PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON DC
East Europeans chase used fighters after cancelling order for Gripens, with stored US aircraft also in Prague's sights
The Czech Republic is considering an offer from Canada for up to 15 surplus Boeing CF-18A/B Hornets as the country embarks on a search for used fighters in the wake of cancelling a planned €1.94 billion ($1.94 billion) order for 24 new Saab/BAE Systems JAS39 Gripens.
Canada plans to withdraw from service 41 of its CF-18s by 2006. These are not earmarked to be among the 80 aircraft the air force will upgrade to an F/A-18C/D equivalent. An official from Canada's Department of National Defence says it is "exploring opportunities with one potential buyer and talks are in the preliminary stage".
The decision to cut the number of aircraft was made to save money and because many of the CF-18s are 20 years old and reaching the point where they will have to go through a centre fuselage barrel replacement programme. The 15 aircraft being offered to the Czech Republic would reportedly be refurbished by Boeing before delivery.
Canada had not yet approached the US Department of Defense for permission to sell on the CF-18s, but the Defense Security Assistance Agency confirms an approach from Prague for pricing and availability on surplus US fighters.
There are around 40 US Navy F/A-18As in desert storage, but no tandem-seat -18Bs, while around 100 early-build US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16A/Bs available for sale and upgrade, represent another alternative.
Czech defence minister Jaroslav Tvrdik confirms the country is looking for between 12 and 14 used aircraft to either lease or purchase. The Swedish air force is considering offering for sale a number of early-build Batch 1 Gripens as the number of newer Batch 2/3 JAS39C/Ds increases.
"We're anxious to go back to our Czech partner and see how we could resolve this, but the situation is moving all the time and we don't know when a formal decision will be taken," says Saab.
Belgium and the Netherlands are other potential sources of available F-16s, though the Czech Republic had previously rejected an offer from the latter. Sabca is now believed to be trying to place the Belgian aircraft with Jordan. Other options include used Dassault Mirages from France. Prague wants to retire its fleet of MiG-21s by 2005.
Additional reporting by Brian Dunn in Montreal and Christina MacKenzie in Paris
Source: Flight International
