"Kevin Brooks" wrote in
:
"Bjørnar Bolsøy" wrote in message
...
Alan Minyard wrote in
:

And quoting company web sites is not a good way to
achieve credibility.

Al Minyard

It's a pilot with 3,500 hours in jets, and the
statement is nothing spectacular, it simply
emphasises the superiority of a 4ht generation
fighter compared to older designs.

If it is so superior to the latest F-16 Blocks, then why has it
been repeatedly outsold on the foreign market by what you
apparently consider some kind of "third generation" fighter? You
are saying it costs the same, offers OPTEMPO savings in
comparison to the F-16's, and yet it has managed to sell what,
maybe a third the number of F-16's sold externally since the
JAS-39 entered into the fray?

There's lost of reasons for that, combat proven security is
one factor. For countries already with a fleet of F16 it's
a natural choice to expand with the same type of aircraft,
both from a maintainance and tactical point of view.

Politics, improving NATO and US ties is certainly another
big factor, as is the total industry benefits. The latter
is not always a black and white issue. As an example, in
the 70's F16 programe here in europe a big selling point
was prospects of advanced technology transfers and sustantial
re-purchase agreement, but in the end little benefitted the
Norwegian industry and the re-purchasing pretty insignificant.


Regards...