The majority of the VLO Features are inherent to the shape of the F-35B and cannot be “undone”.

Except by a dousing of salt water or a quick dirtblasting with hot asphalt, that is…

Welcome in the 21st century! Oh, a quick brief for you, the 2000 IT’s bug didn’t show off and we made it quietly through 2012 despite Nostradamus and Hollywood (most of us obviously)…

Coming from someone with a CAT as an avatar (the most adaptable pet in human’s history)… I wonder if you didn’t mistook it for a Chihuahua 😉

The majority of the VLO Features are inherent to the shape of the F-35B and cannot be “undone”.

However, it they did not care about RCS then can save a lot of the future O&S costs by just not maintaining the RAM.

i suppose she can be “re- skinned”. How much will it cost and How far will reach the security concerns is another set of questions – sry.

It’s just an assumption developed while writing that response – with the ice cap melting, I assumed it would allow cruise missile armed subs to operate close to the huge northern Russian border which was so far mostly vulnerable to bombers only as most of the time of the year it used to be covered by a thick layer of ice (except e.g. area around Murmansk).

A quick search on net shows that the ice free area is rapidly increasing:
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/01/18/as-global-warming-melts-the-arctic-who-will-build.aspx

Another factor is a possible conflict over the exploitation of resources hidden under it which might take place there then. Admittedly, I haven’t really put much thought into it.

Both your hypothesis are valid. I guess the remark was done with irony (cruise missile… swimming)

A wasted opportunity to be at the forefront of fighter tech if you ask me. For the Swiss AF the no vote means a capability gap for the next few years. At the moment, it doesn’t look like something else like leased Gripens is on the table. The Hornet fleet will reach the end of their service life of 5000 hours in 2025 already since they need to fly more. What happens then is anyone’s guess. Maybe a SLEP but the Swiss AF might be the only Hornet operator left, to go for it alone for a fleet of 32 jets seems unlikely. The gov probably will seek some 50 fighters to regain capabilities. Compared to that, 22 Gripens will look like a bargain so that will cause quite a stir. IMHO, the Gripen will have a hard time because it failed once… Rafale anyone? If its still in production that is 😉 If not, options are really limited. Maybe a Rafale NG, or JAS 39 G/H? Maybe another chance for participation.

For Sweden, the situation isn’t that bad with the Brazilian order and increased domestic needs. They’re down from 82 to 70 at the moment plus the FAB order. And the Swedish AF should be relieved knowing the don’t have to buy the PC-21 😀 I hear they favour a jet trainer.

I hve in mind that the enhanced hornet will have all its chances here given the international context.

Are you talking abt FR or the Arbab peninsula ? 😉

Dassault becoming more and more desperate. My bet is that the Iraq “offer” is a way to pressure Kuwait and Saudi to buy the jet.

With no new planes (other then domestic orders) as time goes on more and more buyers will be looking at next generation planes.

They have completely screwed up. Everyone with cash is going with the F-35, those with less cash going with the Gripen.

The Typhoon clears up everything else, nothing left for the French………

Saudi will never buy the Raf. It doesn’t make any sens!

That this story is still spinning around the Tyndal theory is mind boggling

At least in the Mayonnaise they add eggs.