Showing posts with label F-35. Show all posts
Showing posts with label F-35. Show all posts

Thursday 11 August 2016

No F-35 For Singapore ... For Now .. And What's The Deal With Guam?




F-35B of the 501st Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron ( VMFAT-501 ),
 MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina.
Photo taken on 19th Mar 2015 Lockheed Martin  



State Dinner : What's On The Menu?



At the invitation of the President of the United States Barack Obama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong made an official visit to the US to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations and to further enhance the bilateral strategic partnership that the two countries had enjoyed so far. The state visit had taken place from 31 July to 5th August 2016. The two leaders had many things to discuss, from boosting trade and commerce links to strengthening people-to-people ties through exchange scholarships and implementation of trusted traveler programs, addressing regional and global challenges including climate change, global terrorism, freedom of navigation, and last but not least, enhancing security and defense cooperation.



Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong and President Obama at the White House
 2nd Aug 2016. Photo : US Embassy



A state dinner at the White House was also hosted in Singapore's honor on 2nd Aug 2016, the 11th so far by the Obama Administration in his eight years in office. Singapore was the fifth Asian country to receive this honor, after India, China, Japan and South Korea. During the black tie event attended by 200 prominent guests including Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. PM Lee returned the honor by unveiling a Singapore cultivated orchid hybrid named after the US President and the First Lady, Dendrobium Barack and Michelle Obama, to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations. It is a cross between a hybrid native to Hawaii where Mr. Obama was born, the D. Pink Lips, and a Singapore hybrid known as D. Sunplaza Park.


The Dendrobium Barack and Michelle Obama
( D. Pink Lips x D. Sun Plaza )
 is a robust and free flowering orchid hybrid named in the honor of
the POTUS and the First Lady celebrating 50 years of
bilateral relations between the US and Singapore.
Photo : MCI via Straits Times


With bilateral ties at an all time high, as they should be, and knowing that Singapore has been interested in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for the longest time yet is always in no hurry to make the final decision, the question that many will ask is, was the F-35 on the State Dinner menu? Could a possible F-35 foreign military sale ( FMS ) to Singapore be Obama's last hurrah in his lame duck period?

As usual, some background information to provide the reader with the right perspective is always appropriate.



State Dinner Menu 2nd Aug 2016 :
Maryland Blue Crab, American Wagyu Beef, Local Tomato Salad
and Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter?!
Original Image Singapore Embassy in Washington DC





US and Singapore : 50 Years of Diplomatic Relations And More




Fifty one years ago, on 9th Aug 1965, the tiny South East Asian nation of Singapore was born in anguish, having been unceremoniously kicked out of the Federation of Malaysia like an unwanted child. Before that, it had been a British crown colony since 1819, until it achieved self-governance in 1959 and subsequently joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963.

As a small island nation without natural resources and at that time surrounded by potentially hostile neighbours, Singapore needed friends, and fast. Friends whom it could learn from, trade with, garner political support and who could lend a helping hand when it was needed. It was a matter of survival.

And among the first few countries to recognize Singapore as a sovereign country after it declared its independence from the Federation of Malaysia was the good old United States of America under the leadership of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Official recognition came on 11th Aug 1965 in a letter from Secretary of State Dean Rusk to Singaporean Foreign Minister Sinnathamby Rajaratnam, essentially the day after independence, taking into consideration that the US lies across the International Date Line on the other side of the Pacific.

The establishment of diplomatic relations and the American embassy came the following year, on 4th April 1966, with Richard H Donald as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim. The rest that followed, was half a century of ever deepening friendship and thrust, of mutual understanding, respect and admiration.


US - Singapore Diplomatic Relations 50th Anniversary. Source : US Embassy


Informal relations between the United States and Singapore had began even earlier, way back in the 19th century when US merchants engaged in the China trade began to visit the port on their way to and from China. As Singapore became one of the most important ports in the region, US-Singaporean interaction increased and the first American representative to Singapore, Joseph Balestier ( 1788 - 1858 ) was appointed on 4th July 1836 when the US established a consulate. He was a merchant and plantation owner whose wife Maria was the daughter of Paul Revere, silversmith, industrialist and Patriot in the American Revolution of the midnight ride fame. Their legacy endures in Singapore today, with an entire neighborhood, a high school and road named after Balestier. A beautiful church bell made in the foundry of her father was donated by Maria Balestier to the St Andrew's Church once signaled the evening curfew now rests in the Singapore History Gallery of the National Museum. It is the only Revere bell outside the United States.


The Revere Bell at the National Museum of Singapore.
Inscription reads : Revere, Boston 1843.
Presented to St Andrew's Church, Singapore,
by Mrs Maria Revere Balestier of Boston,
United States of America. Photo : Wikipedia

 
Today, the US is the biggest source of foreign direct investment in Singapore. Over 3700 US companies are located in Singapore and a growing number of Singapore companies are establishing themselves in the US. The US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, the first such US agreement in Asia and now in its twelve year is a reference agreement that has shaped subsequent bilateral and multilateral FTAs in the region, including the high profile Trans-Pacific Partnership ( TPP ). Students from both countries study at each other's schools from elementary to post-graduate levels and beyond. The Singapore Armed Forces stations and trains approximately 1000 of its personnel annually in the US. Similarly, the US regularly deploys aircrafts and ships on a rotational basis to Singapore, contributing to the stability of the Asian Pacific region.  

 

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program



The US$379 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ( JSF ) program is without doubt the world's most expensive weapons program. It aims to produce a 5th generation multirole stealth fighter in three variants to replace a whole host of legacy fighters and attack aircrafts in the United States Air Force ( USAF ), United States Navy ( USN ), the United States Marine Corps ( USMC ) and some of its closest allies. The program's international partners includes the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Turkey. Israel and Singapore are Security Cooperative Participants.

Apart from the United States, the F-35 to date has orders from eleven countries, including eight international partners and three foreign military sales to Israel, Japan and South Korea.




JSF Logo. Lockheed Martin.



