AMX would need a bigger radar, & some re-engineering of the nose to fit it, to match the F-5Ms Grifo F. Could be done, but it’s a significant upgrade. At present, it has the Selex/Mectron SCP-01 Scipio, which is a fair bit smaller & lower powered (40% of the power, 37% of the antenna area) – and fills the current nose.

Looking at the dimensions, the Vixen 500E might fit in there with relatively little modification. Significant commonality with Gripen E, too.

Both radars are much smaller than the nose for sure.

You do realize the Japanese do visit the islands on occasion?

What is hot for the bay is still cool compared to other zones. Thermalelectric couplings can redirect heat out of the bay if it was necessary. And ultralight foil-wrapped packs of aerogels can line the bay with very little net increase in weight or decrease in volume. Engineers will get it controlled.

Helo vs fighter,…..

i dont wanna go into a detailed awnser, but unless the Helicopter in question is Airwolf, i choose fighter :rolleyes:

Blue Thunder had a bigger gun.

Better to adjust an F-35 into an F-22 lite mission. The X-35 used an F119-derived powerplant. There is always the choice to fit F119 and thrust vectoring to the F-35 body and optimize it for air superiority. Much less effort and sustains the program most in need.

Nobody has floated Plan Z, dropping the FX-2 and acquiring JF-17 at around $25 million a copy. Joining China’s space program, participating in the Beidou satellite navigation system, and signing on to future purchases of the J-31 program. That would absolutely shock the world.

I really don’t see them going anywhere but Rafale. unless they move back to U.S. programs.

Not quite, assuming you somehow manage to get AMX to run at 1050 km/h, a B747 run at 900 km/h, so assuming you get a call to intercept 150 km from base, but by the time AMX climbed to 35.000 ft, it is now 300 km behind, and it will take 2 hour to catch up, at which time the B747 already left Brazil airspace, or crashed into a building.

They still have M2K you know. And by your scenario would suggest the plane would literally come to them.

A supercruising fighter will with the reduced climb time and better sprint cut time in less than half, not even counting a/b

We’re talking indigenous, not super duper cutting edge first world fighter.

Most, yes, & it should outlast the F-5BM in service. Probably cheaper to operate, too. But with only 12 M2K in service, the F-5BM has to double up as an interceptor until something else comes along, & AMX can’t do that.

I wouldn’t doubt the F-5’s never fly supersonic for most of their missions. The AMX can run down most anything subsonic. And it can shoot the same missiles as the F-5BR if they want to develop the mountings, it just won’t have the interface to use Python’s as IRST. Nothing says it could not. And AMX has more internal space to upgrade in the future.

IMO, Brazil could do worse than replace the AMX with something very similar. FX-2 can replace the M2K & F-5BM, & perhaps the carrier fighters, but given the satisfactory performance (once AMI crews were trained in AAR) of AMX in a few wars now, & its ruggedness, reliability, & low operating cost, the argument for keeping something similar in service seems strong. Why not a run of new AMX airframes, with a new engine* & updated avionics?

*Spey is just a bit toooo old now, & a little more power from something lighter wouldn’t go amiss. There should be a suitable non-afterburning turbofan out there.

Sounds like a good reason to buy Rafale; access to the M88 cores.