SU-30MK --> Maverick is well and truely screwed

[Skunk]

Dogfighting (English US = ACM) is a subsonic activity. To get a Harrier to go supersonic, it would probably lose the ability to land vertically.

It was on the drawing boards. VTOL, Mach 2. Got the go-ahead then canned before the prototype. This was around 1968.

[Swoop]

It was on the drawing boards. VTOL, Mach 2. Got the go-ahead then canned before the prototype. This was around 1968.

How unusual for the English to cancel a decent aircraft type...

Who said TSR2???

[Timber020]

Supersonic is seldom used in combat anyhow. If you look at all the jets used in vietnam and there capacity for speed, alot had the capacity to really burn, but it ate fuel and was very uncommon for them to break mach one.

[Timber020]

Correct. You want to keep as much engery available as possible. Stopping in midair makes you a stationary target.

Dogfighting (English US = ACM) is a subsonic activity. To get a Harrier to go supersonic, it would probably lose the ability to land vertically.

That bloody organic component slowing things up... again!
MiG 29s with the helmet mounted sighting system started it all... just look at your opposition and the missile drops off the rail and can turn into the attack far quicker than anything organic.
The Russian engineers know how to design a plane AND make it look SEXY!

The old saying "nasa spent hundreds of thousands of dollars developing a pen that could write in space, the russians used a pencil."
Russian jets could be gassed up from fuel cans, rearmed by peasants and the $100 guidance system developed in the 80's was as good and more reliable than the hundreds of thousand dollar systems the US were using.
Like the M16, alot of the US stuff is great on paper and in tests, but when it comes to the grit, the russian gear doesnt shine, but like the ak47 it gets the job done.

[James Deuce]

The advent of "Supercruise" (Non-afterburner supersonic cruising speeds for the F22) has changed all that and Russian and French/Israeli designed Supersonic aircraft are now at a distinct range and speed disadvantage at the top end of the Fighter Spectrum.

The F35 has VTOL variant (F35B) that will replace the Harrier GR8 and AV8B and has a max speed of Mach 1.8. The F35 also replaces the F16 and F/A18.

[imdying]

The old saying "nasa spent hundreds of thousands of dollars developing a pen that could write in space, the russians used a pencil."

Which by the way is bullshit

/edit: And you'll notice which team made it to the moon...

[R6_kid:Me]

/edit: And you'll notice which team made it to the moon...

Thats a whole different kettle of fish mate... lets not get started on that one!