NATO including the US would come to the aid of Norway regardless of the Oil. Which, is really disrespectful to its many friends……….As for which type….I would think the 5th Generation F-35B with STOVL would be ideal.:D

Wasnt my intention to be disrespectfull in any way. just trying to counter Hyperions rather grym view of my nations future.

Hyperion, i think you paint a picture that is to bleak, when it comes to the point of Norway not getting aid if faced with Russian agression.

Norway is the 3rd largest exporter of oil worldwide, and the seccond largest for the EU. There is no way for the EU or the USA to ignore this, especially since this is the largest resource in a EU/US friendy country. In short, help us, or carry the car on your back for work tomorrow.

This does not however releave Norway of the duty of defending itself.

From what i can tell the Eurofighter is at best only marginally better than the Gripen NG, but cost a lot more.

The F-35 is a strike aircraft that can defend itself to its target, and back again.

Based on this i think the Gripen NG is the best pick of these 3.

However as the Russians have a very capable air force, i would express an intrest in 12-14 F-22`s, if or when they are available for export.

Personally, appearances can be very deceiving…………..As the F-4 and F-101 were both capable of Mach 2 Speeds. On alot less thrust I mite add……are either of the latter two more aerodynamic than the F-35? Also, isn’t the F-22’s fuselage wider (i.e. fatter) than the F-35’s? While, the F-35’s engines maybe tuned for more range and lower speeds. This point about being “fat” has little merit…….

You havent seen this thing in real life have you ? I saw the mockup, and fat was all i could thin of. 😀

But you have a shorter moment arm with a shorter fuselage – look at the Boeing 747SP.

Ken

But with a twin engined aircraft a loss of one engine means that you have lost all thrust on one side rather than only half, albeit the thrust line of the remaining engine is closer to the CG.

All fine and true, however they must have made height for a twin engine version, including thrustconfiguration, without needing to redesign the tail/rudder.

Nothing to sneeze at though, if you look at the size of the engines and propellers, it is apparent why the tail is as big as it is.

All the “peace, dignity, and respect” that Ahmadinejad would accord the Israelis?

Well Israel falls a long way short of offering these things to anyone within their reach.

Lets face it, as noon “joos” we can all be glad that Israel is in another part of the world alltogether.

Bird scaring at the airport? i mean its not like its gonna see any actual combat being a Euro aircraft 🙂

Damned Europeans, stole our cigar-tube plan !:D

Then how about a F15N ? The F15E, is already a better combination of range, performance and payload than SH or upgraded Tomcat.

Give it cannards for hi AoA carrier landings, and a landing gear that can handle the sink rate. Add saltwater protection, folding wings etc.
Cost aside(this is the “what if” thread afterall) is it not better than super Tomcat or Hornet ?

Politics aside(you have it) how will it fare against the Rafale M ?

From my vague memory, supercruise was one of LocMarts key criteria for the “5 gen fighter”.

Does this make the JSF a 4,5 gen fighter ?

Saw 1:1 scale mockups of the Gripen NG, and JSF, at Bodø Airshow this weekend. Gripen looks ok, but the JSF…

You start by looking at the nose, working your way back to the inntakes, you can sort of make it work. But as your eyes moves further back, there is just more, more, and more ass on that thing.

I am sure that a big ass is wonderfull for stealth and all, but boy that thing is ugly.:D