Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

Isn't that SU30 a fairly decent plane?

Win in my books if they let us build it here, big boost in industry jobs.

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

Not sure how Uncle Sam would take that tho....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hq_RTaThNI

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

And if we upset uncle sam? who cares?
The Army went Euro with the Tiger attack helicopter and the MRH90 Helicopter.

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

Surely you are not suggesting we secede from the USA.....:usa

Keep a lookout for black choppers, you have now been flagged.....:wink2

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

I have my tinfoil hat on.... sunnies and full tank of gas...

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

Its a moot point anyways, as the Obey Amendment precludes export of the F-22 no matter how close an Ally.

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

I wouldn't crow too loudly about that MRH90. So far it has been a bit of a fail. Don't be surprised if they pull the pin like the Sea Sprite.

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

yes have heard the gripes about the MRH.. dunno if they will pull the pin though.

At least the MRH is flying about a bit more often nowadays... but yes it seems they made a bad choice there too.

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

Funny how so many love the F-111 now, but back in the late sixties and seventies there was pretty much the same debate that is now going on with the F-35. F-35 is far more advanced than F-15 or any F-18.

As far as the F-22 is concerned, that is not an option. Finished.

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

No one said it wasnt advanced, it is however too expensive, and not really suited as a front line fighter.

The F-111 main problem were because of the wing box failure (no fancy computers then) which cost the company millions to fix, which drove the price up. In the end we got a very good aircraft.

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

In June 2008, the entrepreneur Dick Smith offered a $50,000 award for investigative journalism to examine the cancelled contract, on issues of accountability and related Government policies, without result.

:raisedeye

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

Not only that, the F35 IS flying, and is struggling to meet some of its performance benchmarks.

Personally I would have liked to have seen Eurofighters instead and kept the Super Hornets for strike. Ruskie stuff wouldn't have ever cut it because our US and NATO ordnance is totally incompatible with them - not to mention their combat systems being totally incompatible with our western-centric digital systems.

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

Not the first time and wont be the last... there is no accountability despite what the government and defence says when it comes to spending public money.

Why no one went to jail over the seasprite saga is beyond me...
what was the final figure? $700 or $800Million for a bunch of 2nd hand helicopters (some as old as 20yrs) and unable to fire its missiles, let alone hover using its autopilot!

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

While I agree that the JSF is highly inappropriate for our needs, I would hope that our involvement in the program has more to do with strengthening our international alliances rather than making us self reliant (yes I'm being optimistic, deep down I suspect it's really all about kickbacks and palm greasing).
Even though that SU30 does sound like a very nice piece of machinery that could quite capably service some of our needs, if our northern neighbours were to pay us a visit what are we going to do, call on the Ukranians for help?

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

The SU-30 is an evolved SU-27 which is probably comparable to an updated F-15E Strike Eagle - in other words, long in the tooth and obsolete in 10 years. The whole point of a new jet fighter purchase was to equip the RAAF with a true 5th generation fighter that could serve its needs for 20 or more years, with upgrades. Not something that is in its twilight years that will need replacing after 10 or so years thus costing more money. And we know how Defence likes spending money...

If you want to look at Ruskies...then look at the Sukhoi PAK-FA:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._in_flight.jpg

The US should be very concerned about this aircraft.

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

Whats the going rate on a Chinese J 20, surely we could pick up a few of them pretty cheep.....

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

Im betting the PAK FA or the J20 will be in service before the JSF reaches aussie shores... :P

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

lolol

http://www.airforce.gov.au/images/wa...re1024X724.jpg

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

Oh god... not that picture again... once was enough.
Took me a while to stop laughing

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

Yep....some of the boys back at HQ have some pretty big ideas....

.....someone needs to check the coffee....:lol

https://i266.photobucket.com/albums/...AV1024X724.jpg

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

Just remember those two images cost the taxpayer millions... a comittee had to be formed, artwork design team, and lotsa pot smoked

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

I thought it was only the Yanks that fed their boys large doses of LSD?

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

Here is another pic of the PAK-FA, this time painted up properly:

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/869...46422large.jpg

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

The PAK FA has only 2 prototypes flying, but it has shown that the Russians (read Ukranians) are capable of building a world class fighter.

The internal weapons bay is massive as well as having 4 wing pylons, plus two smaller bays for short range missiles. Internal gun, IRST, fixed radar which will be installed in the wing leading edge, sideways looking radar in the nose as well as the normal forward looking radar in nose.

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

Re: US says Joint Strike Fighter is unaffordable
 

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ja676MG45...ak-fa-t-50.jpg

The bays can be seen here between the engines....
The smaller short range missile bays are the long blisters under the wings right next to the air intakes