The JSF program was highly controversial due to the multiple setbacks it encountered during its development, long delays and huge cost overruns. Early adopters saw the unit cost increase from an initial estimate of US$50 million per aircraft to more than $150 million, causing some to cut procurement numbers or postpone their purchase, which in turn leads to more upward pressure for the unit price. It is therefore the interest of the US as well as the F-35's vendor, Lockheed Martin, to secure as many orders as possible in order to bring down the unit cost of the volume production F-35 to a targeted $85 million by 2019.

This can be achieved by enticing the early adopters to exercise their options for additional aircrafts, place follow-on orders ( like Israel ), and by convincing those potential customers who are still undecided to finally take the plunge ( like Singapore ). The best way to do it is to demonstrate that the F-35 works as or better than advertised and ironically, a drastic price cut itself!

So did Obama attempt to get Singapore to commit itself to a squadron of F-35s? I'm sure he did. I would if I were Obama. After all, the Americans really have nothing to lose by asking and a whole lot to gain if Singapore had said yes.

Listed below are some of the reasons why the time might now be mostly right for Singapore to finally own a couple of these stealth fighters.



The Only Western Stealth Fighter In Production



With the production of the F-22 Raptor permanently shutdown, the reality is that the F-35 currently is the only stealth fighter in production and available for export in the Western World. The F-22 was never cleared for export to any country, ever. So, unless you are a partner in Russia's PAK-FA stealth fighter program like India or are researching your own design like Japan and its Mitsubishi X-2 technological demonstrator, or plan to wait for China's FC-31 to be made available for export, you really have no other stealthy options apart from the A, B and C variants of the F-35. Like they say, simple as ABC.

How to tell them apart physically? The F-35A conventional take-off and landing ( CTOL ) version for the USAF has a bulge over the left upper fuselage from its internal 25mm Gatling gun and a boom receptacle for aerial refueling at its dorsal area, two unique features which the other versions lack. The F-35B short take-off and vertical landing ( STOVL ) version for the USMC meanwhile has a bulge behind the canopy to house the huge lift fan which also has distinctive panel lines. The F-35C catapult assisted take-off barrier arrested recovery ( CATOBAR ) version for the USN has a wingspan 8 feet longer than the other versions, a tailhook assembly and a double wheeled forward landing gear.


From left to right the C, B and A variants of the F-35 JSF at Edwards AFB,
California. Photo taken on 28th Feb 2014 Lockheed Martin




Security Cooperative Participant Forever? 



On 16th Mar 2004 Singapore signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance ( LOA ) to become a Security Cooperative Participant ( SCP ) of the System Development and Demonstration Phase ( SDD ) of the JSF Program, the only Asian country to do so. It followed the signing of a Letter of Intent in Feb 2003 which laid down the broad principles for the SCP arrangement. And that seems like a looooong time ago, at least by aircraft standards. For $10 million, being a SCP allows a country to be able to have early access to proprietary information, including flight simulators. It allows early evaluation of the ability of the F-35 to meet the country's long term operational requirements for a stealth fighter. The SCP member country will have insights into the JSF’s development progress and be able to conduct studies for integration of its requirements into the JSF. It will also have the privilege of requesting for early purchase of the F-35 with deliveries from 2012 onwards. Of course those dates slipped badly and many partner countries are just beginning to receive their first F-35 this year. Now one wouldn't spend that kind of money unless seriously interested in the aircraft in question, right? The only other SCP of the JSF Program, Israel, had already put in an initial order for 33 F-35I Adir and possibly a follow-on order of another 17. If it is good enough for the Israeli Defense Force ( IDF ), it is good enough for the Singapore Armed Forces ( SAF ) ... well not exactly, but the two countries do have a long history of military cooperation and share many similar platforms and systems. That said, endorsement by the IDF does carry weight, in fact a lot of weight. The SAF had more than twelve years to do due diligence as a SCP, and SDD Phase which started in 2001 and originally projected to last for 10 years is already in its final stages and scheduled to end in 2017. Time to make a decision.



Roll out of the Israeli Air Force's first F-35I Adir ( CTOL ) at LM's
Fort Worth facilities 22nd Jun 2016. In the cockpit is Israel's
Minister for Defense Avigdor Liberman who could not stop grinning!
 Photo : Lockheed Martin



Maintaining Qualitative Lead



Singapore being a land scarce and resource poor country without any strategic depth has always looked to a doctrine of maintaining a qualitative edge against its regional peers to overcome these inherent disadvantages. Over the past few decades, the RSAF has seen its traditional lead over its rivals shrink dramatically with the introduction of Russian Su-27 / Su-30 Flanker family multirole fighters in the region. Both Indonesia and Malaysia have been operating these lethal fighters for several years. In addition, Indonesia is in advance negotiation with Russia to acquire eight Su-35 Super Flankers. Further away, both Vietnam and China have large Flanker fleets, with China already committed to buying 24 Su-35 with the first 4 deliveries expected this year. The RSAF's F-16C/D and F-15SG will find it challenging to match the superior performance of these advance Flankers. Hence, the impending introduction of the all new Su-35 as well as the continued threats from existing Flanker types might just be the catalyst to induce Singapore to finally stop mulling about the F-35 and actually buy it.




The Sukhoi Su-35S Super Flanker of the Russian Air Force.
Credit on Photo.




The Su-35 could carry a total of twelve air-to-air missiles.
The aft centerline pylon is empty in this photo. Credit on Image.



New Capability : Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing



Whoever said that the F-35 acquisition had to be a replacement for an obsolete aircraft type? Of course ageing aircrafts have to be replaced in a timely manner so as to avoid any possible capability gaps from occurring during the transition. Right now the 27 F-5S and 9 F5Ts already have their days numbered. But how about getting a squadron of the short take-off and vertical landing ( STOVL ) F-35B as a new capability for the RSAF? The F-35B is currently the only modern fighter aircraft in production that has STOVL capabilities.

The proliferation of advance long range saturation rocket artillery systems like the Avibras ASTROS II within the regional armies of Malaysia and now Indonesia meant that there could always be a threat that Singapore's airbases and runways could be targeted from outside its boundaries during outbreaks of hostilities. Having even a small number of STOVL capable fighters dispersed in various well concealed locations will ensure at least some aerial defense and retaliatory options while runway operations are temporarily disrupted.

