Is Saudi Arabia interested in the F-35?

[BeyondHeretic]

Nobody forced us we joined and actually we are making very good money from it as there is alot of Turkish companies working for the F35 so actually we will get good return for the $10+ billion purchase of the F35s.

Ok , then good luck , but I think Israel will hardly join the f-35 program because they want raptor or nothing , they wanna sell class to the arabs and other countries in the region

 

[Falcon29]

Nobody forced us we joined and actually we are making very good money from it as there is alot of Turkish companies working for the F35 so actually we will get good return for the $10+ billion purchase of the F35s.

Turkey will be able to perform maintenance on them too, right?

 

[Mosamania]

100 F16, 25 F15? Israel had 300+ F16 and 80 F15.

I am talking about the F-1Xi, the only real front line fighters in Israeli inventory. The F-16As and Bs, The F-15As and Bs, make the majority of the count, these jets won't survive 3 seconds against a modern F-15 like the F-15SA or the Typhoon. So Israel will not use them at all in case of a Saudi-Israeli confrontation. Same how Saudi Arabia will not use the F-15Cs and Ds, or the Tornado ADVs we have.

 

[Falcon29]

Ok , then good luck , but I think Israel will hardly join the f-35 program because they want raptor or nothing , they wanna sell class to the arabs and other countries in the region

No, US isn't exporting the F-22. And Israel is very interested in the f-35 and they do want to acquire them before others and that can give them a slight advantage. If comparing to arabic nations, not European. They also don't have much to lose since the lobbying takes care of it for them and the FMF, Pentagon which gives hundreds of millions in contracts to Lockheed to built them with integrated Israeli technology for israel to receive of the bat.

 

[rockstarIN]

The disappointing thing is that our AirForce was closely watching the development of the T-50, however our relations with Russia took a nose dive after the Syrian crisis.

What is disappointing about it?

Relations will get worse, then take a u-turn allways if good monies are involved.

 

[BeyondHeretic]

No, US isn't exporting the F-22. And Israel is very interested in the f-35 and they do want to acquire them before others and that can give them a slight advantage. If comparing to arabic nations, not European. They also don't have much to lose since the lobbying takes care of it for them and the FMF, Pentagon which gives hundreds of millions in contracts to Lockheed to built them with integrated Israeli technology for israel to receive of the bat.

Ok them I must day my info isn't up to date , I thought Israel wanted raptor or nothing et al

 

[Falcon29]

Israel Will Be First Non-U.S. Customer To Fly F-35


“Israel will become the first non-U.S. operator of the F-35 in the world,” said Steve O’Bryan, Lockheed Martin’s vice president for F-35 program integration and business development in an interview at the Paris air show. The first F-35I combat squadron is expected to achieve initial operational capability in 2018.

“

Specific capabilities developed for certain users will remain exclusive, and open to other users only with the original user’s consent. For example, the software blocks pertaining to the Norwegian anti-ship missile will not be available to other F-35 operators except Norway, unless it decides to sell those missiles to one of the F-35 users. The same goes to the Rafael Spice 1000. Similarly, the advanced electronic warfare, data links and specific software modes developed for the Israeli air force will remain unique to Israel and not delivered to any other user. These capabilities will also be fully integrated with the aircraft capabilities, adhering to the stealth characteristics of the aircraft, particularly, at specific apertures cleared for the Israeli systems integration in the lower fuselage and leading edge,” he said.

The first Israeli pilots plan to arrive at Eglin AFB, Fla., for training on the F-35A in early 2016. The first aircraft is tentatively set to be delivered to the Israel air force toward the end of that year, and arrive in Israel in 2017.

These F-35Is will be produced under Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) lots 8, 9 and 10. By that time, all 19 aircraft included under the $2.75 billion order will be delivered to the IAF under the current five-year plan. A follow-on order for more F-35Is is expected in 2018, under the next five-year plan. As the new fighter enters full-production rate, volumes are expected to increase, leading to proportionally lowering cost, expected to drop below $85 million in then-year dollars.

“

With the F-35 Israel is expected to receive the AIM-9X short-range air/air missile (AAM) and the Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM Beyond Visual Range (BVR) AAM,” O’Bryan added. The F-35 currently carries the Raytheon AIM-9X Block at the outboard under-wing stations, in non-stealth configuration, as the current Block I missiles cannot be carried internally. This shortcoming will be corrected in Block II, which is to follow soon.

