Quote:
Originally Posted by 95th Rifleman
The RAF is a shambles right now, savaged by cuts and left wit outdated aircraft on one hand and useless aircraft on the other.
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I have no real idea about the Typhoon (I would like to know, however, why you said it is such a failure? Despite the fact it is quite expensive)
but what you say about the RAF is in IMVMO (VM standing for very modest
) true for every airforce (including USAF). Most of the aircraft flying today have been developed some 30 years ago and the only exception is that of the F22 Raptor (187 planned: must be a joke). F35 Lightning will not enter service before 3-5 years (and it is damn expensive). The PAK-FA will not enter service before 4 years. The Chengdu J-20 is planned to enter service in 7 years.
The most interesting surprise came from China with the Chengdu J20. I recall an exchange we had some years ago where most of us advocated that China wouldn't be able to develop such an aircraft before 2020 (they had one flying last year). For my part I thought it would come earlier than 2020 but not that early.