Paveway IV’s?
Yes.
With regard to the photo of the Italian Tornado, should I assume that was a more recent photo due to the fact that Meteors were onboard or was that an earlier photo with dummy missiles?
It’s a pretty old(ish) image, possibly around ’08 – ’09, maybe sooner. That was around the first time I seen it at least so it’s not really a confirmation on my behalf.
Scooter,
Can the Typhoon use the SDB or a similar weapon???
No. Not yet at least anyway. SPEAR II is slated for Typhoon later on, I presume once Storm Shadow and Meteor as well as a few other enhancements are integrated first. There’s “talk” of the RAF actually bypassing Brimstone and going straight for SPEAR II instead, also slated for the F-35B. The RAF have also been looking at the SDB too. Similar weapons, the Diehl PILUM class weapons have been under consideration and development for the Luftwaffe, PILUM was launched from a Luftwaffe Tornado in 2008 for testing purposes. It’s quite difficult, if one isn’t as informed as others, to keep up what’s going on, things seem to change on a weekly basis albeit in a positive way.
More recent images of Typhoon/Meteor trials.
An earlier one.
I’ll probably be kicked off the forum for saying this, but I’ve always thought the Lightning was incredibly unattractive for an airplane. It just looks like a pregnant MiG-21 (or J-8I with the engines stacked vertically) with weird looking wings to me…
Ooooooh I shake my fist at you, cross you off my Christmas card list and take note in my ‘Take Notes of People that make negative Notes about the Lightning…’ note book. Blasted Yanks!!! :highly_amused: :p
Each one to their own I suppose. 🙂
What I think is the most futuristic fighter ever to been have developed. The SAAB Draken! I wish the RAF had these.
That first picture is interesting EEL, Sidewinders on the outer stations. Presumably fairly old?
Yeah I’d guess it’s early ’00s, maybe?
There’s a similar load on those stations albeit with Meteor.
The impression I have gotten from talking to UK Harrier types, is that it was not especially capable BVR. Their “fighter” role was very defensive in nature.
I think it would depend on which British pilots, FAA or RAF. Lieutenant Nick Richardson RN and most certainly the very experienced Commander Henry Mitchell RN would have considered the FA2 a very capable BVR Interceptor and Fighter, for quite a time it was also considered by many others to be highly effective, some even regarded it to being the best BVR Fighter in Europe for a time also. Commander Ade Orchard RN was another Harrier pilot that held the FA2’s BVR capabilities in high regard too.
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