I think it is an acceptable way of achieving air defence against a ‘technologically advanced opponent’. Shoot and scoot may work, but a counter attack against the F-35 base would change that… be it coordinated air, or special forces, or both. so would an ambush against the attack package in its first 1/4 of its sortie.

initiative is not as important in a defensive scenario, except for the counter attack.

And as for an EU country being able to afford it, a lot of this scenario is ‘defensive’, so affording it is not as big a concern. offensively is different, but if it is necessary and in a coalition it is also possible. a scenario like this could play out in less than 6 weeks.

Scooter… Are you actually delusional mate? I have observed you on the forum over the years, and I actually had you as a educated man, not some fan boy so willing to swallow LM propaganda that you appear to have no gag reflex.

Why, after years, nearly decades of ‘promised’ costs, levels of technology, levels of capability, promised delivery times… why do you believe anything that comes from LM? Seriously?

We had to extend the life of the F-111 to meet the target date, still it couldn’t last that long, and soon we will be forced to buy moreRhinos to fill the gap… and why? Because LM cant deliver. Because LM LIED!

How can a F-35, with its poor cockpit visibility, defeat a F/A-18F with HMCS and AIM-9X? How will a bomb laden F-35 have more kinetic energy in a dog fight than a Rhino?

Fact is fast approaching, where I actually think Australia would be better off with 100 Rhinos and only 30 F-35, if any F-35 at all.

I think that for the money the F-35 will cost, we could easily get more capability from having more Rhinos than fewer F-35.

I work it out roughly that 12 Rhinos can be bought for the cost of 4-6 F-35… make 2 of them Growlers, have them all at full Block 3 Capability(CFT’s, cockpits, NGJ for the growlers, EPE’s) and I think it is quite possible to take the F-35s on.

Fact is stealth isn’t the be all and end all. There are actually a few ways to work against stealth, and Australia for instance is helping develop those technologies. Do you think the chinese wont be doing the same?

Combine 2 awacs working on a beam, ROTH-B, Surface to Air Synthetic Apature Radar, long range infrared scanners, as well as some sweeping fighters and jammers… Hell even long range/ remote feeding microphones(F-35 isn’t silent is it?), feed that information into a command network capable of processing all the available information… and suddenly F-35 doesn’t look so flash hot does it?

Whats taking out the radars? F-35 isn’t cleared for HARM, and having anything hanging off the airframe takes away the stealth advantage…

F-35 doesn’t have great range… ROTH-B or similar can detect tankers at around the right distance… through a squadron of jets at the tanker and or AWACS, and suddenly F-35’s tactical picture is gone, and it doesn’t have the fuel to get home either…

Fact is F-35 may have one advantage being stealth, but having an advanced technology doesn’t guarantee a victory… not in a dynamic war environment, with a enemy who thinks and employs strategic thinking to its best

conformal tanks are the big winner, offering greater persistence, especially for tanking and growler ops

The Turkish would win hands down.

They can afford the fuel to take off.

Next euro bailout for greece should come with a demand to disband most of the obsolete HAF units to save money to pay the money back

did i say scrapping the nimrods was logical… it was after all, all the extra expense of the RAF being too finnicky and trying to put a brand new system on a aircraft that was ancient.

how many billions wasted? how many off the shelf aircraft could you of had?

answer me that!! buys all the turds you want from EADS i dont care where you get the aircraft.

i just know that billions have been wasted for no good reason.

suggesting something down the same lines is crazy.

buy off the shelf, none to reasonable delays, no risk in development. just buy something!!!

Who cares? just because it has this engine or this tailboom does it matter? If i buy a red ferrari, but i want it in orange, will you run over and start berating me because its ‘not historically accurate?

their aircraft, their choice. as long as they are happy.

personally a early RAN scheme looks good too

Nicolas, climb out of the bedroom with the cut out newspaper clippings, stop thinking you have put it all together.

Life isnt one big conspiracy.

When/if the crew ejected search beacons should of activated. If there are no beacons, naturally the search would look for the the aircraft.

All this says is that it is quite possible the crew didnt get out.

How about F-35 lightning? why does the UK and Canada insist on these confusing name/designation changes??? Pride??? I mean CH-124 hardly lines up with with SH-3!!! or Phantom FGR.2?!?

Really what is the point???