Croatian MiG-21, photo by Tomislav Haraminčić
- www.flickr.com, wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
PUBLISHED: SATURDAY, 07 OCTOBER 2017, 9:07
Juliusz Sabak
Croatia is approaching a decision on the
purchase of 18 modern fighter jets that will replace the historic MiG-21s by
2020. Impulse to speed up this process is certainly the delivery to Serbia
of six Russian MiG-29s. There are four offers in the Croatian game, three
of which concern new or used F-16s, and one Swedish JAS 39 Gripen.
The impetus for a decision postponed for at least a
decade has been the reinforcement of neighboring Serbia, which intensively
cooperated militarily with Moscow and Minsk. Belgrade has just received 6
used MiG-29 fighter jets from Russia, and a similar number will be delivered to
Belarus next year. For Croatia, which since 2009 belongs to NATO, this is
a serious military threat. Soon Serbia will have at least 12 fairly modern
MiG-29 fighters that will remain in service for about 14 years.
Croatian squadron of monuments
Meanwhile, Croatia currently has only 11 MiG-21 fighters
( one lost in the disaster in August 2014 ). Of
these, seven have been repaired in Ukraine. In addition
to extending the resurrections, they have acquired a new low visibility
painting, which, in accordance with current standards, replaced the black and
white symbols on the gray background with the distinctive white and red
marks. This has not, however, raised the negligible capabilities of these
machines.
Used F-16 recently bought Romania, photo VictorCozmei,
Wikipedia, CC BY -SA 4.0
The Croatian MiG-i was modified in 2003 to meet NATO's
basic requirements. This version carries the MiG-21bis-D in Croatia and
the MiG-21bis-UD in two-seater variant. Both have a Western VOR / DME
system, ILS and IFF compliant with the NATO standard. Unlike the Romanian
MiG-21 LanceR-B fighters, the Croatian planes did not receive new armament or
guidance systems. They are still flip flops developed more than 60 years
ago, whose combat capabilities are symbolic, and the number of machines that
are actually fit to fly is another key issue that is better off the veil of
silence.
Croatia has been planning to phase out MiG-21s at least
from 2008, but has yet to finance the purchase of more modern aircraft and
other related expenses. This is an estimate, depending on the option
chosen, for approximately $ 300-400 million plus the costs of upgrading
infrastructure and staff training. The current government has finally
decided to take this difficult decision with active support from Croatian
President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović. Last December, she announced in a
television interview that a new fighter would be selected in 2017. The aim
is to introduce new aircraft no later than 2020.
Four offers, two types
In July, up to five potential suppliers were sent an
inquiry. In the case of Sweden, it is a machine JAS 39 Gripen, South Korea
- FA-50, the US, Israel and Greece - F-16. The last two countries are a
potential source of used machines. In the first days of October, four of
the respondents arrived. Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd (KAI), with its
light supersonic combat aircraft, the FA-50, is the most advanced version of
the T-50 Golden Eagle.
Saab remains in the fight with the JAS 39 Gripen
squadron. This is the most expensive option, but the Swedish government
offers not only a 15-year loan but also 4 Gripen used as a bridging solution
before delivery of target machines. The other three offers - American,
Greek and Israeli - concern F-16s in various versions. The Lockheed Martin
American company offers new machines in one of the current
versions. Greece and Israel offer used F-16A / B aircraft. Israeli
airfares cover at least 20 years, but with upgrades and support. The
details of the Greek proposal are unknown.
Fighter JAS39 Gripen of Czech aviation, Photo. Czech
Army
Need a quick decision
All the bids have already been received by the Croatian
Ministry of Defense, which said that the assessment, which will be carried out
by the expert team appointed for this purpose, will last about two
months. - Key parameters evaluated in the selection process, in
addition to the characteristics and capabilities of aircraft, will be three
segments: intergovernmental agreement, price and economic and industrial
cooperation package - the ministry said.
In this way, it is once again emphasized that the
intergovernmental agreement or at least the government guarantee is strongly
preferred, which reduces the risk of corruption. At the same time, the
Croatian government is counting on the transfer of competences and the
injection of new technologies into the domestic industry. In the context
of this type of requirements, negotiations can be quite complex, which could
jeopardize the date of introduction of the first machines, which is quite
rigidly scheduled for 2020. Therefore, it is expected that the tenderer with
whom the negotiations will proceed will be promptly selected.
Croatian MiGi-21, Photo. Croatia
The ambitious plan announced at the beginning of the year
by President Grabar-Kitarovic is to conclude an agreement before the end of
this year. Serbian impetus will certainly be a sign of the
contract. Six Russian-supplied MiG-29s will be ready for flight on 20
October. By then they will be at least assembled and will look
ready. Belgrade is due to visit Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shojgu,
who is expected to attend a ceremonial reception of service aircraft.
Translated by Google - Original post: defence24.pl
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