Not sure if anyone's thrown this into the debate yet but...
JSF:
1) Technology transfer issues (US angst over EU military sales to China?)
2) Budget overruns (approx. 15% and climbing)
3) Programme delays (CVF ~ 2012, JSF ~ 2015)
4) US budget constraints (build F22, JSF CTOL (USAF) and JSF CV (USN), but cancel JSF STOVL(USMC))
Typhoon:
1) Don't want to buy 232 but probably have to (contractual penalties)
2) Tranche 3 = 90 aircraft (design not frozen)
3) Maritime variant of Typhoon currently being scoped by Industry (strengthened mainspar, landing gear and hook etc.).
If we have to buy 'em, we might as well use 'em . . .
. . .don't you think?
