Central/South American Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Miragedriver said:
The option for Argentina are limited, which is good news for Britain, such as it is, is that Argentina still has to hang weapons on any fighters they buy.

The most dangerous Kfir-related sale, of Gabriel 3 anti-ship missiles, would make Britain an outright enemy of Israel’s. That won’t happen. The question is whether Britain can pressure Israel to block the Kfir fighter sale in totality or have it blocked by the Americans, who control the J-79 engines.

If the Israeli sale falls through for some reason, South Africa has already sold similar Cheetah fighters to Ecuador and Chile. Enough were produced to sell 18 more to Argentina, but the best airframes have presumably been taken already. .

If those options fail, Argentina faces a shrinking set of choices.

The only sources free of American or European influence are Russia and China.

The JF-17 Thunder from China and Pakistan would be a more advanced option and a definite threat, thanks to its ability to carry C802 subsonic and CM-400AKG supersonic anti-ship missiles. Argentina has expressed interest in the JF-17, and has held discussions directly with China.

Basically, unless a plan is developed soon (acquisition and trailing take time) the Fuerza Aerea Argentina will soon cease to exist as a relevant military asset.
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I agree that the Israli Kfir deal faces some real uphill challenges, and may fall through based on the US not providing the engines.

I am not sure Argentian will go that far in with China...but the JF-17 would be an excellent option for them if they could arrange it. After the Kfirs, the JF-17 seems like Argentina's best option.

I suppose a South African Cheetah deal for a few aircraft is still possible, but there are not that many and you have to look at their service life.

It will be interesting to see how it turns out.
 
S

Scratch

Captain
In any case, if the Argentinians want E Gripens, I guess they'd have to wait with deliveries until the Brazilians are (almost) done for themselves. How long would that be, actually? The end of this decade, or even a bit later I could imagine. And the need for replacements is rather pressing.
I'm wondering if Argentina could jump on the train of Gripen C leases. Especially considering the financial constraints, leasing or buying used Cs should provide a decent capability in usefull numbers at an affordable price. But since Gripens have been blocked in the past probably an unlikely option, indeed.
I think Cheetas as another interim meassure will probably be the best option or now.
 
Miragedriver

Miragedriver

Brigadier
Scratch said:
In any case, if the Argentinians want E Gripens, I guess they'd have to wait with deliveries until the Brazilians are (almost) done for themselves. How long would that be, actually? The end of this decade, or even a bit later I could imagine. And the need for replacements is rather pressing.
I'm wondering if Argentina could jump on the train of Gripen C leases. Especially considering the financial constraints, leasing or buying used Cs should provide a decent capability in usefull numbers at an affordable price. But since Gripens have been blocked in the past probably an unlikely option, indeed.
I think Cheetas as another interim meassure will probably be the best option or now.
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If you are assuming, as I am, that the Gripen deal will not materialize, I am in agreement. This “We are in negotiations” ploy is just a delay tactic to “kick the can down the road”. Some other administration will need to readdress this issues and seriously begin to seek a replacement for the Mirages and soon the A-4s.

The fantasy regarding the Cheetahs is just that. Some in the Air Force are fixated on the Mirage airframe and its derivatives. Because of the easer transition for ground crews and logistics. These Mirage derivative have very little military value. It is time to invest in another airframe that will proceed into this century. Something like the JF-17, Mig-29 or even investing with the Russians in the Su-54.


Still crying over my glass of Malbec
 
Miragedriver

Miragedriver

Brigadier
Jeff Head said:
I agree that the Israli Kfir deal faces some real uphill challenges, and may fall through based on the US not providing the engines.

I am not sure Argentian will go that far in with China...but the JF-17 would be an excellent option for them if they could arrange it. After the Kfirs, the JF-17 seems like Argentina's best option.

I suppose a South African Cheetah deal for a few aircraft is still possible, but there are not that many and you have to look at their service life.

