As a matter of fact the USN is likely to purchase way more than 250 F-35C’s. As it would need more than that just to replace the current Hornet Fleet.

No they’re not. They need enough to replace the 300 squadrons. The 400 squadrons will be Marine F-35s.

Plus, let’s not forget when that is complete the Super Hornet will retire.

Which no matter how hard you lobby for it, will not be replaced by the F-35. It does not meet the requirements of the Navy. It would mean abandoning three of the Navy’s critical roles of fleet defense (they don’t trust the survival of the ship to trying to fly and look at the radar at the same time. Air Force can get away with it because if their airfield gets hit, they can fix it with pothole filler.), tactical reconnaissance, and airborne forward air control which they would prefer the pilot being flying rather than taking pictures or directing other aircraft to targets. You could see a follow on order to replace the Es, but something else will replace the F.

French would never agree to buy a warship from someone else, especially one that large. Even if the politicians agreed to it, the French unions would shut the country down.

So if the F-35 experienes further delays, cost overruns, etc etc (although it seems it is starting to claw its way back, in all fairnes), the only alternative is rafale?

There’s the Super Hornet.

Hi guys! I’m just an outsider in this matter, of course, but I was wondering if the so called navalised Typhoon that the Eurofighter consortium is offering India wouldn’t be a better solution for the UK than the F-35C.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/02/09/352925/aero-india-eurofighter-reveals-offer-to-produce-navalised.html

If they want
A) Worst of all worlds STOBAR configuration. Though the UK isn’t ordering more than a handful anyway.
B) A design that might not even work. EADS’ concept is to minimize the shock on landing by using thrust hectoring and thusly minimize the strengthening of the design. If they’re wrong, you get an airframe with a short operational life and in the case of the nose gear, maybe collapse problems.
C) it’s a paper aircraft. It would be a decade before it flies, might be the most expensive, and 2020 would nearing obsolescence for a gen 4.5 aircraft. Boeing’s at least trying to think up ways to make the super horney valid a little while longer.
D) IAC-2/3 will have cats. Don’t expect India to buy another interim type.

The shah was given a choice between the tomcat and the eagle

It happened by allowing Boeing to buy MDD and have a monopoly which they then abused. It became clear we needed competition and had to bring in a foreign company which was unacceptable to some.

That is your opinion and not supported by the US Military nor the JSF Partner Nation. The fact is the F-35 will only be surprised in performance by the F-22 for many many years to come……;)

It is also the opinion of the navy which has a different opinion on the JSF from the air force and the land based partner nations.

Which, means little in the world of Politics.

Let’s not forget the Mr. Gates has tried for some years to cancel such big defense projects. As the GE F136 and C-17 with no luck………Sorry, his ultimatum isn’t worth much.

It’s also worth noting that Gates will be gone soon and the Republican Party controls the US House.

A good portion of them are now tea party. They don’t have the same priorites when it comes to defense. They see it as more big spending.