"You shouldn't buy a Mercedes for trips to the store": Croatian pilot about replacing the MiG-21 with Rafale fighters

Croatia will soon officially confirm the purchase of Rafale multirole fighters. It is believed that 12 cars will be purchased, the cost of the transaction will amount to 900 million euros. However, is the state able to afford such an expensive purchase?

One of the most famous Croatian pilots (now retired) Ivan Selak tried to answer this question. He expressed his opinion while speaking on the Direkt RTL television show. According to him, Croatia is currently not ready for such a purchase.

Selak said the Rafale is "the best aircraft in the world of its generation." However, when calculating costs, it should be borne in mind how many pilots, technicians and engineers will be required to operate it.

I am very glad that we did not purchase Barak, which were already in Israel's use.

- said Selak, meaning that it was decided not to spend money on Israeli air defense systems.

But he is not pleased with the intention to direct finances for the acquisition of French fighters:

We currently have a small number of pilots under the age of 35. It makes no sense to send 35-year-old pilots to France for retraining; when they begin to fly effectively, this plane will be over 40 years old.

In his words, every purchase should justify itself, all the more so expensive:

We flew the MiG-21 for 30 years. We only used it for 30%, and now we are buying a 4th generation aircraft. How many features will we use? You shouldn't buy a Mercedes to drive to and from the store

- concluded the Croatian pilot, commenting on the intention of the country's leadership to replace the MiG-21 in service with Rafale.

Comments

[Theodore]

Eeee! Here your politicians go to the bakery! On the Maybachs!

[Egoza]

Quote: Theodore

Here your politicians go to the bakery

So the "theoreticians" (how to cut down the loot) And the pilot is a practitioner! But who will listen to him?

[Gardener91]

Quote: Egoza

So the "theoreticians" (how to cut down the loot) And the pilot is a practitioner! But who will listen to him?

They will listen out of economic feasibility. There is a good export Russian version of a multipurpose "Mercedes" for a bakery, which includes the functionality and optimal affordability - the quality of the MiG-35.

[dauria]

They will listen out of economic feasibility.

Then the Swedish "Gripen" or F-16. Even Russia does not want to buy a MiG-35. Let's face it, the machine is so-so.

[Orange bigg]

Quote: dauria

They will listen out of economic feasibility.

Then the Swedish "Gripen" or F-16. Even Russia does not want to buy a MiG-35. Let's face it, the machine is so-so.

Why is the F-16 better than the MiG-35?

[Ingvar 72]

Quote: OrangeBigg

Why is the F-16 better than the MiG-35?

The fact that Croatia is in the western zone of influence, respectively, spare parts, components will be supplied by allies, not opponents.

[bk0010]

Quote: OrangeBigg

Why is the F-16 better than the MiG-35?

Low operating cost. Its engine has a resource for almost the entire service life of the aircraft.

[Herman 4223]

Only this engine costs three or five times more.

[Barberry25]

the current combat radius for an American with tanks is indicated ..

[Gardener91]

Quote: dauria

machine so-so.

The 35th was created for export. Well, the taste and color ...

[vic02]

Russia does not want to buy for itself

Firstly, a contract for the supply of 6 pieces has been signed, so he buys. And the car is great if you put on it a new radar with AFAR.

[NIKN]

Quote: Egoza

And the pilot is a practitioner!

That's exactly what he understands about bubble.

[voyaka uh]

When Israel started buying F-16s, veteran pilots were against it.
"Airplane-comp, why is this needed? It limits actions, does not
makes it aerobatics "- complained the pilots of Kfir.
When the Phantom F-4 was copied, the veterans also grumbled.
"The phantom lifts bombs more than its own weight, it is irreplaceable."
Young pilots are put on the F-35, for whom virtual reality is the norm.
You need to be in the air for several hours in the world of animation, cartoons.
Not relying on ordinary vision. Without turning your head, looking for threats.
And feel fine.

