Back in the 90s the US planned for more than 3000 JSF at a projected program costs of 200 bln USD. The number is down to 2443 aircraft (~-20%), while the total programme cost has risen to ~300 bln USD (+50%) with further cost growth being expected. But of course some of our local fanboys here take recent (several times revised) schedules and cost estimates as a base, rather than the original plans. So much about lessons learned and the comparisons to other programmes on this base is ridiculous at best.

Yeah, I noticed the Su-35 mentioned too, Scorps. I’d love the IAF to buy a few dozen……and I certainly wouldn’t put it past Mr. Pogo to come up with a deal.

Wasn’t there an offer to India around the time of MAKS?

That’s the IDM, a simple data link system developped during a crash program for the missions in Afghanistan. it’s a stand alone low cost system to exchange data with the TACP until the rover is available. It is visible on some rafale B thanks to the aditional display above the back seat HUD
It is not linked to the embeded rafale weapon/nav/display system, which is of course, not based on windows.

Would have really surprised me if it would be that way.

AFAIK, The radio is managed through a dedicated screen and a switch is available directly on the throttle stick.

The upper touch screen on the left side. It would be yet interesting to know if the “3” step procedure to arrive at the programming screen is still true or not and if it is required to go back through those screens again. That’s actually what makes out the MMI, it’s not so much about fancy looks many people seem to be excited about, but how the MMI works out in the end.

well considering with their last buy, the rafale was beated by the f-16, i doubt it

This might be caused by the immatury of the design at the time of the selection.

That sounds interesting and it will certainly lead to a lot of speculations, minor incomplete hints interpreted in this or that way depending on who you are asking.

The canopy of the twin seat F-15B, D, and E. Is larger than the single seat F-15C. So, the F-15E is physically larger if only by a small degree. Plus, the fact that it is heavier. Thought I wouldn’t be surprised that it may have a better thrust to weight ratio. As the newer P & W F100’s and GE F110’s make more power.

Ok that’s a truely minor part, the overall dimensions remain unchanged for the twin-seat models. So yes it has a slightly larger canopy, but the aircraft itself isn’t larger at all. It may not have a better TWR, it has a better TWR in same configurations.

That’s also a figure for the much heavier F-15E, with Pratt & Wimpy engines.

If the F-15E is clean its TWR is actually superior to that of the F-15C due the much stronger F100-PW-229.

The F-35B fleet has never been intended to be a Royal Navy asset…

That’s not true when the UK entered the JSF programme it intended to purchase 60 aircraft for the RN to replace the Sea Harrier. The RAF’s interest in a Harrier replacement let to the plan to purchase 90 aircraft totaling in 150 airframes. The number was later cut to 138 and the rest remains yet to be seen.