I apreciate where you are coming from, but sometimes I just think we get over optimistic and forget that we are still being sold knocked down spec equipment.

Knocked down equipment?!

When the Indian Air Force bought the Jag, it was an evolved version of the RAF version and a vastly superior beast in comparison to the French Adla “Cats”. It´s main competitors were evolved versions of the Mirage F1 and the Swedish Viggen, both of them were at the cuting edge of military aviation in the mid seventies when the competition took place.
The same can be said of the Sea Harrier and Mirage 2000 buy´s. Or the Sea Eagle, the MAGIC´s, Super 530, ATLIS, etc, etc, etc.

History shows that with the sole exception of nuclear devices, India has been offered, again, and again, and again, the very finest of what Western Europe had in their armed forces.

Bad news indeed.
About the C-130J… if the cost remains the same, the Embraer C-390 could beat the Julliet version without heavy effort. My opinion.
It seems that besides Brazil and Chile there are some interests from South Africa and some others countries, which can´t pay for the LM aircraft.

Regards,

Wolfgang

Throw in the Portuguese Air Force in that “C-390 interest list”.
And this came right from the mouth of the Portuguese Air Force Commander in Chief.

BTW, who were these European countries selling him weapons? That’s another one of the myths. All stopped dead in 1990.

Now this his one of those “Urban Myths” that comes again, and again, and again, and again, and again…

Before 1990, every major Western Power (and a lot of small ones) sold weapon´s/training/logistics/inteligence to Sadam´s Iraq, that includes the USA (and in no small quantities). Actually, almost everybody was selling weapon´s/training/logistics/inteligence to Iraq AND to Iran, again that includes the USA.
Now, what was the European Country who sold weapon´s to Iraq after the Koweit Invasion? Bloody none…

You pay the R&D costs and we’ll buy ’em!:diablo::D:eek:

I´m Portuguese 😉

But those Aussies swear that the R&D costs are only 230 millions$!!! 😀

No, the American’s really shoot each other down with live ordnance on training exercises… :rolleyes:

It´s called “on job” training… 😉

😎

SUAVe is called something else these days

Yep, it´s called SUAV(E) 😉

Maybe your BAE contact was refering to the Directorate of Equipment Capability Deep Target Attack, DEC(DTA)?
It´s related but it´s not the same thing.

http://www.armedforces.co.uk/projects/raq3f5748e9554d4

Cheers

You have no problem to boost up a notice. The RAF like other airforces is in urgent need to proof some demand for their shiny toys in Afghanistan. Just all small number of fighters is send to Afghanistian to demonstrate the political will and the try to proof that the Typhoon can be of some use there. It is intresting to learn, why no gun-pod was added to the Harrier?!
People are on short memory always. In the Cold War times the Hawks had a secondary role always for air-defence and Ground-attack and was still offered in that double-role. For the intended role in Afghanistan less than a squadron size of that will be deployed with the gun-pod and rocket-pods for that at hand. The only “shortcoming” will be that they are much cheaper to operate and that they do proof, that there is no need for high performance fighters in the related COIN-role there. 😉

That reminds me those Armee de l´air Alpha Jets that were sent to Astan without LDP´s… 😀

(just joking) 😉

Cheers

A reduction in F-35 numbers in the UK? How, if anything we should be buying more than has been proposed, B’s for the Navy, A’s for the RAF, about 6 sqaudrens of 16 for each, plus the extras.

Money, or lack of it.

The MOD his bankrupt, the available budget for tactical fighters his scarce and the JCA order must compete with Typhoon Tranche 3 and Eurofighter has a signed contract to deliver 232 birds to the RAF, something that the JSF Team doesnt have…

But “chill out” it´s only a possibility (albeit a strong one).

Well, the MOD can alway´s can the nuclear deterrent. (Sintra ducks for cover)