In addition, should the Navy eventually replace its four Endurance-class Landing Platform Dock with the Joint Multi-Mission Vessel ( JMMS ) which is essentially a helicopter carrier, it would not be inconceivable to build them large enough to accommodate the F-35B, although it could be at the expense of a reduced shore projection capability. That would provide serious close air support to any amphibious landing force and top cover for the naval task force.



F-35B performing a vertical landing during Developmental Test Phase II
 onboard USS Wasp on 15th Aug 2013. Photo : Lockheed Martin

 
 
F-35B performing a short take-off during Developmental Test Phase II
 onboard USS Wasp on 15th Aug 2013. Photo : Lockheed Martin



The F-35 Program Has Matured



As a whole, the F-35 Program has made significant progress especially in the past few years. Although still far from complete, many milestones have been achieved. But the ultimate milestone would be the attainment of the Initial Operational Capability ( IOC ). The F-35B of the USMC was the first to declare operational on 31st Jul 2015. Slightly more than a week ago on 2nd Aug 2016, the USAF also declared that the F-35A is combat ready. We are now left with the Navy's F-35C which will be projected to achieve IOC sometime between Aug 2018 and Feb 2019.

Since nobody except the US intends to buy the F-35C, as far as export customers are concerned, the F-35 can be considered combat ready.

Singapore's Minister for Defense Dr Ng Eng Hen had expressed satisfaction that the JSF Program is progressing well when he visited the F-35 Academic Training Center at Luke Air Force Base and received a briefing on the F-35's capabilities from the 61st Fighter Squadron in Dec 2015. Over the years, he had witnessed the hangars at the air base gradually fill up with F-35 fighters. He could also see the F-35 chalking up on sortie numbers and flight hours. From Dec 2006 to May 2016, the F-35 fleet has a combined total of nearly 60000 flight hours. By Oct 2015, 162 F-35s had been delivered to the Department of Defense ( DOD ), inclusive of the 20 SDD test aircrafts. Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth facility is now churning out Low Rate Initial Production ( LRIP ) Lot 8 aircrafts. There will be at least another three lots of LRIP till Lot 11. The more mature a program is, the less risk it would present to the countries who are adopting it. So the JSF program has more or less matured, though eight years later than initially projected.



Four F-35B and two F-35C ( rear ) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River,
 Maryland. Photo taken on 18th Feb 2012 Lockheed Martin.



The Unit Cost Is Dropping



After years of runaway escalation, the trend had finally reversed and unit cost of all three variants of the F-35 continues to drop a little year by year as Lockheed Martin has been able to reduce the number of labour hours required to produce an F-35 from 153000 hours per aircraft in 2011 down to 50000 hours by mid-2015, all thanks to efficiency gains and process improvements ( see photo of the EMAS below ). As a result, the unit cost of the cheapest and most commonly procured F-35A variant could fall to $80 to $85 million for an F-35 ordered in 2018 and delivered in 2020. At this price, the F-35A could even be cheaper than modernized versions of some high end legacy fighters. For comparison, Lockheed Martin's own F-16 V Viper is estimated to cost $60 million per copy, while Boeing's F-15SE Silent Eagle which has some stealth features like radar absorbent coating and conformal weapon bays can cost more than $120 million. Singapore's initial tranche of 12 F-15SG, ordered in Dec 2005, was estimated to cost about $1 billion. So the unit cost could be about $83 million or more, and that was more than a decade ago. A full-rate production Eurofighter Typhoon costs $119 million, the Rafale-B $98 million, the F/A-18E Super Hornet Block II $78 million and even the SAAB JAS-39C Gripen ( no AESA radar ) cost $69 million.

For FY2016 though, the unit cost of F-35A is $109.88 million, the F-35B at $121.33 million and the F-35C at $117.83 million, already on par with the F-15SE.



The Netherland's F-35A being lifted from the automated
Electronic Mate And Assembly System or EMAS.
Photo taken 9th Apr 2015 Lockheed Martin




The RSAF's M-346 Trainers Are F-35-Proofed



The twelve Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master lead-in to fighter trainers of the RSAF's 150 Squadron acquired in 2012 are specifically designed for helping trainee pilots transit from advance jet trainers to operational conversion with 5th generation jets like the F-35. They can simulate the flight characteristics of the F-35 and can even be used as companion trainers to reduce the need for pilots to fly the F-35 to maintain their combat readiness. They are F-35 and future-proofed. Their earlier acquisition fits into the grand scheme of possible F-35 buys down the road.



Singapore's Continued Interest In The F-35 Welcomed



In the joint statement released by the governments of the United States and Singapore after the meeting at the Oval Office between President Obama and PM Lee, it was mentioned that " President Obama welcomed Singapore’s continued interest in the F-35 aircraft. The two leaders expressed support to explore new training opportunities for the Singapore Armed Forces in Guam, with an eye toward a potential long-term training detachment for the Republic of Singapore Air Force. "

Since the late eighties, long term training detachments of the RSAF to the United States had always been associated with a Foreign Military Sale of some major platform, like the F-16 and the Peace Carvin II detachment to Luke Air Force Base ( AFB ), the F-15SG and the Peace Carvin V detachment to Mountain Home AFB, the CH-47D and the Peace Prairie detachment to Redmond Taylor Army Heliport ( AHP ), and the AH-64D and the Peace Vanguard detachment to Silverbell AHP. So is Singapore about to make another major arms acquisition?

Perhaps but it might not be what you are thinking about. There are currently three major training centers for the F-35, Eglin AFB in Florida where the Integrated Training Center trains F-35 pilots and maintainers, Luke AFB in Arizona and MCAS Beaufort in South Carolina. All foreign ( and many US ) pilots of the F-35A are currently being trained at Luke AFB where 6 squadrons ( 144 aircrafts ) of F-35As comprising a mix of USAF and pooled FMS assets will eventually be available. F-35B pilots are trained at Marine Corps Air Station ( MCAS ) Beaufort, home of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 ( VMFAT-501 ). This is also where UK and Italian F-35B pilots would receive their training.

Depending on the variant selected, a F-35A buy would probably mean another Peace detachment to Luke AFB while a F-35B buy would necessitate a detachment to MCAS Beaufort. There ain't no F-35 simulators on Guam!

