Noticias Aeronáuticas del Mundo (archivo)

[moises]

The Magic of Merlin Helicopters
UK Ministry of Defence
Having proved itself in Bosnia, the latest addition to the RAF's helicopter family continues to shine in Iraq. The aircraft of choice when flying in low to pick up casualties in confined areas, Merlin is also used for moving troops and to supply the front line.

It is described as an aircraft for the 21st century and when you sit in the cockpit you can understand why.

In a way you feel like a goldfish in a bowl when sitting in the pilot's seat - with near all-round visibility and protection in the form of Kevlar. And with more computer screens and technical wizardry than you would find in most business IT (Information Technology) departments, Merlin is equipped to succeed.

Merlin packs a mean punch when it comes to protection - two 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns as standard, with a five-gun fit available. Self-protection is even better with a whole host of defensive aids including missile and laser warning systems and infrared jammers.

And to prove the Merlin's capabilities on operations even further, only last year, the first female to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman, was the pilot of a Merlin carrying an Immediate Response Team (IRT) which flew in low over rooftops at night and under heavy fire to save the life of a critically injured soldier in Basra City.

Based on the military utility version of the Anglo-Italian EH101, the Merlins Mk3 and Mk3a can operate by day and night, in hot, high or freezing conditions.

Powered by three Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engines, the aircraft can carry three or four crew members and 24 fully-equipped troops at a range of over 1,000km and at a maximum speed of 167 knots.

Alternatively, under-slung loads of up to 4.2 tonnes can be moved. Squadron Leader Pip Harding, Second-in-Command of 78 Squadron, based at RAF Benson, said:

"As soon as Merlin went into theatre people realised how beneficial they would be for that climate and style of operations.

"They coped very well with the dust and sand, coped well with picking up troops, and taking them at speed from one place to another. They handled the IRT role with precision."

With anti-vibration mechanisms fitted, air-cooling and safe and comfortable seating in which troops can sit in their webbing, the helicopters can move troops, or the injured, in a greater degree of comfort. And with everything but the kitchen sink up the front, it is described as a pilot's aircraft.

Sqn Ldr Harding said:

"Merlin is the next generation of helicopters - it's a 21st century aircraft. The cockpit is phenomenal."

MOD plans to move the Merlins to Afghanistan once they have completed their mission in Iraq.

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[moises]

Lockheed Martin's F-16 Still Competitive in Fighter Market
Forecast International
NEWTOWN: The Lockheed Martin F-16 has been continually upgraded since production began decades ago, and the latest Block 50/52 and Block 60/E/F variants remain highly capable and affordable multirole fighters.

Lockheed Martin received an order from Morocco at the end of 2007, snatching the 24-aircraft order away from Dassault's Rafale in a last minute effort. Lockheed Martin is able to be aggressive on pricing the F-16, and as in prior years the purchase of F-16s is one way of increasing a nation’s ties with the American defense establishment.

Other recent customers include Turkey, which executed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance for 30 aircraft during 2007 (consisting of 14 single-seat C models and 16 two-seat Ds). The Turkish aircraft will be assembled and delivered by TUSAS beginning in 2011. The new aircraft will replace about half the TuAF's elderly F-4 fleet in the near term as the service waits for the new Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II to arrive on the scene.

Greece ordered 30-unit Block 52+ F-16s in December 2005, but the Greek government later announced that it would not be exercising a 10-aircraft option under the deal and would be looking elsewhere to fill an ongoing requirement for another 30 fighters.

The Pakistani Air Force has ordered 18 new fighters through the Pentagon's Foreign Military Sales program at the end of 2007. The order is part of a bigger deal to upgrade the PAF's existing fleet of A/B model F-16s. Pakistan took an option to purchase an additional 18 fighters under the deal. Pakistan may exercise these options, but funding the purchase will be difficult at the same time the PAF is purchasing large numbers of Chengdu FC-1s. Ongoing political turmoil in the country could also cause further deliveries of F-16s to be blocked by the U.S. government.

Israel noted back in mid-2005 that it was considering additional purchases F-16 fighters if the F-35 program were to suffer further delays. Israel has also made noises about cutting its requirement for F-35s than expected.

