Vreme je za "Penziju"
20-Jan-2009
F-5E/F Tiger II, unapređena verzija vrlo uspešnog F-5 Freedom Fighter, je niskobudžetni avion koji je bio stvoren da pokrije ne-sovjetsko globalno tržište lovačkih aviona tokom perioda 60-tih i 70-tih. U velikom broju zemalja F-5 je još uvek operativan, iako je avion već zastareo.
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Švajcarski F-5EŠvajcerska je 1976 godine kupila 72 F-5E/F, a 1981 dodatnih 38, za konačnih 110 (98 jednoseda F5E i 12 dvoseda F5F). Izvestan broj je iznajmljen Austriji, dok im se ne isporuče
Eurofighter-i, dok je deo avion penzionisan tako da je u operativnoj upoterbi u Švajcerskom vazduhoplovstvu ostalo od 54-85 Tiger II aviona.
Dok su se drugi korisnici F5 odlučili da i dalje unapređuju ovaj avion (Brazil, čile, Tajland...), Švajcarska je odlučila da zameni 3 od svojih 5 eskadrila sa novim avionom. Ta kupovina bi činila okosnicu Švajcerskog lovačkog vazduhoplovstva zajedno sa 3 eskadrile unapređenih F/A-18C/D Hornet. Nakon što se Boing povukao iz trke, Švajcarci će birati izumeđu Švedskog
Gripena, Francuskog Rafala i EADS
Eurofighter-a.
Testiranja su završena pa se rezultati očekuju uskoro.
U nastavku možete pročitati detaljnije o ovoj vesti....
The Competition [ Attachment: You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Swiss F/A-18CsAs the Schweizer Luftwaffe explains in its Jan 17/07 release, without new aircraft the ability to maintain full sovereignty air patrols would decline to just 2 weeks – though 24-hour patrols might be maintained for more than 14 days in a year by shortening the 24 hour coverage periods to a few days at a time, and staggering the periods:
“Sans le remplacement des F-5 Tiger, la capacite de maintenir la sauvegarde de la souverainete sur l’espace aerien, d’assurer le service de police aerienne et de la defense aerienne serait massivement reduite. Avec seulement 33 F/A-18, une presence permanente (24 heures sur 24) de 4 appareils en vol ne pourrait etre assuree que pendant deux semaines environ.”
With testing complete, Dassault, EADS and Saab will be invited to submit a second offer in January 2009, with receipt of those offers expected in April 2009. May 2009 will see the release of the evaluation report prepared by armasuisse, and the Chief of Armament will consult with the Head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) and the Commander of the Swiss Air Force. A winner is expected in July 2009, and the Partial Tiger Replacement is expected to be approved by the legislature alongside Armament Program 2010. Parliament is expected to address the Partial Tiger Replacement in 2010.
Or will it? Whoever wins can expect to face political difficulties after their victory is announced. Switzerland’s purchase of 34 F/A-18 C/Ds, for instance, required a 1993 referendum organized by Switzerland’s socialist and Green parties. The deal passed, but a current referendum proposal aims to ban “peace-time flights of combat-jets in tourist areas,” a move that would make it almost impossible for the Schweizer Luftwaffe to train its pilots. Additional initiatives may be expected from the GSoA (Group for a Switzerland without an Army) as the deal comes close to fruition. With an organized movement in place that opposes the existence of any military in Switzerland, a national referendum can be expected for any new fighter purchase.
The Competitors [ Attachment: You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Rafale B
At present, the competitors are BAE/Saab (
JAS-39 Gripen), Dassault (Rafale), and EADS (
Eurofighter Typhoon). At present, however, the expected budget is just CHF 2.2 billion (currently about $2 billion/ EUR $1.45 billion), to cover 22 fighters and the additional Pilatus PC-21 advanced trainers. The high-end participants in the competition could find themselves very disadvantaged, given Switzerland’s budget and need for numbers.
EADS’
Eurofighter, for instance, would yield about 10-12 aircraft within those constraints, based on Austria’s EUR 2 billion buy of just 18, later reduced to EUR 1.63 billion for 15. It is an excellent air superiority fighter, but Austria’s Tranche 1 models lack precision ground attack capability. In addition, Switzerland is just under 360 km/ 215 miles wide at its widest point, and its firm neutrality keeps its air force from deploying elsewhere.
When these factors are added up, the twin-engine
Eurofighter will have a difficult task avoiding the perception of over-budget overkill. The plane’s strongest option would probably be a used aircraft sale from an existing partner nation. That may be a viable option, as Tranche 3 purchases look set to strain member country budgets, but cancellation will attract sharp financial penalties. Selling earlier models is one way to ease that strain.
Dassault’s Rafale offers a comparable set of capabilities to the
Eurofighter, at a lower price point. It is generally considered to be an inferior air superiority fighter, but it has good ground attack capabilities that make it a better multi-role aircraft than early
Eurofighter models. Its spotty integration with several American weapons used by the Schweizer Luftwaffe could become an issue, and so could its delayed integration with the Damocles surveillance and targeting pod. On the flip side, consistent losses in export competitions (a possible sale to Libya remains its only success) will keep up the pressure on France to offer a very attractive deal. Can Dassault keep its price to about EUR 65 million per plane, including initial training and spares (i.e. 22 aircraft within the budget), and offer weapon integration relief?
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The Saab/ BAE team of
Gripen International offers the lowest price point of any of these aircraft, with lease-to-buy options underway in Hungary & The Czech Republic and a strong record of industrial offset deals. The
Gripen is a solid multi-role performer that is pretty close to the current epitome of what a lightweight fighter should be; its corresponding range handicap, which has often been a limiting factor in fighter competitions against this cohort, is a complete non-issue in this competition.
An offer of 30-34 JAS-39 C/D aircraft that could mirror Switzerland’s 3 squadrons totaling 33 Hornets may be within the realm of financial possibility.
JAS-39C/D Gripens would also use an RB12 engine that is closely derived from the F404s powering Switzerland’s Hornets, and are delivered ready to use with the LITENING reconnaissance and targeting pods that Switzerland is buying as upgrades for its Hornet fleet. Given the DDPS’ implicit need for numbers, the industrial offsets, and the potential political bonus of a sale from another neutral country, the
Gripen appears to be very well positioned in this fight. The firm’s Jan 17/08 release was already stressing some of these factors.
Izvor:DiD
