they remind me of the F-18 and F-16, different approaches to making a middle weight fighter with one using two engines, and the other using a single engine that is usually similar to the engine used in a heavy weight aircraft.

I picked the MiG-29K because its probably the only advance version that will most likely see production, and comparing it to the J-10.

both are considered Eastern, even though the J-10 incorporates more western type of designs. And there is a small possibility they might see conflict, assuming of Pakistan will get the J-10 in the future and somehow gets involved with an Indian navy MiG-29k.

so any thoughts on how they will compare to each other?

Personally I would have selected the Mig-35 as it is currently the ultimate incarnation of the type and has a pretty good chance in India.

Anyway, as to which is best, in their current form I would lean towards the Mig. However with Chinas ever growing defence budget and habit of rapidly upgrading and improving designs the J-10 probably has the potential to be a better plane. Of course whether it actualy reachs that potential is another matter.

I agree with you on this . As regard to Oz being an export possibility, well at the time of the AWD Competition it was speculated in local media and Forums that B&V may offer the MEKO X or a version of it in the comp., but this did not eventuate & a modified F 124 was offered instead.The comp. was won by the Gibbs & Cox paper design which has the Spanish F100 as the OTS alternative,at the moment there is a lot of speculation that the F100 will eventually be the ship built , but at the moment opinions on this matter are like a*******s ,everyone has got one. [sorry to go off topic a bit]

Most of the speculation regarding the Meko-X as a possibility for the AWD contest seems to have been derived from the fact that the design was supposed to use the CEAFAR radar (being considerd if not already selected for the ANZAC IIRC:confused: ) However the version shown on the Meko-X model is truly huge, whilst the radar itself is modular, the creation of the combat information suite for such a system, especially if you want it to be able to engage ballistic missiles in the long term, would be a massive undertaking with the potential to become a funding black hole.

Good. It levels the playing field for the Gripen and the Eurofighter in comparison to the F35 Lightning II. I read Eurofighter will get a similiar contract soon.

I just hope Eurofighter have something as Impressive as Saab has with the Gripen-N/DK. TVC, CFTs and 1500l supersonic drop tanks would be a good start. Maybe some of those sexy twin SDB/NSM racks that the Gripen-N has been shown with, they would look good on a Typhoon too.

People like Sheryl Crow and Agent K make me want to set fire to an oil well………………

But hang on if I do that I wont be able to use that oil to fuel my huge gas guzzling truck………..

I know I will set fire to a coal mine instead.:diablo:

So far there are three countries interested in the F22.
1, Japan.
2. Israel.
3, Australia. (Australia has been told they are not available, although this may have been a purely political play to suit the Australian government).

If the US gives one the Okay, it has to the three. My betting would be on Israel getting them first though.

Frankly I think Israel is the least likely, the trust level between Isarel and the US regarding military tech is at an all time low (how much US tech has passed through Israel on its way to China?). Also the Israelis dont realy need the Raptor, look at the airforces of Syria, Egypt and Jordan, the IDF makes them look pathetic.

The article mentions that Japan had the F-15 within a couple of years of the USAF IOC, I don’t expect Japan to go away empty-handed.
However, unlike the F-104, F-4 and F-15…and the F-16- based F-2..I would not expect license production in Japan.

I think there is a high chance of the Raptor ending up in the JASDF, it will keep the line open in the states for longer and increase the probability of the USAF getting some.

Officialy the US has said no, however the Japanese keep talking about it and the idea refuses to go away in the military/aviation press. IIRC Ja worsley mentioned in a previous thread that he had spoken to some Lockheed officials at an air show and they stated that the Raptor may become available after 2008.

Considering the size of that thing I thought they would be able to do better than 25km. Still it is good to see Brazil pushing forward with such projects.