Under pressure from competition from Sweden, Israel has reportedly improved its combat aircraft offer to Croatia.
According to latest media reports, Israel has amended its bid in response to Croatia’s tender for procurement of fighter jets, reports obris.org on November 28, 2017.
The news was first reported by FlightGlobal.
The Israeli Defense Ministry has offered Croatia to supply it with a mixed fleet of 12 Lockheed Martin F-16s. The decision was made after the stiff competition from the SAAB Gripen which is promoted by Sweden.
Israel is now offering F-16C/D aircraft, which are still in active service by the Israeli Air Force. The Israeli army is ready to retire part of its fleet since it is turning more towards Lockheed F-35I Adir aircraft. The Israeli offer could include a mix of C/D models of the aircraft and of older F-16A/Bs, which were withdrawn from service and were previously offered to the Croatian government.
According to the Flight Fleets Analyzer, Israeli Air Force currently operates 78 single-seat F-16Cs and 48 F-16Ds. In 2014, the entire fleet completed the “Barak 2020” upgrade programme, which included structural changes, a change of head-up displays and installation of a new digital debriefing system.
Israeli Colonel Ilan Ramon used F-16A Netz 243 in 1981 when he bombarded the Osirak reactor in Iraq.
The modernisation effort was executed at the squadron level, under the supervision of the principal technical unit of the Air Force number 22, its leading maintenance centre.
In support of the potential export of surplus F-16A/B aircraft, Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries have already developed an upgrade kit for their retired fleet of F-16s “Netz” aircraft.
The Croatian fleet of combat aircraft currently comprises of 12 MiG-21 aircraft. It is believed that Israeli F-16s and Swedish Gripen aircraft are the favourites to win the tender for the acquisition of new combat aircraft. The final decision is expected soon.
Translated from obris.org.