Therefore, we know for sure that the F-35 was part of the agenda of that meeting, otherwise it would not have been referred to in the joint statement. Obama must have asked Singapore to consider buying the F-35, again. Unfortunately, despite the favourable factors for the F-35, the answer was no .... for now. Hence, the statement about continued interest.

Indeed, a news report by Bloomberg two days ago said that in Dec 2014 Singapore had submitted a letter of request to the US formally seeking information on the purchase of the F-35. It then followed up in early 2015 with indications that it wanted the STOVL F-35B variant, the most complicated model. The initial acquisition was intended to be for four aircrafts by 2022 with options for another 8 more. Earlier this year, the US even gave the approval for Singapore to integrate its own radio and datalink into the aircraft should it be purchased. However, for reasons yet not known, Singapore had informed the US in June this year that the purchase was now on hold.

You can see here what IHS Jane's had to say in this video published on 8th Aug 2016 on the F-35 and Singapore. The hovering / vertical landing F-35B seen at MCAS Beaufort has a RAF roundel and belongs to the UK, a first tier partner in the JSF Program. Some nice clips of the F-15SG and F-16C are included. The narration department has much to be desired, though.






Where In The World Is Guam?






Guam is a US Territory in the Northwestern Pacific.




Guam is the biggest island and the southernmost of the Marianas which also includes
Saipan and Tinian, all famous battlegrounds in the Pacific War.
The B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima launched from Tinian.




Guam is an American territory located in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. It is the largest and the southernmost of the Marianas Islands. Its strategic value lies in the fact that it is a US owned territory midway between Hawaii and Asia and therefore an important forward deployment, transit and logistic hub for the USAF and the USN, playing a key role in Obama's Rebalance to Asia. It has two major military bases - Naval Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base, now managed together as Joint Region Marianas.



Joint Region Marianas Logo from its Twitter site.






Naval Base Guam at Apra Harbor, Santa Rita is the home of Submarine Squadron 15 made up of several Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarines. It is also the home port of many Pacific Fleet units and US Coast Guard units.

Andersen AFB on the other hand, is one of four bomber forward operating locations of the USAF, providing support to rotating forward deployed strategic bombers like the Boeing B-52H. Proximity to the naval bombing range at Farallon de Medinilla Island 296km north of Andersen and the vastness of the surrounding air space makes Guam an ideal training place for these huge aircrafts.

Beginning 2019, Guam will be receiving some 5000 marines and 1300 of their family members relocated from Okinawa, where the Okinawans had found them burdensome. The build up will continue to 2026. Only a third will be permanently based there while the rest will train there on a rotational and staggered basis. Many will be housed around the vicinity of Andersen AFB where some of the training ranges are also located.



B-52G of the 60th Bombardment Sqn, 43rd Strategic Wing dropping 500lb Mk82
high-drag bombs at the Farallon de Medinilla Island Bombing Range during
Ex Harvest Coconut 3rd Dec 1984. Photo USAF via Wikipedia

 
 
B-2 Spirit from Whiteman AFB deploy to Andersen AFB during
Ex Polar Lightning 12th Mar 2009. USAF Photo.

 
 
 
F/A-18D takes off at Andersen AFB with B-52H in the background
during Ex Valiant Shield 14th Sep 2014. USN Photo.



Aerial view of Apra Harbor where US Naval Base Guam is located
5th Mar 2016. Several warships can be seen berthed in the foreground. USN Photo. 



So What's The Deal With Guam?



The proposed long term training detachment of the RSAF to Guam probably has nothing to do with FMS this time. Its not the F-35 for sure. Its not the P-8 as the detachment should have gone to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, otherwise. I believe the motive for the detachment to Guam is far more mundane. It is most likely a relocation of the Peace Carvin II F-16 detachment at Luke AFB to a venue closer to Singapore.




The tail flash of a RSAF F-16 of the 425th Fighter Squadron marking the
20th anniversary of the Peace Carvin II detachment to Luke AFB,
28th Oct 2013. USAF Photo.


The Peace Carvin II detachment to Luke AFB was Singapore's first permanent training detachment to the US. It started in 1993 and marked its 20th anniversary in 2013. It is also Singapore's longest running foreign military training detachment. The contract for the program had been renewed several times and unless further renewed will expire in 2018.

With the F-16 gradually becoming obsolete and Luke AFB slowly transiting to become the premier F-35A training base just like it did with the F-16 35 years ago, it might not make a lot of sen$e to extend the Peace Carvin II program further. Even if Singapore had requested for an extension, the US may not necessary grant it this time as they focus on ramping up F-35A numbers and training at Luke AFB.



The Peace Carvin II Patch : Saguaro ( AZ ) and Blackwidow ( 425th ).




Bringing home the F-16 squadron doesn't sound appealing as Singapore lacks the air space for these fast jets to train and maneuver. Relocating the squadron to a USAF base somewhere else would be a better idea, since the F-16 pilots will continue to benefit from the training and exposure, especially with regards to large scale multi-national exercises like Ex Valiant Shield.

And when you look at the map, the nearest US air base to Singapore is Andersen AFB in Guam. Basing the F-16 in Guam has advantages apart from the vastness of the airspace and the proximity of the naval bombing range. The logistics will be easier and cheaper to handle and the aircrafts could be recalled back to Singapore much faster should the need ever arise. Andersen AFB is 4717km from Paya Lebar Air Base in Singapore which is just slightly more than the maximum ferry range of a Block 50/52 F-16 with external drop tanks. This distance is still far but much less formidable compared with the distance to the US.

We often forget how BIG the Pacific Ocean is and how far it is from America to Asia. From Andersen AFB to Hickham AFB in Hawaii is 6096km. Hickham to Luke AFB is another 4663km. The great circle distance from Paya Lebar Air Base to Luke AFB is 14606km. A previous recall exercise saw the F-16s hopping from one AFB to another across the Pacific, requiring six aerial refueling and six full days to complete the journey.


Geographical location of Guam and Singapore.


The 250 RSAF personnel and their family members of the training detachment hopefully will not be too much of a burden to the increasingly congested Guam Island as the Marines move in from Okinawa. But one thing is for sure. It will be a mini boost to the local economy for years to come, just like what the SAF brought to the Australian township of Rockhampton with its training at Shoalwater Bay, Queensland. Luke's loss will be Guam's gain.



