I keep looking at this jet and it finally dawned on me. This reminds me of a weaponized and enlarged "Honda Jet" type airplane. I wonder if we're seeing the start of a new trend. Articles have been written about the West pricing itself out of the fighter business. UAVs seem to rapidly following the manned airplane model. Are jets like the Scorpion the future?
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Scorpion's First Taxi - McConnell AFB
I keep looking at this jet and it finally dawned on me. This reminds me of a weaponized and enlarged "Honda Jet" type airplane. I wonder if we're seeing the start of a new trend. Articles have been written about the West pricing itself out of the fighter business. UAVs seem to rapidly following the manned airplane model. Are jets like the Scorpion the future?
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Maybe, but these are rather low performance. Why buy a Scorpion when a Super Toucan is almost as good and cheaper?
ReplyDeleteEven the "Chinese F-20", the JF-17, at 22-25 million a pop, has had maybe 1 export order for 7 jets.
Most non-western or not rich air forces either want a modern 4 or 4.5 generation jet squadron or 2, or no jets at all.
The Scorpion needs an F414 engine and swept wings and an internal gun.
David McSpadden
ReplyDeleteThe Sporpion is a CAS specific plane. Faster jets are actually unsuitable for CAS roles.
The only problem is that there is little demand for this kind of product and foreign buyers usually do not buy until the host country of vendor buys some for its own services.
I think the Scorpion could be a modern replacement for the old A-37 Dragonfly that most countries in South America are Flying. It would make sense for an ISR and CAS Aircraft. If they Built it right to the same level as the A-10, you could conceivably see the Scorpion as a Future A-10 Replacement.
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