What they are replacing is irrelevant. What matters is how well they match SwAF’s requirements as considered in the context of broader national security objectives, questions of fiscal feasibility, etc.

Yes, and I’m wondering if this leaked “report” is indeed considered in that context, or if it’s just some air force pilots trying to get a sexy new ride.

This goes for the Swiss AF requirements as well. If they’re willing to choose 16 Rafale instead of 22 Gripen, one has wonder: is this better for national security/fiscal feasibility etc, or is it just about getting a sexy twin engine airplane?

Well according to this post, (Peter G quoting AFM) the CdG arrestor cables are rated for 15000 kg, the catapults for 19000-22000 kg.

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showpost.php?p=1488224&postcount=57

Haven’t managed to find any confirmed numbers on the F-35C weight…

1) Iran
Quantity needed/projected – 120-200
Deal amount – make it $75-85million/unit (with Zhuk-MFE or Zhuk-AE)

Iran will be the biggest market for any foreseeable future if Russia takes a pro-active stance and use the current UN arms embargo for what it is worth. To wipe your ar$e.

You don’t get to ignore UN arms embargoes while having the benefits of veto rights in the UN security council.

What you forget is that Russia wants to adhere to UN rules. Their position in the security council lets them effect power in regions where they otherwise would be powerless.
Take Syria – without the UN machine, Russia would have been unable to stop the UN/Arab league proposal to make Assad step down.
In that case, bye bye Tartus naval base and Yak contract.

Yep. Still, the Sukhoi is about 4m longer.

Also don’t like the new roundel. The blue line messes it up, I know it’s national flag colours, but doesn’t look better than the old one. Last info I heard is that government didn’t approve of roundel change, but VVS is putting them on new planes?

What’s wrong with that, it looks like the Hajduk Split logo, just with a star. 😀

Three things leap to mind: cost, munitions stocks more compatible with Typhoon and fully compatible with the eventual F-35s, and much greater potential for sharing training and logistics with the USN. The US has more decks to train on and more squadrons to exchange with, and even France has all of its naval aviators trained in the US in any case.

Regarding munitions in ~2019… Good point on SH compatibility with F-35, and being able to plug a CVF with SHs into the supply machine of a USN fleet is a big selling point. Maybe such a big selling point that everything else becomes irrelevant.

But regarding munitions:

SH common with Typhoon: LITENING III, possibly JDAM, old AMRAAM stocks (may not be in UK service by 2020).
Rafale common with Typhoon: Meteor, old Paveway II stocks (may not be in UK service by 2020).

More or less a wash. Maybe I missed something.

If the French have had no problem training their pilots in the US, and then flying F-8, SuE and Rafale, it shouldn’t be a problem for British pilots.

I doubt an American weapons package is going to be used unless Rafale is plug and play and integration costs are not an issue.

I can’t find the link now, but Raytheon reportedly offered to pay for JSOW and AMRAAM integration.
Dassault are fine with this. (They wanted to integrate AMRAAM for the Korean competition.)