Tag Archives: saab

Technology

USAF accepts 1st production Red Hawk! Additional costs on the ground!

Video

Photo by James West, 15JUN2023.

On 28JUN2023, the first production T-7A Red Hawk trainer took off from Saint Louis, Missouri, after being accepted for service with the U.S. Air Force.

USAF video report by Giancarlo Casem:

Photo by Chase Kohler, 22JUN2023.

Taxi testing the first production T-7A, 13JUN2023. Video by James West, edited by me:

Photo by Chase Kohler, 22JUN2023.

Air Force Times, December 2022: T-7A design problems delay production, until 2024?

USAF graphic by Greg Hand, 11JUL2022.

In July 2022, it was revealed that an additional $562-million would be needed to upgrade existing infrastructure to support the “beddown” of the T-7A!  The estimated cost for building T-7A infrastructure just at Joint Base San Antonio/Randolph Air Force Base, in Texas, is estimated at $72-million!

T-7A ejection seat test, Holloman AFB, New Mexico, June 2021.

Vehicle I-D, 2021: T-7A RED HAWK REPLACES T-38 TALON, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF FOREIGNERS CONTROLLING U.S. TAXPAYERS

Technology

World War 3/Vehicle I-D: China’s A-I-P attack sub refreshes torpedoes

Image

PLA Northern Theater Command photo by Shi Jialong, 19APR2022.

PLA Northern Theater Command photo by Shi Jialong, 19APR2022.

The People’s Liberation Army-Navy calls these A-I-P subs Type 039B.  NATO reporting name for Type 039 class subs is ‘Yuan’, to make things more confusing NATO also calls the Type 041 class ‘Yuan”.

People’s Liberation Army-Northern Theater Command photo by Wu Haodong, 23MAR2022.

PLA Northern Theater Command photo by Wu Haodong, 23MAR2022.

Western/NATO analysts seem confused, sometimes calling the A-I-P the Type 039B, sometimes Type 039C, since they are China’s only known operational A-I-P subs lets just call them A-I-P.

People’s Liberation Army-Northern Theater Command photo by Wu Haodong, 23MAR2022.

These appear to be Communist China’s AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) attack submarines.  AIP is a conventional power system that can draw oxygen from the water, like a fish’s gills, rather than from the air. This means the submarine does not have to rely on relatively short life batteries to stay submerged, it allows the submarine to stay submerged for long periods  like a nuclear powered submarine.

PLA-Northern Theater Command photo by Wu Haodong, 23MAR2022.

PLA-Northern Theater Command photo by Wu Haodong, 23MAR2022.

In July 2018, the People’s Liberation Army-Navy claimed their then new AIP submarines set new PLA-Navy records, such as underwater sailing distance and maximum depth reached.  China says their AIP powered subs can stay submerged for as long as three weeks.  They admitted that AIP technology makes their attack submarines more expensive.

Twin subs loading up with fresh rocket torpedoes, 22MAR2022. PLA-Northern Theater Command photo by Wu Haodong.

Reportedly, China’s AIP are what is known as Stirling (sometimes incorrectly spelled Sterling, the system is named after Scottish engineer Robert Stirling) AIP, a system directly connected to SAAB, based in NATO ‘partner’ (not a member by considered a partner) Sweden.  (Sweden about to submit an official application for membership in NATO)

PLA-Northern Theater Command photo by Wu Haodong, 22MAR2022.

PLA-Northern Theater Command photo by Wu Haodong, 22MAR2022.

PLA-Northern Theater Command photo by Wu Haodong, 22MAR2022.

For some reason Wikipedia lists China’s AIP subs as Type 041 and Type 032, yet the PLA-Navy itself says they are Type 039B.

PLA-Northern Theater Command photo by Wu Haodong, 22MAR2022.

PLA Northern Theater Command photo by Wu Haodong, 04JAN2022.

Cold War Subs: USS NAUTILUS (SSN-571), STILL FIGHTING AFTER 67 YEARS! FIRST BORN IN LAND-LOCKED IDAHO?

Vehicle I-D: CHINA MAKES SURPRISE(?) DELIVERY OF MILITARY AID TO RUSSIAN ALLY, USING NEW Y20!

Technology

Vehicle I-D: Red Hawk replaces Talon, another example of foreigners controlling U.S. taxpayers

Video

The Boeing and Saab (of Sweden) T-7A Red Hawk is the new advanced trainer for the U.S. Air Force (USAF).

Boeing photo.

In September 2018, it was announced that a contract worth $9.2-billion was given to Boeing-Saab for their T-X (Boeing-T-X) training aircraft (first flying in December 2016), to replace the vintage T-38 Talon.

Boeing photo.

Boeing T-X first flight, cockpit view, 20DEC2016:

Boeing photo.

The two B-T-X prototypes fly over Saint Louis, Missouri, April 2017.

The T-7A is more in-line with prepping pilots to fly the F-35.  In May 2019, Saab announced it would build a Red Hawk factory in the U.S. state of Indiana.

Video, Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) flight test over Saint Louis, Missouri, July 2019:

 On 23FEB2021, Boeing published this video claiming production was underway at its Saint Louis, Missouri, factory: 

Boeing photo.

The USAF wants 351 T-7A Red Hawks (name chosen in September 2019), 46 simulators, and associated ground equipment, with the first Red Hawks arriving on base sometime in 2023-24.

Boeing: T-7A Red Hawk

Saab: T-7A Red Hawk

Vehicle I-D: T-38 PACER CLASSIC-3

USAF F-35A “COMBAT READY” IN UTAH

TAXPAYER PARIAH F-35 CALLS IDAHO HOME!

APACHE TO MUSTANG

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

What Econommic Recovery? SAAB officially bankrupt, will affect GM sales

SAAB is now officially bankrupt.  The company filed for bankruptcy after two Chinese companies changed their minds about buying the Swedish automaker.

There was talk that General Motors was concerned about the Chinese getting their hands on U.S. technologies, because GM supplied those parts to SAAB.

The demise of SAAB will now hurt GM’s parts sales.

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? SAAB sold to China, at a loss

SAAB has new Chinese owners.  The car maker was sold at a loss, after it filed for bankruptcy in September.  SAAB hasn’t made any cars in its factory in Sweden, since April!

SAAB was originally offloaded by GM to Dutch company Spyker (now Swedish Automotive).  Chinese distributor Pang Da Automobile Trade, and auto manufacturer Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile will pay about U.S.$142 million for SAAB.

SAAB joins Volvo in becoming a Chinese owned company.  In 2010 Volvo was sold by Ford, also at a loss, to Chinese company called Geely.

SAAB sales in the U.S. suck, in September only 429 cars were sold.  So far for the year 2011 only 4,612 cars have been sold.  In 2003 SAAB sales in the U.S. were ten times that (40,000 cars)!

 

 

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? Credit Crisis hits SAAB, can’t pay employees, shuts factory

A few days ago U.S. Federal Reserve boss Ben Bernanke said one of the factors in deciding the economy was worse then they thought, was continuing financing problems (credit crisis).  Swedish car maker SAAB, just announced they are the latest victims of the credit crisis.

SAAB can not get short term loans, which is what it uses to pay its employees.  Not only is this a bad sign of the economy, but a reminder that “Western” corporations run on debt, not revenues.

This inability to pay its employees comes after SAAB closed one of its factories in Trollhatten, due to lack of parts (thank Japan’s failed “just in time” supply system).

SAAB is trying to get loans from Chinese companies, they’re waiting for government approval.