I dont see the Indian Navy inducting LCA if the IAF dont induct on a big scale. The commonality argument would go out the window.

Noonereally wants to be the worlds only type operator.

Unless you are the USAF! 😉

Also,if they are seriosu about tendering for a new fighter, they would want to keep their types down to 2 (new fighter plus MIG-29). No Navy in the world has 3 carrier fighter types.

VIP plane handed over to Pakistan air force
A special plane presently under the use of President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Gilani has been handed over to the Pakistan Air Force after which security of the two leaders has become the responsibility of the military.
The plane – Airbus (A310-300) – was gifted to former military ruler and president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf by the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani. Earlier, the plane was being operated by the Pakistan International Airlines.
Official sources said yesterday the handing over of the plane took place during a special flight of the PM last month to Germany and the UK

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=333822&version=1&template_id=41&parent_id=23

Indeed that was my thinking Italy and Romania already have a working relationship and the F16 ADF at the end of the Italian lease should have good amount of life on them. In respect of the AMX I was thinking of them as more of a replacement for the radarless ground attack Lancer but that does bring in the disadvantage of operating a two type fleet.

With F16 ADF Romania would also have a number of places to put them through MLU if they wanted and even look at incorporating Israeli upgrades continuing the relationship they have with Elbit etc…

I would say thats the best solution. However there is a long list of people queing up for decent surplus F-16 airframes with life left on the,

Jordan, Chile, Pakistan…..

Romania may actually have difficulty in getting the best airframes left.

The problem is giving Block 25 F16 would mean taking them off ANG units who are suffering a shortage as it is.

I wonder if the F16 ADF Block 15OCU currently leased to Italy might not be a better bet, they are on a limited lease and Romanian pilots could start training with the Italian airforce. For that matter there are a fair amount of surplus AMX that might be attractive.

Not a bad idea. The Romanians and Italians share similar languages as well!

Surplus AMX’s may not be great in air defence without a decent radar.

Was it very cost effective to have an upgrade programme for fleet of just 10 types by the way?

Err … about the pic that is suposed to be an R-77 whit the fins on the ground…if i’m correct the plane in that pic is a Tornado ADV, and the missile its a Skyflash…

Excellent spot,also the crewmans skin is a giveaway. Why post a Tornado pic!?

Wow! What a debate, over something that is fairly obvious.

No major arms manufacturing nation has sold anything of major significance to Tawain in many years, since the Mirage 2000 deal.

If Tawains strongest supporter (US) is reluctant to release C/D F-16s how on earth will Europe do so?

No one, irrespective of how much trade they do directlky with China wants to p*ss off the Chinese.

I dont really want to take sides here, but countries are intelligent enough to gauge whatarms transactions will receive a mere rebuke from China and whats arms transactions will cause major issues with their relationships with China.

What I would also add is that many countries know that the Chinese have very long memories. Especially of when offended, or even just percieved offense.

Lease 14 Gripen C/Ds ala Hungry and Czech. In fact, get Swedish loans to do this, then all 3 nations get a central maintenence facility and central training facility for all Central European users. They can even “loan” planes to each other fo training when one of the nations has a heavy commitment (like Baltic air defence duties).