Digging further... the P.1121 best chance, in the 60's, is related to the following mix
- F-105/ Phantom capability
- except with a Medway or Spey turbofan, not unlike the Viggen
- larger than the Mirage F1 / no delta-wing like the Mirage III - larger and more powerful than these two
- no VG wing (with all the hassles we can only see with perfect hindsight)
- the gap between the F-5A / F-5E and the Phantom is too wide (far larger than F-15 / F-16 or Tomcat / Hornet)
- OTL the Mirage F1 got a "low end Phantom, anti- Mig-23" role in some countries, (think South Africa)
The P.1121 could fill a niche according to the above and sell in decent numbers. Notably to Arab states.
Some production numbers from the era
- Phantom: 5200
- F-5: 2200
- F-104: 2200
- Mirage III: 1400+
- Mirage F1: 700
Clearly, if the P.1121 can get some slices out of the Mirages, F-104 and Phantom OTL sales, then there is hope. F-5 was dirt cheap and as such, harder to target for a large aircraft like the P.1121. Also OTL Lightning (rares) clients like Saudi Arabia and UAE.
F-104 users
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
Germany
Greece
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Netherlands
Norway
Pakistan
Spain
Taiwan (Republic of China)
Turkey
F-5 Tiger
Austria
Bahrain
Botswana
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Ethiopia
Greece
Honduras
Indonesia
Iran
Jordan
Kenya
South Korea
Libya
Mexico
Morocco
Malaysia
Netherlands
Norway
Philippines
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Vietnam
Spain
Sudan
Switzerland
Taiwan (Republic of China)
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Venezuela
Yemen
- F-105/ Phantom capability
- except with a Medway or Spey turbofan, not unlike the Viggen
- larger than the Mirage F1 / no delta-wing like the Mirage III - larger and more powerful than these two
- no VG wing (with all the hassles we can only see with perfect hindsight)
- the gap between the F-5A / F-5E and the Phantom is too wide (far larger than F-15 / F-16 or Tomcat / Hornet)
- OTL the Mirage F1 got a "low end Phantom, anti- Mig-23" role in some countries, (think South Africa)
The P.1121 could fill a niche according to the above and sell in decent numbers. Notably to Arab states.
Some production numbers from the era
- Phantom: 5200
- F-5: 2200
- F-104: 2200
- Mirage III: 1400+
- Mirage F1: 700
Clearly, if the P.1121 can get some slices out of the Mirages, F-104 and Phantom OTL sales, then there is hope. F-5 was dirt cheap and as such, harder to target for a large aircraft like the P.1121. Also OTL Lightning (rares) clients like Saudi Arabia and UAE.
F-104 users
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
Germany
Greece
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Netherlands
Norway
Pakistan
Spain
Taiwan (Republic of China)
Turkey
F-5 Tiger
Austria
Bahrain
Botswana
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Ethiopia
Greece
Honduras
Indonesia
Iran
Jordan
Kenya
South Korea
Libya
Mexico
Morocco
Malaysia
Netherlands
Norway
Philippines
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Vietnam
Spain
Sudan
Switzerland
Taiwan (Republic of China)
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Venezuela
Yemen
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