Well,you also have to remember several ex Vulcan squadrons transfered to the Tornado.This would be like replacing the B-52 with the FB-111,which while talked about,never happened.Then there is the money issue,not to mention politics.Anyone remember the TSR.2? The main reason the Vulcans were retire was so the Royal Navy could assume the strategic role with its Polaris missile boats.Now that the Cold War is over,military budgets are even smaller then before,so somebodys toes are going to get stepped on no matter what.While I love SSBNs just as much as the next guy,I do think a new bomber would be more flexable then some of the Vanguard SSBNs,so maybe if they pulled a couple out of service,that might free up some money for the bomber program.Although,as was pointed out,there were only 100 B-1Bs produced,and since then,some have crashed,others gone to musuems.Also,since its no longer in production,you’d have to worry about getting spares to keep your fleet airworthy.I think the RAF sould look at 2 different ideas for this.First,a dedicated bomber,larger then an F-111/Tornado yet smaller then the B-1.Like the FB-111H.The other being a modified airliner used as a standoff cruise missile launcher.This being cheaper then a stealth penatrator and able to carry more waepons.If you look at modern wars,bombers do 2 things,stand off missile launchers,like the B-52H in Iraq or carpet bombers like the B-1.A modified airliner would be able to do both,and if we’re talking about say a Boeing 747,it would have about the same sized radar signature as a B-52,maybe a little larger.

I heard at one time Bolivia was looking at getting some ex US Navy TA-4J Skyhawks to replace their AT-33s with.Seems to make sense since the TA-4 is a pretty simple plane,a step up from the old AT-33s,but no advanced (and expensive) radar/avionics to look after.The IA-63 would also make sense seeing as the supplier is alot closer compared to the US.

My guess is it was offered as insurance maybe if the ALH didn’t work out.It seems to have similar camo as the Army model of the ALH and is about the same size.The W-3 is also offered in the same models as the ALH,attack and naval models.The only other explanation is maybe India looked at buying the W-3 and setting up local production before deciding to go with the all Indian ALH.

thats the one I forgot,the Jaguar IM.

The Indian Navy still uses the Sea Eagle from their Sea Kings,IL-38 Mays and Tu-142 Bears.I would assume their Sea Harriers can carry them,but I’ve never seen or heard of this.

Well,you know it would look cool in the splinter camo,but I know it’ll be another boring grey one.Good to hear the C-17 is gaining some exports though.Who knows,maybe Germany will wise up and buy some instead of the A400s.(Well,I can always hope)

Anyone have any pics of the Mi-25/-35 the Pakistan Air Force flew in Pakistani markings.I think it was an ex Afghan Hind that defected.

Some years back,it was reported that several countries were looking at buying the AEW Defender/Islander.Turkey supposedly was named as buying a couple,although,they were also supposed to have bought some A-10s around the same time.That deal went no where.Does anyone which countries were at one time or another thought about ordering it?