A Change of Guard

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Thursday 28 November 2013

Should Cambodia buy American F-16s or Chinese-made Z-9 helicopters?

In reference to: American F-16 A/B fighter jets only cost $14.6 million each, but the Chinese Z-9 helicopters cost Cambodia about $16.25 million each [Cambodia has been cheated by China big time!]  

F-16 A/B travels faster than the speed of sound or 1,320 miles per hour.

Anonymous said...

The purchase of 12 Chinese-made Z-9 helicopters for $195 million, or $16.25 million each, is a total rip-off or most of the money went into the pockets of corrupt defense officials.

These Chinese-made helicopters look like toys and they are probably no match for the U.S Black Hawk or Apache helicopters, which cost around $12 million a piece.

The Chinese helicopters even cost more than a second-hand (15 year-old) American F-16 A/B fighter jets, which cost only $14.6 million each.

Comparing Chinese helicopters to American F-16 fighters is like comparing push-bikes to Harley-Davidson motorbikes. The Chinese helicopters, which cost $16.26 million each, can only use to transport troops and rescue during a time of disaster, but the U.S F-16 fighter jets, even at 15 years old and at a cheaper price than the Chinese helicopters, can defend Cambodia's territory, shoot down other fighter jets or destroy enemy's ground troops in no time. As a matter of fact, Thailand, Taiwan, Pakistan, Jordan, Chile, Iraq and Iran still use these F-16 fighter jets to defend their territory effectively.

In saying this, I think Cambodia has wasted a lot state money to purchase toy helicopters. They should spend this money to purchase second-hand American F-16 fighter jets or even American Black Hawk or Apache helicopters, which cost less but can perform superior job during combat operations.

Because people in this forum are debating about the cost of F-16 fighter jets, I have done a quick search and found the following:
1. Wikipedia said that F-16 A/B jets cost $14.6 million each in 1998.
2. Many people said that a brand-new F-16 jet today will cost between $20-$40 million each.
3. In May 2013, Iraq purchased 18 F-16IQ jets for $830 million or $46.11 each. But this price include training, maintenance and spare parts.
4. In 2007, Jordan purchased 14 F-16s from Belgium at a cost of $90 million or $6.42 million each.
5. In 2009, Chile purchased 18 F-16s from the Netherlands for $270 million or $15 million each. However, a brand new of this type of F-16s cost about $40-$50 million each.

From the above information, should Cambodia purchase Chinese-made Z9 helicopters or American F-16 jets or even Black Hawk/Apache helicopters? In my opinion, Cambodia would be better off buying American F-16s or Apache helicopters.

Read more below for the price of F-16s: http://defence.pk/threads/second-hand-f-16s-for-paf.212256/

Facts about Lockheed Martin F-16A/B Fighting Falcon

Origin
USA
Type
single-seat air-combat and multi-role fighter
Max Speed
1,146 kt / 1,320 mph
Max Range
3,886 km / 2,415 miles
Dimensions
span 10.00 m / 32 ft 9.75 in length 15.03 m / 49 ft 4 in height 5.09 m / 16 ft 8.5 in
Weight
empty 8,273 kg / 18,218 lb max. take-off 19,187 lb
Powerplant
one 13154-kg (29,000-lb) afterburning thrust Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 or General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan
Armament
one 20-mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon with 500 rounds, plus provision for up to 9276 kg (20,450 Ib) of externa ordnance on one underfuselage, six underwing and two tip hardpoints, this total declining to 5420 kg (11,950 Ib) for sorties including 9-g manoeuvres; the ordnance can include AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, a wide range of disposable ordnance (free-tall and guided), drop tanks and electronic pods (ECM, reconnaissance and targeting)
Operators:
BelgiumDenmarkEgyptIndonesiaIsraelItalyJordanNetherlandsNorwayPakistanPortugalThailandTaiwanUnited States,Venezuela

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good analysis. Our not so friendly neighbors would think twice before they violated our air space again I guarantee it, if we had bought at least 10 f-16 fighter jets instead of z-9s heli's. It is morally important. It is a national security issues in my opinion. Can they afford it? Of course they can. It's a matter of priority.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I agree that it's a rip-off to buy Chinese helicopters for $16.25 million each. I think a 15 year-old F-16 jets would be much more superior than the Chinese helicopters in defending Cambodia's territorial integrity. I think it's either China ripping Cambodia off or Hun Sen and Tea Banh ripping Cambodia off by putting some of the the money in their pockets.