Taiwan has long been expected to order 66 F-16s as part of an effort to recapitalize a portion of its fighter fleet, but domestic political wrangling has held up the process, along with the Bush administration's seeming ambivalence to the deal. Washington is currently looking to China to cooperate on a number of security issues, including efforts to end the nuclear threat posed by North Korea. The Taiwanese Air Force's plan to order 66 new F-16s will likely never reach fruition.

The F-16 also is in the running for a potentially huge order by the Indian Air Force, which issued a long-awaited Request for Proposals in August 2007 to fill a requirement for 126-200 new multirole fighters. The Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft program is intended to replace many of the service's elderly MiG-21s. Competing against the F-16 are the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the Dassault Rafale, the MiG-35, and the Saab Gripen. Among the Western-built aircraft, the F-16 and Gripen are single-engined fighters that provide a “low-cost” alternative to the heavier, twin-engined Super Hornet and Rafale. The MiG-35 is a follow-on to the MiG-29, which is already in service with the IAF.

The RFP was not made available to the public, and it is not clear from the outside what factors the IAF considers most important in selecting a new fighter. In making its selection, India can be expected to be wary of offending long-time supplier Russia, but the nation is currently in a period of warming relations with the U.S. government, and U.S. recognition of India's right to develop its nuclear facilities may be rewarded by a large aircraft purchase.

Elsewhere, Lockheed Martin notes that “several customers” are showing high interest in the F-16E/F (formerly the Block 60 model developed for the United Arab Emirates), but many nations that would offer the best prospects for a new order are the same nations Lockheed Martin believes will be drawn to the F-35.

The F-35 was designed with the idea of supplanting the F-16 as the pre-eminent “affordable” multirole fighter in the western and Asian defense markets. Looking ahead, and Lockheed Martin may find itself in the same position as Dassault when the latter was offering customers both the Mirage 2000 and Rafale at the same time. Offering two aircraft that compete against each other may become an undesirable position for Lockheed Martin, or the F-16 may continue to be offered to customers that cannot afford the expected higher cost of the F-35.

Forecast International's projections call for production of the F-16 out to 2016, but additional orders could well extend production out several more years.

Eastern Europe has shown an affinity for cheap, single-engine fighters in recent years as countries in the region look to meet NATO responsibilities without breaking their limited defense budgets. Romania and Bulgaria is reported to be interested in acquiring 16 fighters, and the F-16 and Gripen are prime contenders for orders from these nations. Romania is looking for 48 fighters to replace 100 MiG-21s in its inventory. Funding is an obstacle, however. The near-term costs of the acquisition could be reduced by purchasing a mixture of new and refurbished aircraft or signing a lease deal.

The continuing interest in Lockheed Martin's F-16 is keeping GE and Pratt & Whitney busy building F110 and F100 engines for export orders, while both companies are developing engines for 5th generation fighters like the F-22 and F-35.

Overall, production during the 2009-2018 forecast period is projected to total 215 aircraft.

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[moises]

Italian Air Force C-27J Completes Five-Month Deployment to Afghanistan
Alenia Aeronautica
The two Alenia Aeronautica C-27J tactical airlifters deployed to Afghanistan in September 2008 by the Italian Air Force have returned to their base at Pisa AFB following the successful completion of their first major out-of-area deployment. The C-27Js operated within Task Group Albatros, the ITAF component of the Joint Air Task Force (JATF) of the Regional Command West of the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

The two aircraft replaced the C-130J previously operated from Herat to provide airlift support in the area of operation.

“This was the operational debut for the C-27J,” said Major Luca Coppola, an instructor pilot, “and the return to full operational capability for the 98th Group, whose personnel have spent the past three years training on the new aircraft which replaced the G.222.”

Despite the very difficult terrain and weather conditions of the vast Afghan territory, the C-27J performed well and enabled its crews to meet the RC-W airlift requirements while also gathering valuable operating experience with the aircraft.

“Our [mission] was to link and support the various coalition components throughout Afghanistan,” Major Coppola added, “by airlifting personnel, vehicles and equipment, as well as performing medical evacuation duties for both the contingent and the Afghan population.”

In their five months in Afghanistan the Albatros Task Force C-27Js provided some 200 hours of operational flying, carrying out some 50 sorties and transporting about 1,500 passengers and over 30,000 lbs of freight. The aircraft linked international airports, including Kabul, to remote regions having only rough dirt strips, on which very few airlifters can take-off and land like the Alenia Aeronautica C-27J.

