USA puts Croatian procurement of Israeli F16s on hold

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by echo49teen » 11 Dec 2018, 09:41

Since last friday, US defence minister James Mattis puts Croatian procurement of Israeli F16s on hold. USA is asking from Israel to downgrade it's Baraks back to original Block 30/32 configuration before they agree on giving green light for sale. Problem occurred over 2 years ago when Lockheed Martin with the blessing of the US government make a list of technical specifications and demands under which will they go over SLEP program for old Israeli F16s. USA only agreed that Israel could compete with it's Baraks against US Block 70 Vipers. Since Israel won with it's offer, USA reacted with VETO on sale of US military equipment to the third party state.

Now I'm interested what will happen next? Will Israel agree on downgrade or will Croatia cancel it's procurement?

In case that Israel agrees on downgrade back to Block 30/32 so Lockheed Martin could check F16s and go over with SLEP, which upgrade could Croatians expect to get? Will they get ''brand new'' block 30/32 jets or they will be upgraded to Block 70/72 as Greek F16s?


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by fang » 12 Dec 2018, 14:31

Fake news? Some Israeli non reliable magazine wrote it and everyone qoute.
look at Croatian MoD and the US Embassy in Zagreb reactions
https://www.total-croatia-news.com/poli ... -f-16-sale

And the last news from today
https://www.total-croatia-news.com/news ... i-aircraft


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by echo49teen » 20 Dec 2018, 09:08

Not really the fake news. I've been closely watching Croatian and foreign media. Now even the price is disputed. If you agree to sell something for 500 000 000 dollars, how can you inform US Congress that thing you are selling is worth 135 000 000 dollars and on the third side you give official statement that you are selling it for 700 000 000 dollars? It would all make sense if Israel agreed to downgrade Baraks to Block 30, sell them like that for 135 mil, Lockheed Martin accept it like that and go over with SLEP and possibly upgrade, so the price is 500 mil and in the end Croats pay additional 200 mil for the infrastructure, additional equipment, training and weapons.

There is only one slight problem with that, Croats insist on Baraks with all Israeli mods and equipment, infrastructure, etc. for 500 mil or they will not buy Baraks, on the other hand USA will not allow Israeli equipped Baraks to be sold as such to the third party state.

And that is the fact from over 20 media houses in Croatia and additional few from US.


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by zaltys » 22 Dec 2018, 01:01

Not good. Not good at all. It's like to say to allies you must do more for your defence but we will force you to pay more, too. What, LM has not enough money to let this procurement to slip through?
Especially considering Croatian neighbourhood with Serbia, it looks very short sighted.


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by echo49teen » 23 Dec 2018, 19:55

There are 3 days left for Congress to decide will they approve it. I hope they will not. Those Baraks in a year or two will be good for nothing more than target practice.



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