November 21, 2007:
The
United States has offered Croatia a dozen used F-16 fighters, to replace the
same number of late model MiG-21s Croatia purchased a decade ago. Croatia has,
for centuries, been one of the most pro-Western nations in the Balkans. Most of
the region looks east, to Russia, for support. Thus it makes sense to be nice
to Croatia.
While the U.S. still have
about 1,300 F-16s in service (about half with reserve units), over 4,200 were
produced, and America has hundreds in storage. The end of the Cold War in 1991
led to a sharp cut in U.S. Air Force fighter squadrons. Moreover, the new F-35
will be replacing all F-16s in the next decade. So the U.S. has plenty of
little-used F-16s sitting around, and an ally that it would like to beef up
militarily.
F-16s are still produced
for export, and these cost as much as $70 million each (the F-16I for Israel).
Some nations, like South Korea, build the F-16 under license. A used F-16C,
built in the 1990s, would go for about $10 million on the open market. So
Croatia is being offered a $100 million gift. There will still be costs,
however. Pilots and ground crew will have to be trained, and maintenance
equipment, weapons and spare parts will have to be purchased. Thus Croatia will
have to spend a few million dollars per aircraft just to get these fighters
operational. Croatia may also want to upgrade them with more recent
electronics. But for that investment, Croatia will have one of the more potent
fighter forces in the Balkans. Greece operates about 150 F-16s, and Italy has
about 30 on lease.
The 16 ton F-16 has an
admirable combat record, and is very popular with pilots. It has been
successful at ground support as well. When equipped with 4-6 smart bombs, it is
a formidable bomber.