Cobham Aviation bought out by Draken International
Discussion
https://twitter.com/warnesyworld/status/1310850037...
Some interesting stuff here. Haven’t seen anything else about it elsewhere mind
Some interesting stuff here. Haven’t seen anything else about it elsewhere mind
El stovey said:
Except a Draken, disappointingly. 
I confess, I'd never heard of this company. Very impressive fleet.
I had never even thought there would be a need for a completely independent 'advanced adversary flight training'. I would have thought most Air Forces trained their own, not contracted it out to a 3rd party.
But then I guess, budgets are down everywhere and it must make financial sense to do so, or this business wouldn't exist. I'm just completely surprised really.
Right, I'm off to scour ebay to find an F16 and start my own 'adversary flight training' business
I had never even thought there would be a need for a completely independent 'advanced adversary flight training'. I would have thought most Air Forces trained their own, not contracted it out to a 3rd party.
But then I guess, budgets are down everywhere and it must make financial sense to do so, or this business wouldn't exist. I'm just completely surprised really.
Right, I'm off to scour ebay to find an F16 and start my own 'adversary flight training' business
Cobham and Draken teamed up to bid for the U.K. MoDs Air Support to Defence Operational Training (ASDOT) contract a couple of years ago, but the tender as one cohesive contract was pulled by the MoD and, I think, broken up into several smaller contracts.
Must admit, though, that I thought Cobham was subject to a purchase bid a few years ago and this was blocked on security/ strategic need grounds by the MoD after a campaign led by the Cobham family against it.
Must admit, though, that I thought Cobham was subject to a purchase bid a few years ago and this was blocked on security/ strategic need grounds by the MoD after a campaign led by the Cobham family against it.
Cheeky Jim said:
I confess, I'd never heard of this company. Very impressive fleet.
I had never even thought there would be a need for a completely independent 'advanced adversary flight training'. I would have thought most Air Forces trained their own, not contracted it out to a 3rd party.
But then I guess, budgets are down everywhere and it must make financial sense to do so, or this business wouldn't exist. I'm just completely surprised really.
Right, I'm off to scour ebay to find an F16 and start my own 'adversary flight training' business
To add a degree of unpredictability there must be an argument for having adversaries that have not all come through your own training system I had never even thought there would be a need for a completely independent 'advanced adversary flight training'. I would have thought most Air Forces trained their own, not contracted it out to a 3rd party.
But then I guess, budgets are down everywhere and it must make financial sense to do so, or this business wouldn't exist. I'm just completely surprised really.
Right, I'm off to scour ebay to find an F16 and start my own 'adversary flight training' business
Cheeky Jim said:
I confess, I'd never heard of this company. Very impressive fleet.
I had never even thought there would be a need for a completely independent 'advanced adversary flight training'. I would have thought most Air Forces trained their own, not contracted it out to a 3rd party.
But then I guess, budgets are down everywhere and it must make financial sense to do so, or this business wouldn't exist. I'm just completely surprised really.
Right, I'm off to scour ebay to find an F16 and start my own 'adversary flight training' business
Google ‘Top Aces’, they’re way ahead of you...I had never even thought there would be a need for a completely independent 'advanced adversary flight training'. I would have thought most Air Forces trained their own, not contracted it out to a 3rd party.
But then I guess, budgets are down everywhere and it must make financial sense to do so, or this business wouldn't exist. I'm just completely surprised really.
Right, I'm off to scour ebay to find an F16 and start my own 'adversary flight training' business
Yertis said:
El stovey said:
Except a Draken, disappointingly. frodo_monkey said:
Cheeky Jim said:
I confess, I'd never heard of this company. Very impressive fleet.
I had never even thought there would be a need for a completely independent 'advanced adversary flight training'. I would have thought most Air Forces trained their own, not contracted it out to a 3rd party.
But then I guess, budgets are down everywhere and it must make financial sense to do so, or this business wouldn't exist. I'm just completely surprised really.
Right, I'm off to scour ebay to find an F16 and start my own 'adversary flight training' business
Google ‘Top Aces’, they’re way ahead of you...I had never even thought there would be a need for a completely independent 'advanced adversary flight training'. I would have thought most Air Forces trained their own, not contracted it out to a 3rd party.
But then I guess, budgets are down everywhere and it must make financial sense to do so, or this business wouldn't exist. I'm just completely surprised really.
Right, I'm off to scour ebay to find an F16 and start my own 'adversary flight training' business
arguti said:
Yertis said:
El stovey said:
Except a Draken, disappointingly. 
Is the cheetah an upgraded kfir or just a similar solution to upgrading a mirage?
ETA found some background here
http://www.airvectors.net/avmir3_2.html
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 30th September 10:37
andy97 said:
Must admit, though, that I thought Cobham was subject to a purchase bid a few years ago and this was blocked on security/ strategic need grounds by the MoD after a campaign led by the Cobham family against it.
Last I heard the deal was approved and Cobham was bought out by Advent International towards the end of 2019.That tweet refers to the Aviation Services part of the business, which I guess doesn't really fit into the rest of the Cobham portfolio, there's always been talk of that part being sold. Other than that 1 tweet there's nothing else, so I guess we'll see soon enough...
El stovey said:
Interesting to see these mirage derivatives. The Israelis had the kfir also which I always thought looked awesome and they ended up exporting also.
Is the cheetah an upgraded kfir or just a similar solution to upgrading a mirage?
ETA found some background here
http://www.airvectors.net/avmir3_2.html
Mostly developed under the arms embargo in force at the time - South Africa allegedly co-operated militarily with mainly Israel in respect of the Kfir /Cheetah except SA were not able to use the J79 engine that the Israelis had from US; nuclear weapon development was based on similar. Is the cheetah an upgraded kfir or just a similar solution to upgrading a mirage?
ETA found some background here
http://www.airvectors.net/avmir3_2.html
Edited by El stovey on Wednesday 30th September 10:37
Outside of cheetah, a lot of weapon system development in conjunction with Taiwan and on a hush, hush with French, USA, etc although most was officially deniable. USA economics/trade sanctions against South Africa specifically excluded "strategic minerals" mostly required for US military.
Looks like it's gone through...
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/20...
https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/sensors-ele...
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/20...
https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/sensors-ele...
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