F-35 flies against A-4s: F-35 pilots lyrical about F-35

drakenintl · by **drakenintl** » 08 Sep 2015, 05:23

For everyone interested in the EM equations, it should be noted that this exercise was not about BFM abilities. The objective was interoperability of F-35 and F-16 working against radar and EW-equipped adversaries. If this was about BFM, we would have sent up slicked down A-4N's that can be 1:1 on half-internal fuel. The A-4N motor has 17% more thrust than the A-4K.

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 08 Sep 2015, 06:00

Thanks 'drakenintl'. Are you the DRAKEN historian? I have been meaning to send the link to my A4G PDF history info to that person but had forgotten (a suggestion from an old USN A-4 warbird pilot who visits Draken suggested I do same). Do you have a link to that 'Draken A-4 Historian' please. My info is about the SIX ex-A4Gs [three original build A4Gs & three second-hand A-4Fs modified to A4G] etc. that ended up at DRAKEN (modified as you have pointed out by the Kiwis). TIA. Microsoft OneDrive: https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=cbcd63d6 ... =822839791 (have to register for free to see the free files to download) same as on GoogleDrive: https://drive.google.com/?authuser=0#fo ... 0szeVJFY0U BOTH 'SpazSinbad' pages.

On page one of this thread an example: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=27850&p=300213&hilit=Vietnam#p300213

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 27 Sep 2015, 11:22

Going Skinny
Oct 2015 Mark Ayton

"...During August, BK-01 participated in a series of high-end multinational COMAOs (Combined Air Operations) involving four F-16s, two F-35s, a KDC-10 tanker and four different types of surface-to-air missile systems. Six aircraft were from the Royal Netherlands Air Force: four F-16s detached to Edwards from the detachment at Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Wing based at Tucson International Airport, the KDC-10 tanker and a single F-35A. Red Air adversaries for each mission were provided by contractor-operated A-4 Skyhawk fighters.

The fifth-generation F-35s provided fighter escort for the F-16s, but the Dutch F-35A hosted the strategic picture of the battle space and fed the data to the strikers. Host is a tactical term that refers to target identification and placing those targets on the link for handover to the strikers.

The F-35s entered the target area despite the presence of the SA-2 Guideline, SA-6 Gainful and SA-8 Gecko surface-to-air missiles due to their low-observable credentials. This kind of target ingress is colloquially known as ‘going in skinny’.

The boss explained: “We were able to shape the battle space and find targets by using the synthetic aperture radar [SAR] mode. We were linking those back to the F-16s and taking out pop-up threats so the F-16s could go in and strike the targets we’d identified. At the same time we were spinning roles, suppressing any regenerated aircraft [the A-4s] that were coming up, and then we led the F-16s out of the area. It was a proper fourth and fifth-gen integration trial.

“Integration between F-35 and F-16 was impressive and, in some areas, above our aspirations.” Wg Cdr Beck was also surprised at the number of targets he was able to host. In late August the BK-01 flew signature trials, a part of the Joint Strike Fighter programme against the UK’s rig of sensors called Robocop. This was 17 Squadron’s first full data-gathering trial. The aircraft was flown against the rig in important profiles and regimes of flight. “That’s at the cutting edge of research and the development of the tactics,” said Wg Cdr Beck...."

Source: Air International OCTOBER 2015 Vol.89 No.4

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 30 Sep 2015, 22:15

Draken International Awarded United States Air Force Commercial "Adversary" Contract
30 Sep 2015 DRAKEN PR

LAKELAND, Fla., Sept. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Draken International, the leading provider of 4th-generation tactical flight services, has been contracted to provide adversary support for the United States Air Force. Flying the industry's most advanced Douglas A-4K Skyhawk and Aero Vodochody L-159E ALCA fighter jets, Draken is able to replicate numerous types of threat aircraft. Draken aircraft are equipped with modern radars, electronic attack pods, and are operated by highly-skilled reserve and former-military professionals. This unique service will result in considerable cost savings for the USAF and preserves military assets, such as F-16s and F-15s, while still achieving necessary training.

The Draken-operated A-4K Skyhawks and L-159E ALCAs are uniquely configured to meet USAF adversary support requirements. This includes modern fire-control radars, counter-measures, HUD, HOTAS, training missiles, long endurance, low operating costs, and other advanced avionics that are relevant to the adversary mission. The A-4K Skyhawk and L-159E ALCA were engineered to have the reliability and efficiency of a 3rd-generation aircraft, but equipped with the sensors and sophistication of a 4th-generation fighter jet.

