HUNGARY WILL ISSUE a request for proposals (RFP) in July for up to 36 fighters to replace its obsolete Mikoyan MiG-21s. Leading candidates for the procurement include the Saab/ British Aerospace JAS39 Gripen, and the Lockheed Martin F-16.
Peter Anstiss, director of sales and marketing support at BAe Defence Military Aircraft, says that Hungary "...represents an early opportunity" for the Gripen, the export version of which will be available from 1999.
The Gripen is also being offered to Poland and the Czech Republic in competition with the F-16. Setting up a Gripen final-assembly line in Poland is a possibility, should the aircraft be selected.
According to Oats Schwarzenberger, director for market development central Europe, at Lock- heed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems, each country has been offered three options: leasing used F-16A/Bs; purchasing used F-16A/Bs at a "very nominal price, including full support"; and purchasing new F-16C/Ds.
The aircraft are being offered by the US Government, which is providing technical and cost information on the proposals.
Poland is understood to require up to 100 aircraft for delivery by 2005, while the Czech Republic needs up to 36 aircraft, for delivery through 2005.
The detailed F-16 proposals include examples of costings. Leasing seven used aircraft for five years would cost $118 million, while buying 18 used aircraft would cost around $500 million, and purchasing 30 C/Ds would cost more than $1 billion, although "those are arbitrary numbers", says Schwarzenberger. The list price of the F-16C/D is $23.5 million.
Source: Flight International
