(NSI News Source Info) PARIS, France - June 27, 2009: The representatives of France-based Dassault, manufacturer of the Rafale fighter aircraft, say the reason why they are not in the race for modernising the Romanian fleet with fighter aircraft is that state representatives seek cheaper, second-hand aeroplanes.
The aforementioned photo of F-16. The Romanian Air Force modernized 110 MiG 21 LanceRs, in cooperation with Israel between 1993 and 2002. Today, 48 of these MiG 21 LanceRs are operational. The Romanian Air Force also operates C-130 Hercules, An-26s transport planes and IAR-330 Puma helicopters. IAR-330 PUMA SOCAT helicopters have been modernized by the Romanian Aviation Industry in cooperation with Elbit Systems (Israel) for attack missions. The Romanian Air Force also includes native-made IAR-99 Şoim jet planes, in general only used for training of the young pilots. The remaining MiG-29s have been removed from service in 2003. Due to the old age of the MIGs, the Romanian Air Force will acquire 48 Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab JAS 39 Gripen or F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters planes within 2010-2012. Seven C-27J Spartan tactical airlift aircraft have been ordered for delivery, all of them will arrive until 2012. The current chief of the Romanian Air Force Staff , since March 2007 (after the discharge of General Gheorghe Catrina) is General locotenent Constantin Croitoru.
"Romania wants cheaper, 'second hand' aircraft. We would have wanted to sell Romania this type of aircraft, but it is not possible under the circumstances," Dassault representatives, in attendance at this year's largest international aerospace fair, Paris Air Show.
The fight over the 4.5 billion-euro contract for modernising Romania's military air fleet therefore involves Eurofighter Typhoon of Italian-based Alenia Aeronautica and two lighter aircraft powered by one engine, F16, manufactured by US-based Lockheed Martin and Jas 39 Griffin, by Sweden's Saab.
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