Originally Posted by
The B Word
Another 2-seater. Why does UK Defence still pursue the crazy total single-seat mentality when most other nations seem to think 2 heads are better than one when fighting an aircraft in some complex environments? Airbus FCAS is 2 seat, J-16D is 2 seat, F15-EX is 2 seat, EA-18G is 2-seat what do they know that we don’t?
Not run by beancounters probably. The UK planners clearly believe one seat = less training required, less infrastructure, half the bang seats, half the accomodation etc etc. Half the ability to retain SA, plan on the hoof and effectively fight the platform doesn't figure in their planning. Automation and whizz-bang avionics can only partially comensate for an extra brain and extra pair of eyes. A bit like Sir Humphry explaining to Hacker that the empty hospital was the most efficient in the NHS.