recent newspaper reports indicate that some customers for the JSF are becoming uneasy over claims that the export versions of the JSF are rather less 'stealthy' than the US versions and that the customers are therefore buying a new 'F-16' that will be without its main selling point - its low-observability.
is this true?
furthermore, in an age of submarine launched cruise missiles, ECM and 'proper' stealth aircraft like the B-2 and F/A-22, is there a place for a 'half-stealth' aircraft like the JSF?
as an example, for the RAF the JSF will replace the jaguar, harrier and some tornado roles (these are mainly close support aircraft) but not the tornado deep-strike interdiction or the typhoon in the same role. the RAF's 'first-strike' capability (anti-ccc/anti-radar etc..) will be carried out by the typhoon and tornado using storm shadow ALCM's and RN submarines firing tommahawks SLCM's. the RN is due to buy the V/STOL version of the JSF to accompany its two newly ordered 40,000tn aircraft carriers to provide both air-defence and strike/attack capability - no other A/C appears on the horizon to provide the performance of the JSF in the Naval role with or without its 'stealthyness'.
so whats going on: without its low-observability what comparative capability does the JSF have - and if the reports are true why not just replace ageing aircraft with much cheaper - and proven - new build F-16's/F-15's?
many have spoken of europes need to pull its socks up with regards to its military capability, is the JSF another case of buying overly expensive shiny toys rather than the nuts and bolts workhorses that europe needs to deploy its currently sedentry resources?
is this true?
furthermore, in an age of submarine launched cruise missiles, ECM and 'proper' stealth aircraft like the B-2 and F/A-22, is there a place for a 'half-stealth' aircraft like the JSF?
as an example, for the RAF the JSF will replace the jaguar, harrier and some tornado roles (these are mainly close support aircraft) but not the tornado deep-strike interdiction or the typhoon in the same role. the RAF's 'first-strike' capability (anti-ccc/anti-radar etc..) will be carried out by the typhoon and tornado using storm shadow ALCM's and RN submarines firing tommahawks SLCM's. the RN is due to buy the V/STOL version of the JSF to accompany its two newly ordered 40,000tn aircraft carriers to provide both air-defence and strike/attack capability - no other A/C appears on the horizon to provide the performance of the JSF in the Naval role with or without its 'stealthyness'.
so whats going on: without its low-observability what comparative capability does the JSF have - and if the reports are true why not just replace ageing aircraft with much cheaper - and proven - new build F-16's/F-15's?
many have spoken of europes need to pull its socks up with regards to its military capability, is the JSF another case of buying overly expensive shiny toys rather than the nuts and bolts workhorses that europe needs to deploy its currently sedentry resources?
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