PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - F-35 Cancelled, then what ?
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Old 5th Aug 2015, 12:07
  #7233 (permalink)  
kbrockman
 
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Looking at that link kbrockman, it doesn't say anything about the M-346s being weaponised. As far as I can make out (according to the English translation), it says they're being procured for training only.

Do you have any other information regarding them being operated as frontline combat jets to complement the F-35s?
Sorry for the Dutch link but it says that they initially would be bought for pilot training and keeping their hours up and that ;
En hoewel de Luchtmacht vooral inzet voor trainingsdoeleinden voor ogen heeft, is de M346 ook operationeel inzetbaar, omdat het toestel voorzien kan worden van wapensystemen.
meaning that it can also be used operationally and equipped with weapon systems.

edit:
Also they buy weapons for it too;
The weapons carried include: MK82 500lb and MK83 1,000lb free fall or retarded bombs; rocket launchers; AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles; Raytheon AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles; MBDA (formerly Alenia) Marte MK-2A anti-ship missiles.
This in combination with what they said on air pretty much clarifies their intent on using it as a cheap operational fighter/attack wherever the F35 is not needed in non contested airspace meaning in 90% of conflicts all but the first days of war.

Last edited by kbrockman; 5th Aug 2015 at 12:18. Reason: extra info
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