Slater Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 Probably long overdue, but what was their primary mission? https://www.reuters.com/article/austria-defence/austria-to-phase-out-its-saab-105-fighter-jets-by-year-end-idUSL8N2ED2SO 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B (Sc) Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 It has a multi role function - trainer, ground attack, reconnaissance. In theory they provide interception as well, though that would be of fairly slow airliners only I'd think, since flat out max chat is 520 knots at sea level. There was an update proposed about twelve years ago, possibly of electronics, not sure. May have been for Swedish machines only. A little early to retire them; I thought Saab still had a servicing contract to run for another two years or so. They were supplied - 40 of them - in the Seventies, so quite long in the tooth. They replaced vampires and Tunnans - the Austrians had a small Air Force only, consistent with their slightly awkward position of quasi-neutrality between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. (Days long gone! ) Somewhat of a 'nominal' force in some respects, perhaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 The phase out was long announced, the shock over here us that no replcaement whatsoever is planned... But lets see.. our new defence minister had lot of comunication/ anouncements to be changed / rectified etc recently.... Seems she talks first and then asks/ gets told... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 15 minutes ago, exdraken said: The phase out was long announced, the shock over here us that no replcaement whatsoever is planned... But lets see.. our new defence minister had lot of comunication/ anouncements to be changed / rectified etc recently.... Seems she talks first and then asks/ gets told... I think we have some knackered Tucanos you can have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 19 minutes ago, bentwaters81tfw said: I think we have some knackered Tucanos you can have. We have some PC-7s... no thanks I guess! And i think price is not an issue... neither are any other reasonable arguments... it is politics only Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B (Sc) Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 I must admit I thought the decision to buy Eurofighters was sorted out ages ago, Somehow I had the impression they were in service already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernphotography Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 (edited) 51 minutes ago, John B (Sc) said: I must admit I thought the decision to buy Eurofighters was sorted out ages ago, Somehow I had the impression they were in service already. long in service. Apparently they have 15 x Tranche 1 Typhoons Edited July 6, 2020 by northernphotography 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slater Posted July 6, 2020 Author Share Posted July 6, 2020 Haven't been following that particular topic, but what was/is the controversy over Austria's Eurofighters? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 9 hours ago, Slater said: Haven't been following that particular topic, but what was/is the controversy over Austria's Eurofighters? A bit off topic, but costs, costs, costs, and alleged bribery during the aquisition, and then switch to downgraded and minimum equipped Tranche 1 instead of ordered Tranche 2 with related additional costs ....and need for upgrade... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorty84 Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Well, a typical defense deal then That the Saab 105 gets no replacement is relevant insofar as were doing interceptions of slower intruders and took this burden partially from the Typhoons (= their flying hours were cheaper). Our military is notoriously cash-strapped and the Eurofighters are eating a large sum of the overall budget. Now they have to perform all interceptions with the Typhoon, costing even more. Thing is, this discussion about the Eurofighter deal and alleged bribery has a long history here in Austria (around 15 years or more). Many governments have promised to "shed light" on this issue, latest our new defense minister who confidently promised not so long ago to get out of the contact and sue Eurofighter GmbH...only to go into reverse now. In the end she did what all previous governments in Austria have done...push the unpopular topic to the next government. Just my 2 Euro-Cents 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B (Sc) Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 14 hours ago, northernphotography said: long in service. Apparently they have 15 x Tranche 1 Typhoons Thank you, np. So my memory of seeing photos of them isn't fantasy! And shorty84 - also my thanks., the idea of splitting the tasks to reduce costs and minimise expensive flying hours make sense. And also make operational sense since using Typhoons to intercept really slow manoeuvrable machines adds risk. Sounds as though once again politicians are pretending to 'expertise' they don't have. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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