Page 7 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

Subscribe to www.airforcesmonthly.com
for breaking news stories. E-mail the news team
at edafm@keypublishing.com

Croatia issues fi ghter RFP USAF lines

up second-

hand
747-8s for
new Air
Force One

THE US Air Force is
preparing to buy two
commercial Boeing
747-8 aircraft to replace
the VC-25As (747-200Bs)
currently flown as
Air Force One by the
Presidential Airlift
Group assigned to Air
Mobility Command’s
Above: One option for Croatia’s future fi ghter is the second-hand F-16A/B Netz, an example of which is seen in Israeli Air Force 89th Airlift Wing at
service with 116 ‘Defenders of the South’ Squadron prior to the type’s retirement last December. IAF/Carmel Horowitz Joint Base Andrews,
FOLLOWING THE initial at Zagreb International Gripen offered by to the MORH by the Maryland. Before taking
evaluation process of the Airport (commonly Saab) and the US (used end of this year, after office, Donald Trump
potential contenders (see referred to as Pleso). and/or new F-16s). which the MORH and criticised the projected
Gripen presented in Croatia, The RFP has been It is understood that government will have cost of the Presidential
July, p7) the Ministarstvo submitted to the the interested parties the final word. Flight Aircraft Recapitalization
Obrane Republike embassies of five will have 75 days (ie performance, technical programme.
Hrvatske (MORH, Croatian countries identified by early October) to characteristics and final The two 747-8s,
Ministry of Defence) by the MORH as submit their proposals price will be scrutinised, N894BA and N895BA,
issued an official request potential suppliers of to MORH. The special along with potential were part of four
for proposals (RFP) for the ‘new’ aircraft. advisory team formed offset arrangements. originally ordered in
the acquisition of a multi- These are Greece late last year by the Even though the MiG-21s 2013 by Transaero,
role fighter to replace its (second-hand F-16C/ current defence minister are officially expected to Russia’s second-largest
MiG-21s on July 20. The Ds), Israel (second- will then review them. remain in use until as late airline until it went
Fishbeds are operated by hand F-16A/B Netz – Retired high-ranking as 2024, it is highly likely bankrupt two years
the only combat aircraft with the possibility to HRZ i PZO personnel are that the MORH would later. Only two aircraft
unit of the Hrvatsko upgrade them to F-16 predominant in this team, insist on acquiring their were completed for
Ratno Zrakoplovstvo i ACE standard offered including three of its replacement by 2020, the Transaero contract.
Protuzračna Obrana (HRZ by Israel Aerospace former commanders and enabling the MiG-21s USAF officials have
i PZO, Croatian Air Force), Industries), South Korea two highly experienced to retire well before begun negotiations
the Eskadrila Borbenih (FA-50 offered by Korea MiG-21 pilots. their scheduled end of with Boeing to
Aviona (EBA, Combat Aerospace Industries), The team is expected service life. Vladimir acquire the aircraft.
Aircraft Squadron) based Sweden (JAS 39C/D to present its decision Trendafilovski “We’re still working
toward a deal to provide
DoD plans MD530F buy force – this deal is
two 747-8s to the air
focused on providing a
great value for the air
THE US Department (HMP). The Enhanced-MEP M151 rockets and M274 helicopters would also be force and the best price
of Defense (DoD) has (E-MEP) is also requested, smoke rockets to the fitted with electro-optical/ for the taxpayer,” said
unveiled plans to this adding 70mm (2.75in) weapons options. The infrared (EO/IR) sensors. Boeing spokeswoman
purchase up to 120 Caroline Hutcheson.
MD530F light attack The 747-8s were
and reconnaissance flown to the Southern
helicopters to equip California Logistics
allied armed forces. The Airport in Victorville in
helicopters, which have the Mojave Desert for
already been delivered storage in February.
to Afghanistan and Saudi The Pentagon’s
Arabia, would be acquired 2018 budget request,
over a five-year period submitted to Congress
by the US Army’s Non- in February, includes
Standard Rotary-Wing a total of $3.2bn to
Aircraft Project Office be spent on two new
(NSRWA PO) for as-yet Air Force One aircraft
unannounced operators. between 2018 and 2022.
The plan was disclosed The air force is unlikely
on the Federal Business to disclose the specific
Opportunities website on value of the deal, but
July 20. The helicopters the average price of a
would be procured new 747-8 is $386.8m.
under indefinite delivery/ They will receive a
indefinite quantity (IDIQ) new communications
contracts and provided system, defensive
with the Mission Equipment countermeasures, and
Package (MEP), which measures to withstand
includes the FN Herstal Above: An Afghan Air Force MD530F fi res its two FN HMP gun pods during a media demonstration a nuclear explosion.
Heavy Machine Gun Pod at a training range outside Kabul, Afghanistan, in April 2015. USAF/Staff Sgt Perry Aston

www.airforcesmonthly.com #354 SEPTEMBER 2017 // 7