QUOTE(hafizushi @ Nov 23 2013, 11:22 PM)
some good info/comparison between aircraft that enter our mrca, from indian mrca Gripen NG, Super hornet, typhoon, rafale, mig 35(not in msia mrca) and f16(not in msia mrca)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_MRCA_competition


combat radius;
rafale 1,800 km
typhoon 1,390 km on air defence with 10-min loiter
f16 550 km on a hi-lo-hi mission with six 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs
super hornet 722 km
gripen NG 1300 km with six AAMs + drop tanks, and 30 min on station
Mig 35 1000 km
we need an aircraft that can operate more than 1000km i think since sabah and sarawak quite far,
It hard to compare.
They are not comparing it with equal condition.
for example in order for gripen to achieve 1300km combat radius it require to carry a few fuel tank.
The same for rafale it did not state how much fuel tank it carry. Rafale did say 1800km combat radius by having deep penetration mission payload. It rather cloudy how it achieve such distance. Mind you rafale carry less fuel than superhornet.
Anyway it wont be a problem for us in term of combat radius to cover sabah and sarawak as well.
it is not like sabah and sarawak dun have any afb for us to refuel and rearmed. Beside it were calculate in radius not ferry range.