France would have to have the lead in any joint design.

Why should this be the case ? The Russians have the best aerodynamics in the world. They have invented most modern welding techs (especially for titan and other exotic metals). The airframe could be therefore the Russian part. Interesting for joint projects could be the french ECM, which belongs in my opinion to the best in the world, the cockpit ergonomics, and some other avionic-systems. For navigation and smart weapons Gallileo could be interesting. In the past the french and the russians where the only to develop BVR-Missiles IR- as well as radarguided versions.
And to save costs, most of the assembly could be done in Russia. Even if quality could suffer a bit…

Shure the french will have nothing to do with aerodynamics and airframe of the PAK-FA. But especially french avionics (ECM !) could be delivered. Remember that Su-30MKI. Those rumors about Meteors for Russian fighters are interesting, too. Having two sources for weapons is shurely intersting for export costumers…

I am surprised that no country has sort of copied the design of the YF-23 or based any Aircraft on her design so far Espeically her being the stealthier one .

Money ?

87-0801 had the same low-viz grey paintjob as the F-15 or Korean F-16s: light grey overall, with slightly darker patches on the larger upper areas.

I speak about the 87-0800. This dark grey beauty. I got two books that say it is a navy colour scheme. Maybe it is a mistake that has simply been kopied… :confused: Only thing I wanted to express: I simply love the YF-23 in this dark grey. I know about the big letters on the side of 87-0800: US AIR FORCE, and don’t know any navyfighter with this painting. B-1B or B-2, that look similar, are both airforce… :rolleyes:

Don´t tell me, but our current government might think otherwise ..

And if you look at the rumored cuts for the other services, that will hurt.

What will hurt ? Struck wrote on Dec. 5th.: EF will be bought as fixed in contract. (Fast) weapons integration and all subsystems will be financed. Cost saving through earlier retirement of Phantoms, Hueys, Tornados, patrol boats, some armor and other old scrap. Cuts in Tiger and NH-90 purchases. Only a ‘basic’ order for Meteor and Iris-T (about 1/3 less), rest will be bought if a conflict becomes hot. Concentration on purchase and development of new equipment, especially for communication. (Link 16 for all Marine-vessels, more collaboratian between Army, Navy and Airforce, via those datalinks). New Torpedos for U-212, Breguet Atlantic will be kept in service. New self- defense System for Transall (flaredispensers and such stuff). No MLU for Tornados. That looks bad for Tornado not for Typhoon. It looks as only recce- and nuclear assignment Tornados would be kept in service. No word about Marine Tornados. The planned 60 A-400M will be bought, too. CSAR version and Navy version of NH-90 will be financed. Roland and Hawk Sams will be scrapped. Only thing I see is that Tranche 2 and 3 will have more commonality.
At last: What was the source, BILD AM SONNTAG ? Seems like no celebrity was drunk this week and did something worth to print.

General Schneiderhahn wrote in a new article: we don’t need frigate A followed by frigate B that is larger, no tank A folowed by a heavier tank B and for aircraft the same. It is not necessary to built equipment for duell-situatians. We need not every kind of hardware, not always the most modern, but what we have has to be network kompatible. Bla bla bla, all this information warfare ****. I gues we will re-introduce the longbow in our forces, kombined with the latest datalinks compatible to the US cavalry…
And if Typhoon really gets cancelled, what I don’t believe. We will never have own aircraft anymore. Maybe some leased american crap.

I someone from Iraq or Afganistan reads this post: Demokracy is really fine, but don’t let your women elect. The resulting government will make your car and electricity expansive and will drive your generals and diplomates mad. Your international partners will start to talk about politics with you instead of buiseness. Or you simply loose your job. But your wife will be happy. Now you got more time to go shopping with her.:o