Anonymous said...

The US Congress will not approve the arm sale to a country that has a dictator.

Anonymous said...

Hun Sen will not buy F-16 because he is afraid of Khmer pilots acting like Pech Lim Koun or Khieu Yos Savath (Khmer Air Force pilots during Lon Nol regime) drop bomb on his head.

Anonymous said...

china was made a good products n cheap - in worldwide has bought hardware from china, very effectives products ...

Anonymous said...

Khmer needs more on defenses, at present time are poor equipments

Anonymous said...

Khmer needs to buy product from Russia instead of usa

Russia was made very very good machines to kills n to defenses the country

Anonymous said...

Because of extreme corruption Cambodia has no money of its own to buy military aircraft other than China. Beijing loans Cambodia, and in turn Phnom Penh uses it to buy Chinese war machines. Cambodia can't use the money to buy weapons elsewhere because it's Chinese loan/grant money. Who is smart and who is dumb, you be the judge.

Anonymous said...

You Khmers are stupid. It's because of our loan that allow you to buy our weapons. Do you think you have the money to buy expensive weapons? Not in 10 years. Be nice to us or else we will not help you. Remember you always beg us for help, forever.

Anonymous said...

The question is not whether Cambodia should buy fighter jets, it has to do with Hun Sen doesn't want to have the fighter jets as he afraid that one day, one of the pilots will bomb his house or bodyguard base in TAing Krasaing. The same as he refused to create a group of snipers within the army for fearing he will be eventually killed by one of those snipers.

Anonymous said...

11:55 pm, The U.S Army already had joint exercises with Cambodian army and before Cambodia sent the 20 ethnic Uighurs back to China in 2009, America prepared to donate 200 military trucks to the Cambodian army, but cancelled the delivery after in protest against Cambodia sending the 20 Uighurs back to China. At the moment, America still give Cambodia $70 million in military aid in various forms. So I don't think the U.S congress will block the sales of weapons to Cambodia. I think the fact is it has to do with Hun Sen. He doesn't trust America and worry that American air force might infiltrate to spy and topple him one day. As we can see, F-16 jets are much, much better and a little bit cheaper than the Chinese helicopters.

Anonymous said...

NO DOUBT.
They bought those helicopters to fight against its own people. Reasons:
1. Using helicopter is more effective than F16. Small ground attack easily on attacking Cambodian protesters when situation cannot control. Conversely, we cannot control protesters by using F16.
2. Hun Sen's government has Vietnam behind who has a lot of F16.
3. China can block the US from penetrating in Cambodia.
.................
If I were Hun Sen, I choose to buy Chinese helecopters than the US helicopers. Plus, it is a loan.


Anonymous said...

There is 184 or 200 something countries in the world?

Cambodia is just country that does not have luck like other 100s something countries in the world.
We have a leader that loves power and its own family than the national and people interest.
No wonder. Without Nuclear Weapon, the fates of Cambodian people are the same as the fates of North Korean people.

We've just hoped that we could live better. Some died. Some are claiming to reach the outside world. If They have chances, they just leave this pitiful country. If they can corrupt, they just to stay there and continue the dictatorship regime, which we have expected to be ended since I was 2 years old.

Anonymous said...

Cambodia should not be involve with any major spending on military combat equipment's period. according to the internal laws which were signed September 23rd 1992. Cambodia is protected by united nation. the only hun sen wasted Khmer resources, because he is an arrogant dictator and his supporters don't know any different.

Anonymous said...

the only thing khmers need from china is Taohue
the only khmers need from Russia is 100% prove of Vodka.
khmers government deserve nothing from America.

