Well, considering the trouble India has had with such programs as the Ex-Gorshokov. (among others) Its clearly a fair question to ask if India should re-evaluate the PAK-FA. Especially, considering India own very similar MCA Program.

As for Wedgetail…………You are free to post a “thread” of your own asking a similar question. Personally, I would have supported the Japanese E-767 instead of re-inventing the wheel with Wedgetail. (and have said so) Regardless, Australia has on a whole had good experiences with US Hardware. Unlike India with Russian Equipment.

BTW Neither, the Typhoon nor Rafale would offer the level of Superiority needed to counter Russian or Chinese Flankers and J-10’s. Let alone future 5th Generation Types……….;)

In one breath you suggest that India should widraw from PAK FA because you expect problems with the program.. delays, preformance etc. Yet in the next you justify RAAF waiting for delayed and overpriced F35 because of the threat of that very same aircraft.

I mean which one is it… if the program is so bad that India should consider exit, after substantial investment.. then surely then Pak Fa will be no threat to Australian Typhoons , and hence there is no need to risk RAAF future with unknown quantity that is F35.

As for China,,, they are barely introducing j10, a gen 4 fighter… so its fair to assume they are decade behind Russian and Pak Fa… so even less threat than Pak Fa… which according to you will be rubish any way.

I remember when they said that about the ex-Gorshokov Deal…………Which, was suppose to be delivered no later than “2008”. The ship is nowhere is sight and now Russia wants “BILLIONS” more………….

So, clearly my “thread” has merit………..:D

Based on your Warped logic RAAF should emediatelly cancel Wedgetail and F35 orders… considering that in both plus FA18 SH programes are all running A)Delayed and B) Way over budget

See i can be a tool too.

In fact considering latest reports canceling f35 in lieu of Typhoon or Rafale would not be the worst idea.

100 milion EUR for 18 Ac… sounds cheapish…

Really, the F-35 is the only viable option for Japan in my opinion. So, she mite as well except it and move on………..:o

Well thank goodness your opinion is worth a squat all to Japanese.

3 reasons they will NOT go with JSF.

a) JSDF has indicated on number of occasions they will look for a twin engined jet. A smart move in my opinion.

b) After being told off by US regarding their pursuit of F22A, and in rather rude way, i think few noses will be out of joint in Japan.

c) Like Israel Japan will demand their own kit and components, and will want to modify ac to their needs and produce it at home. And Like Israel Lockeed is likely to say nope, take it as is.

So they will either seek foreign partner and develop their own, or get licence to produce their own (significantly modified) version of Typhoon.

I would love to see them seek partnership with Israel or SKorea and go their own way.. Japan has technology, brains , capability and funds to go at it alone, but splitting the cost with SK, or knowledge Israel can bring would help it further.

Now before you unleash your captain America speech at me.. I would simply love to see Japan revive its fighter design/production industry. For a country with history of developing cutting egde technology it is a shame they have to purchase foreign design.. especially when the Reds accros the straight are going at it even though they are less capable.

I say its only news if it moves two miles… DOWN… :D:D:D

Letter of Marque… is Ron Paul out of his mind. How on earth would this work??

In 18th cent, Letter of Marque system worked because privateer would attack merchantmen of enemy country.. seezing goods and vessels that would be then sold for profit.. even Cptains of Royal Navy on RN ships made fortunes by this legalized piracy. Privateers almost never went against actual pirates, unless there was a massive bounty on their heads, like for example Black bart..

So what value is there for a Modern Privateer now to set up an armed vessel and go hunting Somali pirates?? These guys float arround in barely sea worthy tubs and carry soviet era arsenal, that is worthless to sell, yet an RPG-7 can easily ruin your day if you are on a partol craft size vessel.

Only way to motive a “ocean going” version of Bounty hunters is to issue bounty on pirates … but this opens up another bag of problems. Who will pay bounties, who will police hunters and their actions.. what is going to stop these privateers from capturing fishermen and peasents on shore and claiming them as pirates.

Arming merchant sailors also is terrible idea.. unless you give them substancial training and arms you are inviting trouble, the risk of arms on board will not bode with insurance companies either.

Key here is to equip merchant vessel with more non lethal methods of defense such as LRAD , and powerful water cannons scuh as those on Japanese whailers. Only make them remote operable instead by hand for crew protection. LRAD has proven it self in pirate attack, and water cannons can capsize small craft and make it imposible to rope on the deck.

Also all larger ships should have imobillizer type of mechanisam where crew can input a code and leave ship dead in water, if you then also include a type of secured painc room, reinforced enough to whistend RPG 7 (if you can make a HuMvee imune you can also make a room on the ship) and preferably conceal its location too. This way crew can radio for help, disable ship and hide in their “bunker” for few days if they have too and wait for help.

Pirates will not linger on the disabled vessel with no crew to take hostage and knowing Naval ships or special forces are on the way.. they will take what they can and sod off with in hours.

Only problem with this is if pirates decide to up it a notch and try and scuttle the ship.. 😮

.. that is because all the Sith are at Scotland Yard..