Donations by one air force to another

[Merv_P]

I think this is the nearest to being the appropriate subforum to ask this question, so here goes.

I'm starting to work on an alternate history/politics timeline in part of Eastern Europe, but the area I have in mind certainly couldn't have its own aircraft industry and probably couldn't buy modern hardware.

Are there examples that I could draw on in the real world of nations donating their redundant aircraft to other air forces, maybe with political strings attached but with no financial cost? If so, how modern are the machines being donated?

Thanks.

[Lawman]

The most obvious examples of aircraft (and other military equipment) being donated would be the US by means of MAP (Military Assistance Program), and arguably Israel. Under MAP, the US allowed nations to get reasonably modern fighters, at either reduced, or no cost. Examples types being the F-84, F-5A and possibly F-104 (not sure about it).

For Eastern Europe, the best bet could be the Visegrad countries (Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia), and possibly Romania to all join together to produce their own equipment. They would be able to draw on quite a lot of expertise, especially PZL in Poland, Aero Vodochody in Czech Republic, and Aerostar/IAR in Romania. Perhaps a modernised version of the IAR-95, which was very similar to the later Chinese JF-17.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAR_95

Update it with a western engine, possibly the PW-1120 (as the Israelis proposed using for their Lavi and F-4 upgrades); and slap in an off the shelf radar, i.e. the EL/M-2032, or APG-76. These upgrades to the basic concept would deliver a very practical fighter, with basically similar performance to the F-16, yet potentially at a much lower price. The Polish, Czech, Romanian and Hungarian air forces could all end up buying them (not sure about Slovakia, since they would probably find it much harder to find the money). The airframe would be built at three plants, e.g. wings in Hungary, forward fuselage in Poland, rear fuselage in Romania, and assembled by Aero Vodochody in the Czech Republic. This would be built instead of the Mig 21 Lancer program in Romania, and the F-16 purchase in Poland, and the Gripen leases in Czech Rep. and Hungary. This potentially means a couple of hundred aircraft, i.e. 100 each for Romania and Poland, 50 for Czech Rep. and Slovakia, and 25-50 for Hungary ultimately.

[Merv_P]

That's a really comprehensive and helpful answer. Thank you.

[Geoff]

The other option might be an IAI upgrade of the Mig-21 or some Romanian Lancers?

[Ed S]

I don't know if you would consider it a donation.  The Singapore AF gave the Thai AF a handful of F-16s for letting the Singapore AF use some of the Thai bases for training.

Ed