Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates

[Volkodav]

Understand the fighter competition was between F104 and Mirage.
With one European fighter already in the mix does anyone know why the SAAB Draken was not also considered?

Understand that the A7 has a better range and bigger load capability, but would not an A4 have greater compatibility with those operated by the RAN and RNZAF.
Shared training and logistics.

Draken was looked at during the original assessment, liked, but deemed not mature enough. For some reason it was not revisited.

 

[OldTex]

Draken was looked at during the original assessment, liked, but deemed not mature enough. For some reason it was not revisited.

It might have been because Sweden, being neutral at that time, would not provide military equipment (including support) to countries engaged in armed conflict. I seem to remember that being a reason given for the ammunition for the Australian Army Carl Gustav's being embargoed during the Vietnam War (might only have been a rumour)

 

[Severely]

Well in hindsight didn't the French block us using the Mirage in Vietnam anyway. They would embargo weapons and spares. So the venerable Canberra went in.