by Saracenman » Wed Apr 01, 2009 1:38 am
i agree - that's what I'm talking about - FACTS!
the JSF hasn't been DESIGNED to perform to the same spec as Typhoon - both aircraft exist, they are not merely on paper, so facts ARE known - they both out-perform what the original spec was, but they are still completely different machines, designed for completely different roles
Typhoon can fly faster, higher, further than JSF - it can reach max altitude MUCH quicker. the weapon-carrying abilities of each are very similar. what the JSF has over and above the Typhoon (and in SPADES!!!) is its STOVL capability - its versatility in that respect is not in question.
comparing JSF to the Harrier which it was designed to replace, again they are chalk and cheese. the Harrier has full VTOL ability that the JSF doesn't; it cannot takeoff and land vertically as the Harrier does. but overall, JSF's a FAR more capable machine
but this is the point of my original question - its a very simple question too - does the RN still have a NEED for an aircraft that can take off and land almost vertically? if we WEREN'T due to get these bigger carriers, JSF really would be the only option, as the existing Invincible class are far too small for a conventional a/c
don't get me wrong Danf, i don't think that JSF is crap - far from it! as a high-performance weapons platform, Typhoon is far superior - it was DESIGNED to be!
when the RN have carriers big enough, what would be the wisdom in buying/co-building an aircraft that could operate from a vessel a third the size, when they could have a faster, higher-flying, further-flying machine that is still capable of operating from the same ship
as i said before, the USN has the Nimitz class carriers, operating aircraft that are predominantly conventional - you chaps aren't buying JSF specifically for carrier ops. the QE-class carriers that we're getting aren't that much smaller - so why do we need to go out and buy a specialist bit of kit, specifically for a carrier that is large enough to operate a machine that we already have (sort of)?
Murkin JSFs will replace the Harriers that your Marine Corp use - we don't have a similar 'arm' - our Royal Marines don't fly!
when you couple that to the fact that Typhoon is currently in service with the RAF, the obvious benefits (economies of scale etc) would surely give them a machine with higher performance, and at far less cost
it's similar to asking why a sports-car would be 'better' than a van - well, if you want to carry lots of carpets and boxes, then you'd buy the van, but if you have no need for box or carpet carrying, why not go for the one that'll get you there quicker and more cheaply. if the missus already has the exact same sports-car, you'd probably get a better deal at the servicing agent of you took BOTH in
we USED TO need a van - in the cold war days, we were always carting carpets and boxes around, but that was then
given all of the above, i personally think that, whilst JSF would be a superb bit of kit, the RN and the taxpayer would get far MORE from using a navalised Typhoon instead
the employment/industry side of it is probably about equal - whichever we decide to buy, British industry has a comparable share in each - if we didn't buy 200 JSF, RR would have to make 200 fewer lift-fans - but then they'd be making 400 more Typhoon engines instead!
sm
Lunchtime! 
