Indeed, but adding F22 + F35 divided by budget would be more telling than adding F22 + B2 divided by budget. Rafale is the only combat plane of the French forces (if we can still call them french) while the F22 + B2 would represent only a fraction of the US forces. Not a fair comparison IMHO.

Nic

The israeli return of experience was that if you were going very low you had to go faster than 600 (IIRC might be a different value) kts, so that ADS couldn’t target you fast enough.

Besides mobile ADS is designed to be relocated after being used so as to not being targeted easily, not to be able to be located in advance on the nap of the earth routes your enemy are going to take. But hey whatever help you further your dumb points.

Nic

I’m sorry but I don’t see Tornadoes flying around at medium altitude over central Europe. Sure the tornadoes would have suffered just as heavy losses bombing Warsaw pact airfields at low altitude as in Iraq, but I would argue they would have suffered even more losses remaining at medium altitude over central Europe.

Nic

The US provide them safe havens, as evidenced by the shooting of the Syrian jet by US forces a few weeks back. That’s how they lasted so long.

Nic

Could it be that the oxygen problems are due to different recruits testing procedures which could let people in that wouldn’t have been admitted for flight training before? Are the risks the same for male and female pilots?

Nic

Upgrading the Tornado means nothing in the british context. Remember how long after being upgraded the Harriers were retired?

Nic

I did, because at some point you have to think about decreasing your RCS.

Nic

So sorry to hear that Spud, best of wishes for what lays ahead.

Nic