The Germans are coming!

[marauder2048]

Here a video presentation of the political and industrial problems in Germany related to a possible buy of F/A-18 Supoer Hornets and EA-18 Growlers. He is german, but speaks English. This buy is not as easy as the german minister would like.

Why Germany is NOT buying the F/A-18 Super Hornet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7NuNDlJBBI

He brings up a good point about the state of the SH production line.

FY2021 is now the last year of USN SH buys; the stated purpose for
ending SH production is to convert the production line over to SLM work.

I thought the last SH for Kuwait is due in 2022? Or is that also scheduled for 2021?

Based on what's actually under contract, it looks like 2021.

https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=112750

[bring_it_on]

After the first few Block III's are handed to the USN they'll shift entirely to the Kuwait program. Once that is done, I'd assume Boeing will have about 3 years worth of production for the USN. This assumes that the Congress doesn't add more SH's in the FY21 budget, or the Navy/Congress don't add it into the FY22 budgets given Boeing's current financial state. Assuming the German order comes through, and some additional luck for Boeing, the line could still be producing aircraft come 2027. That would be remarkable if it wasn't sad..

[Corsair1963]

After the first few Block III's are handed to the USN they'll shift entirely to the Kuwait program. Once that is done, I'd assume Boeing will have about 3 years worth of production for the USN. This assumes that the Congress doesn't add more SH's in the FY21 budget, or the Navy/Congress don't add it into the FY22 budgets given Boeing's current financial state. Assuming the German order comes through, and some additional luck for Boeing, the line could still be producing aircraft come 2027. That would be remarkable if it wasn't sad..

Sad but not unexpected either....

[Corsair1963]

Boeing Says It Will Need to Borrow More Money on Coronavirus Fallout

(Source: Reuters; published April 27, 2020)

By David Shepardson, Allison Lampert


Boeing Co will need to borrow more money over the next six months and does not expect to pay dividends again for years, as the U.S. planemaker wrestles with industry fallout from the coronavirus and the grounding of its 737 MAX jet, chief executive Dave Calhoun told shareholders on Monday.

“We know we’re going to have to borrow more money in the next six months in order to get through this really difficult moment, to provide the right liquidity to the supply chain that represents our industry,” Calhoun said during the company’s virtual annual general meeting.

“Our first priority is going to be to pay that back, the principle and the interest that goes with it.”

Boeing would continue ordering parts and services from its suppliers to ensure the smaller companies have enough business to keep them afloat during the downturn, he said.

“We have to keep that flow of money going to the supply chain so that they have some predictability around how they operate.”

Boeing is trying to bring its 737 MAX jet back into service after two fatal crashes, even as the aviation industry slumps because of the coronavirus, which has dried up demand for passenger air travel.

Calhoun said Boeing expects it will take two to three years for travel to return to 2019 levels and an additional few years more for the industry’s long-term trend growth to return.

Calhoun warned shareholders he is not confident Boeing will resume paying dividends in the medium-term.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boei ... SKCN22921Q

[spazsinbad]

OLDies & GOLDies 'bout B-61s getting plonked into the F-35A from the swaybackmachina:

Nuclear Lightning
17 Mar 2014 John A. Tirpak

"NATO partners buying the F-35 want the Air Force to pick up the development tab to make the aircraft nuclear capable, Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh told the House Armed Services Committee Friday. In response to questions from Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Welsh said the Air Force has “committed to making the F-35 dual-capable;” i.e., able to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons. “There is discussion ongoing” with NATO F-35 customers, who “don’t believe they can afford to do that with their own [F-35s] without our support,” he added. These countries are “responsible for paying the cost to integrate capability on their aircraft,” however, he said. Larsen wanted to know what USAF will do if NATO partners don’t replace their nuclear-capable aircraft in the 2020s and beyond. Welsh said the cost is “not insignificant,” but if some can’t afford it, “the other NATO nations that have those capabilities . . . will pick up the load.” Talks are underway, and “we do have the capacity to pick up the load,” Welsh reported. USAF requested $15.6 million in the Fiscal 2015 budget to refine F-35 dual-capable requirements. By 2024, the Block 4B aircraft is supposed to be capable of carrying two B61 nuclear shapes internally, according to budget documents. The B61 is also being modernized and given a life extension modification."

Source: https://www.airforcemag.com/nuclear-lightning/

Only USAF Making F-35 Dual-Capable
23 Sep 2015 John A. Tirpak

"The US Air Force is the only F-35 user with a requirement that the jet be able to carry nuclear weapons, but that capability won’t be available until the mid-2020s, Program Director Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan said. USAF’s dual-capable requirement is “unique,” Bogdan said in a planeside interview with Air Force Magazine at JB Andrews, Md., on Sept. 18, where the F-35 was being readied for display at an airshow. The delaying factor isn’t the jet, however, but the weapon, he noted. The updated B61 tactical nuclear weapon “is not fully developed yet, and won’t be … until the ’20s,” Bogdan said. “So we don’t see the marrying-up of our capability and that weapon until probably the mid-’20s, but it’s going to happen.” Bogdan said that B61 “shapes” were tested on F-35As “this summer” to provide testers with data on “the weapons bay … the environment, … heating, vibration,” and other factors. Testers are now using that information “to make sure it’s right,” he added. The Department of Energy is building the weapon itself and the Air Force is building the bomb’s tailkit."

Source: https://www.airforcemag.com/only-usaf-m ... l-capable/