Frag Out! Magazine

Kuwait finally bought mentioned missiles (20 pieces of Block 2 version), a batch of the AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM (120 pieces) and a small number of the JDAM guidance kits (51 pieces). An appropriate answer for this kind of actions was a decision made by the authorities to buy combat aircrafts, and not spending funds on the used Hornets (there is still 39 pieces from them in the line). It is also an explanation why the Kuwaitis do not take part in the growing number of combat operations in the Middle East (The Second War in Iraq, an international operation in Libya, an assistance for the Iraqi authorities in the fight with the ISIS or com- bating an insurgency in Yemen). As predicted, the main rivals in Kuwait became the American and European companies – Boe- ing (F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, as well as F-15SE Silent Eagle), Dassault (Rafale) and Eurofighter GmbH (Typhoon). In May and June of the cur- rent year it turned out that a tender procedure may end with awarding two contracts – for the time being unofficial sources, quoted by the news agencies, indicate that Boeing and an Eurofighter GmbH consortium may count on contracts. It will, in turn, result in extending lifecycles of the Super Hornet and Typhoon by subsequent months. Closer to a success, according to the available information, are the Americans, with whom (probably) have been conducted negotiation for a longer time – in this case an important point will be an export application of the United States Department of State which would have to be made public. If it comes to the Typhoon, on June 4th the news agencies informed about beginning Ku- wait-Italy negotiations. Most likely, both manufacturers can count on the contracts for 24-28 aircrafts, what in total will give a number approxi- mate to the currently exploit- ed Hornets and will allow for preserving an operational po- tential by the Kuwait Air Forc- es. A principal will be able to provide a kind of specialization of the squadrons equipped with the above designs – ac- cording to some analytics the Typhoons may be referred to tasks connected with a fight for an air superiority, and the Super Hornets will be aimed at improving possibilities in dam- aging an inland infrastructure. In both cases value of contracts will fluctuate in the range of 4 billion USD and apart from ma- chines, an armament or trainings it will include a logistics support, too. A diversified purchase of the air equipment will be a sequent one in this part of the world – previously a similar politics was applied, inter alia, by the United Arab Emirates (the F-16E/F Fighting Falcon and the Mirage 2000-9, and now there are conducted negotiations with regard to exchanging the latter ones for the AVIATION

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