tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802759141459573337.post5945073327223890716..comments2024-03-20T13:29:19.105-07:00Comments on Gripen for Canada: Of haters, picking nits, and fanboys...Doug Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10504832466775445050noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802759141459573337.post-10007889703459775342013-12-02T10:23:07.048-08:002013-12-02T10:23:07.048-08:00Let me correct something, Pierre Sprey NEVER advoc...Let me correct something, Pierre Sprey NEVER advocated WVR-only dogfighter. What he wanted was a small, simple fighter with passive beyond visual range engagement capability, using opponent's radar fir engagement (he called it "beyond radar range"). Capability is present in Dassault Rafale.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802759141459573337.post-25699100465698015692013-11-07T16:28:14.055-08:002013-11-07T16:28:14.055-08:00I was a HUGE fan of the F-35, believe it or not, b...I was a HUGE fan of the F-35, believe it or not, back when it was still the X-35. I've followed the JSF program closely, knowing it would likely be Canada's next fighter.<br /><br />Along the way, there just seems to be more and more disappointment involved with the program. Too many compromises, too many unrealistic expectations.<br /><br />I like to think I've gone beyond playing Doug Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10504832466775445050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802759141459573337.post-58386882593664740902013-11-06T03:59:35.466-08:002013-11-06T03:59:35.466-08:00I'm going to throw in my two cents here. I was...I'm going to throw in my two cents here. I was interested in military aviation for a long time, and my first link to it was model of the F-15 I had as a child. F-15 remained my favorite fighter aircraft for the long time; but after an early report on the F-22, I became an F-22 fan. But I always kept researching, and with time I began to doubt wether F-22 is really as good as I thought. After Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802759141459573337.post-79418196819664214462013-04-13T17:53:53.851-07:002013-04-13T17:53:53.851-07:00"That "$105 million per plane" Swis..."That "$105 million per plane" Swiss Gripen deal is more complicated than you make it out to be. The cost includes Switzerland picking up part of the development costs (without which the NG might not have been approved), parts, support, training, and even a lease of several Gripen Cs to ease transition and replace aging Swiss F-5s until new build Gripen Es are available. It also DC cocktail partierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05276507791270795315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802759141459573337.post-67059106294360774642013-04-13T17:31:09.433-07:002013-04-13T17:31:09.433-07:00I would say check your history, Sprey and many oth...I would say check your history, Sprey and many others predicted a tremendous failure, be it with the Bradley, Abrams tanks, F-15 and many other weapon systems that passed with flying colors in 1991. Their reputations took one helluva a hit after that. When you bet your reputation on something failing miserably and it actually works, that would be a problem to your credibility in professional DC cocktail partierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05276507791270795315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802759141459573337.post-44345866393908495332013-04-13T16:37:08.152-07:002013-04-13T16:37:08.152-07:00The Swiss declared the Gripen NG the winner of its...The Swiss declared the Gripen NG the winner of its fighter competition against the Rafale and Typhoon based primarily on price. It was considered the best value of the three, even if the others were slightly more capable fighters and the fact that the NG was still in development.<br /><br />That "$105 million per plane" Swiss Gripen deal is more complicated than you make it out to be.Doug Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10504832466775445050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802759141459573337.post-33539840496614775352013-04-13T16:20:26.496-07:002013-04-13T16:20:26.496-07:00Both Sprey and Wheeler seem to have enjoyed rather...Both Sprey and Wheeler seem to have enjoyed rather stellar reputations before they spoke out against the F-35, you ever wonder why they suddenly become so un-credible?<br /><br />Don't forget that Sprey was also partly responsible for the A-10, an aircraft that has needed very little in the way of updates and is still in very much demand and respected by ground troops. It has enjoyed little Doug Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10504832466775445050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802759141459573337.post-60044134543830114362013-04-13T11:38:34.478-07:002013-04-13T11:38:34.478-07:00Pierre Sprey, has essentially been proven wrong by...Pierre Sprey, has essentially been proven wrong by history. his vision of a super simple light daylight fighter in the F-16 has seen F-16s constantly being unpgraded with more equipment to make them deadlier in all weather along with being multirole, we actually see this as well with the Gripen NG, more weight more features, higher cost, but better in quality. had Sprey been right we would DC cocktail partierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05276507791270795315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802759141459573337.post-2638655133920203862013-04-13T11:38:00.667-07:002013-04-13T11:38:00.667-07:00Doug, Lets do a quick openness check:
I would tak...Doug, Lets do a quick openness check:<br /><br />I would take it easy on the F-35 in development. the original gripen has development issues as well (including a crash), and yes the Gripen NG will also have development issues, and it will be delayed and over budget --the only question is by how much. We don't hear about Gripen NG issues the way we do the F-35 issues because the Gripen NG isn&DC cocktail partierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05276507791270795315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802759141459573337.post-29684584433649390652013-03-11T20:15:09.493-07:002013-03-11T20:15:09.493-07:00It always amazes me how many people who support th...It always amazes me how many people who support the F-35 seem to do so while turning a blind eye to all its issues an problems. "It's still in development!" they say, ignoring the fact that it was supposed to be operational YEARS ago. "Military programs are always overbudget and finish behind schedule!" they say, ignoring the spec downgrades. "It doesn't matterDoug Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10504832466775445050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802759141459573337.post-4920844070588073902013-03-11T19:59:31.350-07:002013-03-11T19:59:31.350-07:00I don't mind being called a Gripen fan-boy, to...I don't mind being called a Gripen fan-boy, to tell you the truth. My respect for the airplane didn't come from seeing a cool picture in a magazine or on the internet. Nor did I fall in love with it by watching one perform at an airshow with rock music blasting over the PA. I have yet to even see one in real life. No, my respect comes from actually learning about the aircraft, its Doug Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10504832466775445050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802759141459573337.post-45666606480134926352013-03-11T16:56:06.784-07:002013-03-11T16:56:06.784-07:00Well said, Doug. Remember, this is the internet an...Well said, Doug. Remember, this is the internet and you'll always have your fair share of trolls. I started out much like you, excited about the F-35, but was gradually worn down as more and more problems popped up. After a certain point, I lost confidence in the F-35. For a while, I was in the Super Hornet camp. I actually came to find out about the Gripen by accident; a random stranger StrikeBeaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00179546616939868864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802759141459573337.post-6131887859955976162013-03-11T10:35:08.675-07:002013-03-11T10:35:08.675-07:00Being called a "Gripen" fan-boy sucks. ...Being called a "Gripen" fan-boy sucks. But really I went through the same process as you did. Started out thinking the F-35 was perfect, to realizing it is very wrong for Canada. Than the Typhoon which is a great plane but just costs to much to buy and operate. I still believe the Rafale is the best plane for Canada's requirements (twin engines, great range) but has too many Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09295094842995394889noreply@blogger.com