F-35 fighter three times as expensive to run as the F-16
A new British report claims that the new Norwegian fighter planes will probably be three times as expensive to run as the current old F-16 aircraft. It could mean that Norwegian pilots must train more in flight simulator

http://translate.google.no/translate?sl=no&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=no&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vg.no%2Fnyheter%2Finnenriks%2Fartikkel.php%3Fartid%3D10068020

On top of that, I personally belive we can add our clima costs on top of that cost. With this, I mean that Norwegian planes most take of in bad weather (snow, ice condition in extreme temperatures) and this will take its toll on every stealth panel F-35 have, meaning that Norway would have to change it much more often than US, or any other country’s F-35’s. So maybe we should consider ordring non sthealthy panels for peacetime operations 😉

No, though SAAB is famously good at keeping down costs.

My little theory:

LM vs Saab workers
American: Have to boasting all about he’s knowledge to get the job.
American firm: Have to boasting all specs in order to win contract.
American result: Don’t have the “know how” to deliver the product in time and according to specs since every man from floor to top administration have bragged about what they can deliver.

Swedes:
workers: Don’t brag about what they can, because if they cant deliver, they dont get/keep their work.
Firm. Don’t boasting the specs, tells what they can deliver with margine in case something goes wrong. Don’t have to care about competitor.
Result: Product delivered within spec + and within time.

Why would the SH be more draggy than the Hornet?

SH is bigger, have wings that is very draggy. The pylons on the SH are angled because of problems with weapons release, so yes, SH are more draggy

Well, I see it quite different. That an F-18C (4+), having an advantage in numbers 20:1, equipped with active homing AAMs, covered by EW and jammers, backed by AWACS and satellites, and still gets its ass kicked by an ancient Soviet junk just digged out of the sand, that’a real eye opener…

And with no EW, the mig still managed to not get hit by any AAM even though some of them supposedly was fired under a 1000m from its tail, the mig still got away because of high speed and low speed on the planes that fired the missils, impressiv 🙂

Last time it was discussed here it was claimed that series Rafale were all-European (Motorola/TI chips replaced by Thales) and Tyffie only had few chips from the US which only were a part of an Euro-made subassembly, too common to impose possible sanctions onto.

Gripen is different – whole assemblies are sourced in the USA, most prominently the engine.

The GE414 engine have many of the modifications that the swedish volvo RM12 have. Because of that, the swedes will not have problems with exporting this engine, since they have workshare and patents in it. Off course, they cant sell it to china, north korea etc

Anyway, I think you would have a very hard time finding one squadron of American legacy Hornets with a decent amount of hours and carrier landings left.

Give the finnish a god offer, they have legacy f-18s without any traps, swap them for some Euros 😉

Vel, finland had both draken and mig 21 operasjonel at same time, and according to them the mig 21 had little chance in vvr and close to zero in bvr. But the finnish draken were of the latest upgraded ones, and I doubt that the mig 21 was of latest model.