Firefox...not the browser :-)

[Lexandro]

Originally Posted by InfiniteStates

I can see clearly that stealth is a one trick pony - but it "should" let you take the initiative. But can a plane not have both? Or is a stealth shape too unstable for OVT too?

Its expense that stop both on a single airframe. OVT can be used with stealth designs, its just extremely expensive to have both. The F22 when it was in pre-development (IE drawing board) was intended to have full 360 degree thrust vectoring but the sheer cost of development and contruction meant that they have to reduce the vectoring ability.

And a "cobra" manouvere is old hat now, its the "mongoose" thats the killer move. Check out some video's of the old X-31 program that was the test bed for full thrust vectoring. Its mind blowing stuff,