Janes Defence Weekly - 18 May 2005

[RecceJet]

Just some of the applicable headlines from the May 18 edition of JDW:

• The United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence took delivery on 3 May of an initial batch of 10 F-16E/F Desert Falcon Block 60 multirole fighter aircraft. Acquired under a 2000 contract worth around $6.4 billion, the UAE's new 80-strong Desert Falcon capability will comprise 55 single-seat E- and 25 two-seat F-model aircraft. Once in squadron service, the Block 60 aircraft are expected to be based at two air force facilities in Abu Dhabi: Al Dhafra and Liwa.
• Austria has not ordered enough Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft or a capable enough version, according to a report by the Austrian Court of Audit (Rechnungshof or RH). The RH report ultimately called for more Typhoons and an increased capability.
• Israeli defence firms are expecting a series of new defence contracts in Turkey, including the possibility of additional upgrades of F-4E attack aircraft.
• Russia's Rosoboronexport has signed a contract with China to supply RD-93 engines for China's new multirole fighter, the FC-1. Since China plans to export up to 150 FC-1 aircraft to Pakistan under the designation JF-17 Thunder, the Sino-Russian contract rules out the re-exporting of engines both complete with aircraft and as separate power units. With these options now closed, it is unclear which engine will power Pakistan's JF-17 fighter.

[Webmaster]

IMHO Austria has ordered enough for their primary fighter needs, or are they planning to deploy them abroad?
If earlier reports of only equipping them with Sidewinders and cutting on avionics like the RWR and counter measures are true, then they sure need more capability. If they just want some AIM-9 equipped fighters to police their air space, they could just have bought a lighter, more economical and less sophisticated fighter. They should invest in advanced capability for air defense primarily.