How things are going with it now, I’d eat my hat if the F-35 is ready for delivery by 2016. Even if it is would the US, Level 1, 2 and 3 partners kindly hold off a few orders specially for Japan? I very much doubt it. It may be safe to say that its too risky to go for this aircraft for their F-X programme, theres still so much testing & what not to do yet.

What would be wrong with going for the Typhoon now and then complementing it with the F-35 later on? It would make more sense and Europe, US & Japan would be on a winner. And I wouldn’t compare a Typhoon Tanche 3+ with an “advance” F/A-18…

I’m not sure but the Job cuts could be from the support staff assigned to the likes of Harrier, VC-10, Nimrod as these were run from Warton and have all been phased out of service this year ?

Hawk production is also completed as such so some of the numbers required to keep that production and assembly may be being phased out too, unless fresh orders are expected.

Thats probably the case. It’s more of a possibilty than Typhoon orders “slowing”. And surprise-surprise, theres so many sources reporting this now, if its Typhoon related and negative “they” tend to jump all over it, otherwise theres usually no interest & they usually blow things out of proportion anyway.

The thing is they haven’t seemed to grasp is that Saudi Arabia’s Typhoons are coming from the UK, BAE Warton, unless they’ve suddenly dropped them & said they don’t want them anymore then yes, theres a majority of the British Typhoon workforce out of a job. But…Well, figures.

Poster on DoD Buzz

A joint Typhoon/F-35 buy would be good, but with only 42 airframes on the cards it would seem an expensive option (although with 18 F-2’s that need replacing, this number may creep up).

Ok thanks, Giblets.

It’d probably be a good idea to purchase the 42 Typhoons for this F-X competition (at least they’ll be ready in time) and then purchase the F-35 later on after they’re ready. They could maybe start to faze out the F-2 and possibly both types (Typhoon/F-35) faze out the F-15 together later on in the future. Have a mixed fleet like the British, Spanish & Italians would have.

Just an idea.

If Japana and India buy the Typhoon maybe BAe will not announce the loss of 3,000 jobs as they are planning to?

Could be. But even if India and Japan do buy the Typhoon it could still mean jobs at BAE Warton would be lost as far as building them is concerned. India would purchase their initial batch of Typhoons, most likely two seat trainers, and the rest built under licence in India via HAL with some parts coming from European companies. Not enough to save 3,000 jobs in the UK but still a boost for BAE Systems & Co.

Japan would probably get a similar sort of deal like India. Not much has been reported concerning Japan but I believe they’re offered a partnership in the Eurofighter programme, too.

Also wonder if Japan will put its technology on the eurofighter…

No reason why not…

“Good enough” is, well…Good enough. If its good enough for Japan its good enough, or better for Europe & Eurofighter GmbH. They won’t mind them saying that when they check their bank balance the morning after (if) they buy 40+ Typhoons.

The thing(s) Japan have to realise is, is if they ever were allowed to buy the F-22 their lives would be a nightmare with sanctions & goodness knows what, & what F-35 systems thats shared with the F-22’s(?), you can expect similar ‘going ons’ with the F-35 as one would with the F-22. Would it be worth it, in a word, No. And thats before we mention when it’ll enter service (of which Japan, amonst others, is obviously concerned about) & then theres the price etc…

The F/A-18, well…Look at India, need I say more?…

Then you have the Typhoon & what it has to offer…No brainer, ain’t it?

FINMECCANICA: JAPAN WILLING TO DISCUSS EUROFIGHTER OPTION; DECISION ON 42 JETFIGHTERS AFTER BUYING AMERICAN FOR YEARS

Not a fan of the 35 eh ?

Well, he does have a valid point about the F-35. As far as I’m concerned anyone wanting a fighter as soon as Japan wants theres, its too risky to go for this choice. I believe it will enter operational service, the question is when and of course, how much. These things are uncertian.

Going from the last article I posted it seems the Americans know they might lose out on this one too.

“But he said he was confident that Japanese commanders will make sure that whichever plane they buy “remains interoperable and very complementary to our capabilities.”

Well, the Typhoon would…

It’s never occurred to me until now but could the fact that it’s nuclear capable play in the Rafale’s favour for MMRCA? Does the IAF plan to have nuke capable aircrafts to replace theirs, and if so, could the Typhoon be made carrier capable easily?

Nic

If I remember correctly the Mirage, Su-30MKI, Jaguar(?) & Mig-27(?) are nuclear capable. The Mig-27 is of course due to be replaced by the MMRCA & the Jaguar will be faded out in the future at some point, so maybe it does have an advantage – the question is however is will France share such particular critical nuclear abilities with India? Then again they’ll have new updated Mirages for this role, Su-30MKI isn’t going anywhere soon so they’ll have that too & the PAK-FA could be fitted to perform nuclear strike roles. So not only do the IAF have plenty of capable aircraft to perform A/G missions, they’ve got a fair share of nuclear strike roles, too.

It could be an advantage but I don’t think it’d be needed. The Typhoon could be made nuclear capable just as much as those aorcraft mentioned, but with what I really don’t know.

Japan is open to choosing a European aircraft as its long-awaited new air defence fighter, despite decades of reliance on the US for imports of sophisticated weapon systems, according to new Japanese defence minister, Yasuo Ichikawa.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a527723e-e4fc-11e0-9aa8-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1YiaAanus

Little bit more about this situation here:

(ANSA) – SEPTEMBER 22 – Japan is ”willing” to start talks on the European multirole jetfighter the Eurofighter, after depending on the USA for decades for its imports of sophisticated weapons systems. This was suggested by Japan’s new Defence Minister, Yasuo Ichikawa, who was appointed early this month. A decision on the acquisition of 42 military aircrafts with a total value of more than six billion USD is expected by the end of December.

http://www.militaryaerospace.com/index/display/avi-wire-news-display/1505681541.html

Things seem to be looking good for the Typhoon in this part of the world, too.

Sounds like they’re, the UK, are trying to get out of the F-35 programme, or in buying it at least, does it not?