Wel, as much as I dislike the EA-18G it is needed. The Prowler is getting too old, so I hope we will see the EA-18G quickly replacing the Prowler.

Although I would call it the short hauler ….

Yes, but ballistic missiles are ballistic, which makes their course predictable.

A cruise missile at MACH 6 is not that predictable.

But a final low level phase should be available for high value targets when designing such a missile.

During the cruise pahse there is nearly no hope for a SAM to catch the 50.000+ feet MACH 6 cruise missile.

Yep, that is the problem, you can´t compare EF to Rafale at the moment.

EF is focussing on A2A integration at the moment, because that is what the customers want.

EF is fully operational with AMRAAM, IRIS-T or ASRAAM + 2 1000l fuel tanks. They have been carrying everything including Storm Shadow and BRIMSTONE already, but those weapons are not qualified as the custormers don´t need this at the moment.

But the radar is fully functional, PIRATE is fully functional, DASS is fully functional in the first series production aircraft.

ELP I´m confident that testing the plane with A2G weapons for deliviery to Singapore would be no problem.

Does this have a possible impact on the MIG-29 SMT upgrade programme ??

Well ,why did he choose the F-35 then ??

Originally posted by ELP
Except in this situation if they ever pulled a stunt like this we would smack them silly. Reason? We have troops in the area and we don’t need them put at more risk. The conference call would not be pretty.

As long as US and allied troops are in the area (Iraq and Afghanistan) this strike is a total nono. If Israel tries that stunt then, the sanctions would be harsh.

No Arab or moslem would believe they did this without US backing and the US troops make such inviting targets …. Especially as the Shiites in Iraq are still postive to the US invasion. With such a atunt that wouldchange and Iran would most likely help them to carry out attacks agsint the allies.

And as was mentioned before Iran is running many sites and has nearly 2 installations for every important facility most of them hardened or/and deeply burried in the underground.

One strike would not stop the programm ….

Ok take a realistic look at possible options.

– Turkey : Highly doubtfull that the current government would allow to pass through their airspace. Furthermore they would have to fly a long way through Iran to get to the targets.

– Syria : not really an option, if they don´t want to start a large scale conflict

– Jordan and Iraq : Looks possibe. But that strike would increase opposition to the US forces in Iraq tenfolds. So highly unlikely that the US would aproove this.

– Saudi Arabia : Has AWACS and fighters. Unlikely that the US would not notice.

– Diego Garcia : Ask the Brits, I doubt they like the idea.

– Eritrea : possible. Israel has operated aircraft from there. Would be the best staging base available.

Yet it leaves more problems. First is that we can assume that a moving those aircraft and tankers will not go unnoticed by Iran. Especially if they appear in Eritrea. So I would be on very ready defenses. Then you would need dedicated fighter and SEAD support for the bombers. Given the available tankers that means they can only go for one target and that is most probably the reactor at Busher. But how much damage do you need to inflict to destroy it permanently ?? Hard question. It would not really stop the Iranians from making the weapons, it might only increase their resolve.

So imo that is political suicide and millitary difficult. Sanctions against Israel would be a sure bet. And open war with Iran is likely.

US will not bakc this mission too, as it would destroy all their efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq for sure.

And the F-15 is an old design. The whole airframe is dated.

I would go Rafale or Typhoon (not that much difference) and choose the cheaper one.