On Tue, 06 Apr 2004 14:40:52 -0600, Scott Ferrin
wrote:

Not a hope, but out of interest - if forced to which would the US
prefer Typhoon, Rafale, or a Russian jobbie.

Out of those options IMO since none of them are stealth aircraft the
best way to go would be to start with a gutted Su-37 and stuff it with
American engines, avionics and weapons but chances are even if the US
could make itself do that, by the time they were happy with the
aircraft it would be damn near as expensive as the F-22.

Err, you've lost me here. Not only would the US be more liekly to buy
even a French aircraft than a Russian one, the Su-37 is not in any way
a stealth aircraft - from the front you can see both compressor faces.
Both the Typhoon and Rafale were designed with some reduced
observables involved.

Typhoons and Rafales seem like nonstarters for the simple reason that
whatever aircraft is chosen would also do air to ground. Let's see
you hang a 5000lb PGM or two on either of those aircraft. Sure you
can go on about small bombs etc. but it's tough to duplicate the
flexibility of being able to carry a heavy load.

Again, you've lost me - we're talking about an F-22 replacement - I've
not seen any proposals to hang TWO 5000lb weapons on them.

Given the options of Typhoon, Rafale, and SU-whatever, I just don't
see an option other than Typhoon. Be nice to get more funding for
things like tranche 3 and the radar upgrades.

---
Peter Kemp

Life is short - drink faster