US To Sell F-22s To Allies

[Prop2Jet]

Keep it away from the ChiComs.

 

[RJP]

Maybe we could trade some 'raptors' for a squadron of SU-37s.

By the way, which fighters have we NOT sold abroad? The Stinkbug and the HOG come to mind. (Though there used to be rumors that the Turks were getting some Hogs, but it never happened)

 

[XShipRider]

F-16

Maybe we could trade some 'raptors' for a squadron of SU-37s.

By the way, which fighters have we NOT sold abroad? The Stinkbug and the HOG come to mind. (Though there used to be rumors that the Turks were getting some Hogs, but it never happened)

If memory serves, the F-16 was not only sold abroad but produced under
license abroad. This was the US attempt to quash the Euro-fighter or
one of it's predecessors. Talk about technology transfer!

Proceedings magazine had quite a few articles regarding this subject, at
the time that is.

The F-22 deal seems to give our wonderful Chinese friends [sic] way too many
espionage opportunities. Not that we haven't given away the store already in
many respects.

 

[Gorilla]

There was a rumour floating around in the 1980's that an AIM-9L, an extremely capable, all-aspect heat seeker, was stolen from a NATO ally when 3 guys simply jumped a fence, grabbed a Lima, and tossed it back over the fence tail-first. They threw the missile in a pickup, and were never found. Shortly thereafter, Soviet IR missiles suddenly began to perform much better. Hmmmm....

 

[stonewall]

There was a rumour floating around in the 1980's that an AIM-9L, an extremely capable, all-aspect heat seeker, was stolen from a NATO ally when 3 guys simply jumped a fence, grabbed a Lima, and tossed it back over the fence tail-first. They threw the missile in a pickup, and were never found. Shortly thereafter, Soviet IR missiles suddenly began to perform much better. Hmmmm....

That's an odd rumor. The AIM-9M is about 4th or 5th on the list when it comes to heaters. They Python and Archer are much better, and always have been. The AIM-9X, however....whole new ball game.

 

[stonewall]

What a crock. A small handfull of three and four star generals greedily paving the way for their own retirement riches as Lockheed Martin employees or consultants. Meanwhile our grunts still don't have the resources they need to properly fight this war, which is even sadder when you consider their needs are not even pennies on the dollar compared to this F-22 debacle. And let's not even get started on the AF's decision to scuttle large portions of several MWS in favor of more F-22's. (The B-52 comes to mind.)

You really believe this is the reason we might sell Raptors to Japan? Those guys are going to get consulting jobs regardless. Further, they won't be the ones to make the call. You do realize the BUFF is 50 years old? It's effective, but how long do you want to keep it around?

Maybe we should just scrap the F-22 and keep the -16s and -15s until they're 75 years old. Then we'll think of something later on.

 

[Gorilla]

That's an odd rumor. The AIM-9M is about 4th or 5th on the list when it comes to heaters. They Python and Archer are much better, and always have been. The AIM-9X, however....whole new ball game.

You sure Magnum? Remember, this was the early '80's, right after the Lima came out. The Atoll was then the heater of choice for most of the Warsaw pact, and lacked all-aspect capability because their seeker technology was dung.

Prior to the Lima, for us it was often the Papa, and we know that envelope is crap, so the Lima was a huge step up for us, despite its look-down tendency to glom onto hot desert rocks, camel farts, stuff like that, instead of enemy aircraft.

 

[kcowgergmm]

well im not the smartest but that doesnt sound like a good idea to me. I think we should sell them f-14 tomcats since they are being retired.

 

[XShipRider]

Never sold the Intruders, though. Those were the only ones that were really important.

Or the EA version of same. Same goes for the S-3. It makes you think
there must have been some cutting edge electronics on those birds.

 

[SIG600]

Or the EA version of same. Same goes for the S-3. It makes you think
there must have been some cutting edge electronics on those birds.

You can always take the stereo out before you sell the car...