"NoHoverStop" wrote in message

I suppose they make claims at least partly based on data.

Hmmm, marketing data perhaps. Or maybe euro physics are different...


Not yet. The Typhoon is in service (just). The F-22 is not yet in service
but it also has a HUD. Eventually HMD's may be good enough to do everything
you need a HUD for, but not yet. The JSF program has had to take some gutsy
risks with technology to keep the aircraft affordable. We'll see whether
this one pays off.


In service? In a line squadron flown by line pilots? The F-22s being
flown at Edwards and Nellis could be considered "in service (just)"!
Of course, the Rafale is definitely "in service", and has flown
"combat" missions in support of ops in Afghanistan, I believe.

I have. The Typhoon scored much higher.


I've probably seen the same reports. I'm not convinced. It may be a
little better in a knife fight (better T/W) but avionics? Not sure -
and nobody knife fights anymore. It will be interesting to see how
the two develop. Will it be Mirage III vs Lightning again?

To some extent it depends who it's (I suppose you still mean the Typhoon?)
fighting. It's brand-new, late and still has a lot of capability to be
cleared, but fundamentally it's better than the in-service competition.
Let's talk again when (if?) the F-22 gets into service.

Fundamentally? No, the F-22 and F-35s are "fundamentally" better. The
Typhoon may be incrementally better, but in a fight against Gripens or
Rafales, it would be the whole combat environment that would determine
the winner, in my opinion. Let me fight at night in an F-15E with a
full up AWACS environment with JTIDS, against a stand-alone Typhoon,
and I'm comfortable who would win.

Still, its a nice fighter, I would love to fly it, and I'm glad it's
mainly on our side (not sure about the German ones...).

Kirk