Its a hypocritical world we live in isn’t it when we the “west” speak out about one nations “terrorist” actions yet turn a blind eye to anothers !

You’re preaching to the choir here. It’s also hyporcitical when we want to force one nation to not pursue nuclear arms yet are fine with another hoarding them. Why does Israel need them anyway? No Arab military has ever been much of a problem for them. And they still have their Great Protectors on speed dial if there ever is a major conflict.

A good part of those items are either collaborative programmes or are license produced in Europe.

But in Flex’s mind, those collaborations or license production deals should never have taken place.

So the thought of Islamic extremist regimes armed with nuclear/intercontinental range weapons, is less distasteful to you, than Israel preventing that outcome?

Frankly, yes. Iran having nuclear weapons is an excuse to remove them from the planet should they do something untoward with one of them.

They’re the only western democratic style nation in that region, providing a useful counterbalance to regimes not known for their benevolence, or goodwill to the rest of the world.

A nation’s policies, internal and external, are their own business. Most Islamic nations have not grasped the simple concept of equality for women, for example, yet we still deal with them. Why? Because it’s their culture. If it is to be changed, it should be due to the result of an internal change, not one forced on them by external forces. Israel is no real friend to the US anyway. Ask China.

On a general note, I think all that fear-mongering against Russia is complete nonsense.

I agree completely.

I’d put it at 60:40 in favor of the US not intervening.

Not sure if I agree there, but I’d put it at 100:0 in favor of we should not intervene in any capacity in China’s internal problems. If we don’t recognize Taiwan as an independent nation then we have to concede that they are in fact still part of China, making this therefore an internal problem for China to handle as it sees fit.

It’s apparently got more fuel-efficient engines, or did Italy toss part of the internal fuel tankage?

Except with fewer aircraft to go around they’re going to burn those hours up faster.

How? They don’t do anything but fly at airshows and go to RED FLAG.

😀

Boeing trials new high-lift device.

For big ticket govt purchases, yes.

Then disband NATO, set up an EU military arm, and a centralized EU government with each nation becoming a state in a new federation. Or accept that a sovereign state is free to do what it chooses.

Yes, you are right, lots of Euroepan countries bought the F-4 or F-16. Look at the result.. thousands produced compared to few hundreds of European aircraft. Why should EU repeat the same mistake, again?

Why was that a mistake? What did Europe offer that was better at the time? And there was no EU back then, by the way!

This has nothing to do with geography, it has something to do with politics – read EU. If Australia joined EU today, then let’s go for Australian stuff, why not? Do you boycott Hawaii just because it does not lie at your doorstep? 🙂

I like Hawaii, without it I would have no pineapple 😀

Regardless, you’re still aiding some nations over others with inter-EU competition. For your concept to be sensible you’d have to stop marketing either the EF-2000 or the Rafale inside of the EU at the very least.

The same way EU could ask.. why would we want to buy aircraft from US who, too, sells to whomever they want? Or do you ask Europeans for permission when exporting fighters? 🙂 What is there in your response that does not apply vice versa for Europe, as well?

Chances are somebody who is going to be attacking an EU nation will not be doing so with American made fighter jets, unless they happen to be Turkey.

Wrong. LM is clearly unable to set fixed price even for Netherlands. What new systems does Netherlands require? None..

Frankly, if LockMart came out tomorrow and announced a fixed unit price, I’d laugh at them. With the current economy there is no way in hell they can set a stable price for something to be bought and delivered more than a few years down the line.

If I was American, I’d vote for you.. 🙂 As an European, it does not concern me as much but I feel Israel needs a serious slap on the face. Nothing personal or anything against Israeli individuals but this has gone too far. Israeli officials openly talk on TV about assassinating individuals that do not fit their scheme (French and Egyptian nuclear engineers, the Canadian developing artillery shells for Iraq back in 80s etc.) and no one cares because it’s Israel, WTF???

Here’s one for you: Israel is the only country I can think of to constantly act contrarily to the declarations of the UN and not get the crap bombed out of it by the US Air Force.

Anyway, just to get this straight, you think EU nations should not buy the following:

PATRIOT
AMRAAM
F-35
F-16
F-18
F404 engines
Any radar or ECM/ESM systems
C-17
Brimstone
RAM (the missile, not the other junk)
anything produced by Russia or the Ukraine
JDAM

So an estimated life expectancy of 20 years and no plan from the beginning how to extend it. That means that if no way or money is found the F-22 will start being phased out already in 10 years.

The bulk of the Raptors began to be produced in 2004. Prior to that the jets were primarily EMD birds or slated for test units at Nellis or Edwards. Langley’s first jet arrived in 2005, so the operational fleet won’t see problems until 2025 at the earliest. Plus, this is based on an 8,000 hour life, which was estimated to equate to about 20 years. That’s the theoretical life, they were supposed to have tested a jet to 16,000 hours. If that worked out alright then they should be fine for 40 years and not 20.

Maybe because they ARE EU already? 😉

If there is no mutual support for Euro nations, then why bother with EU, at all? Let’s dissolve the crap and go home, then 😉

Then you’d back America boycotting Airbus and Europe boycotting Boeing as well? If you’re going down that road then each side of the Atlantic should not buy from the other AT ALL, not just in one specific instance. Otherwise it’s just random anti-LockMart rambling.

LOL, care to explain why today’s F-16s cost 3,5x as much as LRP?

Because today’s F-16 is FAR more capable than the non-BVR, non-SEAD F-16A as originally designed and built. More expensive and capable electronics will jack up the price. Plus, you’re ignoring the fact that the first F-16s were produced around thirty years ago. Are you familiar at all with the term “inflation”?