And to back up Trident’s remarks I would submit that the bloody thing does not work.

If the interceptor missiles actually worked I might be able to put up with the negative impact on relations with Russia, but to install something that has not been proven to offer even a limited defense against a threat that does not yet fully exist is to me the heights of folly.

Good money after bad Obama. Use these dollars to buy a few more F-22’s and fix the A-10, C-130 and F-15 fleets and you will get much more REAL defense for the money.

My understanding the current radar is completely Swedish in origin. I think that they are collaborating with other European countries on an AESA refit for the front end of the current radar, but I am not completely sure.

Well said. Have some thought people. Lives have been lost here. Lets not bring in the bitterness and the finger pointing.

+1

Can someone more familiar with the Gripen program, and the disposition of the Swedish “A/B” models perhaps answer some of the following questions I have?

1) Can we confirm exactly how many of these used Gripens are available for sale or lease to foreign countries, now that Sweden is going with an approximate number of 100 active updated Gripens?

2) What countries have been approached with offers for new or used Gripens?

3) Are there any American restrictions placed on Gripen exports based on technology transfer? Has this been an issue to date?

4) Has Saab ever actively thought about a non US engine (M-88, or EJ-200 perhaps?) as a means to untie the Gripen from US export restrictions?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Postscript: About time this thread was started.

The thing that most surprises me about this thread is the fact that none of us to this point has talked about the fact that the GBI technology has not been proven to accomplish anything other than being a money pit.

America has spent hundreds of billions of dollars over the years on missile defense and to date they cannot even confirm the effectiveness of the GBI system they have at Fort Greely in Alaska and the proposed site in Poland. Every test to date has either been a failure or rigged to look like a success. Deployment was rushed through before full testing by the Bushies in order to ensure that the system became a fait accompli. That is not how it is supposed to be done.

It does not work. It will never work without hundreds of billions more in funding that America cannot afford. It is an unecessary antagonism of Russia (even though Russia has nothing to worry about from it) and Poland and the Czechs want it on their land as a “trip wire” to prevent Russian aggression going forward, nothing more.

What a load of rubbish, do you believe in Leprechauns or fairies at the end of your garden, if not then according to you, your religion is not believing in Leprechauns or fairies.

I respect your opinion, but i think, with due respect you missed my point.

I am personally pretty agnostic, I like my perch upon the fence. To me however athiesm, and it’s proponents are as strong in their faith in “nothing” as religious people are in their faith in “god”. To me that is irony of the highest order.

Cheers

Daniel Craig, the best bond?, that’s not even funny, no class, no charm he just comes across as a thug. might as well have got Bruce Willis to do it.
The names Bond, James Bond, Pal:rolleyes:

read the books….

this “…shaken, not stirred…” Bond is not whaty Fleming had in mind.

Athiesm is a religion in and of itself.

It is belief in not believing.