Difficult, very difficult. I can’t decide on a single generation.

I don’t care so much about the 1st gen.

2nd gen has alot of beauties. Draken, F-104, F-4, EE Lightning, F-105 etc.

3rd gen has the Viggen, F-14, MiG-29, Su-27, Mirage 2000 etc.

4th gen, Rafale, Gripen, Eurofighter.

Can’t pick a single one. Perhaps the 3rd gen has the largest amount of beautiful types?

Since we don’t know the details, and since it’s only a matter of amateurs’ argumentation…

You could acknowledge that if Gripen was technically and ToT’ly’ on par with Rafale, for half the price, the gov would have changed his mind. Lula/Jobim aren’t mad, and buying costly military hardware for stupid reasons isn’t exactly what would happen in such a gov.

Obviously, if those discussions only “delay” the decision, then, Rafale, twice (or more) as costly as the Gripen, actually HAS good arguments.

It’s obvious to me that the reason why it’s taking so long is because Lula is trying his hardest to come up with ways to justify a Rafale purchase. A tough task, as the Gripen offers “almost as good as”, “equally good” “or better” performance in comparison to the Rafale at a considerably lower price.

The odd thing that gets me is the sidewards opening cockpit canopy arrangement! Very Soviet/Russian style of the Indian`s!

It’s preferable to have a sideways hinging canopy, no need to remove the canopy when removing/fitting the ejection seat during maintenance.

Erkokite
i think the rafale has the SH in STR speed because of better T/W

And most likely much lower drag. The Super Hornet struggles to maintain energy even when flying straight and level.

Just want to clarify one thing. The LDP is mounted on “pylon 4”. This is a weapons station exclusively for pods. Thus it’s not replacing any weapons/drop tank.

An image showing the pylon, fitted with a LANTIRN-pod.

That is just common sense. You cannot only have advantages when you are the smallest. Otherwise there would be no medium ans heavy fighters…

You are forgetting THE major advantage for a smaller fighter, namely costs. For roughly the same price of one Rafale you get two Gripens which certainly is a much more potent force.

We have the Gripen XL & F-16J/K currently being proposed. What others can one imagine, which might actually be feasible?

An old one, but I’d like to to see this one realised.:)