An engine optimized for superiority at 80,000 feet is going to be a dog at 24,000 feet in comparison. There is no magic pixie dust to make one work in both regimes right now. I think the game going forward is all about kinematic performance above all previous fighters at least 60,000 feet and above. You not only have to reach the upper limits, you need to manuever there as well.

F-22A Blk35 i5 (c. 2020+) > F-22A Blk35 i4 (c. 2018) > F-22A Blk35 i3.3 (c. 2016) > F-22A Blk35 i3.2 (c. 2014) > F-22A Blk 30 i3.1 (c. 2011) > F-22A Blk 20 i2 (c. 2008) > F-22A Blk 10 (c. 1997)

Oldie but Goodie from Airliners.net

It looks like the fans want F100’s by the raw size comparison to F-35A and F-22A.

I could see a single bay for 4 each, AIM-9X/AIM-132 and/or AIM-120, and support for perhaps a pair of semi-recessed AIM-120. CWB for another weapon and spare fuel on each side. So we’re talking maybe another pair of AAM’s under each wing for a maximum internal/external load out of 12 AAM, more than anyone would ask.

I realize that the Koreans are producing F110’s. It would seem natural to license produce an advanced F414, considering the close ties with GE. (Silly me still thinks they need twin F125’s and to severely downscale everything to make the project affordable.) It would lend itself to obtaining help with AIM-9X/AIM-120 integration. They’ll also want to develop it to use the future JAGM, JSM, SDB II, Griffin II, etc. It would probably force them to buy an OTS American AESA and ECCM suite, rather than allow them to develop their own.

If the Europeans win the battle for the engines I could see MBDA step in and try to peddle AIM-132, MICA, SPEAR, Brimstone and Meteor. It would probably force them to buy an OTS European AESA and ECCM suite, too.

Korea isn’t just designing this for China. They also have to build this to deal with a newly aggressive Japan, the Russians, and any other potential threat against their sea routes.

Understand ionospheric reflection and come back.

Actually you should take that advice, because you basically prove my point.

Curvature of the earth would make your presumption wrong. AEW is how you overcome this problem.

Quite frankly they would have had the flexibility to operate Rafale, Super Hornets, Sea Typhoon (if developed), Sea Gripen (also if developed), or F-35 in either naval flavor. Plus any other legacy aircraft including E-2 Hawkeyes. The project lead allowed shenanigans to prevent catapults ever being added knowing full well his decisions had consequences. These are not dumb and naive engineers.

PoW and QE II will never be as capable as its French sister ship no matter how one tries to spin the realities.

Too similar to J-31 but just IMHO.