I think the Jordanien Mirage F1 are a very likeyl option. Ground crews and piltos are already trained on them. The plane is sturdy and perhaps the depots are still filled with weapons and spare parts for the type. Second-hand examples could be bought very cheap.

Furthermore Jordain has gotten more F-16, so that they might don´t need the F-1s anymore and could concentrate on an all F-16 fleet.

Can´t we just leave poltics aside ??

I find it more interesting to know that the planes were damaged from the sand. I would have imagined such things to happen.

Perhaps some Mirage F1s could be the first planes to operate with the “new” Iraqi airforce. If there are some left and they would add used Greek, Spanish or Jordanien examples, this could be a very good basis for a new airforce.

First of all give the bugetary constrains more the 4 Squadrons of 18 fighters will be out of the question, if trying to get new builts.

On the other hand used and not upgraded planes will do me no good in case of a conflict.

Ok we would need some fighters that are capable of kkeeping up with the Flanker and the Eagle. Rafale and Typhoon are a bit big, if you consider that these planes will more or less be used as interceptors. So my pick would be 24 Mirage 2000-9.

As these are quite expensive I would try to fill up the numbers with used airplanes.

I would pick used Tornados. Getting 24 used Tornado IDS from German Luftwaffe or better German Navy stocks. These are configuered to use Koromoran ASM missile and HARM; making these planes a good choice for the anit shipping strike role. Add Storm Shadow or Taurus we would also have a decent stand off strike capability.

If possible I would also try to add 18 Tornado EF-3 from british stocks.

That would leave the airforce with :

– 24 Mirage 2000-9
– 24 Tornado IDS
– 18 Tornado EF-3 (ALARM + full AMRAAM integration)

Fishery protection would also be very important, as would be maritime SAR.

For that role I would pick some indonesian built CASA 235 MPAs.

Say 8 in the MPA version and 8 vanilla transport version, that would get large observation windows to be used in the fishery protection duty.

If at all possible I would buy 4 ER-145J AWACS.

Helicopters would be NH-90 with EC-135 for training.

Say 6 MNH-90 for maritime use + 12 for transport duties and SAR.

Air defense systems would be :

– Mistral manpads
– Roland close in SAM systems (bought used from Germany)
– Crotale short to medium range

The long range SAM would be more difficult to obtain. I would try Patriot or Hawk if possible.

I would say, that hanging 4 bombs on a F-15C is probably not worth the effort.

Originally posted by crobato
That’s being seriously contemplated.

Even Sukhoi is now trying to push the Indians for a firm contract on the MiG-29K. That contract can give MiG a short lease on life.

Which is a logical thing. If the Indians go STOBAR now, there next carriers will be STOBAR too. With the MiG-29K out of production then, they will have to look at SU design for their carrier.

My main question is, whatwill this mean to the servie life of the MiG-29 in russian service. Without the upgrade they will probably be retired much earlier – or am I wrong ??

Originally posted by frankvw
She was landing… It was in Hungary. And it wad the 1st time she deployed abroad. Yes she ejected. I don’t know if she got to pilot a desk after that, though. The plane was restored and put on display in Belgium…

Did you see that the F-16 broke its long nose. And the pilot was a chick. Well what would Sigmund Freud say to that. 😀

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4667742/

it could be this incident

In that case they did make strafing runs, as the situation dictated the use of not so heavy ammunition. Or let us say the ROE forced them to strafe.