Interesting topic ppl. Heres my thoughts. Considering Mexico’s main uses for such aircraft will be air defence/counter narcotics, leased Gripens (like Hungary/Czech Rep) are the cheapest way into a quality new fighter but may be overkill for Mexican needs. Korean A-50’s (which is what the RoKAF will replace its F-5’s with) are relatively inexpensive and supersonic, with a better dash speed (important in interception) than the subsonic light attack/trainers suggested eg L-159. However i think $$$$$ will rule out those two options so i think additional used (and updated) F-5’s are a good option. Mexicans already use them, plenty of surplus airframes available (ROC/Saudi/Swiss) and lots of different upgrades on offer. Upgraded to the standards of Chilean or Singapore’s F-5’s they are still quite a capable aircraft. ps I should probably should start a new thread for this one….any thoughts on how to train Mex fast jet pilots if the T-33’s are replaced with F-5 or similar? Maybe the US, Brazil or the NATO FTS in Canada?

[QUOTE=GarryB]

You should perhaps look again at the performance specs of the Skyhawks esp regarding operational flight range. Operations in the Cook Islands or any other remote place would have been interesting if it was even possible at all. Remember air to ground weapons weigh rather more than Sidewinders and flying over the Cook Islands with a load of Sidewinders wouldn’t be that useful.

Needless to say when they retired them they didn’t bring them further south than Christchurch for their final displays because further south than Christchurch was “too far”.

You misunderstood my comments, i was refering to the C-130’s & P-3’s NOT the Skyhawks in regard to the Cook islands ie the few aircraft available & their age, considering the large area they have to support. If you include Cook Islands NZ has a pretty big EEZ to police.

I believe a lot of the money we down the LAVs as they ended up costing more than was expected.

Fair enough, & i know the A-4’s havent found a buyer yet (are the Malaysians buying the MB339’s?) but setting aside some of the savings to buy additional ex RAF C-130’s/ex USN P-3B’s (for example) to supplement the small numbers of these aircraft in the existing fleet wouldnt be a bad idea. Seems to me that the fast jet fleet was sacrificed with very little to show for it (for the RNZAF)

I cant see the RNZAF getting a (fast jet) combat capability ever again and while the debate seems to have spread to whether NZ needed one or not another point to consider is this: Whats “red helen” (NZ PM) done with the money? (apart from 2 757’s) The C-130’s & P-3’s are 1960’s vintage, the upgrades are a joke (especially the P-3) and you have 5 40yo C-130’s trying to fufill NZ’s airlift needs. Dont forget its not just NZ they have to support but the Cook islands & a big chunk of the Pacific as well. If the RNZAF had lost its combat jets but got (more) new build C-130/P-3’s it wouldnt have been such a bitter pill to swallow. (In my humble opinion anyway)