Colombia selects Rafale

[lucklucky]

From Dec 22 . No order yet but the commentaries about the competitors (F16V, Gripen, Eurofighter) are interesting.

 

https://www.defense-aerospace.com/colombia-selects-rafale-may-sign-contract-this-week/

[Angrybk]

I'm not usually one of those "how many schools could we build for the cost of one warplane" guys, but I don't see a reason for any Central/South American country to spend money on high-end air superiority fighters. Most of those countries are pretty poor and have internal issues, their neighbors have no desire to invade them, and if something conventional actually happened the US would come down on everybody like a ton of bricks.

Brazil and Chile are outliers because Brazil is a huge country and Chile has a pretty good economy, but even then it's weird. Especially Chile and their military spending, what the hell are they gonna do with Leopard 2? 

Edited September 7 by Angrybk

[alejandro_]

7 hours ago, Angrybk said:

I'm not usually one of those "how many schools could we build for the cost of one warplane" guys, but I don't see a reason for any Central/South American country to spend money on high-end air superiority fighters. Most of those countries are pretty poor and have internal issues, their neighbors have no desire to invade them, and if something conventional actually happened the US would come down on everybody like a ton of bricks.

Brazil and Chile are outliers because Brazil is a huge country and Chile has a pretty good economy, but even then it's weird. Especially Chile and their military spending, what the hell are they gonna do with Leopard 2? 

In the case of Colombia tensions with Venezuela have been high in recent years, and there is always the narco/guerrilla issue (situation has now improved). Apparently some of the aircraft would have been second hand. Also, when you buy military equipment supplier will invest locally, creating jobs and so on.

So yes, you can say that US will guarantee security but at the end of the day every country wants its sovereignty. 

 

[Sardaukar]

Well, Venezuelans are supposed to have some decent planes (Su-30). No idea what shape they are nowadays. 

[TrustMe]

Venezuelan also have early model F16's. But after years of US sanctions I doubt they remain operational.

[urbanoid]

And Colombia has only Kfirs, which are ~40 year old.

[Angrybk]

These are very good points!

[bojan]

3 hours ago, TrustMe said:

Venezuelan also have early model F16's. But after years of US sanctions I doubt they remain operational.

They flew them on parade few years ago.

[alejandro_]

5 hours ago, TrustMe said:

Venezuelan also have early model F16's. But after years of US sanctions I doubt they remain operational.

I think they manage to get some spares from Israel a few years ago, but availability is questionable. They are also quite old airframes.

[urbanoid]

5 minutes ago, alejandro_ said:

I think they manage to get some spares from Israel a few years ago, but availability is questionable. They are also quite old airframes.

 If you're talking about that deal, it was 18 years ago.

https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/us-forces-israel-to-freeze-venezuelas-100-million-f16-upgrade-contract-01377/