Colonel Francesco Vestito, the JATF commanding officer, was particularly satisfied with the capabilities of the C.27J, underscoring that the «operational use of the C-27J offers a tactical ability of specific value to the commanders supporting the Provincial Reconstruction Teams which, on account of their very purpose, are often located in the most remote areas disseminated around the country and frequently inaccessible by surface transport.”

Alenia Aeronautica has sold so far 117 C-27Js, including 78 for the US Joint Cargo Aircraft program and 12 – ten of which already delivered – for the Italian Air Force.

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[moises]

A venerable C-130 makes its final run
US Air Force
SOUTHWEST ASIA: After 47 years of service without a single hit, a C-130 with the 386th Expeditionary Operations Group here has flown its last combat mission and will be retired to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

Airmen in the 386th EOG and 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron celebrated the retirement of aircraft no. 1847 by dousing the aircraft with a deluge of water from two fire trucks as it taxied in from its final mission.

"She's a good plane," said Capt. Kevin Graham, 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron aircraft commander. "We never had any problems with her."

Captain Graham flew 1847 on numerous missions and was glad he was able to fly it on its final combat mission.

"We flew it over its 30,000th hour mark," Captain Graham said. "It's cool that we got to fly it down here, past its 30,000th hour and its final combat mission. It's impressive that we can have an aircraft that's 47 years old and still in the fight. You can't live without them."

Aircraft 1847 accumulated 30,100 hours over its 47-year career, the equivalent of flying three-and-a-half years without landing.

Staff Sgt. Brad Kretschmer, 386th EAMXS, deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, spent the last three-and-a-half years as 1847's dedicated crew chief. He said the old Hercules still has plenty of fight left in her.

"She's done this much for us so far; I think she's got a lot left in her," he said. "You're not going to see many of these flying around still. Most of them are retired or at (Davis Monthan AFB)."

Sergeant Kretschmer said while the aircraft never had any combat damage or other major accidents, its age required crew chiefs to put a little more care into the Vietnam War-era Hercules.

"This one is just older," he said. "It's got its old age going for it, so we try to take a little more care of her so she can keep flying. We catch the little stuff here and there and fix it. There's always something. She has her little gremlins."

Col. Herbert Phillips, 386th Maintenance Group commander, credited the maintainers for giving 1847 the ability to rack up more than 440 flight hours over 340 sorties during this rotation.

"It's above-standard-mission-capable-rate over the course of this deployment is a tribute to the maintenance crews who ensure she is ready to meet all taskings," he said. "It is particularly amazing when you consider the age of the aircraft is older than the ages of the two crew chiefs added together."

Sergeant Kretschmer said the crew chiefs will spend the next few days removing mission-essential equipment from 1847 and preparing to send the aircraft back to its home base at Ramstein AB, but it won't be going home alone.

"I'll be on its last flight home," Sergeant Kretschmer said. He is also preparing to finish his deployment. "I'll do my farewell on the way home."

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[moises]

V-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft

The V-22 Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft, capable of vertical or short take off and landing, and forward flight like a conventional fixed-wing aircraft. The MV-22 is the Marine Corps’ top aviation priority. Marine Corps leaders believe that the Osprey will provide them an unprecedented capability to quickly and decisively project power from well over the horizon. The Air Force’s CV-22 version will be used for special operations. Army officials have testified that the service has no requirement for the V-22, but the Navy has expressed interest in purchasing MV-22s for a variety of missions.

The V-22 program has been under development for over 25 years. Safety and maintenance concerns have arisen during this period (due in large part to three fatal accidents). The commander of the V-22 maintenance squadron admitted to falsifying maintenance records to make the aircraft appear more maintainable than it was, and three Marines were found guilty of misconduct.

The program has maintained support from many in Congress despite these deficiencies. The program has undergone restructuring to accommodate congressional direction, budget constraints, and recommendations from outside experts and DOD managers.

After a 17-month hiatus, the Osprey embarked on its second set of flight tests in May of 2002.

Tests were completed in June 2005 to the satisfaction of Navy testers, who believed that the V-22 program had resolved all technical and engineering problems identified in internal and external reviews. On September 28, 2005, the V-22 program passed a major milestone when the Defense Acquisition Board approved it for military use and full rate production.

Supporters tout the V-22’s potential operational capabilities relative to the helicopters it will replace. It will fly faster, farther and with more payload than the CH-46 Sea Knight the Marine Corps currently operates. They argue that this combination of attributes, coupled with the ability to take off and land vertically will provide the Marine Corps with new and potentially transformational capabilities.

