Denmark Bails From JSF


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Denmark Bails From JSF - Report

Posted by Bill Sweetman at 3/15/2010 10:08 AM CDT

Denmark's defense ministry is ready to recommend designating the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as its next fighter, in place of the delayed and more expensive F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, according to a report on Danish radio.

According to the report, the Danish decision has been in the works for some months and currently awaits an auditor's review before being forwarded to the full government and to parliament. The Gripen NG has also been ruled out - not a big surprise to Saab, which has scaled back its campaign in Denmark.

Uncertainty about the country's choice of the JSF has risen in recent months, in the context of the program's own difficulties and a recent series of major government procurements gone awry: EH101 Merlin helicopters which were sold back to the UK, Sagen Sperwer UAVs deactivated and sold to Canada, and the much delayed IC4 high-speed train project.

Denmark is also likely to delay both its decision and the delivery date for new fighters, which are expected to enter service in 2017-18. Delays to JSF and the Pentagon's continued consideration of a further multi-year Super Hornet buy mean that the Boeing fighter is more likely to stay in production until then, and extend its retirement date.

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Tags: ar99, denmark, Boeing, jsf

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via wrote:

I find it suprising that fiscally prudent Denmark should want to opt for a large 14 ton twin-engined plane when a single-engined 8 ton fighter-bomber (F16) has served them so well.
The Gripen NG, cheaper to purchase, operate and maintain while probably also offering greater scope for industrial participation would have been a sound choice.
The F18 is a great plane, but perhaps too great.

3/15/2010 11:10 AM CDT

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Bill Sweetman wrote:

If they were offered a Super F-16 they'd probably be interested. My guess is that the RDAF does not want to abandon its long connection with the US.

3/15/2010 11:26 AM CDT

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ijrazz wrote:

If they decide to drop the JSF, hopefully they will go to the Grippen. The F-18E/F is a brick with wings. I've heard navy pilots say the super hornet is better than a regular hornet in every way, except accelleration, turn rate and roll rate. None of which are that important for a fighter type aircraft.

3/15/2010 11:32 AM CDT

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via wrote:

Some years ago Flight International featured an F18E/F test flight. From what I remember that plane is no brick with wings. Let's not turn this into a Trash-the-Super-Hornet blog. PLEASE.

3/15/2010 11:40 AM CDT

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br_dlf wrote:

The choice is not yet official so lets see how things work out.

I would not be too surprised by a F18 choice though. Denmark cannot muster the costs of the JSF, it obviously does not need a lot of the portrayed capabilities of the JSF and had less to loose in industrial compensation anyway.

And with the F18 they will cosyly choose an aircraft that will get approval of their big brother. Having the USNAVY buy Hornets the USA can hardly portray Denmark as 'unloyal' if Denmark will buy Super Hornets and dumps the JSF anyway. And I can hardly believe that the USNAVY will choose the Super Hornet because it is such an inferior aircraft (meaning the Super Hornet is probably not too bad anyway, even compared to the JSF).

If Denmark indeed opts out of the JSF I guess we will see more movement along these lines in the near future.

3/15/2010 11:56 AM CDT

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Solomon wrote:

In sticking to the facts of the matter, Denmark has a very vocal, very organized anti-JSF faction in place. Additionally they're facing the same economic headwinds that the rest of Europe is. Lastly the offsets for their industry is hardly 'as robust' as it is for other nations.

3/15/2010 12:04 PM CDT

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Lebowski Urban Achiever wrote:

I guess the small number of aircraft they plan to buy also is of great influence. (As it is for the Netherlands as well.) Additional funding is unlikely, which means buying fewer aircraft. With an already small number to begin with, you very quickly end up with an air force so small, it doesn't make any sense.

As a sidenote: could somebody (ahum Sweetman ahum) post an overview of the (updated!) cost of the options available to European air forces? (Gripen NG/ F/A-18, F-16, Rafale, EF, JSF) With a fixed budget, I think you would get some pretty big differences in fleet size.

3/15/2010 12:13 PM CDT

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Marcase wrote:

I think Denmarks relations with the US can stand a little rain when regarding a JSF 'bail-out'. I'll be really surprised if Denmark indeed chooses the Super Hornet, as it will probably be the only one of the 'richer' Euro countries to buy an inferior aircraft. I'm not Hornet bashing here, but given the choice between Gripen NG, Typhoon or Super Hornet, it would be smarter to buy the higher end Typhoon. The Gripen NG is a good second choice, especially combined with Meteor and NSM surface and anti-ship missiles. The F-16 Block 60... Really?

Lockheed Martin must now put some real fire under their Euro sales division, because there's the potential of a domino effect here. It's very likely that Holland will have a new government which will be anti-JSF (likely winners will be left-wing PvdA or right-wing PVV, and both are against), and combined with the Danish choice, there will be a momentum for the rest of Europe to join the bandwagon due to budget constraints (thank you Greece).

Whether Denmark chooses the Super Hornet or not, this just *might* be the second change Gripen NG is hoping for.

3/15/2010 12:16 PM CDT

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Hardcore wrote:

The idea that you show loyalty by your buys, and not your actions is damn silly. (However it appears that is how the thinking goes:()
I mean; isn't the Norwegians and Danes members of NATO since long ago?

3/15/2010 12:19 PM CDT

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Marcase wrote:

What is the fear among Euro JSF candidates is that they will loose the F-16 advantage.
By that I mean loosing access to US training facilities (not just Red Flag), insider's (combat) knowledge and huge industry offsets.
The success of the F-16 is (was?) unique, with many operators enjoying a bonus in said industry, training and prestige. And not just in mechanical wrench turning, but in high-end software and metallurgy (to keep up with modifications and repairs).

The stink of the JSF program is that all international partners are needed. US fleet numbers are seemingly dwindling every year, with the unit fly-away price rising accordingly. Even a cut of Denmarks 48 or so planes will have an effect on a program so tightly organized in an effort to keep the price reasonable.

3/15/2010 12:59 PM CDT

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