EM - My point is that you can and will use SAR/GMTI for some attack missions, whether on a JSF or an F-15SE, and that when the weather goes to poo so do your EO systems. Clearly, too, you don't use radar indiscriminately in either case, but in an LPI mode to eliminate target location error.
And while the SE is not flying, most of the bits and pieces are either in service or in full-scale-development for Saudi (since 12/11). Indeed, the first SA just flew:
Fly-By-Wire F-15SA makes first flight
The SE adds the CWBs, new cockpit displays from Elbit (a company with a good rep for on time delivery) and various RAM/RAS features, but a lot of expensive stuff is being done on the Saudi riyal.
JTO -
The US have worked very hard and spent lots of money to ensure no nation has the ability to do the stuff that we would really like to do with the jet. Wow...
Thank you for clarifying LO. Personally my feeling is that you have a choice of picking the conditions for missions or any other stealth 'jolly' so the EO/IR sensor being degraded in bad weather is somewhat under control, the question is what percentage of degradation and I imagine that no one would put that information in the public domain.
As for the wall garden approach I can understand it, while I'm suprised a little that the UK and Australia don't benefit from the ITAR 'special relationship' waiver that I'm pretty sure was passed in to law by the USA. Maybe I've mis remembered.