Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.

[MarkSheppard]

Another OOB slot going *poof* in Ukraine.

https://www.france24.com/en/live-new...lots-in-france

“Tomorrow we will launch a new cooperation and announce the transfer of Mirage 2000-5” fighter jets to Ukraine made by French manufacturer Dassault and train their Ukrainian pilots in France, Macron told French TV.

Macron said he would offer Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when the two meet for talks at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Friday that the pilots be trained from this summer.

“You need normally between five-six months. So by the end of the year there will be pilots. The pilots will be trained in France,” he said.

[DRG]

......and potentially a weapons slot or two

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

A little "myth busting" and Argentina still trying to project a positive pro-western attitude, they as I posted awhile back are trying to join NATO that would potentially be a very good thing for us to enhance our naval presence in the South Atlantic especially as they are so close to a place called the Antartica.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...ad4d20c0&ei=14
and
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...dfb02b5e&ei=66

Now back to "dreamland".

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

The cleanup begins here...
I'll be keeping these items "brief" even by my definition of the word!?! Alright I'll do the best I can then!

First up and I've already started on this in the very early stages
of development. I speck of the F-15EX and the USAF is already starting the pilot transition away from the F-15C/D jets.
https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-She...01/f-15-eagle/

As I've discussed in the past the GRIPEN C/D are 4th GEN +++ and owns the Class though many are now thinking the Chinese J-20 belongs there now as well.

By comparison the GRIPEN NG (Which I need to review.) and the F-15EX will be/are 4th GEN ++++++ and I don't exaggerate these things. Both already meet some of the criteria required to be truly a 5th GEN fighter of which there is only one as the others have dropped off the podium in the last year or two. I'll leave it to your imagination about which I refer to.

F-15EX also have internal bomb bays, confirming "cruise" after burner and for weapons comparison I leave you with this comparison; the F-35 can hold 4 of our best "over the horizon" AAMissiles and the F-15EX can hold 12 to 16 of the same based on configuration and source.

I can't wait!! The F-35 has been determined based on the "shootout" against the A-10 and since looking to be used as escorts for the both the A-10 & F-15 existing fleets of which each will still be around in 2030+.
https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-w...LLER-030724-JM

The next is really an interesting piece on the A-4 during the Falklands War. I would REALLY invite you to pay particular attention to what the "posters" did or do for a living before you "judge" this piece.
https://www.quora.com/How-effective-...-Falklands-War

I would like to take the opportunity to recommend the following of which possibly Andy might be familiar with this unit as it served in N. Ireland before deploying to the Falklands. This book is titled "3 DAYS IN JUNE 3 PARA'S BATTLE FOR MT. LONGDON" by James O'Connell
Forward by Major General Jonathan Shaw CB CBE & Lt. General Sir Hew Pike KCB DSO MBE.
The author was enlisted and severely wounded during the battle. This is told from the members that fought there to include the Argentians as well. The perspective is from each companies' platoons on the same timeline told separately (Think Claude Nolons "DUNKIRK").

B Company CSM Johnny Weeks reminded me very much of CSM Frank Bourne as portrayed in the movie "ZULU" (Though in real life he was only 24 at the Battle of Rorke’s Drift) he would live to 91 as the last survivor from the battle and ironically passed on 8 May 1945.

Anyway, I digress but the best I've read on the land side about the Falklands War.

Regards,
Pat

[MarkSheppard]

Footage of F-16s in AFU service; seems like Zelensky did a speech introducing the type to service.

https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status...95228210303371

Looks like they're in the "standard" USAF/NATO F-16 cobra grey scheme, with only roundels being the difference.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Sunday the 4th the Ukraine received 4 of the promised 60 which is likely to be increased. The reports of them already flying combat missions are like saying "Ceasar lives!"
https://www.armyrecognition.com/focu...russian-troops

I would agree that maybe they might use them soonest, however 18 jets make up a full Squadron in the Ukraine which I believe might be the NATO standard. That would a requirement to get a "limited" membership minus Article 5 and more.
https://hosted.ap.org/thetimes-tribu...d-f-16-fighter
https://www.csis.org/analysis/f-16s-...%20squadron%29.

Regards,
Pat

[DRG]

interesting vid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VNu9vbDlvM

[MarkSheppard]

Netherlands just did the closeout on 45 years of F-16 service with ceremonies. From today onwards, they're an all F-35 force, which achieved Full Operational Capability.

https://www.janes.com/osint-insights...5-retires-f-16

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) has declared its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) to be fully operational, at the same time as retiring from service the last of its Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons.

The two events happened simultaneously on 26 September, with the RNLAF announcing that the F-35A had now taken over all of the roles of the F-16AM/BM Block 15 Mid-Life Update (MLU) jets.

“Whether it is surveillance of the [Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg] Benelux airspace, carrying out operations to contain terrorism, for example, or to contribute to NATO's nuclear deterrent, the F-35 can do it all. As of today, this type of fighter aircraft is officially fully operational under all circumstances. In jargon, it has full operational capability (FOC) status,” the RNLAF said.

The day prior, Commander 312 Squadron (F-16) at Volkel Air Base Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Vreeburg announced, “Tomorrow [26 September] will be the last operational F-16 flight of the RNLAF. We plan to fly around the country to say goodbye.”

The first F-35A arrived in the Netherlands on 31 October 2019, with the type flown across two squadrons based at Leeuwarden Air Base (322 Squadron) and Volkel Air Base (313 Squadron). The RNLAF now has 40 of the 52 already ordered, with a further six to be contracted in the coming months.

Having begun the drawdown of its F-16 fleet some months prior, the Netherlands has already donated 18 jets to the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania and has pledged a further 24 to the Ukrainian Air Force.

[DRG]

Originally Posted by MarkSheppard

Netherlands just did the closeout on 45 years of F-16 service with ceremonies. From today onwards, they're an all F-35 force, which achieved Full Operational Capability.

......and the Netherlands OOB now reflects that
Thanks

[DRG]

Some of you may find this interesting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UybRJNe0Q
Sonic Booms from the Israeli Air Force used to locate Hassan Nasrallah