Captor-D is partitially redesigned and uses new powerPC processors. The software is converted to a new language as well, if I remember right. Captor-D will offer additional AG modes (probably GMTI/T, Sea modes, TA) and higher resolution SAR maps and better ECCM.
The PIRATE is currently not fully functional with block 5 aircraft (primarily FLIR), but should be fully functional with block 8.
For DASS only new computers.

Thanks for that Scorpion82, you are by far the best source of information on the Typhoon on this forum.:)

I do like the continual improvement program the Typhoon consortium has going. Seems to be keeping the type ahead of the curve.

Makes sense, but Boeing would be risking a lot of money on a airplane for which there may not be a market. Remember the F-20?
Europe is going to buy European, Russia is going to buy Russia, etc.
and I don’t see a lot of Asian nations buying Japanese.
There would be a just a few sales (rather like SAABs overseas).
Also, the Japanese constitution may limit overseas sales.

But it’s an interesting concept…a consortium set up to design a build a plane for counties trying to avoid the “big 5” (US, Europe, France, Chinese or Russian) aircraft.
Maybe a joint Swedish-Japanese-Israel-Brazil-Korean thing with help from US and European subcontractors.

I cant see it making any sales. The F-35 has a huge marketing advantage in the form of three very large launch customers (USN/USMC/USAF). Furthermore any such development would be heavily reliant on US components and support.

No offense to our neighbours, Iranians but I seriously doubt that Iranian government ever has a solid, well planned, long term aerospace / aircraft development strategy and a road map. From what we have seen over the years, it seems there is a number of R&D enterprises in Iranian defense industry, from time to time used for PR and propaganda purposes.

It makes absolutely no sense to promote a modified / cloned / reverse engineered version of a ~50 year old fighter design as a “most modern fighter aircraft + fully indigenous”. Design modifications such as replacing the position of the wing, extending the LERX, doubling the vertical stabilizers, reshaping the air intake will make minimum if not zero contribution for the efforts to design a 5th generaton fighter that may have to face F/A-18E, F-22, F-16 Block 50+/52+/60, etc. Global aerospace industry is way ahead of such quests.

To sum up, I would be more than surprised if any of the previously shown models, mock-up’s, prototypes (or any distant cousins of them) will ever make beyond fly-by and dummy rocket/bomb salvo firing shows.

I have to agree with the above. We have yet to see any evidence of any of these mutant Tigers actually going in production.

Taiwan is said to be pushing the US for Aegis Destroyers (i.e. 6-8) yet again. Considering the small size of the island country. Should the US offer the former Australian AWD Gibbs & Cox design over the current Arleigh Burke Class?

This comes up on a regular basis. The first thing I will say is that I would be amazed if they ordered any more than 4 in one batch. The Gibbs and Cox design would probably be a good fit. I will however wait and see what happens.

An interesting point :

In a recent interview, Eric Gerard, former rafale test pilot stated that in a twin seater rafale, the front cockpit can be set for AA with the pilot managing the A2A fire control (AA radar picture and tracks, AA missile setup) while the backseat cockpit can be set in AG mode with the WSO managing the AG modes of the weapon system (AG radar picture, ground target designation etc..)

This is where lies the difference between an “omnirole” fighter and a simple “swingrole” one.

Now that is a nice feature. Certainly a real justification for the two seater. Combined with the triple racks for AASM it should provide a very formidable A2G capability.

What on earth? The last time we saw the Iranian F-5 clone they had just added a second vertical tail surface. This thing seems to be a different beast, this time they have taken an F-5 and given it a mid mounted wing. I suppose it looks kind of nice.:confused:

Yeah it is the SMX-23, nice design and such, expect to see more of them. As for the two new Dolphin class, they too will differ from the original designs as the AIP will be incorperated in them allowing longer sea times.

There is speculation about, that these two new subs are the start of a deterant force, that is being put together for patrols to the Gulf region in order to let Iran know that should they launch an attack on Israel, the Israeli’s will strike back with minimal time launch missiles.

I was under the impression that the Israelis already had a sea based quasi deterent force in the form of the existing dolphins with Popeye Turbo missiles?:confused: