[PotatoHeadMick]

No idea about whether the techical details are correct no doubt someone more knowledgeable can enlighten me. What amazes me is the fact that Indonesia is buying 180 Sukhoi fighters. Seems a bit excessive.

[GBA]

Given their territory and mission, it might be a better fit...just make sure to get the maintenance package thrown in.

Here is an old article that makes an interesting case for the Su-27 over the F/A-18:

Russian fighters for the USAF/USN? The ultimate irony …

[Cronos]

to ask about sukhois, ask the expert, I’ve pinged him!

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

Even if Sukhoi was the superior plane, it doesn’t make sense to buy a plane that needs spare parts etc from a country that is not an ally and is a rival of SEATO.

[Yo-Yo]

If Australia wanted to ditch the F-35, they would buy more SuperHornets.

[aegiscg47]

I think a lot of people look at the SU-27/30/35 and think that since it looks cool, carries a lot of weapons, very fast aircraft, etc., that it should be the plane of choice. When all is said and done the F-35 will emerge as the better plane. There were similar(although not so widespread since there was no internet) discussions when the F-15 and F-16 were rolled out decades ago. Too expensive, too complex, why shouldn't we just use later models of the F-4, and so on. Those two aircraft have proved to be some of the finest fighters in history, so time will tell.

[ExpatGator]

Considering the world instability, I would be buying as many as I could. They are probably gonna need them.

[LSUfan]

Many services and nations in the Western world are looking at unfortunate options.

The F-35’s teething problems may be mild compared to possibly flawed fundamental assumptions: I worry about the total reliance on stealth.
First of all, to get the airplane in a mode to go anywhere or destroy anything you have to hang fuel tanks and ordnance from the wings, which throws stealth out the window. So what do you have then? Is the F-35 a great fighter aircraft that can hold its own with the possible adversaries?

There seems to be some debate on the subject.

Furthermore, I am seeing reports, which may or may not be wrong, that sensor technology currently in development could start to peel back the stealth cloak in as soon as 5-8 years. If that is true, this total emphasis on stealth over traditional performance could prove deadly for our aviators.

That brings us to the SuperHornet. By all accounts it is a dog in terms of performance compared to the F-15, Su-30 series and the Typhoon and Rafale. Hell, the F-14D could fly rings around it years ago. The main thing the Super Bug has going for it is its avionics package. But you can put those avionics in other airframes.

More and more allies are going to realize the combat radius and outright performance limitations of the F/A-18E/F and look elsewhere.

It was a horrible development when the SuperBug was forced upon the US Navy by default and it has implications across continents.

[Little Ray]

He’s right.
They should look into getting Sukhoi TA-50 airframes, and putting western avionics, and possibly western engines on them. Probably end up with a better fighter, at a cheaper price.

[Zhang Fei]

The question is whether the Aussies will be able to get spare parts if it gets into a conflict with China. Given Russia’s semi-alliance with China...

[Spartan302]

Whatever it takes for more aircraft to go head to head with the projected capabilities of a possible China confrontation to even a full scale invasion upon Australia.
The Chinese can build lots of aircraft, disposable aircraft and crew to them because that is their logic.

[hattend]

Bump to read later...yeah, just found it.