Lockheed Martin personnel in Romania have reportedly confirmed that the aircraft with be F-16 C/D fighters, without mentioning the production year or their number of flight hours. The US DSCA request noted AN/APG-69v1 radars and PW F100-220 IPE engines as expected equipment, however. This strongly suggests F-16 C/D Block 25 aircraft, delivered between 1984-1986, and currently operational with American Air National Guard units.
Romanian sources say that the planes will be free, but there will still be costs of about $400 million for personnel training in the USA, $500 million for refurbishment and infrastructure improvements, and money to equip the planes with weapons. The total sum is estimated to be about $1.2 billion.
Quote: "WARSAW — Romanian Defense Minister Corneliu Dobritoiu said his country aims to buy an undisclosed number of second-hand F-16A/B jet fighters from Portugal, reported local news agency Agerpres.
'The machines are in a very good technical condition,' Dobritoiu said. Romania needs to acquire new jet fighters to replace its fleet of 49 Soviet-built MiG-21 Lancer jet fighters, the defense minister said. Dobritoiu said that without purchasing the F-16 aircraft, the Romanian Air Force would lose its combat capacity in about nine years."
Quote: " BUCHAREST --- Romania will pay Portugal USD 600 million in a period of five years for 12 F-16 jet fighter aircraft, the Macedonian news website Libertas reported.
The news was confirmed by Defense Minister Corneliu Dobriţoiu. He said that Romania would pay EUR 70 million in the first tranche next year.
The aircraft will be presented after the pilots’ training is over in 2016."
gipsy From Germany, joined Mar 2009, 100 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (8 months 3 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 5543 times:
What an idiotic decision. Why not take the 24 Gripens for 1.3 billion? That would them give an aircraft for the next 25 years, in sufficient numbers. I doubt these old F16 will make it that long. So in 10 to 15 years a replacement is needed again anyway. Then 600 millions plus an unknown (old birds only get worse) amount of money for spares and maintenance is down the drain. Very smart...someone must have persuaded them properly.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11736 posts, RR: 51 Reply 7, posted (8 months 3 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 5480 times:
I have to agree with gipsy, the Gripens would be a better deal and a long term solution. Romaina could probibly get a better financing deal, too.
ThePointblank From Canada, joined Jan 2009, 1109 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (8 months 3 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 5355 times:
Quoting gipsy (Reply 6): What an idiotic decision. Why not take the 24 Gripens for 1.3 billion? That would them give an aircraft for the next 25 years, in sufficient numbers. I doubt these old F16 will make it that long. So in 10 to 15 years a replacement is needed again anyway. Then 600 millions plus an unknown (old birds only get worse) amount of money for spares and maintenance is down the drain. Very smart...someone must have persuaded them properly.
What isn't reported if the $600 million includes spares and maintenance or excludes it, or it includes something that wasn't reported.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11736 posts, RR: 51 Reply 9, posted (8 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 5081 times:
Quoting ThePointblank (Reply 8): What isn't reported if the $600 million includes spares and maintenance or excludes it, or it includes something that wasn't reported.
The Sweds have gone out of their way supporting the JAS-39 in sales to other countries. I think they are about to lend the Swiss some of their Gripen C/Ds for training in 2015 before the Swiss Gripen E/Fs arrive beginning in 2018. I believe this will allow the Swiss to begin retiring their F-5E/Fs.
Quote: "Sept 24/12: Portugal. Romania apparently outbids Bulgaria for 12 PoAF F-16s, offering EUR 600 million over 5 years for the jets (EUR 125 million) and associated training and maintenance (EUR 475 million). The planes will arrive in 2016, by which time Romania’s pilots will also be fully trained.
The fighters are described as 'multirole,' but this is a bit of a stretch for the F-16 Block 15 OCUs. They can use AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, but their previous-generation AN/APG-66 radars have limited ground capabilities, and the fighters’ main precision strike weapon is the short-range AGM-65 Maverick missile. On the other hand, the price for 12 was pretty good."
Unless something unexpected happens, it seems the RoAF will finally get their Vipers in 2016.
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