Vulcan and Draken.

J-20

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That is THE most Japanese-looking fast jet that I have ever seen. They might as well have named it the F-2 Akira.

Yes. Absolutely.

The Japanese needed an Air Superiority Fighter.

In the UK Range and altitude were primary and a lack of dogfighting ability (or de-prioritisation at the very least) was excusable*
Likewise USN needed Range and altitude (and the ability to land on a carrier) so the F14’s flaws and costs were bearable.
For their (USN) lo end Range and AAM load out likewise excusable (they had the F14 to do that)
Continental Europe dogfighting and the ability to do strike and short range air-to-air trumped range, single-engine and AAM load out so since F16 was cheaper than F15 that made sense
The Canadians and Aussies needed much shorter field performance so a carrier-based design had attractions for them which pragmatically made F18 a better choice

But the Japanese needed Range, AAM capacity, Two engines and dogfighting all in one airframe and they had no need for short-field performance. Nothing else Western came close to the mighty Eagle on those terms.

* I imagine I’m typical of most kids growing up in the UK during the Cold War in wishing that the RAF had F15s instead of Tornado F3s, but with a bit of distance and reflection it wasn’t a terrible decision.

PS: I’m hoping that the Japanese Technology Demonstrator is a scaled demonstrator; if that this is stretched by another 10% it could suddenly look a lot more elegant.

Tango III

DIMDEX 2018: BAE Systems Showcasing Type 31e Frigate Design for the 1st Time

Interesting.
It looks a lot more war-y than I was expecting.
Presumably the Mk41 silo is amidships?
That COULD be a very clever idea to allow for scaleability of silo size.

mikoyan

So them Americans sold their british cousins Trident SLBM but wouldn`t sell them a tactical tool like the F-22……..even more, BAE developed subsystems (An/alr-94)for the Raptor……

Very few people come into contact with any part of the SSBN fleet. It is simpler to police technology transfer from any of the organisations involved. Fighter aircraft sit inside much larger (certainly in terms of personnel) organisations with greater opportunity for information to bleed out. (That’s not a dig at the chaps in Light Blue; if it was I would not have made it an inferred insult I would have come right out with it!)

FBW

They deployed there on exercises regularly. The four F-15 squadrons were: 3 in Germany, one in Netherlands.

At least some of the 12th Air Force would have reinforced units in UK.

Thanks for the info (and saving my blushes)

Aurel

2010 is a bit late. The Mirage 2K assembly line offer expired in 2007 IIRC

Grrr. If correct that kills my first choice. Mirage 2000 and Mig31

I fully agree that India needs (needed?) to be building alliances, and the policy of doing so through purchasing is a good one.

Rafale and Mitsubishi F2 then.

USA and Russia have to tread carefully with court China or deter China. And India cannot risk being constrained by other people’s politics (also it might encourage more favourable deals with force multipliers purchased from both nations)

France would have much to gain from a BIG export order, so I’ll rewrite history and both sides didn’t dick about this (that) time. Rafale Ms in a big order at a sensible price, with a follow on local assembly under a sensible licence. Standardising on the M model allows for a single set of documentation, training syllabus and spares for Air Arm and Air Force.

Japanese change of policy (not law) comes a bit earlier than in real land. Mitsubishi does with its jets what they and other Japanese car manufacturers have done so well. Builds and invests in its own production line in India to make use of lower labour costs, tax breaks, investment incentives and local goodwill.

Yama

Yes! F-15 doing strike with unguided bombs and Tornado F.2 in air superiority duties with AIM-9’s and concrete radars

LOL as the young people say

Presumably keep using the old G model AIM 9s as well? No need for all this fancy ‘all aspect’ nonsense.
Actually why bother with ‘winders at all. Just find some Red Tops and Firestreaks from storage.

Maybe put some Bullpups on the F15s?