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Old 27th Oct 2001, 00:49
  #11 (permalink)  
BEagle
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
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Totally different roles! The EF has been developed over about 20 years, it seems, and was optimised for supersonic agility and air dominance. Whereas the X-35 will be a stealth V/STOL fighter-bomber optimised for a mud-moving role (mainly) but with excellent air-to-air capabilities. The US will be getting the F-22 which will be used for the same sort of missions as the EF - only rather more capably (and expensively!).

Last manned fighter aircraft? Don't know about that - some ar$e called Duncan Sandys killed off the UK fighter aircraft industry with just such nonsense back in 1957.

[ 26 October 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]
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