B-1, B-52 and probably KC-135 at Andersen AFB 28th Feb 2006




C-5 Galaxy, B-2 Spirit and B-1 Lancer at Andersen AFB. 7th Jun 2006




Left to right Mitsubishi F-2 ( I think ), F-15, F-16 Aggressors, F-16 and probably EA-6B
plus E-2C, C-130 ( top ) and KC-135 ( bottom ) at Andersen AFB 18th Feb 2011




Hordes of B-52H at Andersen AFB 19th Jan 2016




Sun, Sand and Surf : Andersen AFB and Yigo Town. 7th Jun 2016




Sorry No Lame Duck F-35



It has been said by Mr Lee Hsien Loong during his state dinner toast remarks that much could be achieved even by lame duck presidents during their final months in office, like Bill Clinton and the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, signed after a midnight round of golf with then Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on a rainy night in Brunei during an APEC summit. For President Obama though, there will be no F-35 sale to Singapore for now to add to his legacy as the first black president of the United States. That honor will probably go to the next president, hopefully not Mr. Donald Duck who may be just lame from day one.

Indonesia and Malaysia would probably breathe sighs of relief knowing that Singapore had postponed the F-35 acquisition. But the delay will only be as long as needed. The restrain will go should more Flankers or advance air defense systems populate the region.  


 
 
POTUS Barack Obama giving a speech on 3rd Aug 2016. Photo : US Embassy 



President Obama and PM Lee on 4th Aug 2016, Obama's birthday.
Photo : US Embassy
































Friday 18 March 2016

Grooming Fast Jet Jockeys : Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Advanced / Lead-In Fighter Trainer



Is your country in the process of acquiring or have already acquired advanced 4++ generation multi-role combat aircraft ( MRCA ) like the Dassault Rafale or 5th generation stealth fighters like the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter? Have you wondered how the various air forces would train their pilots to fly these machines which typically cost more than a hundred million dollars each? The answer lies in a sub-class of aircraft known as the advanced jet trainer ( AJT ) and the lead-in to fighter trainer ( LIFT ). They generate far less public interest and attention than latest combat fighters but are instrumental in grooming the next generation warfighter. Today, we focus on the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Advanced and Lead-In to Fighter Trainer, a.k.a. the Master.

Alenia Aermacchi


Alenia Aermacchi is an Italian aeronautical company whose core business is in the design and production of military trainer aircrafts. Its previous product line up includes the MB-326 basic jet trainer and the MB-339 advanced jet trainer, both of which were well regarded by their operators and had help train generations of fighter pilots. The company's latest portfolio consists of the SF-260 turboprop primary trainer, the M-345 HET high efficiency basic jet trainer and the M-346 AJT/LIFT.

Apart from trainers, other products from the company includes the C-27J Spartan, the AMX fighter ( with Embraer ), the Eurofighter Typhoon ( with Airbus and BAE ), the Panavia Tornado ( with EADS and BAE ), the F-35 ( with Lockheed Martin ), the Sukhoi Superjet 100 ( with Sukhoi ) and the ATR-42 and ATR-72 ( with Airbus ).


Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master Advanced / Lead-In Fighter Trainer. Source : Alenia


Types of Trainer Aircrafts



A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate flight training of pilots. They are usually two-seat aircraft with either tandem or side-by-side sitting configuration and may have additional safety features not normally found in operational aircrafts like tandem flight controls. They frequently have excellent handling qualities and forgiving flight characteristics, thus allowing the trainee pilot to advance his or her skills in piloting, navigation and air combat safely and under the close supervision of the instructor.

Military flight training is expensive and demanding and is usually conducted in progressive phases to weed out unsuitable candidates. Obviously, different types of trainer aircrafts would be required for each stage.

The initial phase of the flight training where the candidate learns his first flying skills would typically be conducted with a light aircraft similar to civilian trainers like the ubiquitous, piston-engine powered Cessna 172. At the end of this stage, the trainees would be assessed as to where their attributes generally lie, fast-jets, multi-engine or rotary-wing.


The Cessna 172M. Source Wikipeadia.

The next phase is commonly known as Basic Flight Training and usually involves the use of turboprop basic or primary trainers which are obviously significantly faster and more powerful than the entry level trainers of the previous stage. Some modern turboprop basic trainers like the Pilatus PC-21 can even mimic the flight characteristics of jet trainers. Candidates eligible for fast-jets continue their training in the next phase with advanced jet trainers.


The Pilatus PC-21 is a high performance turboprop basic trainer. Source : Pilatus


Advanced flight training for fast-jet hopefuls will now require an advanced jet trainer typically capable of high sub-sonic speeds and high energy maneuvers ( high sustained g ) complete with systems that can simulate modern sensor suites and weapon systems. While many AJTs lack radar systems, they may feature programmable multifunction displays that with inputs from data links and GPS systems can create in real time a virtual radar display. Many AJTs can also double as light attack aircraft or counter insurgency aircraft with little or no modification required. The Dassault / Dornier Alpha Jet light attack jet and advanced trainer is a good representation of this class.


The Dassault / Dornier Alpha Jet advanced trainer in service with the
French Air Force. Photo : Wikipaedia

The next training phase of a prospective fast-jet jockey is the Lead-In to Fighter Training. As the name implies, this is the last stage before actual deployment into combat fighters. It aims to train the pilot efficiently for all sorts of combat scenarios at a lower cost compared to direct advancement to operational conversion in a combat unit. The Lead-In Fighter Trainer is usually an advanced jet trainer with avionics that can functionally emulate combat systems found in operational fighters. Its onboard processors may be linked with ground based training systems to simulate tactical threats and self-protection functions. The M-346, one of the most sophisticated LIFT for the training of pilots for 4++ and 5th generation fighters even have design features like Hands On Throttle-And-Stick ( HOTAS ) and are Helmet Mounted Display ( HMD ) compatible.


