Missiles....

[Lucky13]

Any idea why Austria aren't allowed to have missile armed aicraft?

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The Austrians had a state treaty that was signed in 1955, that allowed only the use of cannons on there aircraft. After finally realizing they could not defend there own airspace and not wanting to rely on other nations, they revised the treaty in 1993 and now use missiles again.

The Austrians use:

AIM-9 Sidewinders
IRIS-T (German built missile similar to the Sidewinder)

 

[Lucky13]

Thanks Chris! Thought that it sounded strange....

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

It was not till after several incursions of Serbian aircraft into there airspace during the Balkan conflicts that made them rethink the whole missile thing.

 

[Lucky13]

Must have been some heavy traffic then....