (N-VA) will be Minister of Defence. I think the chances of the F-35 are very big. Because let's face it: it is the only fighter of the 5th generation and our F-16 partners have all bought them.

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sn26567
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by sn26567 »

The F-35 has been outperformed by 20-plus-year-old F-16, according to leaked Lockheed Martin report.

http://aviationweek.com/defense/controv ... t-report-0

No need to replace our F-16s ?
André
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cathay belgium
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by cathay belgium »

Hi,

No need to replace our F16 because of their performance, they need to be replaced because they are really close to their end life circle... no more guarantees after that date...
So we must opt for a small number of replacements which equals their performance !
So no F35, as it can't dogfight,... indeed not needed anymore nowadays you can think indeed..'
We have nukes so why invest in anything else :)
If it comes to their present performance a new cheap F16 will do, we don't need stealth in Middle East and Isis for now..
So buy something cheap that can transport nukes so we will be okay in our NATO role...and that can equal F16 performances... I suggest F18 or better Rafale ;)

CXB
New types flown 2022.. A339

FLYAIR10
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by FLYAIR10 »

And what about restarting f-16 production?

DIBO
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by DIBO »

Let's trade a squadron or two of Greek Block52 F16's in exchange of some of their debts. Win win situation. They can't afford to maintain & fly them properly anyway.

Desert Rat
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by Desert Rat »

Good idea....the F16 doesn't need to be replaced...and if the structure exceed the design service goal...let's just refabricate the critical parts or let's work with Sabca design office on extended service goal service bulletins.
Let's bring the counter of these babies back to zero.


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sn26567
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by sn26567 »

Desert Rat wrote:http://www.f-16.net/f-16-news-article4991.html

Interresting news!
Extending the life of the F-16, which has a proven record of reliability, is certainly not a bad idea. It will save hundreds of millions of euros to the Belgian budget and give a few years of additional time to select the best option, without feeling the intense pressure of F-35 supporters in the neck.
André
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DIBO
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by DIBO »

Mind you, this concerns post Block40 airframes, which probably differ considerably from Belgium's A/B variants. These were already structurally upgraded to be able to meet the 8,000-hour airframe lifespan, in the first place. So, not sure that this possible lifespan extension will be applicable to our F16's.

brusselsairlinesfan
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by brusselsairlinesfan »

Is the "Rafale" option considered as too expensive?

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sn26567
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by sn26567 »

The Rafale is not compatible with US nuclear heads.
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Airbus330lover
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Re: Which future fighter jet for Belgian Defence?

Post by Airbus330lover »

sn26567 wrote:The Rafale is not compatible with US nuclear heads.
Typically French :lol:

Roser
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34 fighters for the Belgian air force

Post by Roser »

Hello

After comparing the fighters I suggest the Rafale. Two squadrons of each 10 single seaters and a squadron of twoseaters (also 10). Two seaters for the nuclear and trike tasks. 4 planes surplus. Learning to fly on French planes. Negotioting with the French for the reduction of the 7 M400 to a realistic
3. And buy 3 C130Js. If not no Rafales.

Didymus
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Re: 34 fighters for the Belgian air force

Post by Didymus »

And what about the US nuclear warheads? Supposedly they don't fit on the Rafale.

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