Detractors tend to emphasize the V-22’s long development schedule, its three fatal accidents, and its high cost relative to the helicopters it will replace. V-22 opponents argue that modern helicopters also offer capabilities superior to the CH-46’s and more cost effectively than the Osprey.

Through FY2008, more than $27 billion had been provided for the V-22 program. The Defense Department’s Selected Acquisition Report of December 31, 2007, estimated the total acquisition of a 458-aircraft program would be $54.2 billion, which translates into a program acquisition cost of $118.4 million per Osprey.

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[Bogdan-The-Kozak]

Feb 7, 2009
USAF orders 15 Boeing C-17s

WASHINGTON - THE US Air Force has ordered 15 C-17 military transport planes from US manufacturer Boeing valued at US$2.9 billion (S$4.3 billion), the Pentagon announced on Friday.

'The Air Force is awarding a firm fixed price contract to McDonnell Douglas Corporation of Long Beach, California for an amount not to exceed 2.95 billion dollars ... for the procurement of 15 C-17 aircraft,' the Department of Defence said in a statement.

The contract revives the fortunes of the C-17, the heart of the US Air Force's fleet of long-range transport planes.

Boeing had been on the verge of scrapping C-17 production in 2006 when orders for the plane dried up. -- AFP
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2B ... 35286.html

[maximo]

Asi empezaron los Cylon....

[Ismael]

Conflicto en Airbus por el control de la división española

@Cotizalia.com - 10/02/2009 08:45h

El fabricante aeronáutico Airbus quiere integrar la división militar española EADS, pero este hecho ha desatado el conflicto en el seno de la compañía. Un conflicto que amenaza con profundizar las tensiones nacionales en la cúpula del grupo europeo, liderado por los accionistas franceses, alemanes y españoles. Airbus ha negado la existencia de tensiones en el seno de la empresa.

Según publica hoy el diario Financial Times, EADS está intentando recuperar el control del programa de transporte militar A400M, el mayor proyecto de colaboración en defensa del continente, que durará tres años y generará miles de millones de euros. La integración, anunciada en diciembre, se diseñó para permitir a Airbus hacerse con el control directo de las operaciones aeroespaciales militares del grupo, en España.

Esto ha ocasionado el enfrentamiento entre el presidente ejecutivo de Airbus, Tom Enders, y el jefe de la división militar, Carlos Suárez, según fuentes cercanas a la operación citadas por el diario. Enders declaró hace unas semanas sobre la integración de la división española en Airbus que se trataba de unas relaciones “muy complejas” y que “estaban algo contaminadas políticamente”, pero que lo asumirían.

Además, de acuerdo con el periódico, Enders estaría descontento con la evolución del programa A400M. EADS se ha hecho cago de los 1.700 millones de euros por las demoras del programa y está negociando con sus clientes, los Gobiernos europeos, la reestructuración del mismo.

La participación española en el grupo es del 5,5%. EADS fue creada en 2000 con la fusión de las industrias aeroespaciales y de defensa de Alemania, Francia y España y desde entonces ha habido tensiones entre los dos primeros por el control de la compañía. Según el FT, EADS ha negado que se esté tratando con el Gobierno español sobre la integración de la división militar y "Carlos Suáres está todavía al frente" de la compañía, ya que están "todavía en el proceso de i ntegranr nuestra división miliar en Airbus".

Airbus niega que haya conflictos

Airbus negó hoy la existencia de tensiones en el seno del constructor aeronáutico europeo por su integración de la división de aviones militares de EADS, con base en España, y explicó que dicho proceso supone únicamente un cambio nominativo que proporcionará a Airbus una "rama civil y una rama militar, que hasta ahora no tenía". Fuentes próximas al fabricante aseguraron a Europa Press que el máximo responsable de la división de Aviones de Transporte Militar y presidente de EADS-CASA, Carlos Suárez, sigue en "su puesto", saliendo al paso de los rumores que apuntaban a un posible conflicto entre el presidente de Airbus, Tom Enders, y Suárez, tal y como publicada hoy el Financial Times.

