I think we are splitting hairs. They want and need 5th Generation Fighters. Yet, they’re not available so they purchase 4/4.5 Generation Fighters as a “Stop Gap”. As for Chinese JF-17/J-10 and Russian Mig-35/Su-35. They’re transitional Fighters until the arrival of 5th Generation Fighters like the PAK-FA, J-20, and J-31. As soon as the latter arrive they will start to be replaced.

We’re not splitting hairs, you’re believing what you want to believe. Russia’s current aircraft, not the Su-35 nor Mig-35, are perfectly up to the task of staying in operational service until they start to take deliveries of the PAK-FA, likewise for China. You keep claiming they’re a “Stop Gap”, so then where’s the official confirmation stating this? Obviously, some will be replaced but that’ll be down to age of the airframes, not necessarily due to capabilities.

You’re banging the “5th Generation” drum rather too much.

Lastly India in somewhat different. As they purchased the Rafale as much to gain access for the technology to manufacture Advance Fighter Aircraft as the aircraft themselves. Nonetheless, they will be around for sometime and they will operate along side the FGFA’s. (i.e. PAK-FA) Personally, I think it was a mistake on India’s part. Yet, that is another debate……….

Indeed, India want to gain access to technology, but it doesn’t mean they’re not wanting the aircraft. Excluding the initial deliveries, i.e. the first 18-20, they’ll be producing these aircraft from 2017 onwards, along side the FGFA during a period even.

How was it a mistake for India?

In the case of the UK it’s more about resources or the lack there of. Clearly, the Tranche 1s could be upgraded to later Tranches or they could purchase more F-35’s. Yet, they just don’t have the resources…….So, UK is making do the best that they can.

What lack of resources exactly?

Tranche 1s could be upgraded to later Tranches but that’s to do with a whole set of different reasons; Tranche 1 units were never meant to be Multi-Role capable, simply due to the fact that the Typhoon operator’s had a lot of variants of other aircraft that were heavily A/G orientated, they needed an A/A capable airframe – enter the Tranche 1. Another reason, despite the Tranche 1’s current, and planned upgrades and enhancements, they’ll be very capable Multi-Role platforms but they won’t be nothing like Tranche 2s nor 3s once they receive the series of Phased Enhancements. There’s a lot of reliable sources stating the RAF will just keep the Tranche 1 units, and there are others stating they’ll be phased out of service (or more likely sold on) by the F-35B, there seems to be a lot of ‘changing minds’ regarding these options. In any case, Tranche 2s and 3s won’t be replaced, i.e. not a “Stop Gap”, by the F-35B, to quote one RAF official from a recent article in an AFM Magazine: “They’ll dovetail the Typhoon fleet.” In other words; jointly deployed along side them, complimented.

I’m still waiting for this source quoting an RAF “General”, or what should be called an Air Marshal – equivalent rank.

As I said what they have is vastly more capable than the threat. (i.e. Iran) Yet, the only 5th Generation Fighter available at this time is the F-35. Which, I don’t think the US is keen to sell them at this very moment.

You’ve gone off track quite a bit. For the last time, I don’t want to repeat myself again!: The same can easily be said for the USAF, RAF, Canada so on and so forth, they’re also vastly more capable than the “current” threat, which is some Nutter armed with a plastic folk wanting to hi-jack an aeroplane and attempt to plunge it into a famous landmark, or bomb a few caves in a middle of nowhere while providing CAP, it doesn’t matter because they’ll be purchasing Stealth aircraft. They have a lot of money and they have a lot of ambition, but the simple fact of the matter is; countries in the Middle East have a much more serious threat than we’re ever likely to have, yet they’re showing little to no interest in purchasing Stealth aircraft! Why is that difficult to grasp?

Like what countries??? The ones with the resources want 5th Generation Fighters unless they have no or little threat. The other ones don’t have access or can’t afford 5th Generation Fighters. Nothing ignorant about it at all. Personally, I see nothing to be offended by……

What countries? Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea… If I wanted to be Pedantic I’d also say; United Kingdom, Italy Spain, Germany, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Russia, China, Australia, Israel, Pakistan, India so on and so forth. A very large majority of those countries can afford and have access to Stealth aircraft, (in one way or another). Regarding threat, see above.

And i think you keep asking this because you look up on the internet to see if it’s superior in A2A. Don’t trust the internet because it’s significantly like looking up “is this plane famous in a movie”? Now please stop trolling on the internet finding if it’s capable in A2A. If you want to ask, ask any person who flies the Rhino or Bug. Like 35 AoA.

Read the paragraph i wrote, clearly why he asks that alot about the Bug in A2A.

Trolling? What on earth are you on about?…

Some rather compelling sources can be found on the internet, one just needs to know where to look and a lot of the time have a lot of insight to what one wants to know, within reason of course. Much as what Growler wants to talk about was discussed a few pages back, resolved or just kept going around in circles. Feel free to discuss the same topics again if one wants, just don’t expect many to get involved because they’ve probably got better, more interesting things to want to discuss elsewhere.

Get a grip!

This sounds a bit disconcerting!

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_07_01_2013_p23-592154.xml&p=1

It won’t be taken seriously by a lot of people that are rather fond of the F-35 simply because the report is by Bill Sweetman, even when he directly quotes officials involved in the programme. Regardless, just because he’s rather critical of the F-35 Programme doesn’t necessarily mean he’s wrong.

If and when Argentina gets access to J-20s, F-35B will be well and truly in service.

It would depend on how many F-35Bs the RAF and FAA will order, though the figure is said to be in double digits there’s no solid information on the actual number. Four Typhoons, a Class 45 Destroyer and an Astute Class Sub (as well as other forms of Sea/Land/Air assets) would most certainly be the maximum amount deployed to The Falklands at any one time. After all, they’re not threatening Argentina.

In fact RAF will be still be decades ahead, not just in terms of tech but training, tactics etc.

That’s rather optimistic in a number of senses, I agree on some points but… Very similar was thought pre-’82, yet Argentina still managed to give the UK a bloody nose and resulted in being, I quote a British superior, ‘A close run thing!’

Oh yes 😉

An interesting topic, but these threads always end up going ar$e over knockers…

¯(°_o)/¯

The Typhoons in Austrian service are the very basic “variants”, if the can be called that. And when I mean basic, I mean much less than basic than the very basicnessesssses’ of what was introduced in 2003. They’re actually rather primitive even by 2003 standards. The Mig-35 would have still been overkill, albeit still expensive in terms of maintenance and operating costs & what have you. The Gripen would have been much more suited to their requirements.

Should’ve gone for the Mig-35 IMHO.

Why the Mig-35, what advantages would that bring over the Gripen?