Saudi Arabia buys 72 Eurofighters

BBC ^ | 18 August 2006 | BBC

[Crazieman]

Think Isreal is going to rethink turning down the F22 offer.

[4rcane]

What you talking about? Israel didn't turn down any f22 offer

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Is the JSF more modern than the Eurofighter? Also, the Eurofighter and the JSF are probably going to be the main rivals globally, with probably only France using their fighters (and some former French African countries, too).

[wolf78]

Is the JSF more modern than the Eurofighter? Also, the Eurofighter and the JSF are probably going to be the main rivals globally, with probably only France using their fighters (and some former French African countries, too).

That would be the start to a very, very long discussion as to which aircraft is "better". The JSF/F-35 of course is a few years younger, therefore more new technology could be implemented, however the Eurofighter had been designed with upgradability in mind. The main advantages of the F-35 are its versatility and low visibility, whereas the Eurofighter offers other features such as supercruise (the only other fighter plane to have this feature is the F-22).

I'd say it depends on the mission. The Eurofighter is a great aircraft and probably a lot better than the Rafale or the Russian alternatives. It should be able to (theoretically) hold its own against the F-35. The F-22 on the other hand is flat-out amazing, but then again, it's in a totally different league than the Eurofighter, also and especially pricewise.

[gridlock]

There are cheaper target drones out there...

[Londo Molari]

I don't believe we offered Israel the F-22. In fact, wasn't there a debate recently about the fact that the US should not export the F-22 to keep our edge? I happen to agree with those that want to keep the F-22 a US fighter exclusively.

[sukhoi-30mki]

This looks like a good question for PD!!!!

Anyway,the EF-2000 is usually rated as a better fighter than the JSF or the Rafale,though not on strike missions.FYI,Ive read that Saudi Arabia may also buy the Rafale.No African nation can afford the Rafale-its too expensive.Right now it's only offered to biggies like Saudi Arabia,Japan,India etc.

[AdAstraPerArdua]

The F22 will be offered to the closest allies of the US, primarily the UK, Australia and Japan.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/30/AR2006063001695.html

It's doubtful the UK will buy them as their combination of Typhoons and JSF's offer much better value for money against any of the aircraft their enemies possess. The only reason for non-US countries to buy the Raptor is if their enemies own them, which is highly unlikely.

[sukhoi-30mki]

The only nations which can afford & probably need the F-22A are Israel & Japan.Australia has pretty low defense budget for the purpose & they need a real multi-role aircraft to replace their F-111s.Something like the F-15E.

[Paul Ross]

We don't have any F-22s to offer. We aren't even going to build a fifth of what is needed for our own forces.

This administration is just not serious about deployments. Underbuying-has drastically inflated unit-cost. Which creates a vicious cycle of further opposition to deployment.

[Paul Ross]

the EF-2000 is usually rated as a better fighter than the JSF

Certainly in range...but in a real head-to-head? I would take the JSF.

[mad_as_he$$]

Is that rating done by the same people that prefer Airbus to Boeing?

[Pukin Dog]

Answers to questions on this thread:

In a visual fight, the Eurofighter destroys the JSF. It is much more maneuverable, faster, and carries better air-to-air weapons. The JSF is a strike fighter, not a superior dogfighting platform. Its only edge will be that it will be hard to detect due to a limited stealth capability. If seen, an F-15 would destroy it. But a Eurofighter smokes an F-15 every time.

Japan and Israel WILL receive the F-22, additional productions lines will be opening shortly after final Congressional approval. Saudi Arabia is buying the Eurofighter because unlike with the F-15, they will not again receive America's best fighter.

[American in Israel]

gee, just what we need, sell 75 top level fighters to the country that caused 911.

[Crazieman]

I read an article that said Israel turned it down in favor of the JSF because the F22 was too expensive.

[ASOC]

Just make sure the Navy adds the Eurofighter emmisions to the dual threat library in the SLC-32.

Given they would be flown by Saudis.......

[NZerFromHK]

Oh great, I can think of a few things to do:

1. This proves Victor Davis Hanson's assertion in black and white that you Europeans are hypocrites when it comes to doing business with people you call repungent. I remember it is not so long ago that you, on the pages of The (UK) Independent, Der Spiegel, Le Monde, or El Pais on your home country, would be standing loud and denouncing US cobbling with financing-jihad Saudi Arabia.

2. It shows that at last the US is start to stop treating Saudi Arabia as "close ally".

[Atlantic Bridge]

The only nations which can afford & probably need the F-22A are Israel & Japan.

The Israelis need it for sure. But afford it? BuHuHaHa!

[sukhoi-30mki]

Afford as in via military aid..........