Many countries can only dream to own fighter jets in especially in the numbers they desire. However only the rich or dire straits countries can or find excuses to afford them. Truthfully they are too expensive for anybody. Many countries we know have delayed not only their acquisition but their choice in the types of aircraft, not once but again and again.
Many true 4.5 generation fighters are too expensive for many especially Asian countries. That is why they opted for Russian fighters or Gripen and even second hand F16s. Thailand too having second thoughts of buying the second batch of Gripen while Malaysia has delayed its tender for MRCA many times over. Indonesia is struggling to form full squadron of her SU 30s and F 16s. Philippines still in want has nothing much to show. Only Singapore and India you can say comfortably bought the expensive F15s and Rafales. The same parody plays around the world where non oil rich countries lies.
Saab is smart to take this opportunity by offering Gripen for lease. By doing so they can block other war jets being sold. In the long run if the country accept their lease the said country might just buy into them at the end of the lease because the Gripen by then is fully develop to address its weakness and the country's economic condition has improved or grown enough after the years to own them. After all many European countries for decades have practised leasing fighters for decades and some of them have actually bought them in the end.
I am quite sure if Bae or Dassault offer leasing as an other option many countries would jump to the opportunity. Typhoon much like the Gripen, Multirole fighter that lacks maturity would best follow Gripens path.
Dassault with a mature multirole Rafales may do better of course. Even Brazil being at the other end of the world of Asia would take this leap of faith leasing the aircraft. Malaysia's RMAF that will seriously consider Saab offer should MRCA programme be delayed again will gladly lease other types especially Typhoon and Rafales should they be offered the same.
Off late it would seem Dassault has made a good pitch to the Malaysian Goverment. It's best to also include leasing Rafales as the other or last option. By doing so if Rafales is chosen for leasing, no other aircraft is chosen and they later could be bought at a later date when Malaysian economy is doing much better. A number of 24 units can also be offered instead of the 18 that RMAF wants if these numbers are found to be cheaper if bought rather than leased.
Malaysian also bares no risk because let say in ten years she decide on any stealth fighters she can just return Rafales to the French. By that time the French may be able to afford and need more fighters. They got a ready made ones if they decide on this path. They can be sold as second hand which with great sureness many country would jump to the excellent opportunity to buy.
Of course the Europeans got to be really careful not to be too greedy in making to much profit through sales or even leasing. Just remember anyone can come up with the viable idea of leasing Super Hornets as well or better yet especially if the term is so right, the cheap lease of second hand but upgraded (with the Boeing Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) )F18 Ds. That will put the rest definitely out of the game.
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