The Alenia Aermacchi M-346 is an Advanced / Lead-In 5th Generation Fighter
Trainer. Source : Finmeccanica SpA

The final stage of flight training is operational conversion and is obviously aircraft specific. The rookie pilot usually trains in a two-seat version of the aircraft type that he is destined to fly with. Operational conversion teach the pilots how to fly a particular aircraft and the best tactics to fully exploit the performance and capabilities of that aircraft. Most trainer aircrafts used for operational conversion are fully combat capable with only a slight reduction in performance compared with their single-seat peers. The F-15D for example, is the two-seat training version of the single-seat F-15C air-superiority fighter.


The two-seat F-15DJ and the single-seat F-15J of the JASDF. Source : Wikipaedia

Note : The F-22A and the F-35 of all variants are unique in that unlike all the previous generations of US fighter aircrafts, they do not have any two-seat trainer versions. Advancement in simulator technology was deemed sufficient to negate such a requirement. That only made the lead-in to fighter training even more important.


Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master



The M-346 is a tandem seat, sub-sonic, dual-engine military jet trainer designed for advance jet training and lead-in to fighter training for the latest 4++ generation and 5th generation fighters like the Eurofighter Typhoon and the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

Finmeccanica, the parent company of Alenia Aermacchi, describes the M-346 as " the most advanced trainer aircraft on the market today and the only one specifically designed to prepare pilots for high performance new generation aircraft " and they might just be right! Below are some of the notable features of the M-346.

The aircraft was designed with the concepts of " design-to-cost " and " design-to-maintain " right from the beginning, thereby reducing acquisition costs and operational costs. The M-346 has an operational cost which is alleged to be just a tenth of the Eurofighter which Jane's estimated to be about US$18000 per flight hour. For comparison, flying a block 40/50 F-16 would cost about $7000 per hour.

The M-346 has a full authority, quadruplex digital fly-by-wire flight control system which together with an optimized aerodynamic design enables full maneuverability and controllability at very high angle of attack ( typically greater than 35 degrees ). The angle of attack and g-force limitations of the aircraft are even adjustable to suit the training syllabus.

It has a digitalized glass cockpit designed with the HOTAS philosophy and features 3 colour multifunction displays, Head-Up Display and is compatible with night vision goggles and optional helmet mounted display.

The M-346 has a pilot activated recovery system installed. When triggered, it performs automatic recovery by restoring the aircraft back to a steady and level flight path.

Powered by a pair of Honeywell F124-GA-200 low bypass turbofans, it is capable of transonic flights without the use of afterburners. Its has a vast flight envelope and together with a high thrust to weight ratio and high maneuverability enables the M-346 to offer flight handling similar to those of next generation multi-role combat aircraft. It maximizes training effectiveness and reduces the need to fly sorties on the much more expensive two-seat versions of the frontline combat aircraft, effectively prolonging their operational lifespan.

The onboard Embedded Tactical Training Simulation ( ETTS ) system allows the M-346 to emulate sensors, countermeasures and armaments. It can also interface with various munitions and equipment that are actually carried by the aircraft. The ETTS can act in a standalone mode where training data is preloaded pre-flight or in a network mode where data from a ground monitoring station is received and acted upon in real time via datalinks.

The M-346 has 9 hardpoints comprising of 2 wingtip, 6 under-wing and 1 under-fuselage pylons for carrying up to 3000kg of external loads. These may include short range air-to-air missiles like the IRIS-T or Sidewinder, Mk82/83/84 unguided bombs, precision guided munitions like GBU12 and GBU-16, AGM-65 air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles, Brimstone anti-armour missiles, Durandal anti-runway dispensers, rocket pods like LAU-32 and up to 3 drop tanks on the centerline and innermost wing pylons.

The integration of a helmet mounted display system, vocal control inputs and a removable in-flight refueling probe ensures that the M-346 can carry out a complete tactical training syllabus.


M-346 with pilots wearing integrated helmet mounted displays
at MSPO 2013, Poland. Photo : Finmeccanica


Optional electronic warfare systems, self-protection systems like radar warning receivers and flare and chaff dispensers, tactical data link systems, a multimode fire control radar, radar signature reduction kits and a slew of external pods including targeting pods and gun pods enables the M-346 to be deployed in real combat operations, should the need ever arise, with excellent levels of effectiveness and good chances of survival.

The M-346 can be part of a bigger package offered by Alenia Aermacchi - the Integrated Training System ( ITS ) which includes a complete Ground Based Training System (GBTS), comprising academics, simulators, mission support system and computer-based training management system. The ITS has already been adopted by the Italian Air Force, M-346's launch customer.



The Ground Based Training System at Alenia Aermacchi's Verese Plant
 in a 2010 file photo. Source Finmeccanica

In the M-346 flight simulator, the pilot interfaces are placed in
a replica of the real front cockpit, mounted on a fixed base. Finmeccanica SpA.

The M-346 in Alenia Aermacchi's Anechoic Shielded Chamber,
Europe's largest, in its Turin - Caselle Plant undergoes tests
for the electromagnetic compatibility of aircraft and systems
and measure the performance of emitting devices, specifically
in the field of radio frequencies. Source : Finmeccanica SpA


Yakovlev YAK-130 : The Evil Twin?






The Yakovlev YAK-130 Advanced Jet Trainer of the Russian Air Force. Source : UAC



Alenia Aermacchi M-346. Photo : Wikipaedia 


You would have been forgiven if you thought you saw double. From the two images above, red stars aside, only the expert could tell the difference between the YAK-130 and the M-346. Yes, the M-346 has an evil twin and that's because their have a common origin.

For this, we have to return to the early post-Cold War years of the 90s, where Russia had identified the need to replace its fleet of legacy Aero Vodochody L-29 and L-39 jet trainers. At that time, five aero-design bureaus submitted proposals, but by 1991, after whittling down, the two competing finalists were the Mikoyan MiG-AT and the Yakovlev YAK-UTS.

During those halcyon times, everybody was keen to reap the dividents of the peace. Perhaps taking advantage of the new found openness of Russia and the former Soviet republics, a string of joint projects between the East and West were initiated , one of which was the cooperation agreement Aermacchi signed with Yakovlev in 1992 to provide financial and technical support for the YAK-UTS prospective trainer project. By then, the aircraft was marketed as the YAK/AEM-130.

By Sep 1993, the design of the YAK/AEM-130 was completed. First flight took place in April 1996. However, from 1998 onwards, the project took a turn for the worse and was increasingly becoming an Italian led effort after the Russians failed to provide adequate funding on their part.

