Hungary to Replace Mig-29s With Old US F-16 FightersHungarian Defense Minister Janos Szabo said Friday that Hungary would buy 24 used F-16 fighter planes from the United States to replace its Mig-29s now in commission.At a news conference, Szabo said Lajos Fodor, commander of the country's national defense forces and chief of General Staff, was due to fly to the United States next week to discuss the deal with the U.S. side. Szabo said the used US aircraft to be purchased would be refitted and put into use in 2004 to take the place of the 27 Mig- 29s currently in service. The procurement and refitting will cost the country some 160 billion forints (about US$559 million), he said. Since joining NATO in 1999, Hungary has been pressed by the military organization to increase its military expenditure and upgrade its armaments. The eastern European country has decided to turn to the United States after an offer last summer by Russian and German firms to help refit Hungary's Mig-29 fighters was rejected by some NATO members. |
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