Page 12 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

NEWS Continental Europe

RNLAF F-35A arrives First two

upgraded
in the Netherlands ATL2s

delivered to
French Navy
THE MARINE Nationale
(French Navy) has received
the first two Atlantique 2
(ATL 2) maritime patrol
aircraft to be upgraded to
Standard 6 configuration.
Transfer of the two aircraft
was authorised by the
Direction générale de
l’armement (DGA, France’s
defence procurement
agency) this summer and
announced by the defence
ministry on October 24.
The prototype and the first
series aircraft arrived at
Lann-Bihoué on July 18 and
August 27 respectively in
their final software version.
A total of 18 of the 22 ATL
Flown by Lt Col Ian ‘Gladys’ Knight, commander of 322 Squadron, F-35A F-009 performs a high-speed pass upon its arrival at 2s operated by Flottilles
Leeuwarden. Kees van der Mark 21F and 23F at Lann-
THE FIRST Netherlands- Serial F-009 was the delivered in 2013, primarily of the 37 F-35s ordered so Bihoué will be modernised
based F-35A arrived at initial Dutch F-35A built for use in the multinational far will be built in Italy. A to Standard 6 under a
Leeuwarden Air Base at the Final Assembly and F-35 Initial Operational Test second aircraft (F-010) will contract signed in October
on October 31 when the Check-Out (FACO) facility and Evaluation (IOT&E) arrive at Leeuwarden before 2013, allowing them to
ninth example built for the in Cameri, Italy, and first effort. The six other jets the end of the year, after serve until at least 2030.
Koninklijke Luchtmacht flew on September 9. The (F-003 to F-008, FMS which the Cameri FACO will Upgraded equipment
(Royal Netherlands Air first eight RNLAF jets were 17-5302 to 17-5307), delivered deliver eight F-35As to the includes a Searchmaster
Force, RNLAF), F-009 (AN- built by Lockheed Martin between February and May RNLAF annually, beginning active electronically
09, FMS 17-5308), touched in Fort Worth, Texas, and this year, are assigned to with F-011 in April/May. scanned array (AESA)
down. Among dignitaries are all permanently based the Nederlands Opleiding The Dutch government radar in place of the
present at the base were in the US. No 323 Test and Detachement F-35 (NODF- confirmed on October 8 that previous Iguane, Thales
Minister of Defence Ank Evaluation Squadron (TES) 35, Netherlands F-35 Training it will acquire a further nine acoustic subsystem,
Bijleveld, State Secretary at Edwards Air Force Base, Detachment) and flown by F-35As next year, bringing Dassault Aviation
for Defence Barbara Visser California, operates two the 308th Fighter Squadron the total to 46. At least one navigation console and
and RNLAF commander F-35As (F-001, FMS 09-5008 at Luke AFB, Arizona, for more follow-on order is new workstations for the
Lt Gen Dennis Luyt. and F-002, FMS 10-5019) pilot training. The final 29 expected. Kees van der Mark tactical display subsystem.
The latter system is able to
Final Luftwaffe Eurofighter… for now operate more sonobuoys

than its predecessor and
THE LATEST, and currently year with the loss of both Tranche 1 jets with new-build announced a proposal for a scan a broader range of
frequencies. The Wescam
the last, Eurofighter on order aircraft and one pilot. Tranche 3 platforms fitted new variant of the fighter to MX-20 electro-optical turret
for the Luftwaffe completed Airbus confirmed recently with active electronically succeed the Tornado ECR is now also fully integrated.
its maiden flight at Airbus that the German government scanned array (AESA) radar in the suppression of enemy Dassault will upgrade
Defence and Space facilities plans to replace its entire and updated software. air defences (SEAD) role. a further five aircraft by
in Manching, Bavaria, on fleet of Tranche 1 Eurofighters Meanwhile, Eurofighter This would be equipped 2023, while the remaining
October 28. The single- under Project Quadriga. is also in the running to with a pair of underwing 11 will be modernised by
seat jet, 31+53 (GS0113), The company said it was replace the Luftwaffe’s escort jammer pods, wingtip the defence ministry’s
is the final Tranche 3A close to signing a contract 85-strong Tornado IDS/ECR emitter locator stations and own aviation workshops.
aircraft for the service. with Berlin to replace the fleet, and Airbus recently MBDA’s SPEAR-EW weapon.
Germany ordered 112
single-seater Eurofighters,
excluding nine Tranche 1
aircraft that were diverted
to Austria and replaced
with new-build examples.
In addition, 30 two-
seaters were ordered.
The Luftwaffe received
32 aircraft from Tranche 1,
the last of which, 30+42,
was delivered to Neuburg
on March 20, 2008. There
followed 79 Tranche 2 jets,
while 31+53 is the last of 30
Tranche 3A jets that will be
delivered (Germany having Single-seat Eurofighter 31+53

decided not to procure its (GS0113), the final Luftwa e
Tranche 3A aircraft, at
38 Tranche 3B aircraft). Manching on October 28.
Two single-seat EF2000s Dr Andreas Zeitler
collided on June 24 this

12 // December 2019 #381 www.Key.Aero

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