I’ve joust read that the investigation about the BAE systems bribe to the Saudis was dropped after them treating to drop the contract. Blair stated that it was a threat to national security… according to the Guardian. I guess that in this case national security means 6 billion pounds and tens of thousands of British jobs. So it looks like the contract for 72 Typhoon’s should go ahead.

Hello, MiG21Pilot

When was this?
Any insider information about “the decision”?:)
And most importantly, what’s your opinion on the best candidate for our next combat airplane?

We had a Mirage demonstration in October last year at Le Bourget and the conclusion was that the version they offered at that time was to outdated for our long term needs.
As for the insider info goes… sorry I’m joust a Capt.. :), but It will probably be something between some used F-16 (MLUs hopefully) and new JAS-39s depending on the budget decision witch will be final in 2007… and the planes should be arriving from 2010 when our MIG 21 BIS-D will be decommissioned.
The favorite among us pilots is the JAS as new MIG 29s are not a option anymore because we settled the Russian death with 16 new Mi-171, witch are due this summer, and to buy them is probably not a option for our politicians. I’m personally a big fun of the F-16, as the JAS, even if it this a new plane, is still a bit of a mystery. But the JAS is probably more suitable for our country defensive needs and is certainly more simple and in long term cheaper for maintenance.

I’m a Croatian fighter pilot and know for a fact that the final decision on the new CAF fighter will be next year. The most probable contenders are the F-16 and the JAS-39 but others like Mirage 2000, MIG 29 etc. are not excluded. We even had a Mirage 2000 demonstration recently. As for the F-16, we had numerous exercises with the ones from Aviano including MIG 21 vs. F-16 in BFM and informational flights on the F-16s and in some respects is better than the Swedish plane so the JAS is not such a sure winner. In the end, as it goes, state finances and politicians will make the decision for us.

P.S.: Ustasa you should rethink your nick. You are far to young to identify yourself with such primitive and outdated ideas.