Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.

[nils]

Belgium has requested information for a potential replacement for its fleet of F-16's.

http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/b ... volger-f16

candidates are:

-Lockheed F-35A Lightning II
-Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet (Advanced?)
-SAAB JAS-39E/F Gripen
-Dassault Rafale
-Eurofighter Typhoon

[NLExile]

Defense Launches the Process of Replacing F-16
(Source: Belga news agency; published June 4, 2014)
(Issued in French and Dutch; unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com)
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articl ... ocess.html

Belgium has kicked off the process to replace the F-16AM fighters it will retire from 2023 by issuing a RFI to the 5 government agencies in charge of the most likely candidates. (Wikipedia photo)
The Belgian Ministry of Defence recently sent a Request for Information (RFI) to five foreign government agencies, two of them American and three European, regarding the five combat aircraft that are the most likely candidates to replace the Belgian air force’s elderly F-16 fighters, several concordant sources said Wednesday.

The RFI, which does not commit to a future purchase nor to the selection of a specific aircraft, "aims to gather information" beyond the open-source data used for initial evaluation, several defense ministry sources said.

It nevertheless represents the first step in a - long - process that should lead to the acquisition of new fighter before the expected life of the F-16 from 2023, as long as the next Federal government agrees to their replacement.

The five state agencies to which the RFI was sent are:
-- Joint Program Office (JPO) in charge of the F-35 Lightning II program built by Lockheed Martin;
-- the Navy Integrated Program Office (NIPO) for the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet;
-- the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) of the French Ministry of Defence for the Dassault Rafale;
-- the Swedish Defence and Security Export Agency (FXM) for the Saab JAS-39 Saab; and
-- the UK Ministry of Defence for the Eurofighter consortium's eponymous fighter, a spokesman for the Defense ministry told the Belga agency.

[jp 74]

I hope the Belgians buy something else as the Dutch.

[Sparkvark]

Yeah!! Begian Super Hornets!!!

[CBR]

How many are they intent to buy??

[Coati]

Between 35 and 55 F-35s according to earlier reports:

http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/id ... 7?irpc=932

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[nils]

the number of aircraft most recently noted by the MoD earlier this year was for 40 aircraft.
however, the N-VA (who will be forming the next goverment) wanted to reduce the number to about 25.

all will depend on how much funding will be made available and the type of aircraft selected.
even though i prefer the Gripen-E/F and the Super Hornet, i think it will most likely be the F-35A,
ordered under pressure from the US, NATO and the Dutch.

[Coati]

I do not think "pressure" from the Dutch or NATO is a factor. Different Nato countries are buying/leasing other planes than US ones (among others France, Germany, Hungary, Czech repulbic). And I do not see how and why The Netherlands would pressure another country in their fighter choice. It will be a matter of requirements, synergy with existing systems and logistics, economics, finance etc.

I agree that 55 will be highly unlikely, 30-40 would be more realistic.

[jeroenvv]

I hope the Belgians will think before they do something, unlike what we (Dutch) did. But it's a political game, so it will probably be a bad decision anyways.

[nils]

the Boeing Company will be visiting Florennes Air Base at the end of this month (from June 30 to July 4).
and will be bringing the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet with them to promote and demonstrate the aircraft to the Belgian Air Force.
pilots will also get a chance to fly the backseat.

http://www.levif.be/info/belga-politiqu ... 768814.htm

[FredL]

After Boeing (F/A-18 E), Saab also looks now to pull out of the competition...

http://www.lalibre.be/actu/belgique/apr ... 263eb93df5

With exception for Rafales (which chances look very limited), just ugly looking competitors remain : F-35 and Eurofighter.

[FredL]

After Boeing (F/A-18 E), Saab also looks now to pull out of the competition...

http://www.lalibre.be/actu/belgique/apr ... 263eb93df5

With exception for Rafales (which chances look very limited), just ugly looking competitors remain : F-35 and Eurofighter.

Airshows will get boring.

[SquAdmin]

Why would the Rafale have less chance to win this competition than the Eurofighter?

[Coati]

I would rate Rafale chances higher for the following reasons:
1 language and connections with France
2 performance, Rafales are only outclassed by F-35s
3 the fact that Belgium operated Mirage Fighters before

Joost

[Daniel Ravenswaay]

As much as I would like to see Belgium choose the Rafale, I think it will be less likely for the following reasons:
- there seems to be a preference for a single engine fighter;
- the capability (or lack of) for carrying the B-61 nuke.

Just my 2 cents...