Replacing the venerable MiG-21 Fishbed's
- Thread starter Toptob
- Start date
flying_whale
New Member
the J7G is just another Mig21, very much comparable to the LanceR the Romanian Air Force is currently operating. Regarding JL-9, first, it would need Chinese training, Chinese munitions and maintenance. It is unlikely that NATO would approve buying such hardware from a potential rival of the US. And the F-16 outperforms it in every possible measurable standard. Moreover, F-16s provide a great upgrade platform later for the inclusion of AESA radars and eventually as a springboard for the F-35. Finally, it is good to buy hardware from a close ally as is the case of the US in relation to Romania. The US has provided Romania with enhanced security by stationing bases at Turda and Kogalniceanu by Constanta as well as missile defense —*it wouldn't be nice for Romania to buy military hardware from someone else, especially China as it would undermine the relative strategic trust between the two countries.
I'm not expert in Chinese a/c but it seems to me that J-7G with its wider LE flapped wings would reduce much of low speed drag problems on landing and else. 'Used to' hardware also lowers training and logistic problems. It could be new a/c instead of limited residual life used a/c. Price could be a factor, especially for not so reach countries.
I suppose that F-16s that would be offered to such countries would be early models at the end of service life. I reckon Chinese are not offensive country to West, especially, one need not to buy and became material junky of any block. Somebody talked about sovereignty. Let’s test it. Why should Romania need missile defense or F-35 ?? Security from whom ?? That JL-9 seems to be hundred times cheaper than F-35 yet still relatively modern.
Romania need to learn how to catch a fish, not to wait somebody to give it. Or first, to be willing to learn and work.
I suppose that F-16s that would be offered to such countries would be early models at the end of service life. I reckon Chinese are not offensive country to West, especially, one need not to buy and became material junky of any block. Somebody talked about sovereignty. Let’s test it. Why should Romania need missile defense or F-35 ?? Security from whom ?? That JL-9 seems to be hundred times cheaper than F-35 yet still relatively modern.
Romania need to learn how to catch a fish, not to wait somebody to give it. Or first, to be willing to learn and work.
flying_whale
New Member
Security from anyone else. Every country faces a security dilemma. F-16s, and missile defenses boost a country's security. Sometimes alliances act as a deterrent just as much as hardware. But in order for alliances to function, every member needs to contribute and not just rely on the hegemonic power (US inside NATO). JL-9s are pretty much useless given the threat NATO might face (Russia, or middle eastern countries if NATO is asked to participate). Romania would be freeriding on the US's power. and if Romania is doing so, other smaller members will have an incentive to free ride too, and then the whole alliance goes to hell. And it could go to hell anyway on its own, therefore, Romania needs some sort of military deterrent against aggression and bullying. It is naive not to think that power is irrelevant.
For more details, read up on Realism as an international relations theory on wikipedia (sorry i can't post a link due to post-count)
I thought that Gorbachev turn them loose if they stays out of NATO ? I don't want to think that later organisation would cheat. What about sovereignty and magic word FREEDOM ?
So, RO just changed side, hoping to live better on Western Funds instead of working. That might have price, if situation goes wrong, they may take first blow by balistic missiles ??
So, RO just changed side, hoping to live better on Western Funds instead of working. That might have price, if situation goes wrong, they may take first blow by balistic missiles ??
Last edited:
...you do realize that Russia is not a Communist state anymore, right? Gorbachev is no longer in power and the politics involved haved changed since the days of detente and the late Cold War. Drawing comparisons between the foreign policy of modern Russia and Soviet Russia might not give you a very clear picture of things.
The decision to buy F-16s certainly had some political motivation, but it certainly was also driven the largely military need to replace MiG-21s that were nearing the end of their livespan.
flying_whale
New Member
I also agree with what Kilo said. Don't be so idealistic, Russia's and Romania's and NATO's interests will diverge at some point, and, for a country to be secure, it needs some sort of military power, perhaps just enough power to create the following headline in the New York Times "Small country nobody cares about, shoots down 20 Russians jets," as such a headline would be politically devastating for the Russians and therefore a deterrent from aggressive behavior.
Pe romaneste, am explicat in mai mare detaliu de ce Romania are nevoie de F-16 pe altaperspectiva punct net ( nu pot sa pun link aici). Este ultimul post. Poate te intereseaza.
You're right, but I see NATO is still spreading to East ?? Also, I see that Russia now took a guard.
In world policy, like in life of any small person, there are rules...to be honest to yourself and to others. At the end, it all returns. How it happened that legally elected president of some African, Latino, even West European countries disappears if he's not inline with block policy...
Latter, some ask themselves what is happening, why bombs explodes in Moscow railway, why towers are collapsing...
I understand that until recently UK and Germany only has Tornados and F-4F/104G fighters and now Romania has to have F-35 ??
What if Romania has to go to Afghanistan, Pakistan to chase some Arabs and bombing starts in Bucharest ? Why Ro has to join any block? If people is determined to defend the country, nobody can take it from them, history showed. Because from fear od obvious slavery one can fall under "grey" slavery...
Ozzy Blizzard
New Member
Why would you bother when you have FC-1 in production?