In mid-2000, the partnership between Aermacchi and Yakovlev was dissolved due to their differences in priorities and the lack of funding from Russia. It was agreed that each firm would continue to develop the aircraft independently and Aermacchi would be able to sell the M-346 to NATO countries while Russia would be able market the YAK-130 to the ex-Soviet republics, India and Algeria. Yakovlev were to receive US$77million from Aermacchi for the technical documents of the aircraft.

The YAK-130 was eventually selected by the Russians as their next generation trainer in 2002, emerging victorious over the MiG-AT, mainly because it is dual role capable as both an advance trainer and a light combat aircraft. It has 9 weapons hardpoints and can carry 3000kg of external loads, exactly the same as the M-346. What's different is that this badass evil twin is designed to operate from unprepared airfields as well, and even has engine in-take blanking doors that can prevent foreign object damage. And while that has got not much to do with its effectiveness as a trainer, this enhanced capability matters greatly in combat efficiency.


The YAK-130 with an assortment of pods, air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions.
Photo : UAC

 

Current M-346 Operators



The initial order of 15 M-346 aircrafts came from the Aeronautica Militare  ( Italian Air Force ) in 2009. They are officially given the designation T-346A by the Italian Air Force which received its first aircraft in Nov 2011. They are operated by the 212th Squadron based at Lecca-Galatina Airbase in southern Italy. IHS Jane's Defense Weekly ( 30th Mar 2016 vol 53 issue 13 ) reported that Italy had now increased its total order for the T-346A to 18. The Italians had already launched their Phase 4 LIFT programme on the T-346A since Sep 2015. For now, trainees would ultimately operationally convert to one of Italy's 3 current fighter types, the Eurofighter, the AMX or the Tornado. In the near future, the pilots will also be groomed for operational conversion to the F-35. Italy, a Tier II partner in the Joint Strike Fighter programme, has a projected requirement for a total of 90 F-35 comprising 60 conventional F-35A for the air force and 30 short take-off and vertical landing F-35B for the navy.

The first export customer was the Republic of Singapore Air Force ( RSAF ) which placed an order for 12 M-346 in Sep 2010 to replace its ageing A-4SU Super Skyhawk trainers. The first M-346 for the RSAF was rolled out in July 2012 and delivered later that year. Since then, all 12 aircrafts had been delivered and they had been inaugurated into the RSAF's 150 Squadron based in Cazaux, France. The RSAF operates a mix of 32 F-15SG and 62 F-16C/D/D+ as well as some upgraded F-5S/T fighters. Although Singapore is a Security Coorpeation Participant of the JSF programme since 2004, no decision as yet been made to acquire the F-35.

In July 2012, the Israeli Air Force ( IAF ) placed an order for 30 M-346 to replace its fleet of A-4N/H Skyhawk trainers. The first 2 M-346 for the IAF was delivered in July 2014 and all would be delivered by end 2016. The Israelis named their M-346 " Lavi " which means lion cub in Hebrew. This could prove confusing for the uninitiated as there was a failed 4+ generation fighter project by the Israel Aircraft Industries in the eighties which is also known as the IAI Lavi. The Israelis are also in the JSF programme as a Security Cooperation Participant and have a firm commitment for 100 F-35I "Adir", the first of which was delivered in Jan 2016.

In Feb 2014, the Polish Air Force placed an order for 8 M-346 to replace its 37 or so ancient PZL TS-11 jet trainers. The first 2 aircrafts would be delivered in Nov 2016. The Poles fly the F-16C/D and the MiG-29A. They are fortunately or unfortunately not in a position to contemplate any F-35 acquisition at the moment.

Update 8th Aug 2016 : In what would seem to be the biggest M-346 deal so far, Taiwan's state-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation ( AIDC ) has just signed a memorandum of understanding with Leonardo, Finmeccanica's new name adopted since 28th Apr 2016 ( after this article was written ), to supply 66 M-346 advance trainers to the Republic of China Air Force ( ROCAF aka Taiwan Air Force ) to replace its ageing indigenous AT-3 trainers and probably the F-5s as well. The first 4 to 6 aircrafts will be constructed in Italy while the rest will be assembled in Taiwan, with 50% of the components imported from Italy. Technology transfer will be on the cards. The advantage that the M-346 has in Taiwan? Its Honeywell/ITEC F124 engines is in fact the non-afterburning version of the F125 that powers Taiwan's Indigenous Defense Fighter, the AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo. That makes its maintenance in Taiwan potentially a lot easier. You can read about the deal in old script Chinese here.

A significant victory for Leonardo. Now, if only the USAF could also be snared as easily.




Italian Air Force T-346A CSX55154 61-01 at Deblin Feb 2014. Source : Finmeccanica
 
 
Italian Air Force T-346A CSX55154 61-01 at Deblin. Source : Finmeccanica

 
 
The Republic of Singapore Air Force M-346 Source : RSAF

 



The T-X Program : Replacing the Venerable T-38 Talon



The T-X Program is the US Air Force's ( USAF ) next generation jet trainer propramme to replace the Northrop T-38 Talon jet trainer which has been in service for more than 50 years. The T-38 is notable for being the world's first supersonic jet trainer and shares a common origin with the F-5A Freedom Fighter. Potential bidders include Lockheed Martin and KAI with their T-50A Golden Eagle offering, Northrop Grumman with BAE, L3 and Rolls Royce with an improved version of the successful Hawk T2/128, and Alenia Aermacchi partnering Raytheon with the M-346 which is re-designated the T-100 for the T-X Program. There would be an initial requirement for 350 aircrafts with a possibility of the eventual total acquisition exceeding 1000 aircrafts.


The Northrop T-38 Talon at Edwards Air Force Base in 2005. Source : Wikipaedia



This is one competition which Alenia Aermacchi cannot afford to lose as the USAF is possibly the biggest buyer in the Free World for any military aircraft and such opportunities only present themselves once in more than half a century! Last year, Alenia Aermacchi's hope for success in the T-X Program was casted in doubt after the abrupt withdrawal of their initial US partner General Dynamics C4 Systems and new amendments in the RFI for the prospective trainer aircraft to be able to maintain a sustained load factor of at least 6.5g for a minimum of 140 continuous degrees during a 180 degree turning maneuver. Fortunately, Raytheon stepped in to take over as Alenia's American partner and prime contractor and the sustained g issue was overcome with software tweaks. The T-X Program would likely be initiated in FY2017 with a planned IOC of the selected aircraft in 2024.




