antiterror13
Brigadier
why not ? please elaborate
JF-17/FC-1 Fighter Aircraft thread
- Thread starter johnqh
- Start date
why not ? please elaborate
I doubt Cambodia has the mean and even financial to operate even a small fleet of 7 FC-1. They even need PRC to donate them patrol boats to have a decent navy.
I too will agreed, Cambodia is many many years away from FC-1.
antiterror13
Brigadier
Call me old fashioned, but if this is the kind of fighter your budget allows, you are better off investing in a decent SAM network.
you can't target rebels fighters in toyota pick up trucks with sams.
also routine show of force, interception missions you can't do with sam.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
if your primary mission is insurgents you should get a super tucano for a fraction of the price.
that's [pretty much what that cessena fighter would do.
plus a may be a L-139 mission.
It is being advertised as a fighter aircraft nonetheless. Like Terran said, you can get dedicated light attack aircraft for the same thing and spend the rest on SAM. Seems like a better economic choice for countries only interested in defending their borders and are too poor to afford much else.
SteelBird
Colonel
Thank you, and I'll speak a little about this.
The main reason I said Cambodia is not on the list is that Cambodia is financially dependent on foreign aid and donation. Sometime I sadly call it "beggar economy". There is a military airport next to The Phnom Penh International Airport. Every time I take off from here, I see about 7 to 8 MiG-21/J-7 line up there in the same manner. They never take off. Cambodia doesn't even have the finance to operate J-7, how do you expect it to operate JF-17? I think this reason is already enough to wipe Cambodia off the potential buyer list.
Furthermore, Cambodia has no urgent need for any aerial combat. Though there were clashes with Thailand in the recent years, they are limited to land force only. Thailand has a much larger air-force, any clash with it should be kept within border clash and the use of land force only. After the first clash in 2008, Cambodia did import a rather decent among of weapon but they are all obsolete old style weapon like T-55 and Type 56-II assault rifle. Cambodia recently import a fleet of 12 (correct me if I'm wrong) Z-9 but they are financed by Chinese loan. I doubt this amount of loan will eventually be written off. So, all in all Cambodia has no money for any expensive toys leave alone any high tech things.
thunderchief
Senior Member
You still need something to control your air space in peace time . You cannot simply fire SAM at passenger jet that lost its course or has malfunctioning radio . On the other hand , you cannot successfully intercept fast and high-flying jet with light attack aircraft . Poor countries mostly used (and are still using) Mig-21 and its derivations in this role . But those old clunkers are at end of their useful life (even with all life-extending programs) . Therefore , you will need something to replace them - either with used fourth gen fighters or with new purposely built cheap fighters like JF-17 . Scorpion IMHO is too slow to be successful in this role .