If, (It’s a very BIG “IF” I know) Japan does get the F-22, it’ll just be a very Watered-Down version anyway, nowhere near as advanced as the American version……..P*ss water! And if the Americans do decide to sell Japan their precious expensive super-duper highly sensitive toys built by god, they’re PROBABLY going to be arguing with each other for months, if not even years, about what they want, can’t have, have, workshare blah blah blah etc etc etc…then, Australia will jump in PROBABLY moan & groan about how the Yanks have sold the Japanese a bunch of F-22’s and not to them blah blah blah and just to shut them up they sell the Aussies them to keep them happy, (Tee he he I think not but you never know, everyone has a nice side to them, even the big knobs in Washington) then they’re PROBABLY going to end up arguing about what they want, can’t have, have, you let Japan have this thing but you won’t let us have it (or vice-a-versa) etc etc etc……Then Israel will PROBABLY do the same thing, then it’s just going to be one major sh*t storm!…..PROBABLY!!! Not saying it’ll happen, but it could…..

Is it really worth it?…..

IMO, in the long run it’d be better to just go with something else, Typhoon, Rafale for Japan & whatever Oz wants…F-35 more than likely…

“$75 million per Mig-29K”…

“60% Price Increase On MiG-29Ks for India”…

Do they come with a bunch of ‘Flux-Capacitors’ or something?… :rolleyes:

F-35 for India?…I really don’t think they’d want to buy something like that, not when they’ll “Need permission” from the Americans to use them in anger, they wouldn’t even be allowed to update them the way they want for their own needs, it doesn’t look like the yanks will even share tech with us Brits, “Their Closest ally”, (:rolleyes:) so they sure as hell wouldn’t share it with the Indians. So, might as well cross that one off their list of toys. wishful thinking for anyone who thinks India will get the F-35. dream on!

Well, since they don’t seem to appreciate British help, then maybe we should just get the British armed forces to pack their stuff up & come home where they belong. Let the Americans explain to the families of the Brits that have been killed what they think or thought about them & that they “needed to be knocked down a peg or two”, let them tell what they think of the Harrier squadrons that’ve saved countless lives on the ground during CAS, let them tell the Royal Marines, Paras, SAS/SBS or any other British Army Regiment what they think…Or what about the RAF Regiment? The ones that patrol & protect KAB all year round from someone firing RPG rounds & god knows what else into the base while the yanks sleep peacefully in their nice & comfortable air-conditioned rooms at night, or everyone else for that matter! Why don’t the yanks have a pop at them FFS!!!

“The US generals think the Brits need to be taken down a peg or two…”

Speak for themselves… :rolleyes:

Instead of taking a silly childish screaming fit & pointing the finger, they want to really think that they ought to make & keep friends, not p**s them off!

But if they want to be like that, what the hell, let’em, bring our fellow Brits home & let them sort their own problems out. Just a real shame that some our boys & girls killed for nothing!

Britain; Americas “Closest Ally”…..Yeah….Right… :rolleyes:

Done with this stupid business.

I’m not quite sure why a lot of people don’t like the F-18?…(Maybe I’m missing something?)

It has a pretty nice balance of “things to do” with quite a lot of nice gadgets…..Very good radar, weapons, avionics, flight control, very good maneuverability, multi-role etc…What more do you want? It’s a nice bit of kit to have on your side.

I sometimes think about if I was given the choice of having the latest block F-18 or the F-35B for my country’s new RN Queen Elizabeth carriers……8 times out of 10 I found myself edging towards the F-18….But saying that if I had a third choice I’d rather go with a load of mature Rafales…

Love it or hate it, F-18 will always be a decent aeroplane, never heard any complaints from the countries pliots that fly it. Says it all really doesn’t it.

Just wouldn’t be my first choice IMO….

Switzerland: Typhoon or Gripen
India: Typhoon or Rafale
Brazil: Rafale…..Or maybe F-18…
Lybia: Flanker or Mig-35
Netherlands: F-35…

Also….

Japan: Typhoon.

“As for Typhoon, blech. Just don’t like it. For the attack role it seems too limited to me….”

You have to realise that Typhoon has just pretty much came into service, can’t expect it, or any other fighter for that matter to have all the bells & whistles and some more bits & bobs just for good measure fresh from the factory ready for the off…All these things take time and a hell of a lot of skill & patience to get sorted out. Give it a chance & some time and it’ll be a hell of an aircraft.

But thats your opinion of course and I respect that. 🙂