.................

 

[Mosamania]

No, US isn't exporting the F-22. And Israel is very interested in the f-35 and they do want to acquire them before others and that can give them a slight advantage. If comparing to arabic nations, not European. They also don't have much to lose since the lobbying takes care of it for them and the FMF, Pentagon which gives hundreds of millions in contracts to Lockheed to built them with integrated Israeli technology for israel to receive of the bat.

So what if Israel put its own subsystems on their fighter platforms? Saudi Arabia has begun doing the same thing. The Tornado flight system computer is made in Saudi Arabia, as well as the Tornado and Typhoon targeting pods are made in KSA, latest news is we are going to assemble and manufacture the F-15SA wings and forward fuselage, as well as many electronic subsystems in it.

 

[Falcon29]

So what if Israel put its own subsystems on their fighter platforms? Saudi Arabia has begun doing the same thing. The Tornado flight system computer is made in Saudi Arabia, as well as the Tornado and Typhoon targeting pods are made in KSA, latest news is we are going to assemble and manufacture the F-15SA wings and forward fuselage, as well as many electronic subsystems in it.

This is the alternative for now you're speaking of right? Neat.

UPDATE 1-BAE Systems signs Saudi-Eurofighter deal | Reuters

(Reuters) - British defence contractor BAE Systems said a contract to build 48 Typhoon aircraft in Britain for the Saudi Arabian air force had been signed but changes to the price of the deal had yet to be agreed.

BAE had expected changes to the terms of the deal to be signed off in 2011, but it warned in January this year that talks over proposed adjustments to the final assembly of the last 48 of the 72 Typhoon aircraft would continue into 2012 and could hit 2011 profit.

"

In terms of ... conversion to Tranche 3 and formalisation of price escalation, good progress has been made with budgets approved in December 2011 through the royal decree. Negotiations on price escalation will continue into 2012."

Conversion of the jets to a Tranche 3 variant will see new missile and radar technology added to the Typhoon.

................

 

[Nishan_101]

I am sure now they are looking in to joining in a new 5th generation project.

 

[Falcon29]

I am sure now they are looking in to joining in a new 5th generation project.

I agree since the F15 deal, there was a concession made to israel to include the latest weapons and avionics deal used by the US so I believe they shouldn't let their aerial superiority be challenged. And israel still has over 400 operational combat aircraft. So why wouldn't KSA acquire them? That's my question to Mosamania.

I also wonder what are defense industries response to a 5th generation aircraft. S-500 would be nice...

 

[Yabgu]

Turkey will be able to perform maintenance on them too, right?

Yes

I am talking about the F-1Xi, the only real front line fighters in Israeli inventory. The F-16As and Bs, The F-15As and Bs, make the majority of the count, these jets won't survive 3 seconds against a modern F-15 like the F-15SA or the Typhoon. So Israel will not use them at all in case of a Saudi-Israeli confrontation. Same how Saudi Arabia will not use the F-15Cs and Ds, or the Tornado ADVs we have.

How do you know they won't survive, it's not like they are completely useless like 3rd gen fighter, their also armed with bvr missiles. The F-16s are multirole and will be used for ground in any Israeli action anyway escorted by F-15s so they will be useful.

I don't think their will be any conflict between SA and Israel anyway

 

[bc040400065]

I am talking about the F-1Xi, the only real front line fighters in Israeli inventory. The F-16As and Bs, The F-15As and Bs, make the majority of the count, these jets won't survive 3 seconds against a modern F-15 like the F-15SA or the Typhoon. So Israel will not use them at all in case of a Saudi-Israeli confrontation. Same how Saudi Arabia will not use the F-15Cs and Ds, or the Tornado ADVs we have.

Are u sure about the bolded part? Because as i have read on this forum that in may or june this year PAF F16A & B's consistantly won against saudi F15 and Typoons at a exercise held between the 2 airforces. IF you search abit you will find the thread it was may or june when exercise was held, i don't eactly remember it now. So how u can claim the Isreali older F16 A/B are sitting duck against Saudi Typoons or Eagles.?

 

[T-123456]

Turkey will be able to perform maintenance on them too, right?

Yes all our F-16 facilities(TAI) will be adapted to the F-35.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Nice discussion...