C-17 & C-130 As Bomber Jets, Argentina's No To JF-17, Meteor & Spear Armed F-35, Five B-21 Raider By Year End

How Rapid Dragon program could convert India’s C-17 and C-130 into Bomber Aircrafts

Rapid Dragon program is an experimentation campaign led by the Air Force Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation office under which it plans to demonstrate that cargo holds of C-17A Globemaster 3 airlifter and an E C-130J Super J can be converted into cruise missiles silos that can para drop AGM-158B Joint Air to Surface Standoff Extended Range cruise missile.

Program plans to arm airlifters and convert them into weapons trucks so that it can offer standoff weapons capability that is far cheaper than fielding additional bombers. For India that operates both of the airlifter fleets and has no conventional bomber aircraft, it might come as a boon to enhance its ground strike capabilities without going bonkers on its budget.

IAF can take inspiration from USAF and work with DRDO to adopt the Rapid Dragon program into the development of local programs where similar capacities can be demonstrated with local weapons systems using BrahMos-NG or CATS Hunter ALCM if the Rapid Dragon program fails to move from experimental concept to reality.

Argentina hasn’t selected JF-17 fighter? Govt clarifies budget request

Over the past week, a number of media outlets had reported that Argentina was planning to buy the JF-17 fighter, being jointly manufactured by Pakistan and China. The JF-17 began as a Chinese project for a light weight, inexpensive multirole fighter, for which Pakistan contributed funds for development.

While China has not purchased the aircraft, it is the Pakistan Air Force’s main fighter, with over 100 aircraft having entered service over the past decade. The aircraft has also been exported to Myanmar and Nigeria.

Last week, Media reports claimed the Argentine government had requested budget allocation of $664 million to buy 12 JF-17 ‘Block 3’ fighters. The JF-17 Block 3 is the latest variant of the type and features a new electronically scanned radar and also more advanced electronics.

However, on Tuesday, the Argentine ministry of defense said that Argentine Air Force had not selected a preferred fighter yet.

Five Next Generation American B-21 Stealth Bombers Could Roll Off Production Lines By Year’s End

Five new B-21 stealth bombers are being built by defence contractor Northrop Grumman. The strategic intercontinental range aircraft are being built at Northrop’s plant in Palmdale California plant, with their first flight having been delayed to 2022.

The B-21 is expected to replace the B-1B Lancer and B2 Spirit bombers in frontline service, as well as to form many new bomber squadrons as the Air Force seeks to expand its fleet.

The bombers will cost approximately $631 million per airframe, making them less than a third the cost of the B2, although it is uncertain if this figure includes the new bomber’s research and development costs.

The fleet size is expected to be over 200 aircraft, although some estimates have been more conservative. The first aircraft are expected to enter service around the year 2027, and are being built with operations in the Pacific Theatre in mind and particularly to penetrate heavily fortified Chinese airspace.

Will Meteor & Spear Missiles Make UK, Italy’s F-35 Stealth Jets Superior To The Americans?

The UK and Italian air forces have chosen to integrate two powerful missiles — Meteor and SPEAR 3 into their F-35 jets. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter is operated by the US and 14 other countries.

The use of the same aircraft by partner nations enhances interoperability and helps in joint missions. For this and other efficiency reasons, Lockheed has refused to provide significant country specific modifications to the fighter although it does allow some weapons capabilities.

The F-35 carries weapons internally in a stealth configuration, or externally in permissible environments with greater than 18,000 pounds of total ordinance.

This highly advanced combat jet is usually armed with AIM-120 advanced medium range air to air missile, AIM-9X “Sidewinder” short range air to air missile, GBU-31 joint direct attack munitions guided bombs, laser guided bombs, and an internal 25 mm GAU-22/A cannon.

Now, the UK and Italy are set to integrate powerful Meteor and SPEAR 3 missiles into their F-35 jets.