Has anybody thought about the implication of the signing of the
letter of intent on the forthcoming order for the replacement of
the remaining A4s?
Here's my take on this issue. Lockheed Martin may end up a loser in
this case, at least in the short to medium term. Reason, you may
ask?
Currently they are promoting the F16C/D Blk 60. Comparing to our
current version, and the F-35 when it enters service in 2008 (For
US service only), this plane is right in the middle in terms of
capability (est.) and technology. By signing the letter of intent,
RSAF will unlikely want to put all its eggs in one basket, all our
aircraft coming from the US, and from the same manufacturer at
that, Lockheed Martin! I have nothing against LM, but there may be
obstacles and snags whenit comes to technology transfer as in the
past over the mission computer of the F16.
IMHO, the F15 is too expensive (for such an old design), and the
SBug, well, too many negative comments to even list it here (I may
be wrong though). SU-30, forget about it.
Thus, the only candidates worth looking into it, are the Typhoon
and the Rafale. Comments anybody?
BTW, I think the next gen. aircaft will not only replace the
remaining A4s, but at least 1 squadron of the F5s, if the options
are taken up with delivery of the 1st 20 or so in 2007~9, with the
2nd batch in 2011~12. As the F-35 for export customers will only be
available in 2012 (according to journals like Flight INt'l), the
RSAF will most likely get theirs in 2015~17, replacing the
remaining F5s plus the F16A/Bs, and then gradually the F16C/Ds
after 2020.