The Tornado GR1A/GR4A have internal recce gear, not podded. Only the Germans use podded gear nowadays because they got rid of the RF-4E as part of their peace dividend. Luftwaffe Tornados IDS never were planned to have the recce role, it was planned to give this role to the ECR but this actually never took up the recce role.

The RAF use the Raptor reconnaisance pod, look here
http://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/rec_sys.html#raptor

I think Tornado has the edge due to the fact it can carry a wider range of weapons and its a 2 seater.

I don’t think you can call either multi-role, the Viggen was built in interceptor, strike and reconnaisance variants which had the same airframe but very different avionics and weapons fits. The same applies for tornado in IDS and ADV versions.

Didn’t the Indian AF want to operate the Viggen at one time?

The only thing wrong with the Eurofighter is the political aspect of the program, which has delayed service entry so much that the cutting edge technology at the start of the program is now standard equipment on upgraded older designs.

Even so, the partner nations are going to get the most capable aircraft they have ever operated.

I guess Airforce One’s capabilities are kept secret, but heres a possibility;)

http://www.up-ship.com/apr/contents.htm
Boeing’s Mini-Fighter
Fighters that can be carried by other aircraft, and launched and recovered while in flight, have long been a dream of many designers and planners. Boeing took a stab at the concept in the 1970s, with a very small jet fighter that could be conveniently stowed, launched and recovered by a modified 747.

i have a question does russia have a carrier and if so what is the status if not is their plans for a carrier

Some info here
http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/kuznetsov/

Airships would be cool. And the largest ones would appear to have the massive lift capacity the army wants. But they’re slow and unsexy. And they no doubt have many drawbacks that will keep them out of transport service.

Still, they’d be pretty cool…

I’d like to see heavy lift airships in service too, but I guess they are more suited to strategic transport than tactical.

Look here for the Skycat series heavy lift airships
http://www.atg-airships.com/

Er, the what now? Got a picture?

http://smmlonline.com/articles/ise/ise.html

IJN Ise was a hybrid battleship/aircraft carrier, such a concept was proposed for the Iowa class to reduce the manpower required by removing the rear turret and adding a large flight deck. CTOL, STOVL and pure helicopter designs were submitted.

How about something like this

http://www.geocities.com/strategicmaneuver/sld043.htm