Anyone here has a clear idea about ITAR regulations and the export of the radar blockers for the SH?
I do imagine that delivering that specific piece of equipment to the Aussies (or the Danish) is quite “straightforward”, but how about Brasil and India?

See this piece on the F-15SE export clearances:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=aerospacedaily&id=news/STEALTH06119.xml&headline=Boeing%20Studies%20Stealth%20Eagle%20Options

I’d say you are correct , export clearances for the F-35, F/A-18E/F and F-15SE are an unknown.

No.

Seriously, how could the F/A-18E/F be a better “stop gap” to replace the F-111 than the F-15E…

No saying that there are not valid reasons for choosing the F/A-18E/F over the F-15E. But if your claimed requirement is to replace the F-111…

The 24 F/A-18F (there are no single seat F/A-18E in the order) are not a direct replacement for the F-111, they bridge to the F-35A.

You mention F-15SE – these are a proposal which would require development funds – realistically they would be available about the time the F-35A is available. The F/A-18F is in production. The F-15SE would also be an orphan aircraft. As for an EF-15, this is even worse!

F-15E, F-15SG, F-15K all have different radars and equipment standards. By 2010 RAAF F/A-18F will have less airframe fatigue than equivalent USN Super Hornets. The plan is to keep the aircraft standard the same as the USN and then possibly offer these back to the USN.

The RAAFs experience with the F-111 is that they cannot afford unique aircraft (orphans) -it costs too much to run and upgrade.

Its only 5 KC-30A, the RAAF is also purchasing buddy tanking equipment. Buddy tanking adds another option.

No.

The RAAF wanted an interim fighter with in service equipment (APG-79 SAR radar, etc). The F/A-18F are identical to the still in production USN (they actually took USN production slots). The F-15E is no longer in production for the USAF (however its available with all the bells and whistles with many customer options).

There is the possibility of selling the F/A-18F back to the USN in 2020, depending on how the F-35 goes.

AFAIK 40 MiG-31BM are planned. They are supposed to be delivered to the 458th IAP at Kotlas from this year.

The Russian air force will not use the R-77, but is supposed to get the R-77-1 (different seeker).

I doubt they will clear the MiG-31BM for the R-40 or R-60 series. Most would have considerably have exceeded missile life.

Airframe life was due to expire in 2012.

So it was either a airframe (and avionics) update or retire. This was choice many former Warsaw Pact countries also faced a few years back.

Middle fins are missing. Paralay posted a photo of the R-33S (Post #30). The fins are similar to the R-33, but have a larger gap between the rear fins and the start of the middle fins. In the MiG-31M photo they are missing.

Baseline MiG-31 is 4 R-33 under the belly

MiG-31B/MIG-31BS is 4 R-33S under the belly.

Cancelled MiG-31M is 6 R-37.

I think the MiG-31BM is 4 R-33S

AFAIK the R-37 has not and will not enter service and has been replaced by the R-37M – this should replace the R-33S (4 under MiG-31BM?).

Also….I read somewhere that when carrying the two R-40’s that one of the R-33’s must be replaced by some type of data pod. Anyone know more about this? Most of the photos I’ve seen show all four R-33’s carried even when the two R-40TD’s are fitted.

The MiG-31 (baseline) can carry either 2 R-40TD (IR seeker) or 4 R-60M. Some sources mention it can replace one R-33 with APP-46TD illuminator pod and carry 2 R-40RD (SARH seeker) – although other sources say the pod is required for any R-40 model.

The loadout would be 3 R-33, 2 R-40RD. It only gains one missile over the baseline 4 R-33.

I’ve seen plenty of what looks like operational photos (alert MiG-31) with R-60, but only airshow and trial loadouts with R-40.

I would like to see a photo and whatever information anyone has on this.

I thought the F-15SE has a reduced signature against X-band radars only.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/06/04/327369/boeing-eyes-risk-sharing-lower-costs-for-100-million-f-15se.html