As for the F-16s, I think the suggestion was that they would a few of the soon to be retired Gripens from Sweden, possibly with a couple of Sk60s to help train some pilots. They would probably be a lot cheaper (and newer) than the F-16s – could be provided for free, and training in Sweden for a nominal fee (genuinely nominal, Sweden seems to actually like helping its Baltic neighbours). A possibility for the F-16s could be Thailand, who already use older F-16s, and a few more would probably be quite welcome.

Maybe also South America ? Still, it’s too far away to tell anything for real. Remember these F-16 would olny be available circa 2010-2011, so who knows what might change till then.

Are you sure it is actually Romania that is interested, rather than IAR?

The portuguese MoD told a newspaper ” there already have been contacts with Romania since this country also uses Pumas” and ” [regarding the frigates] it was the uruguyan ambassador that contacted us and things are now between both MoDs”.

Neptune, I can’t find any source at hand but I seem to recall seeing some figures about the M-frigates that were just like that. It’s been said that the original option, two short hull OHPs,would cost nearly that in bringing them up to operational status.

Also according to todays news, the 12 F-16s to be sold will be from th first batch (Peace Atlantis I), i.e. the OCU birds who have been flying in FAPs hands since 1994.

Anyway, it’s best to wait and see, you wouldn’t believe the amount of rumours ( compared to “normal” times) that have been popping up on the this press about this defence matters in the last few weeks 😉

BTW, why it’s nickname “Hun” ? Any special reason ?

What do you guys make of this ?

Bush, Blair Resolve Dispute over Joint Strike Fighter
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

The United States and Britain announced agreement May 26 to end a long-running dispute over technology that had threatened plans to cooperate in developing a new-generation Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.
A statement by President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair on the final day of their two-day summit appeared to put to rest a row over British access to codes used in U.S. avionics systems aboard the F-35 fighters.
Britain, angered by U.S. reluctance to share the codes, had been preparing to pull out of the project and the planned purchase of 150 aircraft at $104 million apiece.
Bush and Blair said they agreed that Britain “will have the ability to successfully operate, upgrade, employ, and maintain the Joint Strike Fighter such that the UK retains operational sovereignty over the aircraft.”
U.S. officials said the move would allow the British to make their own adaptations to the JSF without having to call in U.S. technicians.
”Both governments agree to protect sensitive technologies found within the Joint Strike Fighter program,” Bush and Blair wrote. “Together, we are working out the details, while remaining committed to these principles.”
The statement did not mention another dispute over the U.S. cost-cutting move to cancel a $2.4 billion contract for the British firm Rolls-Royce and the U.S. giant General Electric to develop a backup engine.
The JSF has been billed as the United States’ biggest fighter program. The Pentagon has planned to buy 2,400 of the stealthy multi-role fighters and international sales could account for another 2,000 to 3,500 aircraft.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1830029&C=america

Just the odd F-16 or C-130 over here…

According to this official page of the french MoD, half of the M2000-Ds have been integrated with cruise missiles ( Apache/SCALP? ) and AASM

http://www.defense.gouv.fr/sites/defense/base/breves/40_mirage_2000_d_dotes_de_nouveaux_systemes_darmement

La moitié de la flotte de Mirage 2000 D de l’armée de l’air, soit 40 avions sur 80, est désormais dotée de missiles de croisière ainsi que de systèmes d’armement air-sol modulaire.

Pour en savoir plus, consulter la page illustrée de l’armée de l’air, à partir du lien ci-dessous .

I believe the page to be several months old, so probably more Ds have been thus modified~.

Yes!!