Anonymous said...

The author has good cut and paste but lack of political command sense, Thailand would not allowed USA to sale F16 to Cambodia. Thailand is USA friend with no condiction. Do Khmerization cut and paste know what its means????

Anonymous said...

8:02 am

The only thing the us government will approve is non lethal equipment to Cambodia...So stop dreaming about getting one of those jets and other lethal equipment especially when Hun sen is still in power.

Anonymous said...

3:16 pm, The trucks that the U.S donated to Cambodia were army trucks - they were part of the war machines - they transported troops and weaponry, therefore they are lethal weapons. The other thing is, the U.S army had done many joint military exercises with Cambodian troops so it considers Cambodia as its friend. So I think the U.S congress will not block the sales of F-16 jets to Cambodia. Pakistan during Musharraff was a dictatorship, but the U.S still sell jet fighters to Pakistan. The same with Venezuela during Hugo Chavez, which was a dictatorship but it still can purchase F-16s. Beside, if the U.S congress refuses to approve the sales of these planes to Cambodia, Cambodia can still buy F-16 fighter jets from Belgium and the Netherlands like Jordan and Chile.

Khmerization said...

1:10 pm, as the owner of the blog, I choose the best comments to post on the main page. And from time to time, I add some information into the post to make it more informative and more interesting, but I never claim them as my own.

Also I just post the comment but it's not my job to analyze this comment. I do not dispute whether or not Thailand has the power to stop the U.S from selling the F-16 jets to Cambodia, however as the commenter at 9:07 pm said Cambodia can still buy these fighter jets from other countries such as Belgium or The Netherlands like Jordan and Chile had done. This is just my opinion and I am glad that the comment I chose to post on the main page attracted a lot of interests. Thanks for keeping the debate civil.

Anonymous said...

US arm sale to Cambodia will be automatically rejected by the US Congress. Due to high violation of human right abusive. US might support to modernize the RCAF military within the non lethal realm if the country improve on the human right issue.

Anonymous said...

11:25 am, your so-called United Nation did not show up when Youn move its border into Cambodia. People like you put his/her trust so much on the United Nation that is why our country ended up likes this. No country in the world gives a shit about Cambodia other than Cambodian itself.

Everyone says they will show up when shit hits you in the shit. But when shit does hit you in the face no one cares. I am against Hun Sen but Khmer needs to build its army. Khmer didn't become an empire because we a pussycat. We kill in order to be on top. If we’re an asshole you think the neighbors be insulting us?

I am sick and tired of Khmer mentality. Either you kill or be killed. It is that simple!

I am sure some idiots going to say “have you ever been in a gun fight”? Yes, I had been in a gunfight, shot at, dodge bullets, and know how to handle guns well. And yes I do know about death. There’s no freedom without death.

Anonymous said...

I agree 100%. Where is UN WHEN KOH TRAL INVADES BY VIETNAM? WHERE IS UN WHEN PREAH VIHEAR WAS INVADED BY THAILAND? If we have at least 10 f-16s or something like french mirage 2000s or mig-29s, our neighbors wouldn't look down on us. It is a vital and strategic issue. In addition, it serves as a non - aggressive and self - defense purchases.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

U.S will not sell F-16 for poor khmer...

Anonymous said...

How come a country which rely heavily on donor funding has the financial capacity to buy such as expensive and good fighter jet as the F16. It is very costly to operate this aicraft and mainternance. Although I am keen to see Khmer F16 Vs Thai F16, who gonna win the dog fight

Anonymous said...

6:33 pm, you have a point, but if Cambodia spent $16.25 million to buy each helicopter from China I think Cambodia would be better off spending just $14.6 million to buy a second hand F-16 fighter. F-16 fighters are much more superior than the Chinese helicopters in combat operations.

Anonymous said...

How much does it cost to operate 12 F 16 per year? Someone said fly per hour cost $20,000

Sam Chakroval said...

I think that Cambodia should buy MiG 29 fighter jet becouse MiG 29 is modern fighter jet from Russia and it cost only $11 million.