via AviationNews.EU.
As the UK public got its first glimpse of the RAF’s stunning Harrier replacement at Farnborough, Squadron Leader Steve Long said:'Nuff said.
“It is like an iPhone on speed. It is a quantum leap in terms of technology and aerodynamics.”
Read the whole thing here.
I've been re-reading some books about the development and especially controversies of the F-16 "electric jet", and the similarities are amazing. Everyone was all hyped that FBW wouldn't work, was too vulnerable and it was better to stick with current proven tech instead.
ReplyDeleteEven the high-low mix is somewhat similar; replace modern F-35/F-22 with the F-16/F-15 debate and it's the 1980s all over again.
Not to mention "Buy European First" some countries advocate(d) has its twin. France pushed its Mirages and others pushed for F-5 upgrades (F-16 Block 60?) or second-hand F-4s (F-18EF?).
The more things change...
...the more they stay the same ...regrettably so.Because seen from a european perspective , if we had been as serious about the "buy european first" policy, as you have been about "American First" ditto, we might actually have had a competitve aviation industry and thus less reliance on the U.S.
ReplyDeletePlus more serious competition might actually have been a good thing for american industry as well.
Just read today Israel signed up for 20 F-35As, with delivery starting 2015.
ReplyDeleteThese first 20 will be fully US versions, with following batches including the much demanded Israeli avionics.
First confirmed foreign customer!
Morten...how could Europe have been more buy Europe first?
ReplyDeletelets be honest ....the rivalries in Europe are even more formidable than the hatred of America. Rafales? that means buying French....how many nations in Europe have problems with the French? Typhoons? how many nations have issues with the Germans?
it sounds good---European Unity that is but in reality its far from the truth---the old hatreds are lurking below the surface---that's the biggest issue with your aviation program, not the US>
Sol, this is actually not a matter of rivalry, remember that the French and Germans are actually the backbone of the EU. The offer of planes however is very poor, you have only a handful of countries, besides the US and Russia, producing there own airplanes. And, if you want to choose an European plane just 'cause you're European, then you'll have to face the costs of such an endeavour.
ReplyDeleteIn the recent bid for a new fighter, Romania studied had to choose on the European level between the Gripen and the Typhoon and although the offer where at first hand very attractive, the ulterior costs for maintenance and arming are too high. This is why the Typhoon is loosing ground.
Moten brought up the buy European first as a jab.
ReplyDeleteits really just thinly veiled anti-Americanism.
if Europeans want to buy only European products then I'm good with it.
i could actually (and i mean this) care less what airplane forces outside of the US bought.
if the whole world wants to saddle up to the PAK-FA then fine...but spare me the anti-US bias
Better late than never ....but here we go...
ReplyDeleteFirstly, Solomon ...Yes i am european(Danish) but to call me anti-american is absurd when i :
am a republican(rare thing in europe)
have worked side by side with US (and British)soldiers in Helmand,Afghanistan
drive a Dodge
drive a Harley
have 2 american brothers and 4 nephews
used to live in the US ...and loved it .
but..to answer your post: what i ment was that more competition in the military aviation industry ,be it euro, russian or other , would have been a good thing for the end users ie better products at less cost.i think numerous smaller or midsized companies are preferrable to the mega corporations we have now, which are enjoying a monopoly like situation where even when they loose a competion they get orders.
And for the record i am not fan of neither the Eurofighter or the Freak that is called EADS, that ting is just a fucked op euro version of boeing.No its too late to save european aircraft industry now ..about 40 years to late.
ReplyDelete