Let's buff up the Maltese Air Wing (but only a bit compared to OTL)

Petike

Petike

Hi, Omega. Thanks for reviving this thread. :)

I think a Skyraider would be pretty useless. It's bulky, outdated by the time the force forms in the early 1970s, and is more of a ground attack aircraft and gunship than a fighter. I just can't see Malta utilizing such a bird. Even Spitfires would make more sence, provided they would be an only temporary solution in the early years (but equally woefully outdated, even with upgrades).
 

Omega

Petike said:
Hi, Omega. Thanks for reviving this thread. :)

I think a Skyraider would be pretty useless. It's bulky, outdated by the time the force forms in the early 1970s, and is more of a ground attack aircraft and gunship than a fighter. I just can't see Malta utilizing such a bird. Even Spitfires would make more sence, provided they would be an only temporary solution in the early years (but equally woefully outdated, even with upgrades).
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I agree with much of what you said, but given the area Malta has, it could use a gunship to take out any invaders navy. And it was to give them more of a strike bird the a fighter at least in the early days.

Now a good Jet with multiple roles would be the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk.
 
Petike

Petike

I've entertained the thought of a Skyhawk, though as in the case of Luxembourg, maybe an armed jet trainer would be more affordable. Reading about Malta's OTL aircraft inventory and its procurement, I get the feeling that a recurring narrative was "beggars can't be choosers". Sure, they bought new aircraft over time, but most of their aircraft acquisitions to date were used machines. Malta simply doesn't seem to have that strong an economy to just buy wholly new or more financially demanding machines as it wishes. We'll have to take that into consideration somewhat.
 

Zajir

Malta under Dom Mintoff veered to the far-left and had very good relation with Libya. Qaddafi in characteristic style even proposed a union between the 2 countries. Qaddafi might give in an ATL a couple of MiG-21s or MiG-19s as a bribe for better relations, or if Libya is put under sanctions earlier for use of Maltese companies as conduits for business with the west.
 
Petike

Petike

I am actually counting with the "Let's get stuff from Libya" ploy in my timeline, but not with Malta voluntarily being too chummy with Libya. I think far-left politicians on Malta, even anti-Soviet ones, will have a harder time than in OTL, due to the LOSERS pact of tiny European nations being anti-commie and fairly pro-West. Also, I'm dabbling with the idea of the 2011 Libyan revolution happening earlier, making Gaddafi's potential threats less of an issue. ;)
 

Omega

Petike said:
I've entertained the thought of a Skyhawk, though as in the case of Luxembourg, maybe an armed jet trainer would be more affordable. Reading about Malta's OTL aircraft inventory and its procurement, I get the feeling that a recurring narrative was "beggars can't be choosers". Sure, they bought new aircraft over time, but most of their aircraft acquisitions to date were used machines. Malta simply doesn't seem to have that strong an economy to just buy wholly new or more financially demanding machines as it wishes. We'll have to take that into consideration somewhat.
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The real question is under your timeline does Malta need full Combat Jets or could they survive without or with only ground attack birds?
 
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