AndrewDoyle/MUNICH
Hungary has asked the US Government to submit a formal offer to sell the country used Lockheed Martin F-16 or Boeing F/A-18 fighters as a possible solution to its near-term air force modernisation requirements.
A response to Hungarian defence minister Janos Szabo's request is due in September, and will be evaluated alongside an EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space)proposal to upgrade 14 RSKMiG-29 Fulcrum fighters to NATO standards.
Hungary, along with its east European neighbours Poland and the Czech Republic, joined NATO last year.
The Hungarian ministry of defence has already signed a letter of intent with EADS for the MiG-29 upgrade, which would be performed by MiG Aircraft Product Support (MAPS)in partnership with local firm Danubian (Flight International, 25-31 July). EADS is a 50% shareholder in MAPS.
The EADS deal was criticised by US ambassador to Hungary Peter Tufo, who claimed the upgraded MiGs would not be capable of operating to NATO standards. His comments have been dismissed by EADS, which notes that NATO-compatible MiG-29s have been in German air force service for several years.
Hungary is expected to purchase new fighters later in the decade, with the F-16, Saab/BAE Systems Gripen and Dassault Mirage 2000 the likely prime contenders.
A decision by the country to go for an initial purchase of used F-16s would represent a major boost to the Lockheed Martin sales campaign.
Meanwhile, Belgium is touting a batch of 18 surplus F-16s among the new NATO members, though these are likely to require expensive upgrade work.
The aircraft are in storage and have not been earmarked to undergo the mid-life update being carried out by Belgium and the other European F-16 operators.
The Belgian aircraft were formally offered to Poland in February, but the latter favours buying or leasing F-16s directly from the USA if the aircraft is selected to replace its ageing Mikoyan MiG-21s, according to industry sources.
Source: Flight International
