Malaysian fighter competition

Malaysia has shortlisted five manufacturers as it seeks to buy 18 combat aircraft by 2015 to replace its ageing fleet of Russian-made MIG-29s, the defence minister said on Thursday.

The choice was between the Britain-backed Eurofighter Typhoon, Sweden’s SAAB JAS-39 Gripen, France’s Dassault Aviation Rafale, Boeing’s F/A 18E/F Super Hornet and Russia’s Sukhoi Su-30, Zahid Hamidi told Reuters.

“We’ve made the shortlist,” Zahid said on the sidelines of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition. “We don’t know the cost yet.”

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_03_28_2013_p0-563859.xml

Why Su-30 and not Su-35!?

And who will win?

SH because of political-strategic considerations?

Rafale because of the “Indian link”?

Gripen NG because of “most bang for the bucks”?

Typhoon because of the incredible A/C performance?

Or Su-30 because they already got some of them?

Place your bets ladies and gentlemen, place your bets!

And don’t forget to explain why your chosen a/c will win this.