Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.

[shahadi]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

I suspect the F-35B will be a significant improvement over the Sea Harrier. Since the UK decided not to outfit the Queen Elizabeth's as conventional carriers any attempt to compare the F-35 to the F-18 is pointless. If they wanted F-18's they'd have outfitted the carriers to handle them.

Only with respect to carrier based EW roles, the F-35B or F-35C can not replace the F-18 Growler. This looms as a major concern.

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[Suhiir]

Originally Posted by shahadi

Only with respect to carrier based EW roles, the F-35B or F-35C can not replace the F-18 Growler. This looms as a major concern.

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Read up on the EF-35C Ferret.

[shahadi]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Read up on the EF-35C Ferret.

Sure. But, where they're going to put the lift fan to accommodate the backseat EW officer?

[IronDuke99]

I remember having heated discussions, getting on for ten years ago, on why UK should have gone cats and traps and F18 Super Hornet for the new carriers. That were always, supposedly, designed for relatively easy conversion from VSTOL to conventional carriers.

Sadly the RAF was 100% behind F35B -since they believe it will allow pilots to operate from carriers with relatively little training and/or seatime- and, sadly, so was a good deal of the Royal Navy, although back then the idea was a smooth transition from VSTOL Harrier to VSTOL F35B. Of course now UK has had a carrier gap, all be it with air and deck crews working with the USN to retain skills.

I don't doubt F35B will be better than Sea Harrier, since it is a much more modern aircraft. although it worries me that something like pilot ejecting safety, that, obviously has little or nothing whatever to do with computer codes, and a great deal to do with air frame design and aerodynamics is in issue after 15 years of design and testing work...