On the other hand, the Korean T/A-50 would add a useful combat capability – further boosting the existing air power (which includes Mirage 2000s and F-16E/Fs). It all depends what you want – if you are looking for a jet trainer, then the Hawk could win, but if you are looking to add tactical roles, notably aggressor training, then the T/A-50 would probably win, and a mid point might be M346 (balance of agility and combat capability).

Swerve: sorry, I was meaning the Baltic nations (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) who were suggested as possible customers for the used F-16s, but I was suggesting they go for the Gripens on offer (allegedly on offer) instead. Portugals F-16 have a good few years left in them, and any replacement would probably end up being F-35s or similar – Gripens are a little short ranged, though the -N model appears a good aircraft. I think the problem is that Portugal have relatively little air threat, so are looking to reduce the total number of fighters, so I doubt there would be any issues of a mixed fleet (I doubt there is enough funding around!).

Ja:

Uruguay (Commandant Riviere) class light ASW/patrol frigates
Displacement: 2,250 tons full load
Dimensions: 102.7 x 11.8 x 4.35 meters (337 x 39 x 14 feet)
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 2 shafts, 16,000 shp, 26 knots
Crew: 159
Radar: DRBV 22A air search
Sonar: SQS-17 hull, DUBA 3 attack
Fire Control: DRBC 32C
EW: ARBR 16 intercept
Armament: 4 MM38 Exocet SSM, 2 100mm/55 DP, 2 40mm/70 AA, 1 305 mm
ASW mortar, 2 triple 21.5 inch torpedo tubes
Ex-French.

Number Name Year Homeport Notes
1 Uruguay 1963/90 Montevideo Ex-C.Bourdais
2 General Artigas 1962/88 Montevideo Ex-V.Schoelcher
3 Montevideo 1962/91 Montevideo Ex-A.Charner

Source: http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/ – (under Uruguay)

I agree about the Pumas, though I suspect that for most eastern European countries, Bell 210s might make more sense (completely rebuilt and zero timed UH-1Hs).

As for the F-16s, I think the suggestion was that they would a few of the soon to be retired Gripens from Sweden, possibly with a couple of Sk60s to help train some pilots. They would probably be a lot cheaper (and newer) than the F-16s – could be provided for free, and training in Sweden for a nominal fee (genuinely nominal, Sweden seems to actually like helping its Baltic neighbours). A possibility for the F-16s could be Thailand, who already use older F-16s, and a few more would probably be quite welcome.

Are you sure it is actually Romania that is interested, rather than IAR? They sometimes buy up Pumas to refurbish (they built some themselves under license as the IAR-330) and sell on – I remember reading that some middle eastern countries (cannot remember if it was UAE or Oman, I think it was one of them) were interested in procuring refurbished IAR-330s. They also did the refurb work on the RAFs ex South African Pumas, so I would not rule that out again (given that the Pumas are still giving valued service for the RAF).

Nice, and without the problems associated with swing-wings. I always liked the Victor more than the Vulcan – more payload, and generally proved itself more useful in my opinion.

Yeah, but it never hurts to have a little extra protection…

Hmm, given the sizes of them, I would think the bombs on the outer pylons are 500lb Mk82, middle pylons have Mk84 2000lb bombs, and the inner wing pylons appear to be Mk83 1000lb bombs. Though I may be wrong!