Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.
Forum rules
- nils
- Scramble Junior
- Posts: 226
- Joined: 08 Dec 2008, 19:44
- Type of spotter: Military Aviation Enthousiast
- Subscriber Scramble: Nils Steyaert
- Location: Oedelem, Belgie
Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.
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
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
Re: Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.
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
- Scramble Die-Hard
- Posts: 963
- Joined: 23 Jun 2008, 15:02
- Type of spotter: Fotografie
- Subscriber Scramble: jp 74
- Location: Den Bosch
Re: Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.
I hope the Belgians buy something else as the Dutch.
Compromise is failure.
Re: Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.
Yeah!! Begian Super Hornets!!!
- CBR
- Scramble Addict
- Posts: 1314
- Joined: 28 Jul 2010, 12:54
- Subscriber Scramble: Ja
- Location: omgeving EHGR & EHWO
Re: Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.
How many are they intent to buy??
My pictures at Airfighters.com : http://www.airfighters.com/photosearch.php?phgid=2672
- Coati
- Scramble Addict
- Posts: 1561
- Joined: 25 Jun 2005, 19:53
- Type of spotter: S5
- Subscriber Scramble: No
- Location: Meppel, Netherlands
Re: Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.
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 ]
http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/id ... 7?irpc=932
[ Post made via Mobile Device ]
create your own database with www.spottingmode.com
- nils
- Scramble Junior
- Posts: 226
- Joined: 08 Dec 2008, 19:44
- Type of spotter: Military Aviation Enthousiast
- Subscriber Scramble: Nils Steyaert
- Location: Oedelem, Belgie
Re: Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.
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.
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
- Scramble Addict
- Posts: 1561
- Joined: 25 Jun 2005, 19:53
- Type of spotter: S5
- Subscriber Scramble: No
- Location: Meppel, Netherlands
Re: Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.
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.
I agree that 55 will be highly unlikely, 30-40 would be more realistic.
create your own database with www.spottingmode.com
- jeroenvv
- Scramble Junior
- Posts: 114
- Joined: 12 Oct 2010, 14:40
- Type of spotter: Vuur, rook en scheurende herrie
- Subscriber Scramble: nee
- Location: Ede, Netherlands
- Contact:
Re: Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.
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
- Scramble Junior
- Posts: 226
- Joined: 08 Dec 2008, 19:44
- Type of spotter: Military Aviation Enthousiast
- Subscriber Scramble: Nils Steyaert
- Location: Oedelem, Belgie
Re: Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.
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
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
Re: Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.
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.
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.
Re: Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.
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.
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.
Re: Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.
Why would the Rafale have less chance to win this competition than the Eurofighter?
Greetz,
Patrick
Patrick
- Coati
- Scramble Addict
- Posts: 1561
- Joined: 25 Jun 2005, 19:53
- Type of spotter: S5
- Subscriber Scramble: No
- Location: Meppel, Netherlands
Re: Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.
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
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
create your own database with www.spottingmode.com
-
- Scramble Senior
- Posts: 314
- Joined: 29 Jan 2003, 22:36
- Type of spotter: Photographer
- Location: Elst (Gld)
Re: Belgium sends out RFI's for F-16 Replacement.
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...
- 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...
Daniel Ravenswaay
Cleared Hot Aviation Media
Cleared Hot Aviation Media