Spanish IPA4 with GBU-16 and GBU-10

Those are EGBU´s

http://www.ejercitodelaire.mde.es/stweb/ea/ficheros/jpg/50D5E1B2564A30DCC12577D1004750F2T00.jpg

Argentina doesn’t want 2nd hand, Pakistan is not a customer cause Dassault would not want to jeopardise Rafale contract.

One thing is what you want, and another one what can you afford.

Last year Casa send a C-295 to South Africa, and a SAAF delegation was visiting the 35th Wing in Getafe, they were interested in a dual role like the Portuguese Air Force.

But our SF-5B´s are just advanced trainers like the USAF Talons.

I mentioned that fact in my post, and that they also operate the Su-29 as part of their aerobatic team.

So they are already operating Russian airframes.

Operated, in the past, they were retired long time ago.

China really wants to get into the fighter market. So, South America could be the perfect opportunity! Now she only needs to make a deal with Russia to export the AL-31FN-M1 to third parties. Now I know some will say it will never happen. Yet, Russia as already given China permission to export JF-17 with the Russian made RD-93’s to Pakistan. Plus, for a price Russia hasn’t had to many reservation selling to just about anyone. Let’s not forget that China has copied a great deal of Russian Hardware over the last decade. Yet, Russia continues to sell to China! Recently, even offering the Su-35 with the latest Engines and Avionics. So, what’s the big deal over an engine produced for the Su-27. That’s been in production for the last 25-30 years.

China really tried in the eighties in South America with the F-7 family (even with Pinochet….) now they are obtaining something more, for example in Venezuela (K-8, Y-8), also in Bolivia with Z-9, K-8 and so on.

I believe Jordan already retired their F-5, some of them bought by Singapore. Indonesia and Malaysia still operated, but Malaysia already plan to retired them. For Indonesia still has not decided whether retired them or upgrade further for operational until 2020.

Jordan sold a good part of their F-5 fleet to Kenya and Brazil.

Those 24 planes will be brand new, Iraqies refused used and stored planes of Czech air force some time ago. Second, in Aero Vodochody are stored only 32 Czech air force Alcas A, it´s not enought for making 24 trainers. Those four planes for free will come from active service with Czech Air Force, so Czech air force will rebuilt another 8 stored L-159As for 4 T1s. Actually stored L-159As aren´t for sale, because Czech L-39 will be decommissioned during four years, so those L-159As become T1s as the time goes (Czech air force will need around 15 new trainers, so even 32 stored L-159As (minus 8) are not enought for rebuilding)…

So Iraq will get planes equipped according its request, and I bet that they will be not of same low level equipment like Czech T1. Much more they will be of L-159B level even better, of course with simulators, virtual trainers, pilot training etc., so no surprise with the price…

EADS CASA at least returned one L-159 to the Czech Republic as compensation for the delays in the C-295 fleet.