Forum: General F-16 forum

Interesting... the mighty AIM-7M lives on..

Perhaps this deal though could indeed allay the fears of a long-standing regional air force recapitalizing their old platforms with potentially balance-of-power shifting, game-changing jets instead. It's a once mighty regional airforce, folks, only being modernized barely up to regional specs imho... hardly a new destabilizing threat to the regrion. If anything, it will be a more stabilizing factor - partly offsetting US's departure in the total equation over the mid-term? Respects-

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An Iraqi Air Force with Vipers can be a cause of concern to the IRIAF... Very Happy

Would that be the first time a pilot would have the opportunity to shoot down the plane he flew 20 yrs. before?!? Other than maybe us shooting down QF stuff?

After seeing the news article,I'm convinced more than ever the Iraqi government is trying to self destruct after US departure.

As I stated before,the biggest asset an air force has is training,not hardware per se.If Iraq bought old Mig 21s and sent their pilots here to learn how to fly them (remember Constant Peg?) they'd be in better shape than blanket purchasing any modern airframe.

http://www.f-16.net/news_article4290.html

Looks like Iraq has postponed its purchase for now. I still stand by my 5 year plan. We should pull out ALL US troops and give Iraq 5 years to stabilize itself.

I love the f-16. it has a good track record, and is very fast, and reliable. this jet fighter is cancelled last I heard, but, to me, unbeatable.

It will be safe to sell the Iraqi's F-16's.
After about a year 80% will be spending time as lawn ornaments due to lack of maintenance.

If the USAF could set up a permanent AFB there they could help train their pilots to the USAF standard and help maintain the Iraqi AF and over all improve the quality of their pilots and down the line if Iran decides to get aggressive maybe some ''Hyper Vipers'' wouldn't go down to bad.
Just my Two Cents

irishlad -

Imho, no. It's not in the best national security interests for US or Iraq, for a permanent USAF base to exist in Iraq. In fact, the whole issue of permanent US basing in Iraq, from the start of mission planning back in 2001, is a major reason why there was so much extended conflict to this date. I mean, the apparent plan from the start was complicated because permanent basing was let's admit... to a large extent the original battle cry by the bad guys and thus, created significant enemy motivations to fight to the death. Right or wrong (as well-intentioned as the plan for USAF to rescue the region from threats was), an interim plan to 'lease' USAF basing rights through maybe 2010-2012, would have been a more successful plan.

USAF could have then been a much better partner in training potential future Iraqi F-16 pilots too, especially if they were more legit Iraqi govt purchased aircraft, being in the interests Iraqi security and operated from an Iraqi AF base.

Personally, I call for a do-over... take back the policy decisions 9 yrs. Respects ...

Forum: General F-16 forum

Iraq to buy F-16s