F-22 no longer the alone 5th fighter generation in the sky of the world. The russian rival (PAK-FA) become true!.

Something in this photo reminds me of CLint Eastwood.

As mentioned here, Lebanon has been operating Hunters since 1958-59. The 3 single seat (L-280, 282 and 284) were delivered between 1975-77. The twin seat L-286 was delivered in 1966. There’s a 5th Hunter, a single seat which they say they can fly it if needed, L-276 again delivered in 1966.
There are another 2, L-271 and L-275 but these are probably being used for spares.

All the pilots are Lebanese and are from the older generation. Some are from the latest recruits from the early 90s. A year or so ago, all travelled to the UAE for refresher courses and flew the Hawk T.63 there, preparing for the re-introduction of the Hunters.

As for the MiG-29s, some months ago it was being circled that the deal may be cancelled and was put on hold because of the political uncertainty in the country. But now that a consensus government was formed lately, the deal appears to be back again and the Defense Minister says that they will get the MiGs in 2010. Still, no version has been mentioned but I doubt that these will be SMTs.

Since we’re on the Alouette subject, here is late King Hussien of Jordan checking the chopper at the Rayak base in Lebanon in 1962. In the back seat is the late Lebanese Defense Minister Majed Arslan (with the moustache).

The maintainance cost of ROCAF in 2009: around 9000 million NT / 273 million USD.
1. For the spare parts of 56 Mirage 2000-5: 2100 million NT / 64 million USD.
2. For the spare parts of 146 F-16 A/B MLU: 570 million NT / 17.4 million USD.
3. For the spare parts of 120+ F-CK-1: 1600 million NT / 48.8 million USD.

These figures are not very logical.
Maybe we should look at the total spendings through the years and not a particular period. It could be that they have good stocks of spares for the F-16s and won’t spend much in 2009? Just a thought.

Some F-5s …30mm gun pods, LGB bombs, naps, rockets and others…

Didn’t know that the F-5 could carry LGBs. Is this common knowledge?

I think the RuAF wants to put pressure on the Duma for a bigger budget to buy new fighters. The air force may well be intentionally exaggerating the facts.

Here’s the last paragraph from the article:

Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, who is in charge of arms procurement, said on January 20 that Russia’s fifth-generation fighter must be commissioned with the Air Force by 2015.

Some interesting Armenian Su-25s still with Slovak markings:

http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=01479927&size=large
http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=01479926&size=large
http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=01479923&size=large

I think people should understand that these jets are not intended against any of our neighbors. This is part of an effort to start rebuilding the military which suffered by gross negligence during Syria’s 15 years of control over Lebanon.
Syria’s control and weakening of the army resulted in militant groups to take more control of certain parts of the country and the state lost authority in these areas, Hezbollah being one of them.

Most people see this a start of exacting the state authority over Lebanon’s territories which may later result in disarming Hezbollah (peacefully) and other militant groups.

10 MiG-29s won’t change the balance of power in the Middle East and the LAF is not suicidal to go and try to engage Syrian or IDF fighters.

Let’s hope that the deal won’t be sabotaged and Lebanon will finally get some well deserved equipment.