I have two questions that are unrelated to each other, but I figure starting one thread is easier than starting two.
1: Are there any plans at all for a replacement for the E2-D Hawkeye?
2: For the past 3 weeks (as long as I've been back in Israel) every time I drive past Ben Gurion Airport I can see an A-50 Mainstay near some of the aircraft hangars. I've searched all over and can't seem to find anything on the internet as to why Israel suddenly has a Russian AWACS plane. I was wondering if perhaps anybody here has seen/read anything about that? Just mild curiosity, I'm sure I'll survive if I don't know why we have a Mainstay...
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
Abusing Yellow is meant to be a labor of love, not something you sell to the highest bidder.
With the CSA program getting the axe, there's nothing new to replace the E-3 airframe on the horizon.Originally Posted by bigross86
The E-2D itself won't even reach IOC until next year.
Can you see what national markings are on it? The Indian Mainstays have the Israeli Phalcon radar system, so that's probably why it's been there for so long: Repair, refit, upgrade, training etc.
Didn't get a chance to see any markings, but that sounds as feasible a reason as any, I guess...
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
Abusing Yellow is meant to be a labor of love, not something you sell to the highest bidder.
I see the next carrier-borne AWACS aircraft being unmanned, seeing how there's nothign in the pipeline to replace the Hawkeye's or Greyhounds.
I'd bet the E-3 replacement ends up being a variant of either the E-767 used by the JASDF or the 737 AEW&C Wedgetail being built for the RAAF.
You know JJ, Him could do it....
Do you know what airframe they were considering for the CSA? Was it a legacy airframe, or all-new?
"Yeah. See, we plan ahead, that way we don't do anything right now. Earl explained it to me." - Tremors, 1990
Maybe an AWACS version of the X-47B or -47C?
"Yeah. See, we plan ahead, that way we don't do anything right now. Earl explained it to me." - Tremors, 1990
Brand-freaking-new all the way, radically so if some of the suggested designs are to be believed.
This is a very old and outdated (2002) article, but it's got some good pictures.
Aerospaceweb.org | Ask Us - Common Support Aircraft
The Indian Airforce is supposed to get its 2nd Phalcon (IL-76 body) in March 2010 from Israel so its probably the one.2: For the past 3 weeks (as long as I've been back in Israel) every time I drive past Ben Gurion Airport I can see an A-50 Mainstay near some of the aircraft hangars. I've searched all over and can't seem to find anything on the internet as to why Israel suddenly has a Russian AWACS plane. I was wondering if perhaps anybody here has seen/read anything about that? Just mild curiosity, I'm sure I'll survive if I don't know why we have a Mainstay...
Follow up question: Is there an inherent advantage to having a Radome on an AWACS plane i.e. E-3/A-50, as opposed to the IAI EL/M-2075 Phalcon which doesn't have a Radome? Does it really make that much of a difference?
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
Abusing Yellow is meant to be a labor of love, not something you sell to the highest bidder.
Wow! No kidding . . . . that first one looks like a supersonic version of the S-3.
"Yeah. See, we plan ahead, that way we don't do anything right now. Earl explained it to me." - Tremors, 1990
That'd be a question for Jimmy
Jimmy? Any answers?
(Psst.... Who's Jimmy?)
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
Abusing Yellow is meant to be a labor of love, not something you sell to the highest bidder.
Why change airframes if the air frame works?
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet: The Honda Accord of fighters.
Our resident USAF AWACS expert
A little more help? A hint? Initials, name of first born child, anything?Our resident USAF AWACS expert
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
Abusing Yellow is meant to be a labor of love, not something you sell to the highest bidder.
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