Sea Gripen anybody?
 

Very interesting, thought I might share this bit of info.

Saab offers naval Gripen to India | StratPost

Wouldn't this one fit the new British carriers rather nicely? Should be a lot cheaper than the F-35. Of course, capability would be lower too; depends on what one needs and can afford I suppose...

That would normally be an attractive option until you remember which British Company has a fairly large piece of the Saab pie.

Not only for the FAA - but wouldn't it represent a modernisation if not an improvement and be "Better" (not in a Top Trumps way) than the Harrier airframe now other than the VTOL capability

Rough Field? - Yup
Small Logs chain? - Yup
Swing role? - Yup

Useful for Rapid Reaction deployments prior to the infrastructure necessary for the Typhoon to come along?

Better or cheaper than the F/A-18 - ?

Not as 'good' or expensive as the F-35 - but still good for british jobs (if the deal is done right)

this is a tangent to this thread, Was a Marinised version of 'Typhoon' ever officially designed??

Might be an excuse to jam in an EJ200 in preference to the current F414...

this is a tangent to this thread, Was a Marinised version of 'Typhoon' ever officially designed??

Yep - complete with ventral periscope (!) to cure the AoA/glideslope/meatball visibility problem!

Ummm... BAe wrote out a proposal, and estimate, complete with their ideas to address the various problems, and estimates of time/cost.

However, no one spent the multiple of millions of Pounds, Euros, or Dollars to actually do the design work.

Fairy Delta/Concorde-type droop snoot was one option (of many) I understand, there again, its quite easy to design a glossy brochure, doing the engineering however...

Didnt think any modern airforce would considered a single engined fighter for blue water operations now a days and yes i know the F-35 is single engined but its VTOL abilitys give it special abilitys .

For the record i like it and think its a great aircraft and i like even more the idea off not being wholey depenedant on the USA for parts/software(esp after the chinook code problems)

If they had or do invest the Eurofighter naval version could tick the boxes , off course there will be a lot to overcome

Off course its only my personal opinion

Sorry, don't understand that, apart from the ability to keep most of the wreckage in one pile.:confused:

Droop snoot ref above was in regard to Typhoon BTW>

Gainesy,

Think positive !

The VTOL capabilities do allow another ' Plan B ' ( as long as your single engine is working ) - remember Lt Ian ' Soapy ' Watson & the ship ' Alraigo ' ?

Now that the USA have very unhelpfully blocked all foreign access to F-35 software source code, a navalised Gripen could be a very good alternative option!

It is a very neat little aircraft, and the Swedes have put some great design features in to it.