My take, based on the current rendering (cockpit size) and based on the general requirements of both Japan and the UK, is that Tempest will be F22 sized.SW1 wrote: ↑15 Apr 2023, 08:36 I really now sure how people are judging size and scale from the public rendering shown so far or what they mean by big!
The tornado f3 had roughly the same wingspan and length as a f22, f22 has a heavier MTOW but tornado is commented on as small and f22 is big.
Like wise f35 is classed as small but has up to 70k lbs MTOW which pretty much f14 tomcat/f18 e weight which was a big aircraft but in a smaller overall physical aircraft size.
Mirage 2000 was comparable to the f16 not the twin engine f15.
So it will interesting to know what length, span and weight people are basing there judgements on small and big on. Modern materials will lower structural weight and allow increased max weight for a given size compared to older aircraft.
I expect it therefore to be approximately 30/ 50% bigger than Thypoon.
I expect the Franco, German, Spanish effort to be approx Thypoon sized, so bigger than Rafael.
Aircraft carrier capability will keep a lid on its size.
One comment, the stretched Tornado F3 was actually the size the UK originally envisioned for MRCA, far closer to the starting 'datum' point, the UKVGA.
Had a true multirole F4 class aircraft like UKVGA been pursued, then we may well have sold double the number.
German intransigence ensured Tornado was a sharply focused European Central front strike aircraft, of the absolute minimum size necessary.
The RAF had to fight it's corner hard to ensure Thypoon was the size it ended up being, the Germans fought hard make a smaller machine.