LOL… Designing a larger and heavier engine to get more thrust is not challenging.

The price is the issue. M88’s only advantages are its extra fan bypass shroud for cooling and its slightly smaller size. Even EJ200 is technically superior to M88, but without the extra bypass shroud for cooling. The F414 is a step up in technology than either option. F414 has the bigger user base, it’s cheaper by a margin, and the overall weight gain is insignificant.

The drop in thrust from the flat nozzle and infrared masking is in the teens. At maximum deflection angle the losses are about a quarter. The manufacturer listed a range years ago and somebody can probably dig it out. Factors also include throttle settlings, whether wet thrust is being used, and the amount of suppressants in the exhaust causing the exhaust gases to reduce their overall volume. Even three axis tvc loses thrust. I got the impression the dampening of the infrared plume had much to do with the losses.

Not particularly fact filled, but…

http://news.yahoo.com/china-tests-first-stealth-combat-drone-media-114321514.html

If Russia wants to push an affordable export they should be pushing single engined.

But WAIT. They are doing exactly that by proxy. China is producing the single engined Al-31 powered J-10 fighter. Pakistan is producing with Chinese engineering the FC-1 aka JF-17 using RD33 spinoffs produced in Russia. India and China produce twin Al-31 powered Su-27 spinoffs, each to their own liking. China is currently developing a twin RD33 powered stealth export fighter.

The only real direction a new development should perhaps go is to use a single 117 powered stealth fighter for export. Perhaps if India does opt for AMCA they can steer 117 engines towards them rather than letting the US sell them more F404IN engines. I’m all fine with the US engines, but they would be fools not to procure plenty of 117’s to hedge against unforeseen political roadblocks with the FGFA.

And for some levity…

I suppose the Foxbat may fly in groups of pairs or quads whereas most other interceptors flew four or eight ship formations.

One Foxbat carries the load of the Flogger, but has a little better fuel fraction. The Floggers had pretty close to the same speed limitations, but the Floggers had better acceleration at certain ranges of the powerband.

Rafale News 2012

I don’t see Colombia’s economy handling AMX and anything. Just as I cannot see them purchasing a fast pointy-nose jet more expensive than secondhand F-16’s.