After the previous govenrment's decision that NZ no longer requires a air combat wing, the Skyhawks and Aermacchi trainers were put on the market. Up to now the US has not authorised the sale of the A4s so these have been sitting in storage.
Apparently the sale to a Arizona based training facility is now OK'd to go ahead.
Given NZ's lack of defense budget, what do you think a alternative replacement should be? There was talk of F16s a couple of years back, IMHO this would still be a valid consideration but what else would you suggest?
2nd hand M2000-9s?
Su-27s?
MiG 29?
2nd hand F18s? |