Originally Posted by
ORAC
Contradictory or buying both?
What I have been told is that they want F-15ex and have submitted the FMS paperwork for them, they also want upgrades for the F-16's. The issue is that back in the late 90's they were under military embargo by the US over east timor. So they had to buy russian planes because they couldn't get parts for the F-16's. They want F-15's but dont want to be left in the position where they could be embargoed again. So they need something non american, they cant go russian or chinese as the a F-15 will be stopped, cant go gripen because it uses an american engine. Their choices are french Rafaels or EF. Now they are also in a project with the South Korean for the KF-21 (or what ever) so they have that and need something non american to fill that gap in case of embargo again. Some tranch one EF on the cheap might fit that bill. I was told the discussion was between UK and indo. But they also announced publically about the austrai one when replacement was first announced before the RAF announced theirs going
Just read some where else Phillipines has also signed up as part of the KF-21 program