Korean F-50 and Swedish Gripen may be considered against JSF
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According to a Flight International article dated February 14th, Singapore is to launch a competition for a new advanced jet trainer (AJT) to replace about 20 TA-4SU trainers based in Cazaux, France.
The most likely contenders are Aermacchi M346, BAE Systems Hawk 128 and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) T-50. Following the AJT, aircraft manufacturers expect another competition will be held to pick F-5 replacements. The article extrapolates that "Singapore is expected to consider the JSF against contenders such as the Saab Gripen" and "If the T-50 wins the AJT competition, KAIÂ’s proposed F-50 may also be considered."
Whether or not the Republic of Singapore Air Force will ever consider short-legged lightweight fighters such as the Gripen and the proposed F-50 depends on the force structure the RSAF wants to build - a 'strategic' air force with long range fighter bombers, an 'army's flying artillery' dedicated to close air support or an awkward compromise between the two.
Cheers,
Sunho -
Aermacchi M3 looks impressive. Took my breath away with the tailslide during the Asian Aerospace and also its quietness.1 word...COOL
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this is interesting....but i kinda like golden eagle.....
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If I'm not wrong, I read that some country picked the Gripen as their F-16 replacement. Must be quite a good aircraft then. Anyway, looks-wise I'd definitely say the Gripen.
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Sorry got lost for a moment. Wasn't the JSF supposed to replace the F-16s?
And to replace the F-5s, I think they might actually purchase more Strike Eagles instead? Unless there is a specific competition for Singapore's new Light Multi-role fighter.....
As for the AJT, I think the T-50 makes a good lead in trainer to the F-16 and F-15s, though I've noticed the cockpit configuration as well as HUD is closer to the F-16...
Another aircraft that I thought would have a good chance would be the 311. Its not as powerful as the T-50, and for trainers, thats a good thing.
Whether its gonna be the 311 or the T-50 would depend on whether RSAF is gonna go back to the reliable amercchi (htf u spell that?) for the sake of familiarity with their equipment... OR whether we prefer driving koreans stuff like Hyundai or KIA... *Grumble* -
No doubt our F-16 C/D may not be the latest but if I had to choose between replacing F-5 and F-16, I'd say our F-5 definitely needs to be replaced first.
The recent F-15 contract was for 12 jets with the option for another 8. I doubt 20 F-15s are enough to replace all our A4 and F-5.
IMO, the F-16 is still a lethal jet. If they need to replace our F-16 C/D, perhaps they can replace it with the Block 60 F-16 E/F.
As for the F-5 replacement, I'm thinking a non-US jet would be good idea. I don't like the idea of buying everything from one source country. Too much dependance there. -
Well, it does make sense that we should get an even lower maintenance light fighter to replace our F-5s for peace time ops.
In fact, I sometimes think we don't even need a light fighter for that. Make some stealth hot air balloon and mount AMRAAMs on it. All u need is some radar to paint the target. wooo!!
I don't think we are stopping at 20 MudHens. I suspect maybe about 40+ eventually. About the F-16E/F, well, I'm not really for the idea. Our current configuration is already sufficient. Besides, I heard the first F-16E/F that flew for an airforce...crashed. Must be some kinda jinx to it! -
Believe the country that "replaced" their F16s with the Gripens was in Europe? Think F16s were leased as an interim solution whilst they were waiting for the Gripens.
Yes, 20 F15Es does sound a bit little. We will probably end up with two squardrons.
However I noticed that everyone keeps talking about the F15E being a straight up replacement for the A4. It isn't. Do realize that to some extend, our recent F16 C/D 52+s have also been a replacement for the A4s. Otherwise how do you think the RSAF would have decommissioned an aircraft prior to the arrival of its replacement? We would be a few squadrons short!
And remember, we still have two(?) squadrons of F16s in the US. -
F-15SG is not a direct replacement for the skyhawks. RSAF also bought 20 F-16 Blk52
for direct replacement for a skyhawk squadron if i'm not wrong. Perhaps in the future 5 years after using the F-15SG for sometime, they might consider purchasing more F-15. They are probably using a wait and see attitude because F-15SG although the most advanced variant, might not win battle against other Russian a/c. Must try out then they will know. 
insouciant is right to say that we have 2 squadron of F-16 in the US. Maybe they are for very long-term training. -
It crashed because some LM test pilot was using that to practice for an airshow. One of the loop he did was too low for him to recover and thus he crashed the plane.... human error. I don't know if LM have to pay UAE for the crashed jet or notOriginally posted by Shotgun:I don't think we are stopping at 20 MudHens. I suspect maybe about 40+ eventually. About the F-16E/F, well, I'm not really for the idea. Our current configuration is already sufficient. Besides, I heard the first F-16E/F that flew for an airforce...crashed. Must be some kinda jinx to it!
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Well, I do think that SG may need a Hi-Lo mix of aircraft and not all purchases must be the latest and greatest.
Current Hi-Lo mix:
Hi: F-16 C/Ds
Lo: F-5 S/Ts
In the next 5 to 10 years, the Hi-Lo mix is probably going to be:
Hi: F-15 SG, (F35 A/B or B/C ordered)
Lo: F-16 C/Ds
However, this represents the most expensive and most capable mix. A cheaper mix might be:
Hi:F-15 SG
Lo: F-16 C/D, Gripen/F-50. -
Frankly, if the RFI and the new RSAF NFRP tech requirements stated for a 'Stealth-capable' fighter, all the talk for Gripen, F-50, Typhoon, SU-30+ etc fails to meet the requirement liao.
