Replica...

[boff180]

I can't help wondering whether we, as a nation, should have continued development of Replica post 1999 rather than joining the F-35 program.

Whilst I doubt it would of fulfilled the carrier requirement, it would have given the UK a home grown stealth capability and a platform to replace Tornado.

What do others think?

Andy

[stratocaster]

Possibly,but it was just a mock up demonstrator in a joint venture with the then McDonnell-Douglas corporation,we will definitely go it alone with some other stealth projects such as Taranis and whatever else we have up in the sky being tested out at the moment!! Whilst the Lockheed-Martin/BAE "Lightning 2" or F-35 as we all know it is a joint venture, you have to ask who learned and gained the most from who in this?
Both the US and the UK have got stealth projects,only the F-35,F-22 and Taranis are the ones we've been made aware of!
Footnote,,wasn't Taranis to replace some of the Tornado fleet and the rest made up of F-35 capabilities with Typhoon as the main fast jet?