Retrasos en el programa A400M

Sobre los retrasos que acumula el programa del avión militar A400M, una portavoz de EADS aseguró a Europa Press que el consorcio está "pendiente de alcanzar un acuerdo" con los constructores del motor TP400 de la aeronave --diseñado de forma conjunta por el grupo galo Snecma, Rolls Royce y la firma alemana MTU-- y que se encuentra actualmente negociando con la OCCAR un calendario para las primeras entregas, tres años después del primer vuelo de prueba, del que "aún no hay fecha confirmada".

El rotativo francés Le Figaro publicó hoy que las primeras entregas del A400M podrían producirse a finales de 2012, pese a que no se finalizarían hasta 2014 debido a los retrasos del programa, y fijaba el primer vuelo de prueba para principios de 2010. Asimismo, según este periódico, el coste adicional de Airbus por los retrasos alcanza ya los 5.000 millones de euros.

No obstante, dicha portavoz apuntó que el coste por los retrasos acumulados se está "evaluando en este momento, por lo que difícilmente puede hablarse de un importe aproximado". "A nivel de implicaciones financieras, no se puede especular sobre cifras, porque para poder realizar una estimación hay que fijar el calendario para el primer vuelo y valorar las consecuencias a nivel industrial. Sólo entonces y, dependiendo del resultado de las negociaciones con la OCCAR se podrá realizar una estimación", añadió.

El contrato vigente entre entre EADS y la OCCAR, firmado en mayo de 2003 por un valor de 20.000 millones de euros, incluye los pedidos de 180 aviones para su entrega en 2009 a los países miembros de la cooperación europea en materia de armamento. Hasta ahora se han efectuado un total de 192 A400M para estos siete países --Alemania, Francia, Reino Unido, España, Bélgica, Luxemburgo y Turquía-- y para clientes de Malasia y Sudáfrica.

Desde el pasado mes de septiembre, EADS se ha visto obligada a aplazar el primer vuelo del A400M, debido a los problemas con la propulsión del motor TP400 de la aeronave, --diseñado de forma conjunta por el grupo galo Snecma, Rolls Royce y la firma alemana MTU-- que han retrasado el desarrollo del programa.

Fuente, cotizalia.com: http://www.cotizalia.com/cache/2009/02/10/noticias_16_conflicto_airbus_control_division_espanola.html

[Iris]

DIVERSOS PROBLEMAS PARALIZAN PARTE DE LA FLOTA DE HAWK HINDÚES



http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/08/stories ... 200900.htm

Un número insuficiente de entrenadores Hawk ha forzado a la Fuerza Aérea de la India a reducir a la mitad el personal que se debería de entrenar en estos aviones.
La IAF debería de contar en estos momentos con 39 Hawk en servicio. En la actualidad tiene en servicio 23, y algunos de estos se encuentran en tierra por falta de repuestos, mantenimiento o controles de calidad, como los de humedad en cabina.
Esta escasez de aviones ha llevado a que solo se hayan entrenado en este avión 18 pilotos, contra los 38 que se habían previsto, forzando a la IAF a usar mas vuelos del HAL Kiran, un avión que se encuentra al límite de su vida activa.
HAL no ha sido capaz de entregar 10-11 aviones para Diciembre de 2008, y no podrá entregar los 15 previstos para el próximo Marzo, también como consecuencia de la falta de algunas piezas. Tan solo se han entregado 9 aviones.
La IAF acusa a BAE de no atender sus indicaciones sobre las condiciones de clima tropical en la que iban a operar estos aviones, y no anticiparse a los problemas que se encontrarían en el mantenimiento, los repuestos y los técnicos de mantenimiento.

.- Saludos.

[cancrexo]

jelou!
Un video recientito en donde se puede ver al F-22 Raptor y un F-35 a medio fabricar.
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/data/assets/corporate/LM1/LM1-FEB09.wmv
Un saludo.
P.D: ¿Alguien sabe en que estado está el desarrollo de la tobera vectorial para el Tiffi...?¿ITP ha avanzado algo, y de ser así alguien tiene imagenes de la misma?

[The PaPaY]

UK MoD considers alternative aircraft after fresh A400M delays

13 January 2009
The A400M powerplant is being developed by EPI Europrop International. (Airbus Military)

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) told Jane's that it may acquire additional C-17 Globemaster or C-130 Hercules transport aircraft after fresh delays relating to the EADS-led A400M programme were announced, while Germany called for "full clarity and transparency" from the European aerospace group.

