British Air Power in T2K

[dragoon500ly]

Originally Posted by RN7

F-16C/D Block 40/42/50/52 production was...

F-16C/D Block 40/42
472: USA (1988-1992)
138: Egypt (1991-2002)
117: Turkey (1990-1995)
060: Israel (1991-1993)
022: Bahrain (1990-2000)
F-16C/D Block 50/52
264: USA (1991-2004)
140: South Korea (1994-2004)
070: Turkey (1996-1999)
064: Greece (1997-1998)
062. Singapore (1998-2002)

Production is on going to the USAF and export customers before and during the T2K period, at least up until the end of 1997. In 1996 its clear that a big war is looming, and the US government is going to have to decide who takes precedence in war production.

We can rule out Singapore as it didn't get F-16s till 1998, while the Greeks went commy and probably would have only recieved a dozen at most. The USAF and Israel are going to get what they want, but is the US going to keep delivering F-16s to Egypt, Turkey and even South Korea when Britain wants an F-16 wing. The simple fact is Britain is America's closest military ally, and more important than even Israel, and whatever Britain wants it gets, even nuclear weapons and delivery systems.

While I do acknowledge the special realitionship inbetween the US and the UK. Look at the strategic situation. With Greek and Turkey going at it, the US has always tended to favor Turkey to an extent, they are, after all, the USs oldest Middle Eastern ally. So the shipment of F-16s to Turkey, especially to counterbalance a communist Greece would go through.

South Korea, especially being so near to major Soviet air and naval bases, is another country bady needing modern aircraft. I feel a good argument could be made to dispatch F-16s to the ROKAF.

With Egypt, especially during this time frame, being very friendly to the US, as well as controlling the vital choke point of the Suez Canal and with the worsening situation in Iraq/Syria from the RDF Sourcebook might receive their F-16s, if only to help reinforce Saudi Arabia.

This would leave the Bahrain order and what was delivered of the Pakistan order (airframes pulled into depot level maintenance and brought up to C/D standards. With 22 on order and 28 on hand, this may give the RAF 2-3 squadrons to replace the Phantom force with.

But then there is the additional problem of a line in RDF concerning air battles with Iranian F-16s........

One really gets the idea that General Dynamics went to a 24/7 work week with four shifts running!