yes, AW&ST also had an article that mentioned that the Tornado GR.4’s were going to get AESA radars. apparently the RAF wants to keep them in service for another 15 odd years.

dont mean to be disparaging the J-10, but looking at that last picture of it, does’nt look like composites are used much on the airframe itself..is there any authentic source for what percentage of the J-10 is composite ? by surface area and by weight ?

BTW, in your attachment, the F-35 diagram will experience thrust losses from the turbulence created by the inserts/tabs into the nozzle flow. Indeed, depending on just how aggressive they enter the flow, the losses could be quite significant (a few percent at least). Put simply, that diagram is a load of bull****. Having an efficient nozzle of light weight, that can expand the throat area sufficient when in afterburning and generate minimal drag both internal and external are the priorities when designing a military engine nozzle.

Having tabs/mixers etc are for acoustics, and are actually bad for thrust, they are seen on the newer civilian turbofan nacelles [google NASA QTD and NASA QTD2].

those “tabs/mixers” are called ‘chevrons’.

with the nuclear deal also showing signs of going down the drain, and with the i960 chip arrests, the American maker’s chances are getting slimmer by the day..its the Europeans and Russians who are the only real competitors now..Considering that the people being tried claim to have acted on behalf of the GoI, if any prosecution occurs, ties will surely be soured between the US and India.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/World/The_United_States/US_court_rejects_Sudarshans_bail_plea/articleshow/msid-1863953,curpg-1.cms

“According to the prosecution, Sudarshan had told the FBI in a statement of March 23, 2007: “I acted as an agent of the Government of India, although I was not a paid intelligence officer”.”

Boeing and LM can kiss the MRCA deal goodbye with this issue proving that the US cannot be trusted with high end technology transfer..as it is Indians tend to be distrustful of the US after the Sea King and LCA episodes where the programs suffered at the hands of sanction-happy Americans..no way that the IAF top brass would be foolish enough not to see this incident as proof that the zebra has’nt really changed its stripes.

my bad..I thought that the IFR probe had been changed, thats all..they could settle for the Gripen A/B and upgrade it as and when they get more cash to spend on them..but, for NATO operations, IFR would be a handy requirement would’nt it ? if its just for air policing operations, the A/B’s would be adequate.

secondhand Gripen A/B’s may be the best choice..low maintenance costs, adequate capability and they may come at a low cost as well..just how much would it cost Lithuania to upgrade these A/B’s to C/D specs ?

even Jet Airways’ 777 has a different livery..the blue line that used to extend upto the cockpit has been changed now and this one looks a lot better !