BAe Sea Hawk II

[GTX]

This may be daft, but how difficult would it be to re-engineer the Hawk to be low observable?  That way, the Navy could field a low cost alternative to the F-35, with most of it's capabilities.

The hawk even in a stealthy upgraded form is in no way comparable to the F-35.  You might as well say the hawk could replace the Typhoon.

Regards,

Greg

[John Howling Mouse]

Nice work: you made it look easy!

[MartG]

I´d go for Rafale Ms, which are relatively small but true combat fighters.

I can't see the UK buying Rafales after the political issues with Eurofighter v. Rafale

This may be daft, but how difficult would it be to re-engineer the Hawk to be low observable?  That way, the Navy could field a low cost alternative to the F-35, with most of it's capabilities.

The hawk even in a stealthy upgraded form is in no way comparable to the F-35.  You might as well say the hawk could replace the Typhoon.

Regards,

Greg

Yep - my backstory assumes there is a problem with getting the F-35 on time, and the Hawk is simply a stopgap

[NARSES2]

I like those 

[Eddie M.]

Great work. I really like the looks of those bad boys!

[B777LR]

This may be daft, but how difficult would it be to re-engineer the Hawk to be low observable?  That way, the Navy could field a low cost alternative to the F-35, with most of it's capabilities.

Might be more easy to just create an all new design...

[gunfighter]

Yes, sure buying the rafale would be a kick in the donkey for the british planners, but if you cancel the JSF there are only two options to embark a plane: rafale or super bug, and the second is rather big for the kind of carrier we are considering.
The hawk is small, cheap, easy to maintain, even nice  , but imagine you have to deploy a task force to south east asia, and deal with those flankers...
Anyway, it´s a nice build 

[MartG]

Yes, sure buying the rafale would be a kick in the arse for the british planners, but if you cancel the JSF there are only two options to embark a plane: rafale or super bug,

More likely the naval version of the Typhoon which has already been considered

[pyro-manic]

Yup, BAE did a feasibility study for Typhoon N a few years ago, and apparently it's doable. Main differences are new, podded undercarriage, and a modified cockpit to give better landing visibility.

Sea Hawks would make a good stopgap light strike aircraft, I agree. I think the important thing would be to fit an uprated engine, and more stores pylons (possibly on an enlarged wing?).