SpudmanWP,

Of course, the cost might be different depending on whether one or two versions are operated. At this point and regarding only costs it’s possible that simplifying logistics on the F35B it’s cheaper than getting F35B + F35A. My take is that the difference might not be that big an that F35A is a better performing platform. But regarding costs, GAO report after GAO report we see that the different services of the US face extreme uncertainty regarding sustainability of their respective fleets. Costs keep rising and although we have to expect them to reach a plateau at some point, I honestly think none of the buyers have a real idea on that point. LM says buy more and it would be cheaper, this of course make sense but on the other hand you still don’t know exactly what “cheaper” means.

The question is that despite the UK is involved in the F35 from the very beginning they still don’t have a clear assessment on prices regarding the f35. They know it’s very expensive but not just how expensive. LM keeps telling that they are making efforts to reduce costs, but nobody is certain on how would it translate to facts, I think that’s an issue even for the USA, at least that’s what i understood from the last GAO. All this criticism from the UK towards acquiring more F35Bs is mainly caused by these budgetary concerns. They just don’t know if they can afford it.
With this in mind, there are other reasons to go the typhoon way:
– At this point, they know exactly what they can expect from typhoon, both regarding budget and capabilities.
– Their share in the typhoon pie is big.
– Some partners seem to go for more.
– It might help easing things with Germany regarding brexit, I don’t think this is a critical point, but I don’t think we can completly exclude the point either.
– They already have the stealth thing to play around and develop doctrine and as of now they don’t really need more.
– I am far from having a clear vision on this, but maybe RAF and RN are having some difficulties regarding how to share the F35Bs (and it’s costs), plus I can imagine RAF is deeply unhappy with the choice of the far more expensive and less capable stovl version.
– They are leading the typhoon offer for Belgium, which means that in this particular moment taking some distance from the F35 might be convenient.
– 138 are to many stovl aircrafts, even considering operating the two platforms simultaneously (which wasn’t the orginal plan) there’s no need for more than 72, for the other 66 aircrafts both typhoon or F35A are a better option than the F35B in my view.

Rafale for the GAF? seriously?
There are only three options in my view:
– More typhoon. This option is cheaper, widens the gap for potential export orders, increases the credibility of the typhoon as an Air to the ground platform (though i don´t think there’s an actual need for that regarding true buyers after yemen, syria, brimstone, several redflags, taurus etc…) and last but no least is easier to sell to the taxpayers and their political representatives.
– F35. This option guarantees for the GAF sharing a common platform with almost any country in the NATO (either F35 or typhoon), best stealth option available, first hand development of stealth associated doctrines, buying an aircraft that would be the core of western defences for decades (with its implications for actualizations, generation of new doctrines, introductión of new weopons…), arguably the best AG platform money can buy and last but no least it ensures you as an american friendly country.
– Mixed buy of the previous. With mixed advantages.

It’s somehow boring but I think that F-15 was the king at the time.
su-27: not officially in service, hard to believe it was already mature enought to threat de F15s
mig-29: with r-27 probably the biggest threat, still short-legs, weaker radar…
mig-23: a threat in good hands but clearly inferior to f-15
F-14: close but inferior in every aspect
f-16: no way, not at the time
Mirage2000: only in French forums
Mig30/25: at least you would always have the chance to outpace anybody on your way back home. probably my second choice.

i’d like to know what escort types she got, and how many ?
any slava around ?
and is any tu-95 patrol a/c supporting her ?

Pyotr Veliky (Kirov class), Severomorsk and Kulakov (both of the ASW specialized Udaloy class) that’s the main surface component of the scort fleet. Not sure whether that was your question though.

There is one way to solve this.. but you won’t like it.. an autocratic governing power forcing each sides to behave under very stringent oppressive rules.. which is exactly what Assad has been doing for years.. and what Egyptians are doing right now..

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/24/world/africa/egypt-muslim-brotherhood-sentences/

I see it exactly the same way, there’s not such thing as democracy in ME.

the 11.5 tn might refer to the two seats configuration. Regarding speed I believe that 20 or 30 years ago they would state something like 2.2-2.4 maybe even 2.5, but nowadays it doesn´t make much sense. the RAF 1.8 figure probably refers to very specific RAF configuration for peace time to reduce airframe and engines fatigue. Most sources states 2+ which basically means it has power to fly at a speed in excess of mach 2 but its not recommended to surpass such speed as doing so would be very demanding for the airframe (composite materials and speed…), I think that mig25/31 was similarly limited to 2.8 and even F22 is probably limited to 2.2-2.4 to preserve its RAM coatings…

Russia could ground UK’s F-35s by killing all 40 pilots – General’s memo

It’s quite usual to see pics of fighter pilots censored to avoid such actions (I am thinking on several pics of Algerian Flanker pilots). In fact I believe that the British had asked France for information about Argentinian Etendard pilots in the context of the Falklands war in order to carry out a similar mission. Hybrid war…