The Portuguese Air Force have deployed four of its F-16M fighter jets to Malbork Air Base, Poland.
NATO say that this operational training detachment takes place under the umbrella of the NATO’s Assurance Measures for 2019.
“It will be contributing directly to the principle of collective defence and the spirit of solidarity that characterises the Alliance.
The Portuguese contingent will be deployed for two roughly months. The jets will then redeploy to their home base at Monte Real. After their deployment the pilots, support staff and fighters will return to ensure Air Policing missions over Portugal under the NATO-wide 24/7 peacetime operations.”
“The Portuguese Air Force stationed the F-16s for multi-role missions both Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground,” said the Portuguese detachment commander, Lieutenant Colonel Joao Rosa.
“This offers increased flexibility and provides excellent training opportunities together with the Host Nation and Allied Armed Forces stationed in the area. We will not only work with NATO countries, but also Partner forces from Sweden and Finland.”
The Portuguese jets will provide training support to NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence Battle Groups deployed to the region and conduct activities with NATO Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft.
Tactical control of this detachment is provided by the Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany, say the Alliance.
F16s pretty old jet. Capable but old. Time our EU and NATO allies purchased Eurofighter or F35s
Did you see Poland’s far older Migs Before they got F16. Lol
An RAF pilot on 29 Squadron, with an exchange tour on Dutch F-16s, told me the performance of the Typhoon made the American jet feel like a trainer!
The RAF has no F-16s so just how did this imaginary RAF pilot manage to fly one to make the comparison?
LOL.
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Er, read the chaps post and try again! Sheeeesh!
Not a big surprise given that the F-16 was designed in the 1970s and the Typhoon costs 2-3 times as much as a Viper. lol
Dan. Exactly. Totally Different In most respects though. And Given Inflation, It’s not too surprising. Typhoons haven’t done too bad In the Export Market All Things Considered.
Typhoon is a very good aircraft no doubt but only a few countries can afford the big price tag. For the vast majority of countries an F-16Block 52/60 or V is more than enough aircraft for their needs. And not to mention the sheer number of weapons both US and allies that have already been qualified to fly on the Viper.
Hi Dan I’m not sure the price differential between the later F-16 blocks and the Typhoon is as great as indicated. The recent sale of just sixteen F-16s to Bahrain had a reputed cost of £2.3B dollars! https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/01/19/lockheed-keeps-f-16-production-line-going-with-bahrain-deal/ Admittedly, that probably included spares – and other items. Although I’ve seen about £100M dollars typically quoted as the fly-away cost for the Lockheed jet. For comparative purposes, I’ve read (on this site!) the Typhoons sold to Kuwait came in at about £90M per aircraft. Furthermore, just recently, aviation journalist Jon Lake wrote that through the TyTAN (Typhoon Total Availability Enterprise) initiative,… Read more »
Interesting Alan.
Cheers for this.
OK Dan, I won’t mention the Mig21.
Interesting post!
UK holds Team Tempest industry day
https://www.janes.com/article/87318/uk-holds-team-tempest-industry-day