jwm@stdc.jhuapl.edu (Jim Meritt ) (06/05/90)
From: jwm@stdc.jhuapl.edu (Jim Meritt ) WASHINGTON TIMES (MAY 7) -- LONDON - A unified German air force may opt to ditch development of the $32 billion European Fighter Aircraft in favor of operating the Soviet-built MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter. Adopting the MiG-29 would see NATO pilots flying high-technology Russian aircraft for the first time and would probably jeopardize development of the Eurofighter by Britain, Italy and Spain. The move is being considered in view of East Germany have on order about 60 MiG-29 Fulcrums to supplement the 20 aircraft already in service with the Vladmir Kamarov fighter wing based at Preschen, East Germany. Senior Luftwaffe officers have been ordered by West German Defense Minister Wolfgang Stoltenberg to examine the feasibility of integrating the MiG-29 into a mixed fighter force from the East German Air Force and the Luftwaffe.