What is your opinion on SU-30mkm?

Heu... Against the F-35 Lightning II (JSF) the next generation fighter jets of some Asia Countries... That has lower radar stealth level and infrared hotspot (In addition, this coating is also said to offer extra benefit in drag reduction) would be a plus.

The clear implication of the RAND study is that the F-35 is very likely to wind up facing many more “up close and personal” opponents than its proponents suggest, while dealing with effective beyond-visual-range infrared-guided missiles as an added complication. Unlike the F-22, the F-35 is described as “double inferior” to modern SU-30 family fighters within visual range combat; thrust and wing loading issues are summed up in one RAND background slide as “can’t [out]turn, can’t [out]climb, can’t [out]run.”

The F-35 design is potentially cope better against the MBDA (FMRAAM) Meteor because with its IR sensors the F35 should be able to detect the Meteor at long range and thus take early avoidance manoeuvres. Even when a Meteor missile turns on its radar scanner, its reduced detection range means the F-35 pilot need never let it get close enough to detect his aircraft (assuming the Rafael or Typhoon even detects him in the first place to launch).

Stealth is worth it as long as it doesn’t completely compromise everything else. Otherwise one breakthrough and you are a sitting duck with your very expensive white elephant (please excuse the mixed metaphors).

Therefore, we shouldn’t think of stealth as a be all and end all. Rather, we should think of stealth as a form of passive radar countermeasure. It means that even if the airborne attacking adversary has long wave radars that will tell them roughly where their targets are, they no longer have the option of a long range shot with a BVR missile, because the stealth effect has reduced its detection range enough to make it less useful as a fire and forget weapon.

Being able to see a target is only half the problem, you have to be able to hit it with something!

The Lockheed Martin F-16 block 52+ with BVR capability and new electronics, better radar would be another Plus....

Memorable Moment - YF-16 Test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAp4RtGKbHE

it's the same, with some national tweaks from Malaysian customer.