Post
by herc15 » Tue Sep 13, 2022 2:05 pm
According to Scramble database there are 15 airframes (XX177, XX188, XX202, XX219, XX232, XX242, XX245, XX278, XX295, XX310, XX311, XX319, XX322, XX323, XX325) not sure how many of these are fully converted smoking jets.
Typhoons aren't feasible due to having hugely increased cost per flying hour over a Hawk T.1.Typhoon 70K per hour verses 10K per hour for the Hawk (this was 2010 so likely gone up since).
With the retirement of the rest of the T.1 fleet I should imagine this would increase the pool of spares as they RTP the aircraft at Shawbury so don't see why they can't continue with the T.1 till 2030 as planned. If they can put up 9 jets I see no good reason to replace them with another type with the huge cost that would entail.
Long term allegedly the RAF is looking at 12 of the concept that Aeralis is developing for use by the Reds but anyone's guess as to whether that will happen.