Slater Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 I would imagine that secondhand F-16 Block 30's would be the cheapest, although I'm not sure how much an upgrade/refurbishment would cost: https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/croatia-receives-best-and-final-fighter-bids 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 Israeli Baraks were selected already once.... but because of US veto they were not allowed to buy the Israeli upgrades as well. The US feared for its business oportunities... Wonder why no Eurofighters Tranche 1/2 are offered.... So... I as Croatia would not go the F-16 route.... as clearly the US played only in its own interest last year But all the rest seems weven more expensive and unlikely..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlamgat9 Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 The smaller EU air forces should club together for a common pool of Gripens. These penny packet national fighter fleets are crazy. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slater Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share Posted November 16, 2020 1 hour ago, Vlamgat9 said: The smaller EU air forces should club together for a common pool of Gripens. These penny packet national fighter fleets are crazy. Yeah, Slovakia has 14 F-16 Block 70's on order. So, basically a squadron. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 10 hours ago, Slater said: Yeah, Slovakia has 14 F-16 Block 70's on order. So, basically a squadron. and Bulgaria some 10? Poland has 36, but older models Romania is updating and increasing its updated AM/BM fleet so there is a chance for standardization here... the Gripen users (although few) kind of standardize anyways on the Swedish versions.... I think a European fighter fleet is kind of an illusion... currently everybody has some micro fleets, with some interoperability of cause being possible. see Czech and Hungarian Gripen integrating perfectly with Nato airpolicing in the Baltics and Iceland... but I guess Croatia mainly needs something to counter the small but increasing Serbian MiG-29s fleet... and that is actually already a sad enough story and cause! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 (edited) 12 hours ago, Vlamgat9 said: The smaller EU air forces should club together for a common pool of Gripens. These penny packet national fighter fleets are crazy. For that to happen there would first have to be a common foreign policy among the various smaller countries, something that is almost impossible. Not that it's impossible only for the smaller countries it's often hard to see this among the larger EU countries as well as in the end each follow their interests, regardless of EU or NATO membership Edited November 17, 2020 by Giorgio N 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 partner nations could join together for training, maintenance, etc....of their small fighter fleets to get some economics of scale.... but still here many different interests to be covered... the main one is as usually not defence needs, but politics.... the larger countries usually also have their own large defence industries.... so there is more (or actually even less) to play with.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truro Model Builder Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 I suspect that the Israeli proposal stands little chance due to the possibility of the US exercising a veto again. The Rafale, while they may be a cheaper purchase, may be a more expensive aircraft to operate, so I believe it will end up as a straight fight between Gripen and the F-16V. If so, the US will almost certainly offer a lower price to the Swedes. Whether Croatia goes for it is another matter. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 On 11/17/2020 at 1:32 PM, exdraken said: is actually already a sad enough story and cause Very true Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 On 11/17/2020 at 1:50 PM, Giorgio N said: For that to happen there would first have to be a common foreign policy among the various smaller countries, something that is almost impossible. Not that it's impossible only for the smaller countries it's often hard to see this among the larger EU countries as well as in the end each follow their interests, regardless of EU or NATO membership Hmm one hand I agree not sure what the tune is with Slovakia, Croatia,Bulgaria etc.....broadly EU id imagine although obviously Croatia has its issues with its Balkan chum....sadly .. .but some sort of shared agreement regarding spares and depth servicing might be possible. Not easy I grant you ....the part of LMW I used to work for tried something called GASPAW with Merlin users but it all got very protective and money was an issue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 On 11/16/2020 at 10:19 PM, Vlamgat9 said: The smaller EU air forces should club together for a common pool of Gripens. These penny packet national fighter fleets are crazy. Wasn't that tried with the F5, F104, F16? But I think it's a good idea. Not always possible for the reasons others mention Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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