So does this signal a move by the Germans to skip Euro-centric fighters in the next generation?

There is a grainy photograph showing them line up to takeoff. Otherwise it’s a pretty disintegrating story. No evaluation. No war games. No weapons.

Supercruise is a luxury for those that hoard fuel. The ROK will never have that luxury for long. I think cooler minds will prevail and they’ll aim for a $50-60 million machine.

That’s a good looking Flogger. I’m more into the MLD than the BN, but is still nice looking. The BN should have evolved swivelling hard points under each wing and moved away from armor towards sensory. The airframe was multi role, but the actual variants never were multipurpose. Too bad they are fading out their usefulness fast this past decade. One of my favorite 3rd gens.

I am still itching to see the new storyline. I was scrolling through DirecTV ppv channels and Top Gun is $1.99 today. If I didn’t already have it on BluRay disc…

I am still convinced Iran offers up the best boogie man scenario. Its so convenient they have F-14A’s to put into the plot. And the more I think about it, the Su-37 is a safe super villain jet. Its not the Su-35, and it wouldn’t paint Russia as the bad guy nor knock their engineering. And knowing there is T-50 on the horizon its not dismissing their products. If anything its perpetuating the myth that they design the best a2a missiles.

The biggest stretch is that Saegeh is MiG-28M.
I still think you focus the movie on a world tour of magnificent backdrops to fly over. I think you aim for 150 minutes and keep the action fast, furious, and low brain function to enjoy. Instead of the supporting female an instructor you throw her into the squadron. Make the audience wish it was never over, but spring the crisis on them the last hour of the movie. Big finish. Leave it open for a third w/o Cruise and centered possibly on the new star.

Let’s put things into context when we read about the current trends in Japanese forces. Japan’s regional, fighter aircraft competitors in twenty years time will likely compromise:

1. LM F-35C & F-35B (USN, USMC, South Korea?)
2. LM F-35A (USAF, Australia, Singapore)
3. PAK-FA (Russia, potential exports)
4. Chengdu J-20 (China)
5. KAI KFX (South Korea, Indonesia)
6. Shenyang F60 (China)
7. Sukhoi Su-35, Sukhoi Su-34 (Russia)
8. Mikoyan MiG-31 (Russia)
9. Boeing F-15 (USAF, Singapore, South Korea)
11. Sukhoi Su-30 (Russia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam)
12. Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet (USN, Australia)
13. Boeing EA-18G Growler (USN, Australia)
14. Boeing F/A-18 Hornet (USN, USMC, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia)
15. Shenyang J-11, Sukhoi Su-27 (Russia, China, Indonesia, Vietnam)
16. LM F-16 (USAF, Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand)
17. Chengdu J-10 (China)
18. Saab J39 (Thailand)
19. Mirage 2000-5 (Taiwan)
20. Mikoyan MiG-29 (Russia, Malaysia, North Korea)
21. Xian JH-7 (China, Myanmar)
22. Sukhoi Su-22 (Vietnam)
23. AIDC F-CK-1 (Taiwan)
24. KAI FA-50 (South Korea, Indonesia, Phillipines?)
25. Alenia Aermacchi M-346 (Singapore)
26. Shenyang J-8 (China)
27. Mikoyan MiG-21, Chengdu J-7, Guizhou JL-9 (China, Cambodia?, Laos?, Myanmar, North Korea, Vietnam)
28. Sukhoi Su-25 (Russia, North Korea)

This list doesn’t include regional (i.e. bomber) threats like the Sukhoi Su-24 (Russia), Xian H-6 (China), Tupolev Tu-95 (Russia), Tupolev Tu-22M (Russia), Tupolev Tu-160 (Russia), PAKDA (Russia), Ilyushin Il-38 (Russia), Shaanxi Y-8Q (China, Myanmar), Boeing B-1B (USAF), Northrop B-2 (USAF), Boeing B-52 (USAF), Lockheed P-3 (USN, Australia, Taiwan, Thailand), and Boeing P-8 (USN, Australia). Nor does it include regional interventionalists like France (Rafale), UK (Tornado, Typhoon, F-35B), Spain (Harrier, Typhoon, F-35B), or Italy (F-35B?).

I can see why they need their current programs.

1.5 seconds is an eternity to a computerized shad. It lives only to quickly die. Too much warning and a ship defense will neutralize it.