i can see the whole arguement about secret systems, and i don’t doubt that Russia has plenty of projects that it won’t disclose or market.

I just wonder if a country like the UK is in the position to develop and deploy a system like the RQ170 Sentinel (recently revealed in Afghan by the US), or if all we do is make secret test aircraft that prove we can do it (like Replica) or feed systems into acknowledged programmes.

I would love to think that Taranis would lead to a secretive unit that operated (uk only aircraft) wherever the UK was engaged in a conflict.

I suppose the operation and deployment of Mantis might give some clues…

Hi John,

but to what end i wonder. Is the UK (or any other country outside the US) in the habit of employing totally secret aircraft on the front line, in the post cold war world?

Would something like nightjar and replica have simply allowed them to produce an acknowledged aircraft that raised a few eyebrows or would they have looked to use it in time of need…

I mean if replica allows us to understand LO technology independent of another power then to what end?

fantastic stuff. thanks for that.

so accurate and the neighbours probably didn’t look up from the morning papers when it went in 😉

so some light is shed.

I shall continue on my way with a spring in my step.

If, and I emphasize if, this is adding context to the exercise results claimed by the French, then it begs the question “Why are they so desperate to put a positive spin on the exercise?”.

Particularly if those in the know knew otherwise…

in my opninion we need to start summarising what we are saying.

i have been away for 24 hours and come back to 3 new pages of agressive paranoia.

Doesn’t it get boring saying that someone who is critical of your position is incapable of objective thought?

Perhaps its my fault for questioning the French account of what happened. Maybe i said they got an F22 in their sights….

Its thoroughly depressing to see that some contirbutors just don’t want others to have their say.

For example, just because a journalist knows alot about typhoon, and perhaps is not so well connected in the Rafale world, does that make what they say worthless? If people like, Jon Lake (i use that name because others have been banging on about it) write an article in favour of Typhoon, why does that matter in the great scheme of things?

If anything this debate highlights that any sane person would say that both Rafale and Typhoon should be much further advanced down the CAS role, let alone all of the other things like Stormshadow/SCALP and anti-shipping.

They are both much more capable that the F22 will ever be in the A2G arena.

The more people bang on and look for conspiracy in what i take to be informed and honest replies, the less they make any sense.:eek:

this isn’t a french british ting, it seems that some people are incapable of understanding the potential of Typhoon, and if the UAE result is true, then the french have a real winner dont they?