Swiss Arms Exports Restrictions
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http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/swiss-kerfuffle-over-chads-use-of-pilatus-aircraft-04655/
I have long heard of the Swiss law prohibiting the usage of swiss-built aircraft, in this case the PC-7/PC-9 series of trainers in combat roles for export customers. Chad appears to be the latest "unknowing customer" which faces a lawsuit from the Swiss after the use of PC-7/PC-9 aircraft for light attack missions against Sudan.
With the RSAF ordering 19 PC-21 aircraft as its basic trainer, the potential usage for combat would be hard to materialize. The RSAF undoubtedly has more capable combat aircraft in the form of the F-15SG and F-16C/D but quantity is also a quality in itself, where the PC-21s could be used for light attack/COIN duties and sparing the former for more important missions.
Do you think we would still go ahead and tweak the aircraft for munitions carriage, despite the existance of such restrictions?
After all the S211 and the retired SF260s are also capable of light attack duties. -
If the situation warrants the use of PC-21 for combat, then a law suit is the least of Singapore government's worry.
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it would be quite silly to bring those planes back to Singapore to fly combat missions...
Secondly, being ill-equipped, it would be a waste to put our fighter jet trained pilots to fly these stuff....for wat?? -
Point 1: It won't be silly if the situation is really that bad to warrant such an uneconomic move.Originally posted by specialOps:1. it would be quite silly to bring those planes back to Singapore to fly combat missions...
2. Secondly, being ill-equipped, it would be a waste to put our fighter jet trained pilots to fly these stuff....for wat??
Point 2: It can act as a back-up for front-line fighters, there may be a shortage of planes for our pilots during the course of war due to war losses. Pilots are specially trained just to fly certain type of planes but all can fly the basic trainers as they are trained in them as trainees. Maximum utilisation of limited resources. We won't get a 2nd chance should we encounter war.