Wonderful video, thank you!

Good video, brings back memories. I wonder how many takes they needed to make this? At 1.01 minutes, when the canopy comes down, the CJIU safety pin is still installed and he hasn’t got his shoulder straps done up so hasn’t bothered with a harness at all. I guess they were getting bored with takes by this point.

Off topic, but reminds me. I remember reading many moons ago. In the ’70s or ’80s an RAF Jaguar Pilot was preparing to take-off but he didn’t strap himself into the seat, taxied, took off and as soon as he took off he had some serious issues (don’t remember if it were a bird strike) that caused both engines to konk out, so he had to eject… so obviously he had to quickly strap himself in then pull the ejection handle. Luckily enough he done it in time, probably a world record now, and got out fine. He survived to get a bollocking of a life time I heard.

I think the priority for Red Flag is to make sure RAIDS is integrated on the aircraft. At the moment, the Typhoon is making kills but as there is no ASRAAM with RAIDS capability to prove it, the Yanks won’t accept the kill. They may get a surprise this time!

I’m under the impression the Yanks were very impressed with the kill ratio RAF Typhoons tally’d up, they underestimated Typhoon’s BVR capabilities it also seemed.

Thanks for the heads up, Scorpion82.

Tweeted earlier today by Reporter RAF News:

“From 27 Jan #RAF Typhoon, Tornado and E3D units are talking part in Red Flag 14-1, the most challenging and complex air exercise of the year.”

They got the ‘Slayer’ nickname last time, wonder what they’d get this time round? :dev2:

I think they wacked in a APG-66 (Maybe even a downgraded version). As far as the US is concerned, still not a major offensive asset. Even used F-16 C/Ds would be a big over these. That will simply not happen, especially with the UK-US alliance being more important for both sides these days.

I recall an APG-type radar though I don’t recall if it was downgraded or not. A lot of it was down to the weapons and navigation systems… Unfortunately I no longer have the Air Forces Monthly Issue the report was featured in for any references, it was indeed a very fascinating read though.

My best is on maybe a Gripen lease (under very favourable Swedish terms, with perhaps an opportunity to join Brazil’s Gripen NG buy at a later date) or maybe a FC-1 buy with some of the options Pakistan has put in (MAR 1 missile, AIM-9s etc.).

The Gripen would be a wonderful choice for Argentina, but it has too many British (or British related and highly sensitive) systems installed, there are also many more American systems which would have an impact on Argentina’s choice. As you stated yourself a moment ago, UK-US alliance being more important these days…

I dont think it is a simple case of what the Air Force may prefer, financing will always be an issue with Argentina, we all know that, Spain (F-1M) and Israel (Upgraded Kifir) may be cost efficient options, but Argentina may require financing from the seller. US can easily do this, maybe even as FMF, but they will not give top line kit. Russia may offer SU-30, and in the light of Venazuala’s purchase, this may tempt Argentina, and certainly give them a massive increase in capability. Also do not discount China and potential FC-1/J-20 sales. Argentina has massive reserves of borate, copper, lead and zinc that China requires. A deal to supply high end missile defence and fighter planes may well be possible, certainly in the light of Turkey recently choosing (althought not having finalised) a Chinese high end missile system

Indeed. A few years ago, the US upgraded a number Argentina’s A-4 Skyhawks which led them to be rather effective, so much so, as it turned out they were probably on par, better even, than any other A-4 operator’s. What upgrades and enhancements they received exactly, one doesn’t recall but nevertheless they proved to be a very compelling, capable platform when they were deployed to the US for training exercises. I believe back then their [Argentina] economy was no better, or worse, than it is today. So, if they choose to select say, Kfir, one would suspect they’d find it easy enough both financially and in an accessible sense to find options for enhancements and upgrades, if they’re needed.

Speaking of which, if FAA is looking at Kfirs, then why not Gripen, new or second hand? Certainly it would be cheaper to run, and can get customized weapon fits for them if they want to (if they want say certain stand-off/ anti-ship weapons).

One wondered the same option, until one thought of the amount of British hardware there is on-board this particular aeroplane.

SH may have a very modern AESA but because EF has lagged behind it will have the most modern AESA when it finally gets one.

I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Through various AESA programmes the Captor-E can be traced way back to the early/mid ’90s. Despite when it’ll be introduced, it has a lot of know-how involved, more than many give it credit for.