A breakthrough in propulsion technologies is adamant for any meaningful industrial advances against concurrent non-US design. Aside from an increased efficiency, the future aero engine will have to benefit from advanced flow stream management, generate a high level of electrical power, use gas flows to increase propulsion, reduce aircraft drag or add to the level of LO. In other words, the needs are here to field a new design that can only fit the requirement. An UCAV engine is not as demanding.

@Medo:
Weird deal (rather an innefective trade): strategic Spectra Vs AtG mode of an asset already burdened by the task of defending a crippled career.
I wonder what could have been the urgency behind this given the short time the Ru aircraft were stationed in the zone…

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that all the issues raised had been reported in the past and were under “active management” by the Joint Strike Fighter joint programme office and the MoD. It said the programme remained “wholly with its cost approval” and that it did not recognise the £150 million cost figure cited by The Times.

…

Impressive for sure. But I am not convinced that the Su35 move was unintentional.

Sorry, don’t want to be offending but this sounds like BS propaganda.
Sound is strange
Some pictures are suspect
Perf doesn’t fit with the displayed aircraft.
Don’t take this to start an internet battle, might just be my Scully day. If I am proved wrong, just call me Dana!

I don’t see any reduced ambitions! The KFX is to date what looks like the most advanced and matured fighter aircraft project outside the US.

Every items in the 5th Gen panoply is pursued relentlessly and they are the first on the line after the US.

They might not succeed but, at least, ambitions they have!

Thank you SpudmanWP. Amazing story

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The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds fly over the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris, France, July 14, 2017.

To end the OT digression, I Wonder how a nation so focused on new technologies still takes the burden of building a twin seat design.

Don’t take me wrong, the fog of war still means that a WSO or RIO is needed in some scenarios. But flight automation will soon end the need of a Front seater the time the operator focus on the tactical situation. IA will ensure the pilot build a relevant SA bubble until his full attention on the tactical picture is needed and advanced autopilot modes will guarantee flight safety and tactical manoeuvres.
The merge of combat and flight software will alleviate the need of twin seats on fighter size aircraft (then complexity of systems on multi-sensored large platform is something else).