Both NG and Boeing designs look very nice from what is known so far.
Except I don’t like the looks of the intakes on the N400, but apart from that, it looks like a modern day F-20 with a trainer nose section, very sleek.
Boeings design reminds me of a Saab 105, at least the front view. Conventional configuration as I thought, no V-tails, but maybe twin tails and engines unlike the NG entry? Overall, seems to be a very sleek design as well.
I’ll eat my (imaginary) hat if the winner isn’t NG or Boeing… These purpose-built aircraft surely fit the requirements much better than the mini-F-16 aka T-50 with it’s 70s aerodynamics and over engineered light fighter airframe. The M-346/T-100 is the outsider in this competition, I just can’t imagine USAF flying +/- the same jet the Russians and Chinese (L-15) are using.

EF Typhoon plasma stealth testing
[ATTACH=CONFIG]247495[/ATTACH]

How on earth did that thing take off? There doesn’t seem to be enough ground clearance for a take off.

As far as I know, multiple stores are not permitted on underwing pylons and maximum number of Mk82 bombs on the centerline is 5. So that is just a showroom load.

Nice read, thanks for the translation!

Right. So why have we notseen more F-15C flying around with CFT’s?

All that weight has an effect on performance. And it can’t be dropped. Drop tanks are better for a fighter, even if they’re less efficient. 3 tanks give about the same range as CFTs.

For comparison, What would the drag index of a singel AIM-120 with its pylon look like?
And also drag index for two wet bags under each wings?

1 AIM-120 on fuselage = drag index 1.3
1 AIM-120 on wing pylon = drag index 2.4
1 AIM-9 on wing pylon = drag index 2
Wing pylon = drag index 3.3
Adapter plus LAU-128 launcher = drag index 1.1
Drop tank on wing = drag index 5.5

Drag index for 6+2 missiles is 25.
Wing pylons and adapters/launchers are carried all the time, so you’re looking at a drag index of 11 for two tanks.

Edit: oops, too late. should refresh page before posting.

Edit: It seems F-15E also mounts AIM-120A directly on CFT as well, I was wrong in my previous post that I’ve told F-15E’s need LAU-128s on CFT stations as well. Also I was wrong that LAU-128 has more drag than missile itself, I assumed it was same as F-16, and typed without looking into it.

Yes, the lower line of CFT pylons have space for 2 missile ejectors each, read about it here.

… looks quite cool, BTW, even if not much different from KAI KF-X or Turkish TF-X.

I think it looks quite different… seems to be tailless, possibly with LEVCONS. Lots of internal volume and two seats, in other words geared towards the A/G role. Not very surprising for a Tornado replacement.

I absolutely love(d) TG.. why did you guys ******* it up so badly? :apologetic:

Seeing as this has already gone way offtopic: There is still hope, Evans is out. I didn’t like him nor any of his segments. All the other guys except Jordan are ok. Looking forward to series 2. And of course, there’s that Clarkson Hammond and May Car show on Amazon Prime aka The Grand Tour. :eagerness:

Try to compare Su-33 empty weight and T/W instead.

Su-33 is carrier based, F-15 isn’t. The comparison F-15E/Su-35 shows that “the west” pretty much has an aircraft in that class.

You mention the F-14 got higher thrust.
Su-33 should easily be able to use AL-31FM1 engines => 13.500kgf thrust. Even Salut AL-31FM2 if You were to build new airframes.
Thats slightly below 117S thrust chart.

F-14 got higher thrust relative to F-111, but thats still way below what the Flanker eventually had. It shows that in the 60s, engines had less thrust –> forget about Flanker like design in 1964.

And any particular reason you couldn’t mounted AIM-54 on a Flanker..? It sure has a big nose for radar.

Sure you can load them. But can you take-off and land?

Also, why compare Su-33 to F-14.. it should be compaired to SH in a 1990 setup.

I’m well aware of that. It was Amiga500 who suggested instead of developing F-111, F-14 and F-15, the US should have gone for a Flanker like aircraft. He brought up the Su-33 from 1987 vs. the F-14 from 1970…