By the way what happened to Klimov VK-10M engines? It is supposed to replace RD-33 engines and supposed to have 105-110kN afterburn trust.

I think similar thing also happened between X-35 and X-32; X-32 considered stealthier than X-35 but X-35 is more conventional looking aircraft 🙂

It may be true that F-35 is not stealth as we thought but I think it will be enough stealthy aircraft with combination BAE System Baracuda-EW suit it will have capability avoid enemy radars, so that F-35 will be enough survivable in areas which defended by modern SAMs.

But in other point of view Eurocanards also have modern EW suit and data fusion capability to avoid EW radars but it is possible only in stand-off distance. With combination stand-off bombs (like SDB, AASM, HOBOS..) they have effective first day strike capability like F-35.

Swiss: Rafale
Indian MRCA: SuperHornet
Brazil : Rafale
Libya : Flanker
Nederlands: F-35

Yes FF is not proportional with range but I think it shows an advantage. Can we overgeneralize that the aircrafts with high FF rates needs less external fuel tanks?

And what about fuel consumption of the aircrafts?

So far we know that B-2 has all aspect stealth which means it is also low observable to low frequency radars. 15 years ago in article in IDR states that resonance frequency for B-2 is about 8mhz; so it is invisible to Russian VHF/UHF Radars, only possible way for detection B-2 is HF-OTH Radars. I think up-coming UCAV like X-47B or Neuron will have broadband stealth.

I genarally read articles about F-35 but so far I haven’t seen any claim saying that F-35 is broadband stealth. So what do you think is F-35 is optimised for cantimeter and decimeter band radar?

Russia to deliver 10 MiG fighter jets to Lebanon

Murr, Serdyukov announce deal, Moscow willing to examine list of future purchases.

MOSCOW – Russia has agreed to deliver 10 Russian MiG-29 fighter jets to Lebanon, the Lebanese defence minister said on Tuesday.

“Russia has agreed to deliver to Lebanon 10 MiG-29 fighter jets,” Lebanese Defence Minister Elias Murr said during talks with Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov jointly announced.

He did not disclose any financial details or say whether Lebanon would be purchasing or leasing the fighter jets.

Serdyukov added that that Russia “had received a list of the requirements of the Lebanese armed forces and is ready to examine them in the near future.”

Russia has sought to expand its clout in the Middle East and hopes to host a Mideast peace conference next year. It is a member of the so-called Quartet of Mideast peacemakers, which also includes the United States, the European Union and the United Nations.

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=29242