It will be interesting to see how it turns out.
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Honestly Jeff I do not see the Kfir deal going through either. The British will apply pressure to both Israel and the US over the sale. Even if the aircraft is sold to the FAA, the numbers will be small and there will be no sale of BVR Missile Systems or bombs to make effective use of the aircraft.

The only options available are either Russian or Chinese. A couple of options could be:

From Russia:
12 Mig-29M2 and 24 used Mig-29s or,
18 Su-27

From China:
Assemble of at least 54 JF-17 or,
Purchase some 36 used J-10A, they’re 10 years old now.



Still crying over my glass of Malbec
 
S

Scratch

Captain
I guess the chinese / pakistanies wouldn't be too unhappy having a defence project partner in South America. Although I wold think getting a deal would probably take some time. It'll be a real change in equipment and logistics, but also a big leap forward.
I have some slight reservations against the MiG-29. Second hand aircraft come with somewhat thursty, perhaps a little unreliable engines, newer variants will cost quiet a bit. Plus, in any case, they'll be twin engined, and again I believe that's an area were the FAA could save money.
 
Miragedriver

Miragedriver

Brigadier
Scratch said:
I guess the chinese / pakistanies wouldn't be too unhappy having a defence project partner in South America. Although I wold think getting a deal would probably take some time. It'll be a real change in equipment and logistics, but also a big leap forward.
I have some slight reservations against the MiG-29. Second hand aircraft come with somewhat thursty, perhaps a little unreliable engines, newer variants will cost quiet a bit. Plus, in any case, they'll be twin engined, and again I believe that's an area were the FAA could save money.
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The JF-17 would work very well, however consider the time line:

Negotiations: 1 to 2 years

Setting up assemble line and some parts manufacturing: 2 years

Then assume a production rate of 6 aircraft per year

It will take around 4 years (best case scenario) until the first aircraft comes off of the assembly line and then another 9 years on top of that to reach the required 54 aircraft.

This project should have been started 5 years ago

If some used MiG-29 are purchased along with some new ones, the FAA could always purchase some extra engines. The FAA has been overhauling the ATAR engine for the last 40 years.


Still crying over my glass of Malbec
 
Miragedriver

Miragedriver

Brigadier
Argentine Air Force never recovered its Malvinas war operational capacity

Mercosur Press

Top Argentine Air Force officers admitted that since the Malvinas war the force never recovered its operational capacity, but in spite of the shortcomings and budget cuts the new generations of military pilots are completing their training and flying hours ‘normally’ even when the press reported to the contrary.

“Yes, I can say that we lost a hundred aircraft during and after the Malvinas war and we never recovered our operational capacity. The number is no strategic disclosure, and you must take into account that aircraft in combat are forced to their maximum and this has its consequences, it strains and severely limits the life span of equipment. Nevertheless and even when we have not recovered losses, we have managed to upkeep and even refurbish a few so our training capacity is fully accomplished”, said Brigadier Eduardo La Torre head of the Military Aviation School with seat in Cordoba.

In an interview with the Cordoba daily La Voz del Interior Brigadier La Torre said that the old training Mentor aircraft is undergoing a feasibility report but at the same time there is a plan to replace them with the Argentine designed and manufactured Pampa IA-73, as a consequence of the re-launching of the Argentine Aircraft Factory, Fadea in Cordoba.
The Brigadier insisted that with the existing equipment and operational aircraft the aviation school can train Argentine military pilots in any of the different options: helicopter pilot, fighter pilot or transport pilot. “All training aircraft are operational”

Finally referring to the fact that many military pilots are opting for the private sector, Brigadier La Torre said they represent ‘heavy losses’ for the force, and ‘economically significant’ for the country given the resources involved in their training.

“But it’s not an exodus, and there are different motives: some are vocational: suddenly the pilot feels frustrated because he can’t update as his peers of other countries; he doesn’t feel there are economic incentives and that generates a crisis in the consumer society. Some doubt but some remain; such is my case because the experience of the Malvinas war taught me ‘what we stand for’ and what our task is, so our commitment is unyielding. Ethically leaving the force I find it wrong, but I must also admit it is a world phenomenon”, concluded the Argentine Air Force Brigadier.

