The Romanians hesitate (a little) on their future plane, F16 or Gripen

(BRUSSELS2) Romania is going to have to replace its good old Mig 21s, of which we were able to see a copy during the last July 14 parade. The 48 Soviet-made aircraft began to be withdrawn from service. And the government has put 4,5 billion euros on the table to replace them.

The Supreme Council of Defense of the Country (CSAT) must decide, soon. But, as Secretary of State for Defence, Corneliu Dobritoiu, confided to certain Romanian dailies, the decision will be eminently "political".

Above all, two planes are in the running (out of the five expected to start): the American Lockheed Martin's Falcon F-16 (which would be preferred by the president and the military, according to our colleagues from Cotidianul) and the Saab Gripen Swedish (preferred by the Prime Minister). The Eurofighter seems, for the moment, out of the race, its price (60 million euros) and its operating cost seem prohibitive for the Romanians.

Lockheed Martin is arguing about the interoperability of its F-16 aircraft with the future F-35 which will become NATO's standard. A selling point - with the price - to which the Romanian military are sensitive. Their idea is indeed to buy only 24 F-16s and to keep part of the budget (4,5 billion euros) to buy 24 other F-35 planes. The Gripen has for him that it can be armed by a wide range (American, European, Israeli...) including the Matra missiles (which already equips the Romanian army). In addition, the Swedes would have made a full compensation offer. They would be ready to invest "100% of the value of the contract" in the construction of a power plant, recycling waste".

Europe or USA, between the two the heart of Romania wavers...