Muzz Posted April 13, 2022 Share Posted April 13, 2022 According to the Aviationist, Draken International have won a 3 year contract to provided red air to the MOD using L159E Honey Badgers based out of Teeside airport. https://theaviationist.com/2022/04/12/draken-will-provide-red-air-to-raf/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Vader Posted April 13, 2022 Share Posted April 13, 2022 Honey badgers ? ? Never heard of that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B (Sc) Posted April 13, 2022 Share Posted April 13, 2022 (edited) I think it is their (Draken) name for the Aero Alca, flown as single seaters. An interesting (read slightly odd) choice, given that I think the USAF has just decided not to renew and that they shut down some previous work in the UK quite abruptly, according to some ex-staff. Whether they were unsatisfactory in some way or the USAF has another supplier or process available I don't know. It may be the USAF wants higher capability than the Draken kit allowed. I recall reading that another contract they have is/was in jeopardy, in which case this contract will be even more important to them. Presumably this is supposed to replace 100 Sqn and provide service for both RAF and Navy. Great shame - I believe we are now scraping the barrel in terms of numbers and retained expertise. Previously in-house capabilities replaced by commercial contractors. Can they operate to the levels the services themselves produced? Are they allowed to? - civil ops being held to different standards. Hmm. Discuss ! Edited April 13, 2022 by John B (Sc) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted April 13, 2022 Author Share Posted April 13, 2022 18 minutes ago, John B (Sc) said: An interesting (read slightly odd) choice, given that I think the USAF has just decided not to renew and that they shut down some previous work in the UK quite abruptly, according to some ex-staff. Whether they were unsatisfactory in some way or the USAF has another supplier or process available I don't know. It may be the USAF wants higher capability than the Draken kit allowed. I don't think they've been binned by the USAF completely just the (presumably huge) contract at Nellis AB which isn't being renewed when it ends in June and at the moment their not looking to start a new contract with anyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B (Sc) Posted April 13, 2022 Share Posted April 13, 2022 Thanks Muzz. It might well be quite a large contract at Nellis, which they'd be sorry to lose. Interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Filler Posted April 13, 2022 Share Posted April 13, 2022 Eight of these doesn’t seem many. They may well have better serviceability than the T.1s did, but like all aircraft, they’re not immune to serviceability issues. Also, what range do these have? Based out of Teeside makes it a long way to the Navy’s Thursday War exercises. Or are they exclusive to the RAF? I’m quite surprised that after training and now aggressor work, transport isn’t being at least partially privatised. And maybe Draken could take on QRA as well if it saves a couple of quid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 8 hours ago, Filler said: And maybe Draken could take on QRA as well if it saves a couple of quid. Shush! Feind (=Treasury) hoert mit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 8 hours ago, Filler said: Eight of these doesn’t seem many. They may well have better serviceability than the T.1s did, but like all aircraft, they’re not immune to serviceability issues. Also, what range do these have? Based out of Teeside makes it a long way to the Navy’s Thursday War exercises. Or are they exclusive to the RAF? I’m quite surprised that after training and now aggressor work, transport isn’t being at least partially privatised. And maybe Draken could take on QRA as well if it saves a couple of quid. I wouldn't worry to much not enough gash barges to carry out a thursday war....if you ask me the rot set in when the pusser left PORTLAND Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 23 hours ago, Muzz said: I don't think they've been binned by the USAF completely just the (presumably huge) contract at Nellis AB which isn't being renewed when it ends in June and at the moment their not looking to start a new contract with anyone else. Maybe private hire isn't the answer? Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 19 hours ago, Britman said: Maybe private hire isn't the answer? Keith Maybe they do not want private companies to know 5th gen capabilities in too much detail? Would make sense especially for Nellis... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted April 15, 2022 Share Posted April 15, 2022 Does that mean that our services would be comprised? We have very advanced hardware as well. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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