Red Air options: Contracted Aggressors

Pride Aviation?Went bust apparently..
Maybe Airforce now..
Su27
Last seen 2016 at Groom..
Groom Lake Birds

SAAB unveiled a model of the new Gripen Aggressor that can be used for both the UK and US aggressor replacement programs. The aircraft removes all weapons, puts a dummy gun in place of the real one, an improved radar, telemetry pod for range work, and Link-16 for communications with other aircraft.

www.flightglobal.com...

a reply to: Blackfinger

The aircraft in the pictures appear to be single seat. But the Pride Aviation aircraft are dual, so I don't think they are the same aircraft. Regardless, I think it's very likely the USAF flies them now anyway.

flightaware.com...


Owner: MERIDICAN INC
Expiration: 2013-06-30

Let's see who this is.

• Facilitated the acquisition of fully functional foreign aircraft and other avionic equipment for use in the US.

• Transferred US technology to Russia to support Russia’s space program.

• Expanded the market share of a leading engineering company in the countries of former Soviet Union.

• Represented high profile government intelligence agencies in support of adaptation and application of innovative technologies on US and international markets.

• Represented parties to complex domestic and international transactions and provision of support for large scale business acquisitions and mergers.

• Positioned the use of unprecedented innovative foreign encryption and compression technology for use in the US.

• Obtained appropriations from the US Congress for large international projects.

meridican.net...

Service Partners

In the science, technology and innovations projects Meridican has worked closely with:

• US Department of Energy

• US Department of Defense

• US Department of Justice

• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

• US Department of Commerce

• US Department of Agriculture

• US Department of Homeland Security

• US Department of Labor

• United States Industry Coalition (USIC)

• NASA

You know, they have a contact address, maybe someone should email them.

Not flown in last 14 days..
Flightaware

Anyone think China/Russia have an F-16 or two for the same roles?

a reply to: Blackfinger

You probably already know this (just checking), but it only shows flights on that part of the webpage if they occurred within the last 14 days.

I'm pretty sure it's completely disappeared since 2009 or 2010.

EDIT: Kept searching....

Su-27 Flankers to fly in USA


May 7: Two ex-Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-27UB Flankers are nearing readiness for flight with Reno-based Tactical Air Support Inc. (TAC AIR), a commercial air service company providing fighter training support to the US military.

The two Flankers arrived at Rockford, Illinois some months ago aboard a chartered An-124 heavy lift aircraft and are being prepared for flight by warbird specialist Pride Air, who has experience with other soviet-designed jets such as the L-39 Albatros.

The new aircraft will join TAC AIR’s fleet of L-29 and L-39 trainers and MiG-17 fighters, making it “the first company offering fourth-generation fighter training support”.

TAC AIR is a veteran-owned small business incorporated in August of 2005, formed by a close group of former Navy, Marine and Air Force Weapon’s School Instructors and test pilots.

www.airinternational.com...

Tactical Air Support, Inc. also has a Su-27 on their logo, but they don't list it under their aircraft.

the Su-27 on our logo represents our success at becoming the first westerners trained to fly and operate that impressive aircraft.

www.tacticalairsupport.com...

The team also includes people from the 413th Flight Test Squadron whose short biography include foreign material exploitation (or similar, can't find it anymore).

So basically, they were bought from Ukraine by an entrepreneur who wanted to do high altitude research or Meridican for other purposes, westernized by Pride Aircraft Inc, then went to Tactical Air Support, Inc. And they have not been sighted for about 7 years.

Now, to put on my tin foil hat, it's possible that this was the plan from the beginning.

All I can say is, it's a pretty awesome achievement.

Or Tactical Air Support, Inc ran out of spare parts for them, now they're in a hangar somewhere collecting dust. I hope not.

You probably already know this (just checking), but it only shows flights on that part of the webpage if they occurred within the last 14 days.

Yep...
Maybe here..
WIX forum

Found this photo dated 2010-05-22, which shows them without wings or stabilizers at Chicago/rockford International Airport. It seems to be the most recent photo.

Many different possibilities:
- Ran out of spare parts
- Maintenance issues
- Disassembled to save space before being placed in a hangar somewhere
- being prepared for air or road transportation (large cargo aircraft did arrive for the airshow three months after that photo was taken for example).

a reply to: C0bzz

That was when they were being assembled and demilitarized. They flew them over Alabama after that.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Interesting. They must have added the wings, then removed them again, then added them again. Or the date on the photo is in error. Not sure which is more likely.

I assume Alabama is where the new owners are based... (or not)

When you say over Alabama, do you mean to Alabama, or literally over Alabama on the way somewhere else? Eglin AFB for example.

a reply to: C0bzz

They tested them in the high speed corridor, with F-16 chase aircraft on two separate days. They came out of the west, heading into Georgia on both days.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Thanks for the response. Fascinating.

Part of me just wants to say "and then what happened?", but usually I have to figure it out partly by myself before I get clues.

a reply to: C0bzz

After that I have no idea. We lived near the Alabama/Tennessee line, near Chattanooga. They headed towards Georgia on the same basic heading that the F-22s took, on the way to Marietta heading back from their test hops. I thought they were F-15s at first, then got a better look, as they did some maneuvering and realized what they were.

Geez. I don't know if the DOD will buy new aircraft for the sole purpose of Red Air. They haven't done that in a long time. Not sure why they wouldn't pull some F-16s out of the boneyard to accomplish the mission cheaper, with more parts commonality.

I mean, it's cool to have some Swedish red air aircraft, but that's gotta come with like, a $50M price tag.

a reply to: cosmania

These are marketed for commercial Red Air. The Air Force is using them more and more, but they're not really a very good threat for fifth gen aircraft, except to throw large numbers at them.

Massed air assault I think is probably best exercise I can think off...High end Red assets are probably best for surgical strikes on valuable targets like US tankers and EW platforms..
Didnt the RAAF play with some Mig29/Su35s last year?

a reply to: Blackfinger

There is definitely a place for massed air assault, but not all exercises are a good fit for it.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Mentone AL? My mom's side of the family is from Lafayette, beautiful up that way. Also let me know if you ever hear of anything cool coming into marietta and I'll try to snap some pics.

Found this, looks like I was possibly right.

RideAlong! in the mighty Su-27 Flanker as she performs one of her early flights over Nothern Illinois. This aircraft is one of two Flankers that were completely overhauled and converted to English instruments by Pride aircraft and later sold to a secret buyer who had the aircraft loaded onto trucks and driven away.

www.youtube.com...