That is not a crazy idea, but I would have thought they would have tried to get there “teeth” in order first and build up a decent fighter/interceptor capability before worrying about AWACs.

‘Requirement’ as in a formally defined role within the structure of the armed forces. Has the Moroccan MoD stated that it has a requirement for AWACS?

Malaysia & South Africa have, & only funding has prevented them buying AEW to date. Congo has no formal requirement, though it is arguable that it has a desperate need to gain some ability to monitor & control its airspace, which is currently open to anyone who wants to fly in or over it. You see the difference? A requirement, in this context, is not a question of ‘need’, but of whether the state & its agencies see the capability as both useful, & feasible to acquire & use.

Swerve

I know the difference between a formal requirement and a need and I can cut and paste many many instances of countries purchasing equipment with no formal requirement being floated, so shall we move on?

Morrocco has just ordered 24 Block 52s and has 40 odd upgraded Mirage F-1s.

It has a vast coastline, tensions with Algeria (who are now operating SU-30s) and major immigration and smuggling problems.

Also, if they had a public official requirement, why would they want to keep the user country secret as per the SAAB press release?

I do not actually think it would be possible to supply 140k off NATO troops and alot of the Afghan army just by air. The heavy mundane stuff like fuel, food and ammo would be need in vast quantaties. Is there even that much airlift available globally?

People were warned not to let this get into a Pakistan V India p**sing contest, so maybe we should just focus on IAF. Happy to have this conversation in the PAF thread.

For your information (web based as you admit) is mostly incorrect. Although I doubt you would let that stop getting in the way.

TPS-43
TPS-77
TPS-77

All are modern US radars

YLC-2 Chinese radar (specifically made for stealth detection)

The SAM system

is RBS-70/Mistral/Stinger/Anza III at low level

SPADA 2000 at Medium

Looking at HQ-9 at higher level

Crotale and HQ-2 phased out

In addition to all this, all these assets can face India and the coast

Indian systems will have to cover Pakistan, China and its massive coastline

I will let you decide how things stack up

If it was the Saudis

1) Why order just 2/3?
2) Why the secrecy? All there arms deals are high profile
3) Why when they just upgraded the E-3S?

As mentioned earlier, IAF is modernising, but there are still some major critical gaps,especially in its SAM network

50% of IAF equipment obsolete, says IAF chief

Read more: 50% of IAF equipment obsolete, says IAF chief – The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/50-of-IAF-equipment-obsolete-says-IAF-chief/articleshow/6684392.cms#ixzz11Q9M0AAr

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force on Monday said that 50% of its systems and equipment were obsolete and steps were being taken to bring down the obsolescence levels in the next four to five years.

“The obsolescence percentage is 50%,” Air Chief Marshal P V Naik said here adding that “by 2014-15, it would come down to 20%”.

The IAF chief was addressing his annual press conference on the Air Force Day held on October 8 every year.

Asked which was the most critical area for the force in this regard, Naik said, “Air Defence. That will be the only word.”

The Air Chief made it clear that even with 50% obsolete equipment, the IAF was capable of handling threats from the medium of air and space. “We are fully capable of defending the country from any threat.”

At present, IAF relies mainly on its Russian-origin air defence systems such as the OSA-AK and Pechora and the shoulder-fired Igla missiles, which have been in service for over two decades.

In the recent past, the IAF has been working on developing its air defence network and is looking to procure various systems in this regard.

It has already ordered for over six squadrons of the indigenously-made Akash air defence systems and the Spyder Medium-range Surface to Air Missile (MR-SAM) system from Israel along with aerostat radars to prevent any aerial attacks.

The force is looking at deploying low-level and medium-level transportable radars at different locations and is also planning to procure radars for being deployed in high altitude areas along the borders with China and Pakistan.

Read more: 50% of IAF equipment obsolete, says IAF chief – The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/50-of-IAF-equipment-obsolete-says-IAF-chief/articleshow/6684392.cms#ixzz11Q9S9Uvr

The West is in a no win situation in Afganistian by the US-belief of democracy there. They had the correct idea at first to support the Northern Alliance in 2001.
Without Afghanian to fight for their own country or the majority of their tribes at least the West is just pouring money and blood into that country in a senseless way. Similar thing with Pakistan as a former US ally. In reality the war in Afghanistan is still going on to ignore the much bigger problem of Pakistan for a moment. 😎

Yes, lets stick to aviation, we could talk about which countries present problems till the cows come home….

As I mentioned on my first post on this topic, it brings up a subject that is very political, and we all know how threads on here go when things touch on poltics

Good point. I dont the Swedes would want to massively p**s off China, and in addition Taiwan is in the middle of upgrading all its Hawkeyes to 2000 standard. Why just buy a single Erieye?