Which best technology?

Read VNomad last post and see P8 and C130 that are exemplary. There were some specific needs, they ordered, get their hands on it quickly and transformed their capacities with a jump in technologies, cost-effectiveness and reliability. Plus they escaped Airbus claws and corruption setback (if I remind well, that is not much different from the recent C130 AdlA order).

If the Rafale deal had been on a similar trend, be ensured I will have taken it as an example. Simply, it is not.

Regarding UAE being impaired somewhat in their strike, you can keep pointing this while the legality of those raids were doubtful and Yemen strikes and UAE orders are there to negate this view. Let the Emirati talk for themselves*.

*The UAE ranking as the 2nd US weapon buyer in the last years.

LM has shareholders that might ask why the leading company in the business manufacturing the most advanced product on the fighter market sells it yet as the cheapest when there are still none scale effects to justify for it.
Eying at alternate reality deals like the Rafale ones doesn’t help much here. But yet, this is election year and a cost increase could have been even more detrimental for both sides.*

*Mc Cain is rumored lately to be in a future Clinton government.

DefenseNews.com

Ryan added an airbag cushion system for landing but was limited by the availability of resistant to tear and lightweight material. Today, this should be over with bags able to sustain a dozen of hard landing. Maybe this could be a solution to help protect the wing tips and keep weight down?

Fantastic sight otherwise with this thing soaring like a dragonfly.

Regarding the PCA:

US Air Force leadership and Grynkewich have targeted initial operational capability for PCA around the mid to late-2020s, with the caveat that the programme will be both technology and budget driven. That may seem far away, but in order for technology to fly on the platform, Grynkewich wants those subsystems to reach a technical readiness level of at least six or seven by the late teens or early 2020s.

Source:
FlightGlobal.com

German Air Force Faces 2-Year Downturn In Combat Capability – Leaked Memo (excerpt)

In July, the German Defense Ministry received reports from other countries citing incidents with their A400M aircraft, which allegedly includes evaporation of fuel in the cockpit. This “immediately leads to malaise, nausea and irritation of the eyes of the crew and passengers,”

!?!

Depends of which scenario. With datalink distributed targeting, Long range SAM etc… The last thing you want is to keep your radar lock for a long time.
However, kinetic will still remain a main advantage for a missile launch, this as an offensive or defensive move (launching to force an enemy to break a lock).
Hence,I think the best answer is a dual one with Stealth aircraft sneaking in and High velocity launcher. Given the data today regarding Meteor users, I am sure we can give the trophy to both the Italian and RAF for co-operating the 35 and the Typhoon.

Roger.