Posted on 09/30/2017 5:35:21 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
You think them being isolated and shunned has anything at all to do with it?
Yes, more so for what is a very small air force now.
If they went shopping again, I’d assume they may go Russian (or Chinese)!
They are banking on their purchases to curry favor with Western Nations and they are spreading the love around, “making it rain”.
“The real question is why they aren’t sticking with one type of aircraft?”
When you buy weapons from a company you are also buying an inroad to their lobbying arm. Perhaps the real reason has less to do with weapons and more to do with politics.
I think that's absolutely it and it's a good strategy, assuming all these sales actually go through. It's one thing to make an announcement. It's another to get the US to actually allow you to have advanced aircraft. Just ask the Paki's (did they ever get those F-16 radars?).
Where will the pilots and support personnel come from? Are we handing Iran access to any critical technology?
There are enough retired defense folks around the world who won’t bat an eyelid to take up an offer from Qatar, given the kind of money on offer. In addition to established strategic ties with professional military forces such as Pakistan and Egypt.
Tiny place. How many airfields do they have? A decent runway attack and all their planes become ornaments.
Quite right. Also it appears Qatar is buying training. That is regularly done in the country selling the aircraft, at that country’s armed forces’ training facilities, and by that country’s armed forces’ personnel. It is another huge point of access and network building.
Like the Swiss they dont rely solely on airfields...
If they are going from basically 12 to 84 combat aircraft... Where are they going to find qualified pilots to fly them, crews to maintain them, and structures to house them? This represents a lot more time and investment than merely writing a check and picking up the new hardware.
Good find. Excellent information. It still strikes me that they are building for a strategy that is immediate, i.e., $$ to possible allies, or for five years from now.
Welcome to Hamas’ brand new air force, and hats off to the latest additions to Iran’s deteriorating air force - no mystery - one group goes to Hamas, one to Iran, and one replaces the older Qatari planes.
Israel is just a short hop away, and with Iranian and Hezbollah troops on the Golan border the stage is being set, particularly with Iran’s new missile which can be mirv’ed and remotely guided.
Only a fool would ask that question
Iran
All the above will be trained in the USA
Or more likely are being trained in the USA. Additionally, there are more than likely a cadre of Americans managing the operations in Qatar.
Iran
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