In the aftermath of the NO to finance the Gripen (Federal Votation of Mai 18th, 2014), politic and military leaders of Switzerland are still searching a solution for the future of our Air Force.
From one of the most modern forces in Cold War with more than 750 combat jet aircrafts, Switzerland will becoming an force with only 33 Hornets soon (from 37 delivered four had crashed since):
1960: 182/250/39 DeHavilland Vampire/Venom/Vampire Trainer, 100 Hunter F Mk 58
1980: 103/250/39 DeHavilland Vampire/Venom/Vampire Trainer, 100/52/8 Hunter F Mk 58/F Mk 58A/T Mk 68, 1/36/18/4 Dassault Mirage IIIC/IIIS/RS/B-DS, 66/6 Northrop F-5E/F
1991 (end of Berlin Wall): 100/52/8 Hunter F Mk 58/F Mk 58A/T Mk 68, 1/36/18/4 Dassault Mirage IIIC/IIIS/RS/DS, 98/12 Northrop F-5E/F, 19 BAe Hawk Mk66
2000: 18/4 Dassault Mirage IIIRS/DS, 98/12 Northrop F-5E/F, 19 BAe Hawk Mk66, 26/7 Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet
2015: 30/6 Northrop F-5E/F, 26/5 Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet
2020: 25/5 Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet
(Numbers of Vampire/Venom/Hunter/Mirage and Tiger not corrected due crashes)
Flightworthy Tiger F-5E/F will be decreasing from year to year due policy of not making big maintenances anymore and the last flight will be in between 2018 and 2025 (politic/military sends out other dates every couple of months).
Upgrades/Retrofits of the Swiss Air Force Hornet:
2006: all Hornets received Update21 Phase 1 withhin the budget of 220 Mio CHF (RP 2001): new system software OFP 17C (Operational Flight Program), IFF (Identification Friend/Foe (Bird Slicer antennas)) AN/APX-111 Combined Interrogator Transponder, CIT), exchange of the DMS (Digital Moving Map) with TAMMAC (Tactical Aircraft Moving Map Capability), a new AMU (Advanced Memory Unit) and preparations (Software) for JHMCS and MIDS-Link16-Datalink installed by Phase 2.
2007 - 13: all Hornets received Update21 Phase 2 withhin the budget of 292 Mio CHF (RP 2003) with new system software OFP 19C, Link16 Datalink MIDS (Multifunctional Information Distribution System), Software for using the new AIM-9X Sidewinder and JHMCS, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System)
2013-2016: Last modifications on the Hornet made by RUAG with Upgrade25, integration of the ATFLIR Pod and carrier of up to 10 AIM-120C-7 possible now.
Problems with the Hornets:
Hornets will reach there service time limit of 5000 flighthours in 2025. The limit was already increased due production. Also, some avionic parts are no longer available. 124 structural parts like fuel tanks, steering cylinders and Flaps has to be changed already 'till 2025.
Possible Solution: Increasing the service time limit to 6000 flighhours. With that the fleet can fly 'till 2030. Not an option are further reductions of flightours per squadron pilot, actually 120 hours per year.
Some of the 124 structural parts to be changed for 2016-2025, not including the increase of the service life up to 6000 flighthours - copyright VBS. Hornet J-5003 is the first aircraft for the modifications.
Political question:
The Air Force want's not only increasing the flighthours, but also put some modern systems in the upgrade program. For example:
- upgrade of the 2nd generation communication system to a modern 5th generation system like the Super Hornet
- upgrade of LINK16 hardware to the same system like on the Super Hornet
- change of the actual Night Vision Goggles to the new Night Vision Cueing Device integrated in the helmet.
With all those changes, the Swiss Hornet will be state of the art 'till 2030. Without those modifications on the sensors, it will loose some superiority from 2025 on but still is an very capable aircraft in the role of Air Policy.
Politicians and Military have to watch other Air Arms around Switzerland with the upgrade of there fleets. A lot of Air Forces are not as fast as whished with the integration of state of the art technology - are we willing to reach them with a new fighter in 2030 or do we want the Hornet to have this technology 'till 2025 already ?
(scroll down for more investments needed by swiss defence forces)
Links for further infos (german):
https://www.admin.ch/gov/de/start/dokumentation/medienmitteilungen.msg-id-68721.html
https://www.newsd.admin.ch/newsd/message/attachments/46181.pdf
https://www.newsd.admin.ch/newsd/message/attachments/48444.pdf
https://flytogrimmi.blogspot.ch/2017/09/swiss-socialist-party-supports-european.html
http://www.vbs.admin.ch/de/home.detail.news.html/wissenswertes/2017/171003.html
Pictures:
The three european aircrafts ready to participe in the Evaluation
Up to 19 billion Swiss Francs needed 'till 2035
Air Force and Army has to exchange multiple systems in the very near future: Air Defense, Super Puma and tanks are also arriving the end of there service life. 2018 - 2021 around 3 billion CHF are already spoken for new personal equipment, Communication and Night vision devices, modernisation of the Spz (Schützenpanzer) 2000, modernisation of the Cougar Helicopters and FLORAKO Air Defence system.
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