F-18 Hornets for the MX Air Force?

[ezekhernandez]

IMO, the Mexican airforce need something to "strike", while their navy need a long range interceptor to secure region airspace/water

i think the saab gripen would be the best plane for the air force because its a multirole fighter and for the navy some su 27 just fine

but unfortunaly they dont care about their defese problems mexico has fallen far below on defese projects and updating vital equipment like ground radars
the secretary of defense said that some radars where only on for 3 hours a day since they are so old and cant run for a long period of time this is a real concern because anyone could go into the air space without being detected

 

[ROCK45]

Mexico

I would like a change in thinking about Mexico and our southern border. Iran's President was in Nicaragua not to long ago and vowed support. Venezuela paying for a oil refinery costing more then a billion dollar so to me the region is changing. Having Mexico a little better equipped and our forces right there of course for training purposes only (wink) is a good thing. Most of the drugs go through or near Mexico before coming into the US anyway so why not make another layer. Make the fighters low cost or free as long US Forces with Mexican Forces can make intercepts. Low fliers could be pick up from assets off Colombia coast and pass off to assets flying out southern Mexico. It would really pissed off the Mexican cartels that's for sure but Mexico's government would have to agree first. Could it happen?

One other thing I think ex-Hornet might have less hours on the frames then ex-Vipers. I might wrong in thinking that way I just think Air Force aircraft get used more then Navy aircraft, correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[ezekhernandez]

I would like a change in thinking about Mexico and our southern border. Iran's President was in Nicaragua not to long ago and vowed




US involment sould be considered since most of the cartels try to pay officials for the free transport of their drugs, but the mexican military wont allowed, on the fighter situation i believe that the current situation is that the air force and navy are desperate for new equipment (they really need it)
and are willing to take whatever the goverment can offer, but i think that instead of some old and used f18 and f16s they sould look in a fighter for the coming 20 years at least since the f 16 are not being produced anymore
but we should see some more US involment south the border just in response to venezuela and nicaragua

 

[ROCK45]

Mexico

A long term plan for fighters would be the way to go I agree but there aren't many choices currently. Vipers have orders I think for there production lines until 2011/12, Super Hornets I don't know but I think more are being produced to fill US Navy orders. The Super Hornet may have a longer life span so maybe a few squadrons of Super Hornets would be a good path. Once the JSF comes on board there should be 200/300 plus ex-US Navy Super Hornets for future purchases so a solid 10+ years of service can be seen. Maybe six, seven years down the road changed over to Block-II F-35 types once production jump starts and numbers of frames increase. Block-II Super Hornets are very advance platforms so changing over shouldn't be too difficult.