Thanks for the engine info, I just realy feel that for little cost the raptor could become an extremely effective multi-role platform, and would thus be more appealing to the number counters.

Im sure it could be done, but if there is a size difference you start to enter the spending vast somes of money situation.

I have to say that I am surprised that Lockeed havnt attempted to add a far better air to ground capability to the raptor, they have all the tech and the expertise, and considering some of the criticism the aircraft has received it would make sense.
Im sure that with only slight modification (with a degree of loss of stealth) the raptor could make a potent strike aircraft. Again I suggest a strike raptor, F/A 22 BLOCK 2 with the F136 engine and the targetting package of the JSF, this would be relatively cheap (I assume, please correct me if I am wrong), offer a substantial increase in capability and salability to the number counters. Stealth would be compromised to a degree, but say if JASSM’s were carried I doubt it would be critical. And of course in the very distant future there is the slight possilbility of export and a multi-mission plane would be far more attractive.

I know I have mentioned this idea before, but I have been thinking about the RAF’s FOAS requirement and had one of those utterly unrealistic and never going to happen fantasys of one of my Raptors carrying 4 storm shadows!!!

I feel that my idea is a good option but I have a feeling that a very expensive and drawn out programme that will probably be cancelled eventually, for a new plane will take place.

I wasnt suggesting stopping the production of these aircraft for export, well not the FC1 anyway, just for the chinese armed forces. In fact china only needs to keep the FC1 for export, get rid of the others, J7, J8, JH7, and Q5.

In the news section of the latest edition of AFM that I have, there is a picture of an egyption air force Mirage 5, the caption says at the end, “note the mica missile on the outer wing hardpoint” I can definately see a missile there but I cannot identify it, maybe someone here could??? If it realy is a Mica then it is quite possible that pakistan could have aqyired this missile.
I would not be surprised if the french have worked to intergrate the missile on older mirage generations, there are still a large number in service around the world.

Well said Phil, If Jester wishes to carry on believing that hes is right to throw people out of their homes without any democratic process for them, just to satisfie his nationalistic fantasys then so be it. We can at least be safe in the knowledge, that the world is now a sufficiently grown up place to probably never allow such terrible act to happen.

I will give you poor anti-submarine capability, Indian, but the anti-air warfare capability seems sufficient for a ship of the FFG class.