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I think our Next Fighter to replace the F-16s has already been fixed as the JSF already. I mean, Singapore already contributed to the research project. I think i it was enough to pay for lunch or breakfast for the entire team for 1 mth? Haahahhaa.
Honestly, I doubt the Korean F-50 will make the list. Neither would the Gripen. I won't be surprised if we acquire more F-16C/Ds to replace the F-5s, if thats indeed the reason to purchase. -
Gripen or Blk 60? will there be a Blk 62?Originally posted by Shotgun:I think our Next Fighter to replace the F-16s has already been fixed as the JSF already. I mean, Singapore already contributed to the research project. I think i it was enough to pay for lunch or breakfast for the entire team for 1 mth? Haahahhaa.
Honestly, I doubt the Korean F-50 will make the list. Neither would the Gripen. I won't be surprised if we acquire more F-16C/Ds to replace the F-5s, if thats indeed the reason to purchase.
Basically, the T-50 is not going to be enough as a A2A fighter.
Gripen is at least 4th generation.More space for evolution.If i'm not wrong, it's MBDA compliant too. -
F-35 to replace F-16 is one thing. But there's still the question of replacing the F-5. And as mentioned before, personally I think the F-5 is in more dire need of replacement then the F-16.
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we are not in the research for JSF part...on the security clearance for the codings for their research...meaning we can access what they did but we did not contribute to it.....we are the same level as Israel....not under the same contribution level as UK, netherland, etc etc.....Originally posted by Shotgun:I think our Next Fighter to replace the F-16s has already been fixed as the JSF already. I mean, Singapore already contributed to the research project. I think i it was enough to pay for lunch or breakfast for the entire team for 1 mth? Haahahhaa.
Honestly, I doubt the Korean F-50 will make the list. Neither would the Gripen. I won't be surprised if we acquire more F-16C/Ds to replace the F-5s, if thats indeed the reason to purchase.
T-50 will make a good AJT for us since it is based on the F-16 conept and radar (APG-67v4 ...hellooo.....) Gripen will be nce but i will doubt it since the AJT requirement will see the result of the trainer requirement..... -
How are Korean planes like quality wise?
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The T-50 is too new to have generated meaningful data about its reliability or life-cycle costs. The F-50 exists only on paper (or computer file).Originally posted by sgf:How are Korean planes like quality wise?
BTW, by what criteria do you measure the quality of combat aircraft?
Cheers,
Sunho -
Reliability I guess? Maybe it was a fluke, but I heard recently an F-15 managed to make a safe landing despite having part of a wing sheared off. To me, that's a solid plane.Originally posted by datafuser:The T-50 is too new to have generated meaningful data about its reliability or life-cycle costs. The F-50 exists only on paper (or computer file).
BTW, by what criteria do you measure the quality of combat aircraft?
Cheers,
Sunho -
duotiga, I think there are 2 seperate matters at hand here now. First one being the AJT, which i believed I already mentioned would likely be the 311, or the T-50.
The second matter is that which someone else brought up, eventual phasing out of our F-5s to something newer. That was why the gripen and F-50 was mentioned. Personally, don't think we'd go for either of the 2.
sgf, the one wing sheared off landing wasn't too recent. =) -
Originally posted by Shotgun:
Yeah, I think we will probably bring one or both squadrons of F16s back from the US and buy another squadron of F15s. That would give us about 4 F16 squadrons and 2 F15 squadrons. For this part of the world, that's a pretty significant force.
[The second matter is that which someone else brought up, eventual phasing out of our F-5s to something newer. That was why the gripen and F-50 was mentioned. Personally, don't think we'd go for either of the 2. b]
Won't be surprised if we add one more F16 squadron to the mix too. Especially seeing how RSAF often likes to base one or two squadrons overseas.
This would probably be the cheapest in terms of logistical and maintainence support. -
you got mix up dude.....is trainer requirement, ajt is replacement of TA-4SU.....Originally posted by Shotgun:duotiga, I think there are 2 seperate matters at hand here now. First one being the AJT, which i believed I already mentioned would likely be the 311, or the T-50.
The second matter is that which someone else brought up, eventual phasing out of our F-5s to something newer. That was why the gripen and F-50 was mentioned. Personally, don't think we'd go for either of the 2.
sgf, the one wing sheared off landing wasn't too recent. =)
to make it clear:
light Trainer RFI
T-6B
Super Tucano
PC-21
S-311
AJT Replacement likely between
T-50
M-346
BAe Hawk
F-5 Replaceent likely be:
JSF
F-50?
Gripen
F-15SG?
See the trend here?
In the air show news is stated that whatever the requirement for trainer will be affected both the AJT and F-5 replacement -
Post deleted. Sorry posted wrongly.
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Icic, the light jet trainers to replace our old 211s, and AJT to act as lead in fighter trainers... replaceing the TA-4SU?
Somehow, I doubt there would be a replacement for the F-5s in the form of Gripens. I figured more F-16s would be sufficient. -
our current AJT is TA-4SU which is based in FranceOriginally posted by Shotgun:Icic, the light jet trainers to replace our old 211s, and AJT to act as lead in fighter trainers... replaceing the TA-4SU?
Somehow, I doubt there would be a replacement for the F-5s in the form of Gripens. I figured more F-16s would be sufficient.
well the replacement for F-5 probably either from JSF or F-15SG, else even more F-16D+ perhaps?