8 novembre 2018 | International, Aérospatial
"C'est au terme d'une sélection transparente présentée au Parlement, procédure unique au plan européen pour ce type d'investissements sensibles, que l'avion américain a remporté le marché en l'emportant dans l'intégralité des 7 critères majeurs retenus. Pour couronner le tout, le F-35 affiche le prix le plus bas", affirment l'ancien colonel aviateur Luc Gennart, désormais échevin MR à Namur, et le général de brigade Raymond Dory, ex-conseiller militaire du ministre des Affaires étrangères Didier Reynders.
"Les retours sociétal et industriel vont pouvoir être maintenant négociés très concrètement entre l'avionneur et les acteurs institutionnels et industriels belges. Ils s'annoncent d'ores et déjà prometteurs", ajoutent les deux anciens officiers, dans une carte blanche adressée à plusieurs quotidiens. Ils rappellent que le choix du F-35 du groupe américain Lockheed Martin a provoqué des "réactions courroucées", principalement à Paris, qui avait proposé - mais en dehors de la procédure officielle - son avion de combat Rafale, alors que le Royaume-Uni promouvait l'Eurofighter Typhoon.
Selon MM. Gennart et Dory, le reproche est fait à la Belgique d'affaiblir la défense européenne est "proprement inacceptable". "Le Danemark, l'Italie, le Royaume-Uni et les Pays-Bas (sans parler de la Norvège, hors UE) ont fait le choix du F-35, les accuse-t-on de torpiller la défense européenne? ", s'interrogent-ils.
20 juin 2023 | International, Aérospatial
Raytheon Technologies said on Tuesday it has received a $1.15 billion contract from the U.S. Air Force for its AIM-120 D-3 and C-8 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles).
20 février 2023 | International, Aérospatial
This potential partnership would establish a second F-35 center fuselage integrated assembly line (IAL) in Germany, expanding the significant role European industry plays in the F-35 program.
30 septembre 2019 | International, Aérospatial
Graham Warwick Italy has become the first F-35 operator to deploy the fifth-generation fighter on a NATO mission, sending the aircraft to perform air policing in Iceland. Six Italian F-35s touched down at Keflavik airfield on Sept. 25 for the temporary deployment. Unlike the Baltic Air Policing mission, which is supported year-round by NATO air forces, the Icelandic mission usually lasts several weeks and occurs three-four times each year. The F-35s are due to make Iceland their home for three weeks. According to NATO's Air Command, the deployment by Italy is the country's fifth detachment to Iceland and the second this year; Rome previously provided Eurofighter Typhoons for the mission. “The Italian Air Force detachment is scheduled to work with the controllers at the Combined Air Operations Center in Uedem, Germany, and the Control and Reporting Center at Keflavik, Iceland,” NATO Air Command officials said. No details of the deployment had been released by the Italian air force or defense ministry at the time of writing. The deployment was supported by one of Italy's Boeing KC-767 tanker aircraft, a C-130J airlifter, and a P-72 maritime patrol derivative of the ATR-72 providing cover in the event of an ejection over water. The F-35s will perform a series of familiarization flights to achieve certification for the mission. Italy declared its F-35s operational last November, becoming the fourth air arm to do so after the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Air Force and the Israeli Air Force. Iceland does not have an air force, and the U.S. stopped basing fighters on the island in 2006, prompting the government in Reykjavik to request occasional fighter deployments starting in 2008. NATO describes the mission as a “peacetime preparedness mission,” helping the country to “stay prepared, to monitor and to manage its airspace in peacetime.” The UK Royal Air Force will deploy Typhoons to the island later this year. https://aviationweek.com/defense/italian-f-35s-iceland-first-nato-deployment