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Here's my take. Australia has been a stalwart ally of the US since day one. You've been generous enough to allow the US to share some of your bases for a common goal. It's a mutual relationship between the two countries. I doubt the US will screw Australia on the F-35. It will be exactly what they say. The finest Stealth Fighter in the world for it's roll outside the ones the US will have.
originally posted by: Zaphod58
There is a slight difference in the RAM coating applied to other countries aircraft, but it's the difference between a BB and a small marble to the radar.
originally posted by: Bedlam
theon. I'll see if I can dredge it up.
Heh. Speaking of blinding sensors, an IR target designator is good at blinding 'sensors' too. I wonder if people have wised up and started putting IR filters in rifle scopes and binocs?
.
originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: mbkennel
Except for things like cooling, computer power, electrical power, etc. A platform that doesn't already have an AESA radar, and the on board computer to handle this aren't going to refit easily if at all.
No, it means that they're in a position to defend themselves if the need arises, a lot better than with Hornets flying around.
They don't have to invade. Just hit the infrastructure hard enough, and they can do a lot of damage and cause a lot of problems.
Australia doesn't have enemies as such, but there are several countries in our region that would rather we were somewhere else. These countries are Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar and the Solomon Islands. Australia can be quite vocal and direct in the promotion of democracy. This rattles the nerves of some of our Asian neighbours where there are governments in power not used to international scrutiny. Sometimes they take our well intentioned nudges to do the right thing as interfering in their affairs. This is especially so with nations with large Islamic populations or authoritarian (military) governments.
originally posted by: hutch622
a reply to: [post=18888999]boomer135[/post
Boomer perhaps yourself or Zaphod might be able to answer this . Will the planes that Australia are purchasing have this capability . The reason i ask this is below .
Controversially, Australia was promised by its US ambassador back in 2000 that it would get “the stealthiest aeroplane that anybody outside the United States can acquire”.
But will that be enough given that the aircraft is so inferior to its opponents without its optimal stealth abilities?
The US ambassador again:
“Having said that, the aeroplane will not be exactly the same aeroplane as the United States will have. But it will be a stealth fighter; it will have stealth capabilities; and it will be at the highest level that anyone in the world has outside the United States.”
This sounds like it will be a more than capable aircraft although most articles i read seam to label it as a white elephant .
Also this
a flying supercomputer pumping an unprecedented level of information into a $500,000 helmet that allows pilots to “see” through the floor of their own aircraft.
If this is true i want one .