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Post by plaque222 on Jul 19, 2014 12:26:40 GMT 12
 This is the scorpion, developed in 2 years using all off the shelf products, and it doesn't have any military contracts yet. The developers sought to fill the market gap between lead in trainers (i.e our new texans) and the high tech f-35 fighters. They are estimated to cost around $3,000 per hour to run (in comparison to the $18,000 that the f-16 costs) and a unit price-tag of $20 mil. In my opinion it would be the perfect aircraft to fill the aching void left by the old strike wing and make us more of a valuable ally. In light of how much East and West relations are deteriorating and a relatively weakened U.S it will leave us to bulk up our own Defence force just a bit in the coming years to contribute usefully in regional operations. Not to mention adding a bit of deterioration. They can also be used for surveillance, so looking for cannabis or fisheries interception and the like. What do you guys think? |
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Post by beagle on Jul 19, 2014 12:30:58 GMT 12
no buyers yet, will be none or limited buyers
will never see a kiwi roundel on them.
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Post by stereoimage on Jul 21, 2014 12:50:09 GMT 12
Im not so sure Beagle. At $20mil per aircraft and less than $3000 operating costs per hour this jet will be attractive to many customers, even those who already operate higher class aircraft but can't afford to use them... Why use an expensive fighter like an F/A-18 for persistent CAS and overwatch when this can do it for longer, cheaper, with a modular ISR payload while still delivery precision guided munitions. The Swiss are looking into them since their Gripen deal got squashed in the referendum, there is a belief that the swiss public is less likely to veto an aircraft 'built by Cessna'. At farnborough they were in discussions with two dozen customers, from all over the world, South America (as a Dragonfly/OV-10 replacement), Europe (as a combined LIFT and ISR utility) and even with the USAF as a candidate for the TX competition. If this was all the NZ Govt could get through as an armed fixed wing platform, its better than nothing! Its quite a big aircraft, and has a useful modular internal payload (ELINT/ISR/IMINT as well as weapons). There is an option for a swept wing also coming. This wing is straight off the Cessna Citation apparently. Its a big gamble they have made, I would think they would have thought it through pretty intensely.    |
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Post by beagle on Jul 21, 2014 16:45:49 GMT 12
maybe other countries, but not in RNZAF colours
no money
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Post by nzjet on Jul 21, 2014 19:48:10 GMT 12
Shouldn't have sold the macchis for less that a mill then should we.
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