The biggest players in the world aircraft industry are in Bucharest these days, attending the greatest aeronautical exhibition in the region, Black Sea Defense and Aerospace - BSDA 2010.
Major manufacturers in the aircraft industry took advantage of the fair in Bucharest to face each other, since the Romanian market can bring them consistent profits and is extremely permissive, even when it comes to machines which aren"t exactly cutting edge, and which other countries don"t want to have in their fleet.
American company Lockheed Martin, manufacturer of F-16 aircraft, seem to be the certain winners of the USD 1.3 billion contract to equip the Romanian army, in particular due to the weight America carries in NATO.
Bob DuLaney, former F-16 pilot and current international development director with Lockheed Martin, said that choosing F16 aircraft was a natural step for Romania, given the benefits that come with that selection.
"Given the fact that Romania is a NATO member, an organization whose members predominantly use F-16 aircraft, it is natural that it would make this choice, since in the event of an attack, its allies would also be using F-16 aircraft", says DuLaney, who stressed that American pilots will transfer their tactics, strategies and know-how to their Romanian colleagues.
"In the case of a war, allies are the most important factor", considers DuLaney, implying that Romania would not be left to fend for itself in the event of a major attack, even if it were to own latest generation aircraft.
F-16 aircraft are fourth generation, far easier to use and more powerful than the old MIG aircraft, which were third generation. Also the agreement the Romanian government concluded with the Americans provides that Romania will later acquire F-35 aircraft, which are 5th generation models.
On the other hand, Alenia Aeronautic
