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Portugal approaches Saab to purchase Gripen fighter jets following withdrawal from US F-35 program (armyrecognition.com)

submitted 2 days ago by tfm@europe.pub to c/BuyFromEU@europe.pub

9 comments fedilink hide all child comments

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/42527553

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[–] PixelatedSaturn@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I know some basic information about air combat. My assessment is that F35 might not be suited or crucial in the type of warfare that we see today. It was built for the warfare America had experience with in their wars. But that's not what Europe can expect or need. Am I wrong? A somewhat less capable fighter that is a bit more robust might be a better option, not to mention bring a boost to eu.

[–] casmael@lemm.ee 5 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Also don’t the f35’s have some kind of ‘off button’ that the us can press if they feel like it? Not much use if it falls out of the sky when America gets bored and starts randomly pressing buttons and shit

[–] camelbeard@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

This is still not really clear, but a lot of experts think they have it (this is what I hear on podcasts that invite those experts). But even if there is no kill switch, they still need American hardware and software upgrades and maintenance. So America can always decide just not to support it anymore.

[–] boreengreen@lemm.ee 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I imagine stoping software updates will do it.

[–] PixelatedSaturn@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

Yes, it's highly unlikely there is a kill switch, but stopping all types of maintainance might kill it pretty soon .

[–] SapphironZA@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

The Gripen really needs to be re-engined away from its american one. Eurofighter will be good as a top tier fighter for a while, but europe needs a cheap high volume aircraft to replace the F16.

[–] xpinchx@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The F16 is in such an amazing aircraft, US really knocked it out of the park with that one. Multi-role AA/AG, HARM deployment, laser and gos guided bombs, a great targeting pod and HTS for SEAD/DEAD, great speed, and it can hold its own in a dogfight even though it's outclassed by newer gen fighters.

It's really a great platform.

[–] SapphironZA@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago

Yep, it's only really its avionics that is getting out of date now. The rest of it is quite competitive. It lacks the power systems required to run the most modern radars.

[–] yiyijiji@europe.pub 1 points 2 days ago

this is huge, is it not? The F35 will costs decades to repay and is expensive to maintain, more so if countries start rejecting that plane.