Andrew Doyle/WARSAW
The air forces of NATO's three newest members - Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary - are urging their governments to procure a common advanced fighter to reduce training, maintenance and support costs.
All three East European nations have a requirement to introduce Western fighters early next century and are evaluating offerings from British Aerospace (BAe) Saab, Boeing, Dassault and Lockheed Martin.
Major General Kazimierz Dziok, commander-in-chief of the Polish air force, says he has discussed the issue with his Czech and Hungarian counterparts and all agree on their favoured aircraft. Dziok declines to reveal the preferred type, although the Boeing F/A-18C/D and BAe/Saab Gripen are believed to be front runners.
A common procurement could prove difficult to achieve, however, as the three governments are as likely to be influenced by offers of local industrial participation and heavy offset deals as by the aircraft's technical performance.
Dziok says the winning candidate must meet three key objectives: satisfactory performance in the air defence role, agreement on a 100% offset package and a financing deal that will allow payments over several years.
A committee headed by Polish Minister of Economy Janusz Steinhoff has recommended that Poland buys 40-60 advanced fighters for introduction from 2006, with an interim five-year lease of 18 used aircraft at a cost of around $200 million.
Lockheed Martin, offering itsF-16C/D, and Boeing are likely to be able to source used aircraft from the US Air Force for the leasing phase, while BAe could provide ex-Swedish Air Force JA-37 Viggens.
The Czech Republic is about to issue a formal request for proposals for up to 36 fighters. France's Dassault is proposing its Mirage 2000 in all three competitions.
Source: Flight International
