Julien Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 Looks like Air USA a private military contractor is to buy 46 ex Aussie F/A-18s to use in the Air combat training in the US https://defence-blog.com/news/u-s-private-contractor-buys-46-australian-retired-f-a-18-hornet-fighters.html?fbclid=IwAR3fWtJDsPuYn6oOJePbGLtaejCZaOlfWlVinHQyche1VT4P0oR5qNPx-Kw Julien 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted March 8, 2020 Share Posted March 8, 2020 Oh! That is a step up in capability! Wonder when they will start replacing regular forces and work like mercenaries... See what Blackwater did in Iraq... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slater Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 Aren't these aircraft nearing the end of their useful service lives? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 On 3/8/2020 at 9:12 AM, exdraken said: Oh! That is a step up in capability! Wonder when they will start replacing regular forces and work like mercenaries... See what Blackwater did in Iraq... I hope never... IMHO there is already an excessive use of PMCs and similar contractors, States should go back to committing their own soldiers if they want to wage war rather than leving the business to private companies that are rarely accountable for their actions. But no, it's so much easier to send PMCs who employ men from wherever possible and if they die there's no problem of having coffins coming back wrapped in a flag with all the potential consequences on the public opinion. And if it's necessary to "do the dirt", whatever action they do can be easily denied by the same governments who employ them. Imagine what could happen the day that PMCs would have the availability of frontline combat aircraft ? Not that there aren't already mercenary jet pilots, there have been for decades in some parts of the world, but at least they nominally fly the aircraft of proper air forces. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 What happens if any of these guys get captured by the enemy? I doubt they would be afforded "Prisoner of War" status. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vultures1 Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 I think that, as per @Julien's original post, these are to provide air combat training services in the US, not overseas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted March 9, 2020 Author Share Posted March 9, 2020 4 hours ago, Slater said: Aren't these aircraft nearing the end of their useful service lives? They are servicing and repairing them prior to sale. So Air USA is not getting dud worn out airframes. 21 minutes ago, Vultures1 said: I think that, as per @Julien's original post, these are to provide air combat training services in the US, not overseas. Yes they are for training use in the US, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzn20 Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 Never mind all that .. What's the baggage allowance ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 'Up to 46', there are 71 airframes left in the fleet with 25 going to Canada (and at least 3 have already been delivered), with 4 already going to museums (plus a few more I expect to other who are interested) the number will be under 40 going to the USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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