Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50
Quote:
And tankers make nice fat targets.
So would the Gripen if there isn't a budget for pilot training.
You can buy and operate any number of decent jet fighters, but if your pilots aren't well trained and your operations coordinated with EW and radar, you may simply provide an enemy with target practice at your own considerable expense.
As the South Africans found out last year when they couldn't afford to maintain and fly their Gripens and were about to mothball half the fleet.
I believe they have now signed a new long term maintainance contract early this year (I wonder if they've paid for it yet?) with a Saab setup contractor to remedy this situation..??