Dutch F-16s delivery to Bulgarian AF imminent

[Ranger]

Airspace Reservation active today for the Santa Maria FIR from 1458z till 1907z.

Cheers,
Ranger

[Robinzon]

Will they continue to Belgium tomorrow?

[Reds 314]

Reach81 nearing the Azores (ADSB)

[Captain Ditch]

Will they continue to Belgium tomorrow?

It seems they are expected to arrive at Charleroi on 15 December. An official report does not state that these are handed over to another country, only that the handover to Draken has been delayed.

https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten ... QJ5N85hq88

[Bunzing]

Will they continue to Belgium tomorrow?

It seems they are expected to arrive at Charleroi on 15 December. An official report states that these are not delivered to another country, but that the handover to Draken has been delayed.

https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten ... QJ5N85hq88

Not entirely: it does state that delivery to Draken has been delayed. It does not state that they will not be delivered to another country...

[Captain Ditch]

Not entirely: it does state that delivery to Draken has been delayed. It does not state that they will not be delivered to another country...

You're correct, rephrased my earlier post. I wouldn't be surprised that these aircraft will end up somewhere else indeed, time will tell.

[Worldnis]

Draken lost their ADAIR contract at Nellis this June (a one year extension was not executed by the USAF), so the F-16s are not needed now. Delay for one or two years could mean time to help Bulgaria with a stop-gap measure to start F-16 operations before their first 8 F-16Vs (8 ordered/8 options) will be delivered next year. The why now is of course that their current equipment of MiG-29s and possible Su-25s could then be transferred to Ukraine ASAP. Bulgaria already sent a handful of pilots to the b-course in AZ.

According to salami tactics, we'll probably see further communication after the x-mas break. First, they need some maintenance as Draken would get them as is and would add new equipment themselves at the time of overhauling / phase inspection.

[Piet Luijken]

Kamerbrief in dutch:
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/binaries/r ... tional.pdf

[Ranger]

Today again an Airspace Reservation is active from the US to Lajes. Likely for the second cell NAF F16's.

Cheers,
Ranger

[AK01]

NAF318 is taxying out at Lakeland at 10.50z. Tanker is also airborne.

[Piet Luijken]

Tanker support RCH84
Now on adsb J-882 and J-369.

[GoldenPlane]

2x F-16AM
2x F-16BM

Departed at Lakeland a few minutes ago!

[Piet Luijken]

FIST02 J-369 is turning back and descending, RTB?

[AK01]

FIST02 J-369 is turning back and descending, RTB?

11.42z landing back at Lakeland, callsign on ATC NAF321.
Pieter,

[Piet Luijken]

J-209 did not depart today.