The UK MoD is scheduled to acquire 24 A400Ms to replace its fleet of C-130Ks, which will leave service in 2012. Germany is set to receive 60 A400Ms to replace its fleet of C-160 Transall transport aircraft, which entered service in 1968.

However, the European aerospace company said on 9 January that deliveries of the aircraft will now occur three years after its first flight. This was initially scheduled for 2008; it has been repeatedly delayed and a new date is yet to be confirmed. EADS said the first flight will not be before the second half of 2009.

"We are naturally very concerned," a spokesperson for the MoD told Jane's on 12 January. "This is an area we are keeping a close eye on."

The spokesperson said the MoD is considering three options to close a potential capability gap. These are: leasing or procuring additional C-17s and C-130s; reallocating current assets; and extending the out-of-service date of the C-130K.

The spokesperson would not comment on the relative merits of each option. The UK's current inventory runs to 24 C-130J aircraft; 14 C-130Ks; and six C-17s.

Germany, for its part, told Jane's on 12 January that "it is up to EADS to establish full clarity and transparency within the A400M programme - the latest press release [from EADS dated 9 January] did not help at all in that respect".

Image: The latest delays announced by EADS relate to the A400M's TP400 engine. (Airbus Military)

http://www.janes.com/news/defence/air/j ... _1_n.shtml

[The PaPaY]

UK MoD announces Paveway IV 'in service'

12 December 2008


A Paveway IV mounted under a Harrier's wing (Crown Copyright)

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) declared the Raytheon Paveway IV INS/GPS- and laser-guided bomb to be "in service" on 10 December.

This announcement follows the recent completion of a demonstration of capability trials at the US Naval Air Warfare Center at China Lake in July. With these trials successfully concluded the MoD has now completed all other lines of development, enabling the weapon system to be accepted into operational service.

The Paveway IV's smaller size means that more bombs can be carried and its smaller yield reduces the chances of collateral damage.

Image: A Paveway IV mounted under the wing of a Harrier GR.9. Its lower explosive yield and ability to be reprogrammed mid-flight should reduce the risk of civilian casualties (Crown Copyright)

http://www.janes.com/news/defence/air/j ... _2_n.shtml

[Orel .]

P.D: ¿Alguien sabe en que estado está el desarrollo de la tobera vectorial para el Tiffi...?¿ITP ha avanzado algo, y de ser así alguien tiene imagenes de la misma?

Cancrexo, la TVC fue desarrollada hace ya casi 10 años. Y sus prestaciones se demostraron superiores a los modelos entonces existentes por el mundo.
Por ahora no ha habido más interés en instalarlas. El Typhoon es de sobra maniobrable y (al menos por ahora) no renta el coste de readaptar caza, motores, sistema de vuelo, certificaciones, etc, al vuelo con TVC.
Eso sí, como dijo Tayun, los motores de la Tranche 2 (y los de la 3) están preparados (su software, etc) para recibir TVC si fuera necesario.

[Iris]

FRANCIA OFRECE EL RAFALE A OMÁN



Francia ha propuesto a Omán la sustitución de sus antiguos aviones de combate Jaguar por el Rafale.
La propuesta ha sido realizada durante la visita del Presidente francés, Sarkozy, a este país, en el segundo día de un viaje por la región del golfo.
Omán desea reemplazar sus 20 aviones Jaguar, que llevan 30 años de servicio en la Fuerza Aérea.
Francia está a la búsqueda de un primer comprador extranjero para el Rafale, aunque parece que en Omán deberá de competir con varios rivales, incluyendo el Eurofighter..

http://in.reuters.com/article/asiaCompa ... 5420090211

.- Saludos.

[tayun]

... los Rusos tienen ojos para ver y no quieren verse con un "raptor" entre manos. Ellos iran a por un avion moderno, exportable y modernizable. Ira mas en la linea del EFA en cuanto a ideologia que de los F-35 y F-22, por mas que exteriormente pueda parecer otra cosa.

No, no, "por más que exteriormente pueda parecer otra cosa", no. Después de repetir hasta la saciedad que las formas furtivas del Raptor lo condicionan para realizar todas aquellas funciones que no sean pasearse por el cielo luciendo tipito, o los rusos se decantan por unas características o por otras. O se quedan con un EFA, o con un F-22, pero el uno con las características del otro no vale. .

Se siente, no haber puesto tú esas condiciones