Japan orders more F35s, the frets about the loss of engineering expertise.
Japan is risking a rapid loss of fighter engineering skills, an official review of the industry warns, while urging the government to avoid fully importing combat aircraft.
Estimates of future engineering effort starkly illustrate an unspoken argument for Japan to buy and develop advanced versions of the Eurofighter Typhoon, Boeing F-15 or Boeing F/A-18E/F to fill its requirement for 50 fighters.
“An industrial base is difficult to rebuild once experienced engineers and mechanics leave the industry, so it is essential to keep it for future fighter development,” says the Commission on Reform of Fighter Production Technology Base.
About 70 percent of the engineering work force for the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries F-2 fighter has already been assigned to other business units, the report says. Only 60 engineers are now working on the F-16-based effort, Japan’s only fighter production program.
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Brazil is looking choosy about their next fighter.
Brazil is expected to purchase a new line of advanced fighters with an initial order worth approximately $7.2 billion. The Brazilian President is in favor of Dassault’s Rafale, however evaluation of bids by the Brazilian air force has placed Rafale at third behind Boeings’ F/18 and Saab’s Gripen. If the Brazilian government selects the F/18, then the deal will also benefit Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.
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The USAF has a new commander at their doctrinal schoolhouse/think-tank/big-brain operation.
"At the heart of warfare lies doctrine," said Gen. Curtis LeMay, fifth Chief of Staff of the Air Force. He believed it so fervently that the Air Force named the organization that produces doctrine for him.
Tuesday that organization held a change of command ceremony at the Maxwell Officers' Club to put Maj. Gen. Maury Forsyth, former Spaatz Center commander, in General LeMay's footsteps to continue his legacy of doctrine before all else.
General Forsyth took command of the LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education from Maj. Gen. Stephen Miller, who retired earlier in the day.
"When the LeMay Center was formed out of two organizations, the Air Force Doctrine Center and the College of Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education in 2008; an inspiration of Air Force efficiency and modernization by Gen. Stephen Lorenz and Lt. Gen. Allen Peck was molded and shaped by General Miller. He forged ahead with that blueprint to build a solid foundation," said General Forsyth.
"I am fortunate to be a part of that historic transition at Air University. To take what was once an idea on a napkin and is now a cinder block structure, and help build the walls, is a privilege that I look forward to," he said.
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The website of the Canadian Air Force.
Largest air forces in the world? Good like finding a solid, authoritative answer.
By: Brant
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