Hummm.....There are other PMCs operating high performance aircraft in the "training role" as well as some supplying pilots and support personnel for "active" defense needs...Should be interesting to see if this evolves beyond "training" (recall my post yesterday about the USAF using contractors for their UCAVs/armed drones)....
For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://warisboring.com/articles/f-16s-for-private-air-force/
F-16s Could Equip Private Air Force
Discovery Air Defence eyes surplus Vipers
November 28, 2015 ƒU
David Axe
Comments 4
Canadian firm Discovery Air Defence Services flies around two dozen ex-Israeli A-4N Skyhawk fighters and former German Alpha Jet trainers to support the U.S., Canadian and German militaries. The old jets tow aerial targets, conduct radar-jamming during war games and play the role of enemy fighters during mock air-to-air combat.
Several other companies do similar work, some with A-4s of their own. But according to Rich Cooper, writing in Combat Aircraft, Discovery could be the first ¡§adversary¡¨ company to upgrade to much more modern, and more capable, F-16s.
For one reason ¡X the arrival of the F-35 stealth fighter, which demands a better sparring partner. ¡§With the advent of the F-35, military training will have to step up,¡¨ Cooper writes.
Discovery is eyeing four single-seat F-16As and two twin-seat F-16Bs, according to Cooper. He describes the source of the Vipers as ¡§undisclosed,¡¨ but other firms have reportedly inspected Israeli F-16s and the Jewish state is probably Discovery¡¦s seller, too.
Whereas the A-4 is subsonic and has no radar, the F-16 is supersonic and boasts a reasonably modern APG-66 radar. A Viper is more expensive to fly than an A-4 is, but still much, much cheaper than an F-35 is.
But there¡¦s a problem. The F-16 is of American origin. Garrick Ngai, Discovery¡¦s marketing director, told Cooper that the company¡¦s hoped-for acquisition depends on U.S. State Department approval.
But Ngai is optimistic. ¡§In the near future, when we get our supersonic fighters, we will step it up again as a civilian company offering this kind of training.¡¨
For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://warisboring.com/articles/f-16s-for-private-air-force/
F-16s Could Equip Private Air Force
Discovery Air Defence eyes surplus Vipers
November 28, 2015 ƒU
David Axe
Comments 4
Canadian firm Discovery Air Defence Services flies around two dozen ex-Israeli A-4N Skyhawk fighters and former German Alpha Jet trainers to support the U.S., Canadian and German militaries. The old jets tow aerial targets, conduct radar-jamming during war games and play the role of enemy fighters during mock air-to-air combat.
Several other companies do similar work, some with A-4s of their own. But according to Rich Cooper, writing in Combat Aircraft, Discovery could be the first ¡§adversary¡¨ company to upgrade to much more modern, and more capable, F-16s.
For one reason ¡X the arrival of the F-35 stealth fighter, which demands a better sparring partner. ¡§With the advent of the F-35, military training will have to step up,¡¨ Cooper writes.
Discovery is eyeing four single-seat F-16As and two twin-seat F-16Bs, according to Cooper. He describes the source of the Vipers as ¡§undisclosed,¡¨ but other firms have reportedly inspected Israeli F-16s and the Jewish state is probably Discovery¡¦s seller, too.
Whereas the A-4 is subsonic and has no radar, the F-16 is supersonic and boasts a reasonably modern APG-66 radar. A Viper is more expensive to fly than an A-4 is, but still much, much cheaper than an F-35 is.
But there¡¦s a problem. The F-16 is of American origin. Garrick Ngai, Discovery¡¦s marketing director, told Cooper that the company¡¦s hoped-for acquisition depends on U.S. State Department approval.
But Ngai is optimistic. ¡§In the near future, when we get our supersonic fighters, we will step it up again as a civilian company offering this kind of training.¡¨
