how much would the difference really be

I think actually the difference is big…just by adding weapon bays complicate the design…that not counting with the new production line, i wonder if Saab would want to make their own “JSF”…Japan, korea and many other countries would be interested..all under the Saab advisement..

But still your point is valid, wonder if they presented that option to Norway

I dont know if Saab has offered the same product/program of a 5th gen plane based on the grippen?, like they did to korea?, and more important did Saab offered that idea to the sweden AF?

Some of you guys are spicing with paranoia the f-35 requirement (“the russians are comming” stuff).., but Norway is already into the JSF project?

Still there is uncertainly about the 35 and it final cost (which shouldnt be above 80 mill, shouldnt…but could be) Why politicians would like to block the 35?, why would they preffer the grippen?, Saab share produccion components with norway industry?

(edited idea , coz i confused all the whole thing :))

One radar to pick up the scatterings of another radar in a network? Is that possible? Aren’t their accuracy and latency issues? I don’t know much about radars, but I have trouble imagining that this really works, with all the different refractions, waveform issues and angular resolution. Hmmm….

Waveform, refraction, different modulation, etc are the same problems that must face all the radars with their own returns, if you share the same frecuency, share the same radar receiver or RWR systems (which also helps you to identify friendly radar signals -then it could come the sensor fusion thingy-) you should do it with out problems, remember that at least the Irbis has (due it antenna) almost full dimentional reception capacity, so i dont see real any problem there

Edit: nevermind guess i just did over-complicate the things with the other explantion…what im saying there is just pasive radar tactics, no more no less, now of course you add networking on it

I’m really wondering, all that conformal tank fashion (rafa,typhy, and this one), is not a bit too lazy answer for a better range?

Really where is the advantage?, i mean if you redesign the airframe , you will have a strengthed fuel tank and will save a lot of weight

So why not better just redesign the airframe or just strenght it , and add 2 more hardpoints to attach more tanks?

In my very humble opinion, CFT’s is one of the worst ideas on modern aerospace tech

Edit: Is ok, we also should consider how further the wing and lower airframe could be strenghted before to increase the weight in a significative level, still the instalation of it adds unwanted weight instead to redesign a bit the airframe, not counting the restrictions of an attached device

Guys , if you see the thing on the search radar, adjust your tracking radar and missiles , combining inertial flight with command guidance and active seekers, or delaying the target adquisition from SARH , any stealthy plane will have a bad day

You should think out of the box, with the conventional tools that you have, that is what tactics is all about

Would it be safe to say that “stealth” could give u an RCS of…..a bee? or something

There are different tests which are done with different frequencys, some of them are way above the frequency of figther radars, so if you do a test with K band (20 Ghz) and drops you the “bee” RCS that does not mean is the same RCS that a Irbis will be see

Also is a bit more complicated , since the Radars actually dont work in that way as an static RCS

And then i have some pretty strong doubts about the shape effectivity of these new planes…since them have challenged all my knowledge (not godlike, but fair enough) on optics and EM

-The EF is too interceptor oriented
-The F-18e is too heavy ,14 tons…is almost another su-30, but with all the issues of the Hornet
-The mig-35 and the rafale are the most balanced planes
-The grippen coluld be the great surprise

Th MMRCA is the great oportunity for the Rafale, which IMO is better suited for the contest than the EF

The fight will be between the Rafa and the 35

But then it have the AESA issue, so the Rafale will have AESA for the contest? or wont get it in time?

Don’t get me wrong, but it looks like Mig is more interested to win the MMRCA than Dassault….

…can it?

Never saw that movie, dont pay a lot of attention on these figther-movies, but never underestimate the craptastic holywood powers 😉

The best movie involving fighters was the “flight of the dark angel”…or something like that, no cheesie “young ameicans cool pilots on their uber fighters”, no “evil commies, muslims, ruskis”, was about an excelent american pilot, but depressed to madness, his kfir and a nuke ;), and his instructor that thought he knew all about him, never liked the plot turn in which he kills all his family, the story would have been more interesting

Anyway..expect another generation of OMG! this XY plane is the best uber crap ever! 😉