Lyle wrote:

On 5 May 2004 01:38:07 -0700,
(ClickRichard) wrote:

(phil hunt) wrote in message ...
On Tue, 04 May 2004 19:49:50 +1000, John Cook wrote:
Hi All

In an almost futile effort to get some aviation related stuff back on
RAM.....Here goes...

Both Italy and the UK are planning to use both the JSF and the
Eurofighter, AIUI the thinking behind this is that the Eurofighter
Typhoon is more AtoA and the JSF F-35 is more AtoG, having two types
does cost more, but does give more strike options, plus single fault
will ground your entire airforce!!!, and you can't be held to ransom
from a sole supplier.

Also, the Typhoon isn't a carrier aircraft. It's likely that Spain
will also buy the F-35, for the same reason.

Turkey from recent speculation may look at this model as the
JSF/Typhoon mix looks like a pretty fair combination, the Typhoon now
and the JSF in the middle of the next decade.

Possibly they'll buy Typhoons now, and see how good the F-35 is when
it is in service.

The JSF is still very much in development and as such, its capabilitys
are still being balanced with cost, the real question being should any
airforce just go with one aircraft type?

Should those already signed up for the JSF look at this force model,
or if not, Why?, or what other combinations should prospective buyers
look at?.

Typhoon will almost certainly be more manouvrable and with a better
thrust/weight ratio. F-35 has stealth, but how stealthy will the
export version be?

Any one got any really novel combinations? for instance the Skycat
200

What's that?

I want to wholeheartedly support this 'real' posting. There are
intelligent humans out there!

Just backing up what Phil mentioned. The Typhoon is a swing role
aircraft so it shouldn't have any trouble with ground support. In
reality, I'm an engineer and realise that whilst some aspects of
performance are of benefit to both roles, there is bound to be
compromise in performance and that this plane has been designed
primarily for air to air sorties. Demonstrations I have seen for the
future pilots would back that up.

I think the JSF inclusion was forced by decisions elsewhere in the MOD
which led to smaller aircraft carriers than the early Eurofighter
designers would have wished for. However, for all the reasons cited
above, the JSF is a good complimentary match for the Typhoon in that,
I believe, it is configured primarily for air to ground (although not
particularly shoddy in air combat).
isnt the JSF required to be as manuverable as the F-16 if not more?

Whilst I agree with the logic behind two aircraft giving some
redundancy in the event of grounding a fleet, it only gives you
marginal protection from being held to ransom by suppliers. Two
suppliers are still extremely powerful. What'll be more interesting
is how other nations commit and what the Russian's put onto the market
(if anything). Two fighter aircraft options globally would be a break
from the last few decades...

--

-Gord.