This year the Argentine Military Aviation School is celebrating its one hundredth anniversary and on May first the Argentine Air Force commemorates the thirty years since the ‘baptism of fire’ when it engaged in combat with the British Task Force.
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Still crying over my glass of Malbec
 
Miragedriver

Miragedriver

Brigadier
Colombia's Navy sends its first ship to Antarctica

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(defensa.com) Cotecmar announced that one of its vessels arrive first to Antarctica on an expedition which will start on 16 December and they will be back on March 12, 2015. This is the ship ARC "20 July ", an ocean patrol OCV-80 type example of technological development of the maritime industry in Colombia.


The expedition is led and has been planned by the Navy of Colombia (ARC) through the Chief of Naval Operations, the Directorate General Maritime (DIMAR) and Colombian Ocean Commission (BCC), in order to start the second phase of National Antarctic program, which is to designate own ships traveling the "white continent" for ongoing scientific research.

The vessel will be composed of 21 researchers from 16 institutions between local and international, and which highlights the Institute of Marine Sciences-Barcelona and the University of Barcelona.

Also, it has a National Antarctic Scientific Agenda 2014-2035, which sets out the guidelines for research in the country, in order to ensure continuity of the Colombian scientific work in this area of the world.

In order to fulfill the agenda during the expedition institutions shall undertake research activities as determining physiological cardiorespiratory and body composition changes that occur in the acute acclimation to cold, marine scientific research maritime safety in Antarctica, studying the connection between El Niño southern Oscillation and changes in the climate of Antarctica, analyze the profiles of temperature and salinity between the Colombian Pacific Peninsula Dankor evaluate the ARC propulsion system July 20 at low temperatures and extend and knowledge database including marine mammals.

Colombia acceded to the Antarctic Treaty in 1989, the international management of the Antarctic region is established, which is based on an exclusive use for peaceful purposes, with a large contribution to scientific knowledge.

Since joining, Colombia has been working on finding mechanisms to keep active the issue and formulate a program of ongoing research in Antarctica, in order to change the status of member Adherent (voice) to Advisory Member (voice and vote ) of the Antarctic Treaty System.



The bottling of Malbec will stop until Popeye returns
 
Miragedriver

Miragedriver

Brigadier
Future Brazilian corvettes have names, a Brazilian Anglo-radar missiles and possibly carry Sea Ceptor CAMM


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(defensa.com) The Admiralty made the proposal and the Commander of the Navy accepted the following names for a class, however continuing the Barroso called "Tamandaré" according to divulge the ALIDE forum. Initially consist of 4 units: V35 "Tamandaré" V36 "Jeronimo de Albuquerque," V37 "Moreira Cunha 'and V38' Mariz e Barros".


An important feature of this program is that it would have taken the decision to revise the previously planned use of the same shape and size of helmet Tamandaré that used in the Barroso (OPV series and potentially that could be derived from them) . Therefore quarter sleeve would be greater than the original standard used in Inhaúma 11.4m and Barroso series. This most likely is a result of the positive experience with the class OPV Amazon recently bought BAE and have 13.5 meters wide, and a helmet highly praised by the Brazilian Navy, which, however, would perhaps suffering in this model some problems with radars and even Therma Scanter 4100 combat system with Osiris. The new corvettes displace 2,480 tonnes against 2,350 Barroso.

Finally, a recent report indicating that the naval missile Sea Ceptor / CAMM, manufactured by MBDA UK beat American ESSM and decided for this new class. The radar of the new class of ships should be the same as BAE Systems Artisan 3D or a derivative thereof, assembled locally by Bradar (ex Orbisat), a subsidiary of Embraer Defense and Security. After preliminarily decided this provider, Airbus Defence and Space BRADAR made known its intention to provide alternative to Brazil its TRS-3D AESA radar, initially without much success but with possibilities of further negotiations at the last minute.



The bottling of Malbec will stop until Popeye returns
 
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