The M-346 relabeled as the T-100 in its American guise. Source : Alenia Aermacchi





Another view of the T-100 Source : Finmeccanica Spa 



The T-100 AJT/LIFT Source : Finmeccanica



The T-100, T-X contender Source : Finmeccanica


Artist's rendering of a pair of T-100 flying through clouds. Source : Raytheon


A pair of T-100 over desert Source : Raytheon



The Alenia Aermacchi - Raytheon T-100 seen without the usual
refueling probe of the M-346. Would it have a boom receptacle behind
the cockpit like all the USAF's modern fighters from
the F-16 to the F-35? Source : Raytheon

 
A T-100 wallpaper image by Raytheon.



Should the T-100 be selected as the T-38 replacement, it would be used to train USAF pilots for eventual deployment in the F-16, F-15, F-22 and F-35 fighters. It could also potentially be the closest thing to actually flying a Russian aircraft for these American pilots, as the T-100 / M-346 basically share the same origins with the YAK-130.

It could also mean that for the first time ever, both Russia and America could be training their elite pilots for their most advanced 4++ and 5th generation fighters like the PAK-FA and the F-22 using essentially the same aircraft, not unlike some kind of evolutionary convergence that we so frequently observe occurring in nature.


Future Developments


Apart from the American T-X Progam, what holds for the M-346 going forward? Several things immediately come to mind :

M-346 Light Attack Aircraft

Although the M-346 was not originally designed to have a dual role as a trainer and a light combat aircraft like its evil twin the YAK-130, it can easily be reconfigured to assume operational functions which can include air-to-air missions, anti-shipping and ground interdiction roles. In fact, the M-346 LCA ( Light Combat Aircraft ) option which can reportedly fire Brimstone missiles had been offered to Poland to replace its ageing Su-22 bomber. The M-346 retains a high thrust to weight ratio even under a full combat load of 3000kg. It has an impressive persistence due to its large internal fuel capacity and the ability to carry up to three 630 liter external tanks and capability of aerial refueling. It is compatible with an assortment of air-to-air and air-to-surface ordnance mounted on nine external hard points and has high maneuverability even with an engine crippled. All these characteristics make the M-346 an excellent back-up fighter especially in the " Homeland Defense " role. The M-346 LCA could be an attractive option for less affluent nations looking for a quality trainer with secondary combat capabilities at a reasonable price.


The M-346 with its combat loads at Le Bourget 2011. Source Finmeccanica SpA

M-346 Naval

A navalised M-346 might be necessary especially if Alenia Aermacchi wins the T-X bid. Don't forget that the US Navy would also be flying the F-35 in its carrier based configuration, the F-35C, and these naval aviators would no doubt also require a lead-in fighter trainer to prepare themselves for operational conversion. The USN's current AJT is the Boeing T-45A Goshawk which has been in service for the past 25 years. They may have been adequate for preparing pilots for the Hornets and Super Hornets but would probably fall short when it comes to the JSF. The other potential client would be the French Navy who operates the Rafale M from their aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle. So a marinised version with a tail hook capable of catapult take-off with arrestor landings might be a future possibility.


M-346 Aggressor And Companion Trainer

Since Feb 2016, Alenia Aermacchi has been promoting the M-346 in two new roles, as a companion trainer and in dissimilar air combat training ( DACT ).

The M-346 is particularly suited to take on the role of an aggressor aircraft in DACT since the two important parameters of g force and angle of attack can be independently selected and adjusted in the flight control system enabling the M-346 to simulate the performance of various types of enemy aircrafts. Utilising the M-346 in the aggressor role can free up other high-end operation aircrafts otherwise dedicated for DACT, like those tiger-stripped F-16N ( now retired ) and F-16A at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at NAS Fallon, Nevada. Not to mention that they are far more economical to fly compared to operational combat aircrafts.

In addition, further savings could be expected with networking between the ground based training system and the aircrafts involved in DACT such that a 2 on 2 training scenario that traditionally involved 4 aircrafts can be achieved with just one M-346 aggressor. The other aggressor would be flown in the simulator at the ground based training centre and would show up in the helmet mounted sights of the DACT participants in the air. Virtual aggressor!

The concept of a companion trainer is to allow pilots to fly mixed hours on their operational aircraft type and the advanced trainer and yet still maintain their combat readiness. This arrangement is obviously much more economical and at the same time extends the operational lifespan of the frontline aircraft since it would be flown less frequently. The small number of F-22A Raptors of the USAF ( only 187 built ) that are always in high demand for deployment to hotspots around the globe would probably benefit most from the adoption of such companion trainers.



Top Gun 2025? The M-346 has been promoted as an aggressor in
dissimilar air combat training by its makers.


Training the Next Generation


The fact that the M-346 was selected as an advance trainer / lead-in fighter trainer by both the RSAF and the IAF speaks volumes for the aircraft and its designers. These two air forces are among the best in the world with very high standards and a high degree of professionalism. The M-346 would definitely be used for lead-in training for potential F-35 pilots in Israel and Italy as both have already received their first F-35I and F-35A respectively. It is probably only a matter of time before Singapore would finalise its decision to acquire the F-35 as well, and it all depends on what other regional air forces do, like Indonesia and China buying the Su-35 Super Flanker. Know that if and when that day comes, the RSAF would already have in place all the necessary expertise and training infrastructure, on the ground as well as in the air, to prepare its pilots for F-35 operational conversion. Here's a visual tour of the RSAF's 150 Squadron with its fleet of 12 M-346, currently base in Cazaux, France. All images below sourced from the RSAF.






















 
 

 
 
Pre-flight Inspection

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
Presidential visit 2015

 
 
President and Mrs Tony Tan witnessing M-346 simulator training.
 
 
 
Ground based training with similators.

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Pilot Instructor Patch.

 
 
How many GTX Titan Z will that require?