[Finches]

In some century I will agree with God's chosen warrior, you can't stand still, but you can't forget the old either ... And so, Croatia has a desire to buy an expensive car, let them buy it!

[Kaman]

But after all, we will take the F-15EX, which means that workaholic bomb carriers are still needed.

[Real Pilot]

Who is Croatia fighting with?
The question is rhetorical, but I know with whom she DOES NOT WANT to fight! With the Motherland of the MiGs ...

Expensive and unnecessary.
At the same time, talking about "the best in his generation" is a political curtsy, which means that it is impossible to say badly about French. France is very persistently proposing, it will be offended!
Such "good" that we are redundant

[Zaurbek]

Where does the money come from? If you buy them, then it is optimal - used Grippens, F16, Mirage2000 ........ there are a lot of upgrading packages and for any money.

[Alex_You]

The French really really want someone to evaporate their Rafale. For this booze, they promise to provide a loan with Ukraine in the same way. Even the first batch is promised to be delivered very quickly from the ranks of their Air Force.

[Alex_You]

Yeah, let this pilot continue to fly on the 21st. When it falls apart in the air, it will start from fatigue of the structure, it will sing in a different way.

[akarfoxhound]

Where did you see what he suggested to fly further on 21x? With the modest capabilities of 21x today, they did not use them either, this is an example given to the topic - Rafale for Croatia is redundant in all respects: performance characteristics and price. So the information is clearer in a chewed form?

[knn54]

If your name is "NATO".
Support the name with your "deeds".

[Crimean partisan 1974]

Yeah, let this pilot continue to fly on the 21st.

... and where there to fly !!!! ... I remember there is a kingdom of the state inside Argentina, they bought a gun and there is no way to shoot, where you will not hit the adjacent territory ... and here ... in general aviation ... ... used drones and that's all

[Sergey_G_M]

Croatia is in NATO, and this is practically a common airspace. Those. there is where to fly, but why is it Croatia?

[Crimean partisan 1974]

just why is Croatia?

.... so I'm talking about the same thing .. on a fig goat button accordion

[rocket757]

In retirement, man ... the brains of such people return to their place ... of some.

[OgnennyiKotik]

Rafal is truly one of the best multi-role air superiority fighters and will cover Croatia's needs for several decades. And the purchase price is relatively small 75 million € ($ 91 million) for the plane. For this money, you can buy a new F-16/18, Gripen, F-35, Su-30. In addition to the F-35, they are all inferior to Rafal, but the 5th generation is not available to everyone and the queue is 7 years ahead, i.e. Croatian F-35s would have received them in their Air Force in the 30th year.
The only question is the cost of operation, the same Gripen will be cheaper.
In general, the logic of the Harvat Air Force is clear, they received the most affordable quality for the minimum money. They could still save money, but with the loss of opportunities.

[Zaurbek]

Nobody argues ...... BMW is better than Kia ...... but I drive Kia.

[not main]

Quote: Zaurbek

Nobody argues ...... BMW is better than Kia ...... but I drive Kia.

And I'm on a UAZ, and I'm happy!

[Zaurbek]

Who needs to go where ...

[not main]

Quote: Zaurbek

Who needs to go where ...

I agree! Although I have not left for the territory of Russia lately.

[Alexander Seklitsky]

well, that's even better question. Kia is a copy-paste of the Japanese car industry, which inherited its reliability and unpretentiousness. It is not for nothing that they are in demand in taxis. But a modern BMW is amno. It goes beautifully, but not for long.

[Alexander Seklitsky]

Quote: OgnennyiKotik

Rafal is truly one of the best multirole air superiority fighters

And where did he win this superiority, except in advertising brochures? In order to assert this, it must be confirmed by the experience of real battles with a strong enemy. Do you know that the French also had modern air force and armored troops in 1940, but is it worth reminding after what time they skidded from Dunkirk? And Normandy flew on our YAKs. That's the same. So, comrade, do not disperse in praise ahead of time.

[garm]

A very balanced position. For their eyes, to control their airspace, the Yak-130 in its Italian version (M-346) is enough.

[Zaurbek]

Rather, in the Chinese version of the L-15 with afterburners

[garm]

Both our and the Chinese version will not be allowed to buy them.

[Zaurbek]

Neither our nor the Chinese have Afar. So they won't use medium-range missiles either.

[nks]

And what is the connection between medium-range missiles and AFAR?

[Zaurbek]

The Yak's nose is small in cross-section. The slit antenna won't see far. And Afar can give the desired range

[nks]

1. By itself, AFAR technology does not provide long range
2. The average range for the URVV is more than the visual range (37 km is considered). For
The current GRIFO-346 Leonardo radar states:
Track formation range> 50 NM
Look-up detection range> 60 NM
3. In general, if the URVV does not have the necessary illumination (those IR or ARLGSN), then it can generally (the control center may be external) without the presence of an airborne radar (by the way, now the Yak-130 itself is without an airborne radar at all).
4. In general, Leonardo has already presented the AFAR GRIFO-E, and we are also going to offer the BARS-130 PFAR.

[dauria]

For their eyes, to control their airspace, the Yak-130 is enough

If you observe neutrality and drive away all stray "guests", like Switzerland in World War II, you need something more serious. And if you fight in a bloc, then let the owner take care.

[Crimean partisan 1974]

yes, in principle, why does Croatia have armed forces at all, .. firstly, there are only allied states around. secondly, participation in a whipping in the composition of all sorts of Papuans is only expenses without a breaking piece ..... to arm the police to the teeth and it's in the bag .... well, buy a couple of bayraktar ... I'm lying around laughing

[Borri]

Controversial argument.
Does Croatian pilot drive Zaporozhets to bakery?

[Orange bigg]

On a scooter.

[isv000]

Why were they lured into NATO - to talk about expediency? Nope! Switch to the standards of the alliance, that is, buy what senior comrades indicate ...

[Sands Careers General]

Croatia will soon officially confirm the purchase of Rafale multirole fighters

Well, let them spend the money on these super-expensive jets. As they say, if you want to ruin the country, give it a cruiser. Let them walk this path

[TermNachTer]

In general, it is not clear why, like a palm-sized state sitting behind a NATO fence, such planes? Is that, to support the economy of France))) repair of used "Raphales" + purchase of new ones for the French Air Force.

[Comrade Kim]

Nobody is going to ask them.
Under this Rafali, a loan was imposed on the Croats.
Only in contrast to the situation when the Russian Federation at the expense of the people forgives loans, Western financial structures will squeeze everything out of them. And not with money - the ECB will print them as much as it wants. Most likely, if the loan is not repaid / overdue, the Croats will have to share something more significant.
Common practice in the West. Confessions of an Economic Killer is a good book about how Americans are swallowing up the economies of many countries by imposing bad loans.
PS According to the most conservative estimates, our Motherland has forgiven loans over the past 25 years, in the amount of $ 6000 to $ 9500 per each resident of Russia.
Our country is kind (people) and rich (behind the six-meter fences of Rublevonikolinozhukovogorskoe highway).

[Butchcassidy]

Gripen is ideal for Croatia. I don't know, what for im Rafali

[decimalegio]

Some go crazy when they retire.

[decimalegio]

After reading the original article, I realized what Croatian racer Ivan Selak meant.
1) considering that for him the Rafale is the best plane to board. There are problems raised.
2) The cost of the plane. But what were the alternatives? F16 or Gripen.
3) Method. And here I can agree. If there are few drivers in Croatia. It makes no sense to send pilots over 35 years old for training. They will come to retire trained. Therefore, you should invest in young drivers. In short, you first need to create the entire infrastructure. Buying a weapon system is easy. The tricky part is to first create a system that supports weapons, namely pilots, technicians, infrastructure, hangars and workshops.