which are the two jets which have already underperformed ? i feel like Rafale and F-16 since Gripen and Euro have started arriving now

I think it’s rather unlikely for the Rafale to be eliminated if its performance in the UAE is any indication of its capabilities. Remember the Rafale beat out even the F-15K in the Korean technical evaluation, was short listed in the Brazilian competition, and leads in the Brazilian technical evaluation, whereas the F-16BR was not short listed in the Brazilian competition. Given what is known about the Rafale AESA and APG-80 on the F-16IN, as well as the Rafale’s comparably very low RCS and high thrust/weight and excellent ECM and sensors, I would be very surprised if it was eliminated. The Mig-35, I think is another aircraft that probably faired poorly due to its rather crude AESA antenna and likely poor RCS figures. So here’s my bet:

Rafale and Super Hornet passed muster, much like in the Brazilian competition. Between the Tiffy and Gripen, it’s a tough call- Typhoon is the obvious performance winner, but at a much higher price. If cost is no issue, then I predict the Super Hornet, Typhoon, and Rafale to be short listed.

here is the full post :

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/

Will Boeing and the US government allow SLAM-ER to be integrated on the Rafale? Or can it be done without them?

Hey, all you experts, please indulge a “stupid question” from a layman….I am not an engineer.

Aren’t the vertical tails WAY too small? Doesn’t this affect maneuverability very significantly, not to mention the high speed stability/inertia coupling? I thought the reason high speed fighters had big vertical tails was so they wouldn’t swap ends at very high speed.

Control authority lost by using small tails is compensated for by use of 3D TVC.

http://www.bemparana.com.br/index.php?n=134718&t=eua-tentam-reverter-compra-de-cacas-da-franca

in google trans

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=fr&sl=pt&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bemparana.com.br%2Findex.php%3Fn%3D134718%26t%3Deua-tentam-reverter-compra-de-cacas-da-franca

with also :

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=fr&sl=pt&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.defesanet.com.br%2F10_02%2F100205_03_fx2.htm

from

http://www.defesanet.com.br/10_02/100205_03_fx2.htm

It will never end, i’m tellin’ ya!:eek:

I doubt this will happen. The competition in Brazil seems primarily between the Gripen, which is preferred by FAB, and Rafale, which is preferred by the administration. Neither seems interested in the F-18.

Even Sukhoi isn’t claiming to surpass the Raptor. They’re claiming a plane with similar(but inferior) capabilities, but at a lower cost. We have no figures on comparitive RCS between the PAK FA and the F-35, so again, it’s pure speculation. We haven’t even seen what the final, production variant will look like, but as is, the rear quadrant doesn’t have near the attention given to signature reduction that the F-22/35 have. So feel free to speculate, or we can just wait and see what actually turns out to be the case.

Well, it will very likely have inferior stealth to the F-22. Maybe they can make up the difference with those giant ECM pods (if that is what they are). However, I would not be surprised to see superior top speed, climb rate and maneuverability. Also, cost is relative. Labor and materials are cheaper in Russia.

However at this point, everything is so speculative, it’s almost pointless to argue back and fourth. As for Sukhoi claiming to surpass the raptor, well they have been pretty hush-hush about the whole project up to now.

Have you actually looked at the DAS installation on the F-35? You might want to before suggesting it’s the same as Sukhoi’s giant ball.

This is not the final configuration. If you look back over this thread over the last few days (as well as Saga X), there should be a post stating that the T-50 IRST configuration will be similar to that of the F-35.

They already use RAM coatings on their fan blades on the Su-35, which greatly reduces the RCS. In addition they could use F-18E/F style radar blockers. Between these two techniques, I imagine that there would be a significant RCS reduction.

Broadband, all aspect stealth
Conformal antennas positioned all over skin in addition to radar for passive detection and ECM
Full active/passive optics suite- LIDAR, DIRCM, multi-spectral imaging
Fluidic thrust vectoring
Variable cycle engines allowing Mach 2+ supercruise
Optical datalinks for very high speed, stealthy net-centric warfare
Ability to act as multistatic radar system via datalink with other aircraft
Ability to fly unmanned as well as manned
Ability to coordinate, act as “controller” or “manager” of UAV’s/UCAV’s
Optical Spectrum stealth of some kind
Directed Energy Weapons?