"We are excited to begin delivering a professional, safe, and highly-capable aggressor service to the United States Air Force. Personally, I am really looking forward to integrating with and complementing the USAF Nellis-based aggressors. They have served this essential mission for a long time and are some of the finest in the world," expressed Col. Terry "Stretch" Scott, a recently-retired USAF F-22 pilot and Nellis Detachment Commander for Draken International....

...The fiscal environment has resulted in significantly constrained defense budgets on a global level. In order to achieve readiness, militaries around the world are turning to innovative solutions to achieve training objectives. This adversary contract for the USAF is just one example of several cost-saving solutions Draken is able to provide using commercially-operated fighter aircraft. Draken was also recently contracted to perform international air-to-air threat simulation for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at Edwards Air Force Base. Other Draken missions include research and development, flight instruction to military students, Navy ship defense training, and other cost-saving services using the company's fleet of tactical fighter aircraft...."

Source: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases ... 51632.html

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 05 Nov 2015, 15:51

Fourteen page PDF attached about DRAKEN and Discovery Air Defence Aircraft including A-4s with DRAKEN operating the Ex-South Pacific Skyhawks as noted above and elsewhere on this forum. DRAKEN six pages have info about the Dutch F-35s. Photos attached are from this section of the attached PDF from Combat Aircraft Monthly December 2015.

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 06 Nov 2015, 07:15

This video was posted recently on the 'A4G' thread about range elsewhere but maybe worthwhile here also. 'T-Bird' is old USN and then RAN FAA slang for the Trainer Two Seater Skyhawk. So by mid 1984 'daddy has tooken the T-bird away'. :roll:

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 06 Nov 2015, 23:52

Video also repeated on Skyhawk thread but relevant here also. KAHU update info to A-4K c.1989. The New 'not available before' Air to Air Radar is said to be F-16 equivalent. Lots of other goodies including a HUD explained.

A-4K KAHU RNZAF Skyhawk Aircraft 1989 Upgrade 34m46s

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 08 Nov 2015, 04:31

A-4K KAHU new front cockpit. & from flightglobular back in the day... & TA-4K view (formerly TA4G 880 now at FAAM).

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 27 Nov 2015, 07:48

Skyhawk RNZAF A-4K Kahu (ex-A4G Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm) DRAKEN 2014 excerpt from corporate video.

Note the reason 'why my probe is bent sir' - see the fuel gush from the shuttlecock when the TA-4K Kahu disconnects.

2014 DRAKEN ex-A4G RAN FAA ex-A-4K Kahu RNZAF Skyhawks

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 12 Jan 2016, 05:15

Good explanation about the KAHU 'F-16like' update and what it means to USAF these days of reduced aircraft availability.

Former RAN Skyhawks at Nellis, 2015
ON THE ROGER Published on Dec 17, 2015

"Vid by Nellis AFB, USAF.
Read more at http://ontheroger.proboards.com

Corsair1963 · by **Corsair1963** » 12 Jan 2016, 05:59

My office is just a short distance from Draken International. Yet, I've never seen them fly out of Lakeland Regional Airport???

johnwill · by **johnwill** » 12 Jan 2016, 07:32

Does that gushing fuel ever cause a problem if it goes into the inlet?

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 12 Jan 2016, 07:37

'JW' sure does - one reason why the A-4 probe became bent (thru mod or manufacture) from about 1971. Several A-4s were lost when fuel from ARF (AirReFuel) went down the right engine intake - fuelling not always from a Skyhawk buddy tanker system. What is seen in the video looks at the top of the range for a wet refuel - most of my plugs-ins were dry. Our A4Gs were not modified until early 1972 or thereabouts - I have used the straight and bent probe. Probably we practiced only/mostly dry due to the issue of fuel down intake before bent probe came along. Early Skyhawks with straight probes pioneered the buddy tanker system.

KamenRiderBlade · by **KamenRiderBlade** » 12 Jan 2016, 08:29

Spaz, if you had the opportunity to fly the newest A-4's one last time, even in a trainer model where you had a younger guy supervising you on the avionics; would you do it?

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 12 Jan 2016, 08:37

FOR REALS?! Mid-December I was emergency hospitalised with bi-lateral heart failure. In six days I recovered well and I'm now on medication and long-term monitoring of the condition; which is likely to worsen as the years roll-on, so I think your dream for me is - unlikely at age 67. I blame the catapult - that was one times one hundred plus punches in the chest - at 6G - I did not need; but others MMV. However for someone fit enough that ride sounds cool - I can always visualise. In fact we were (or I was) taught that method in RAAF advanced flying training in the Vampire '68 (before 'visualisation' was a buzzword later) by a really switched on jet instructor - it helped me get to the A4G for sure & I'm most grateful. :mrgreen: