While Western attention has been focused largely on replacing the obsolete combat aircraft of Soviet origin in the emergent Eastern European countries, in their efforts to achieve NATO membership and integration, first priority has now been reluctantly conceded to modernization of the air defense ground environment as a vital preliminary. So far, only the Visegrad states of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland have been accepted by NATO from 1999, but Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia are working toward similar status.

New air defense surveillance, detection and control radars, airspace management systems, and advanced integrated communications links meeting NATO standards and compatibility requirements involve typical package costs of about $500 million. U.S. funding assistance is being received, however, to develop air sovereignty operations centers (ASOCS) through its Regional Airspace Initiative program, which also integrates civil aviation traffic control.

By mid-1997, the Visegrad defense ministers, with U.S. backing, had agreed to coordinate their combat aircraft and other military re-equipment programs to minimize procurement and operating costs, and help achieve interoperability, and standardized technical support. These requirements effectively narrowed selection to a short-list of new or used GD/Lockheed Martin F-16s, Boeing/MDC F/A-18s, Dassault Mirage 2000s, JAS 39 Gripens and MiG-29s, although in most European countries, these requirements have been put on the back burner.

In the Czech Republic, for example, only about half of its 98 MiG-21s and MiG-23s are airworthy, and several have been lost in recent accidents, but funding problems have deferred action on their replacement with 24 to 36 new combat aircraft for an indefinite period. Because of their high operating costs, all 10 Czech MiG-29s were exchanged in 1995 for 11 PZL-Swidnik W-2 Sokol transport helicopters from Poland. Reliance is being placed instead on the 72 indigenous ITEC F124-powered L-159 light fighters ordered from Aero Vodochody in a $700 million contract, for planned delivery from 1999 onwards.

Having recently withdrawn or placed in reserve its remaining 11 MiG-23MFs, 12 Sukhoi Su-22M-3s and all but 22 of its 90 MiG-21s, the reorganized Hungarian air force has a precisely similar combat aircraft requirement to the Czechs. Hungary still operates 28 early production MiG-29s, however, and no funding is expected to become available before about 2002. HAF interest has been expressed in some 20 Aero L-159 ALCA light fighters, for which Hungary's remaining 19 Aero L-39ZO jet-trainers may be offered in part-exchange. Contracts worth about $100 million were placed last year with MATRA BAeD for 168 Mistral SAMs and 45 launchers, now being delivered, and tenders were recently invited for three L-band 3-D air surveillance ground radars.

As Eastern Europe's largest market, at least 100 new advanced combat aircraft are required by Poland to begin replacing the 243 MiG-21bis, 18 MiG-29As, four two-seat MiG-29UBs, 35 MiG-23MFs, and 96 Sukhoi Su-22M-4K/UM-3Ks in current service. Evaluations have been made of all the current main combat aircraft, including 28 new F-16A/Bs originally built for Pakistan. Requests for proposals have been delayed, however, pending imminent completion of basic NATO interoperability plans for airspace management, ground-based air defense, IFF, and training.

Development and funding problems are still being experienced with the PZL-Mielec Iryda jet-trainer, of which 17 await upgrading with Sextant Avionique's Topflight advanced mission systems and extensive wing changes to M-96 standard, towards total requirements for 36. A Polish government decision was still pending earlier this year to upgrade the mission systems of up to 100 PZL-Swidnik S-1W Huzar armed assault helicopters from a $650 million contract placed with an Elbit-led Israeli consortium by the previous administration.

Although still awaiting nomination for NATO status, Romania has announced allocations of $3.8 billion for integration costs through 2009, including $825 million for new air defense ground equipment and compatible C3I systems. Combat aircraft procurement has been deferred, however, following rapid progress with a 1993 $300 million contract placed with Elbit and Aerostar at Bacau for the upgrade of 110 Romanian MiG-21MF/UMs with new digital avionics to operate with advanced AAMs and precision-guided munitions.

Funding problems which delayed 1997 Romanian plans for IAR Brasov to license-build 96 GE T700-engined Bell AH-1RO Dracula attack helicopters equipped with Elbit/Aerostar SOCAT avionics and weapons suite from a $1.4 billion contract, now appear to have been resolved from government guarantees in Bucharest for the required finance. Bell Helicopter Textron would then be clear to buy 70% of IAR Brasov as part of its planned privatization, with AH-1RO deliveries scheduled between 2000-2006.

Elbit/Aerostar's SOCAT digital optronic search and combat mission systems in the AH-1RO, plus similar provision for Rafael LITENING targeting pods and NT-D ATMs, are also being installed in 24 of Romania's 90 military IAR-330L Puma helicopters from 160 license-built examples. Flight development of the first upgraded IAR-330L started in May, and all 24 will be delivered by 2001 from the $100 million contract.

By John Fricker