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Denmark to decide in 2006 on fighters to replace aging F-16s
COPENHAGEN (AFP) Jun 20, 2005
Denmark is planning to replace its aging F-16 jet fighters and will choose next year between the US Joint Strike Fighter and other rivals such as the Eurofighter, Defense Minister Soeren Gade said on Monday.
"We want the (Danish) parties which signed the 'defense compromise' to decide on this issue in order to quickly take advantage of the consequences for our own arms industry and for the manufacturers who should not be kept waiting too long," he told AFP.
The renewal of the air force is one of the Danish military's largest ever investments, estimated at some 13 billion kroner (1.75 billion euros, 2.13 billion dollars) for 48 aircraft.
Denmark took part in the first phase of development of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), contributing 10 million dollars to the program since 1997.
Since 2002 it has taken part in the second, 10-year phase, budgeted at 105 million dollars (107 million euros) at 2001 price levels and 125 million dollars (127 million euros) at current price levels.
Gade said he expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with Washington by the end of 2006 on the further development of the project, though he stressed that that in no way commits Denmark to buying the JSF.
Australia, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Turkey are all part of the JSF project, whose main manufacturer is US group Lockheed Martin.
Former Danish defense minister Svend Aage Jensby previously called the JSF "one of the most technologically advanced projects in the world", and the fighter is believed to be the Danish military's first choice, according to Conservative daily Berlingske Tidende on Monday.
The paper said it was preferred over the Eurofighter because it was a more recent and advanced generation of aircraft, according to air force technicians.
"For the time-being, everything seems to indicate that the JSF is the favourite, according to documents from defense experts. But we haven't yet made our choice, and it would be good for the other competitors to let us know what compensation and sub-contracting deals they would be willing to offer our industries," Peter Skaarup, spokesman for the government ally and far-right Danish People's Party, told AFP.
http://www.spacewar.com/2005/050620122706.q3wa1yqw.html
Opened up this thread for the benefit of people wishing to discuss the reasons behind Denmark's decision to replace its F-16 jets. I would say its just how they view their force structure and want to breathe a new life in to it by opting for the JSF cuz I think they have pretty old F-16s on hand. As the article mentions, their airforce was in a neglected state for a while and its about time things are being revamped.
COPENHAGEN (AFP) Jun 20, 2005
Denmark is planning to replace its aging F-16 jet fighters and will choose next year between the US Joint Strike Fighter and other rivals such as the Eurofighter, Defense Minister Soeren Gade said on Monday.
"We want the (Danish) parties which signed the 'defense compromise' to decide on this issue in order to quickly take advantage of the consequences for our own arms industry and for the manufacturers who should not be kept waiting too long," he told AFP.
The renewal of the air force is one of the Danish military's largest ever investments, estimated at some 13 billion kroner (1.75 billion euros, 2.13 billion dollars) for 48 aircraft.
Denmark took part in the first phase of development of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), contributing 10 million dollars to the program since 1997.
Since 2002 it has taken part in the second, 10-year phase, budgeted at 105 million dollars (107 million euros) at 2001 price levels and 125 million dollars (127 million euros) at current price levels.
Gade said he expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with Washington by the end of 2006 on the further development of the project, though he stressed that that in no way commits Denmark to buying the JSF.
Australia, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Turkey are all part of the JSF project, whose main manufacturer is US group Lockheed Martin.
Former Danish defense minister Svend Aage Jensby previously called the JSF "one of the most technologically advanced projects in the world", and the fighter is believed to be the Danish military's first choice, according to Conservative daily Berlingske Tidende on Monday.
The paper said it was preferred over the Eurofighter because it was a more recent and advanced generation of aircraft, according to air force technicians.
"For the time-being, everything seems to indicate that the JSF is the favourite, according to documents from defense experts. But we haven't yet made our choice, and it would be good for the other competitors to let us know what compensation and sub-contracting deals they would be willing to offer our industries," Peter Skaarup, spokesman for the government ally and far-right Danish People's Party, told AFP.
http://www.spacewar.com/2005/050620122706.q3wa1yqw.html
Opened up this thread for the benefit of people wishing to discuss the reasons behind Denmark's decision to replace its F-16 jets. I would say its just how they view their force structure and want to breathe a new life in to it by opting for the JSF cuz I think they have pretty old F-16s on hand. As the article mentions, their airforce was in a neglected state for a while and its about time things are being revamped.