Ploy…. the F-35 isn’t for sale in the gulf due to Israeli assurances. Gulf states tend to sign all sorts of agreements, this one seems as plausible as the sale of diesel electric submarines to Taiwan that US congress approved under the Bush admin. One problem, the US doesn’t produce those, nor does Russia have a single engine light fifth gen in the pipeline.

I am not sure if the analogy is a good one.. ME countries have for a long time bought a mix of US and non-US fighter aircraft.

However the problem they are soon facing is that Western Europe will not be able to supply 5. gen a/c, only 4.5 a/c (Rafale and Typhoon). Thus it would make sense for them to find a way to obtain non-US 5. gen a/c. In addition to the “mixed force” argument one additional argument could be that they are currently banned from obtaining also the F-35.

If you have deep pockets would you really be happy with SH, Rafale and Typhoon? Perhaps today, but what about 15-20 years from now?

Actually it seems strange that no other ME countries are working on this — perhaps the oil price is still too low?

Its a schedule issue and also a cost issue in terms of looking to juggle priorities.

Indeed — this reminds me of all the comments around Rafale at the time it was lacking a laser designator and a few other bits&pieces… Of course France was much more financially limited than the 8 F-35 partner nations thus had to prioritize much harder than F-35 ever had to even contemplate in their worst-case (financial) scenarios.

Despite being among the most technologically advanced low-observable warplanes on the planet, the Lockheed Martin F-35 has one significant shortcoming. The Joint Strike Fighter cannot strike moving ground targets using the target system and weapons loadout delivered in Block 3F, the final combat Lightning II configuration of the 17-year system development and demonstration phase.

Read more: http://aviationweek.com/combat-aircraft/f-35-excels-destroying-targets-if-they-don-t-move

That ‘payload’ probably includes standard equipment – gun, EW equipment etc (stuff also included in the empty weight). Saab is basically fudging the figures for benefit of the gullible.

MTOW – 17 tons
Empty Weight – 8 tons
Max. internal fuel – 3.4 tons

(^All from official Saab literature)

Net effective max. payload – 5.6 tons

5.5 tons is not too shabby for such a small fighter. Not every country see the needs for a long range bomber fighter. For some of those countries a light fighter may well meet all their requirements, and choosing a fighter like Gripen E may make sense. I would not be surprised if the Gripen E/F will outsell Gripen C/D on the export market (already secured one export contract, even before the first test flight!).

The F-35 seems to indeed deliver the goods — personally I have not doubt about it.

I am struggling to understand those who still doubt the technical capabilities of the F-35, the evidence already out there is rather overwhelming.

Main issues remains the costs and timelines. The USAF is warning against speeding up the acquisition until after 2021 when block 4 wil hopefully be ready:

Buying more F-35As over the next few years — while the program is still undergoing its development phase — could lead to higher than predicted retrofit costs in the early 2020s, when the Block 4 follow-on modernization program starts, said Maj. Gen. Jerry Harris, the Air Force’s deputy chief of staff for strategic plans, programs and requirements.

“If we were to procure at higher than planned rates” over the next five years, “the Air Force would have to retrofit aircraft already delivered to the fleet with Block 4 hardware and software modifications,” he said in written testimony delivered Thursday to the House Armed Services Committee.

“Once Block 4 delivers” beginning in 2021, “we should examine the option of accelerating the F-35A program above the current procurement rate to meet the 5th generation requirements necessary to balance the Air Force ability to fulfill national security objectives.” *

http://www.defensenews.com/articles/air-force-official-cautions-against-increasing-f-35-buy-rate-until-follow-on-modernization-starts

Rumour(?) on facebook:

India’s Minister of Defence reported to have said that Gripen would be made in India.

Well this is not a rumor!? If Gripen is chosen then it will of course be made in India (likewise if F-16 is chosen, it will be made in India). This is a requirement I believe.

Or am I misinterpreting something here?

Sweden has an initial clearance from the U.S. for selling its Gripen fighter to India with American engines, said Jan Salestrand, State Secretary in the Swedish Ministry of Defence.

read more: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/%E2%80%98Sweden-has-U.S.-nod-to-sell-Gripen-jets-to-India%E2%80%99/article17309187.ece

Vienna (AFP) – Austria’s defence ministry will sue European giant Airbus over alleged corruption and bribery linked to a controversial $2 billion sale of Eurofighter jets, an official said Thursday.

The country’s largest-ever defence deal has been plagued by scandals from the very start.

“We will file a lawsuit against Airbus,” defence ministry spokesman Michael Bauer told AFP.

He said the findings of a government investigation into the 2003 deal worth around 2 billion euros ($2.1 billion) will be presented later on Thursday morning.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/austria-sue-airbus-over-alleged-eurofighter-fraud-071214555.html