That is is it exactly. At the moment all customers are development partners, so why keep them out from some technology stuff. If you don´t trsut them enough, then do not accept them as partners. Those partners are all long term allies.

I would accept those measures for exports planes, but for partner nations ??

Norway should really decide to go EF and take the 5% workshare it was offered. Would be much better for techtransfer.

If that is the new way for all US weapons, then I would not buy from them anymore.

Well something small seems to be the airforce of choice.

– say 36 Tranche 3 EFs with Meteor and active array radar
– 6 CASA CM-295 for transport
– some Grobs for basic training
– PC-9 for basic and advanced training
– 36 NH-90 for troop transport and CSAR
– 18 Eurocopter Tiger EAD for close support
– 3 A310 MRTTs for transport and tanking

– if I need a maritime capability I would add 4 CM-295 sea patrol aircraft

– some S-300 and SA-15 for airdefence
– perhaps some Tunguska to spice up my close in defences
– Mistrals manportable SAMs

Now that is a deal, you can pay millions of $ to participate in the development, but you need an US or Lockheed offical to open the more sensitive panels on the aircraft.

So you get an aircraft, that is not yours really and are allowed to print the pilots manual in your language for paying the money – great deal. 😀

Yep, I would rather buy some more F-16s as replacements until enough Raptors are ready. Most F-15C are tired, cause they have seen a lot of stress in their lifetime. New F-15s ist out of the question for the ÚSAF imo, a F-15F or something would not be much cheaper then an F-22. once F-22 production is in full swing.

And I would bet money on the fact that F-22 production will not end with 250 aircraft.

Apart from some factual faults, like squadron service in 2006, this article points to some very true problems, namely the difficult multination programm managing.

So many different wishes, needs and all to be fullfilled by one aircraft.

How it compares to Rafale is open to debate, but both are inferior to F-22.

Originally posted by SerbPVO
Serbia shot down a couple of “invisibles” (sorry, we didn’t know they were invisible;) during the Kosovo War…

btw, anybody hear of a Czech anti-stealth radar, called Tamara?

Well either the US quickly built more F-117 or that is simply wrong. AFAIK all F-117 serials have been seen again after the war.

He is still ill from an accidential visit to Burger King 😀

Actually this a standard operating procedure. As soon as they are out of the threat enevelope they make themselves visible.

It is hard to be tracked by the air controllers if you are stealthy.