well if they do go for more F-16 it would more or likely be along the lines of the Iraqi deal new airframes with old A2A capability

Yes the US is tasked with Iraqi air defence using F-16C’s & AIM-120 and yes a lot of AF’s in the region use the type but at this time the IrAF will be operating a new airframe with old and poor A2A capability I am not trying to say that F-16 is bad fighter far from it what I am saying is at this time today F-1 MF2000 is a mach for F-16IQ in the air two air role will hold its own in the air to ground and maritime strike roles against many newer types

If the F-16s where of the latest spec I would say you might be right however they are far from that in the primary task of air defence where the F-1 MF-2000 at this time with up to date French Magic 2 and Mica EM-IR missiles can perform this task better also with it’s outstanding turnaround and availability plus the ability to operate away from main airfields carrying a equally wide range of PGM’s targeting and recce pods at a good price F-1 could and would give a more flexible air defence element plus with it outstanding low level performance and Exocet capability a better maritime strike platform than the other to types

If Greece was to buy F-35 I can’t see them getting any until 2030+ due to delays and other customers

the link I put up conflagates purchase costs with “lifecycle costs”. But it does show the actual truth too… 😀

F16IQ purchase costs are $60M each including including radars, weapons, equipment, ground support etc…

The 30 year old refurbished mirages would have cost $55M each.

apples to apples comparison. Some media still parrot the line that Iraqi F16s cost $4Bn to buy. That is simply not true, that is the DSCA “estimate” for lifecycle cost over 20 years. not the up front purchase price.

I would agree that F-16 is the way to go as a type to operate for the next 25+ years as IQ has room to grow however if I was Iraq I would still pick up 36-40 F-1 MF2000’s as third type for a fleet mix of

60 F-16 IQ
40 F-1 MF-2000
100 Mig-29 M

Three very good multi-role BVR types able to conduct any mission in region also with this type mix Iraq could undertake policing duties in the future

I also think Argentina was mad to turn down F-1 MF-2000 if they pick up 24 of them to replace Mirage 111 and super Ed’s again they would have a capable type in region

The way the UK is going to payout is two more Typhoon Squadrons will be formed over the next three years at the same time two Tornado will stand down as of 2011 the RAF is not undertaking navigator training however the task is still part of 100 Sqn remit by the OSD of 2019 there will only be two Tornado GR4 Sqn’s . The UK has at this ordered 48 F-35B’s to operate from it carriers and these will go to FAA I see post the 2015 SDSR the UK will look to order around 60 F-35A to replace the Tornado in the strike role giving the UK around 250 airframe fighter force. However if the UK go down this road this will delay F-35 even more for the RAAF as the UK as a level 1 partner will push to the head of the line after the US for the A model

In another thread I said the Nordic Battle group made up of Denmark – Netherlands -Norway – Finland – Sweden – Switzerland should buy Gripen E/F with the purpose of training and fighting as a battle group by doing so the cost of Gripen would come down for these countries plus the cost of training maintenance and logistics also as a group they could go forward with development of SAAB’s 5.5 program as I said before I don’t care who you are if 30 Gripen E’s rock up on your door step with a 220+ battle group and six nations to support them it would you think long and hard as to your next move

I do not understand any benefit for the SH International to a nation. If you buy it as a makeshift interim aircraft, then there is no way you can justify the development expense. If you buy it as a slightly better 4.5 generation aircraft, then you are probably better of buying the euro 4.5 gens or the basic SH e/f and saving the rest of the money. If it is a credible long term threat that you are trying to neutralize then suck up and buy the F-35/

The point is at this time you can buy as many F-35 as you like but you can’t have them for a decade or more that take more than a little sucking up