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Actually, you're incorrect regarding "risk aversion." The reason the JSF went from a canard to a tailed aircraft is the same reason the ATF prototypes didn't have canards; Canards have a more limited AOA capability when compared to a standard tailed aircraft. Especially in the naval environment where they have the bring back weight requirement coupled with the WOD requirement. The simple fact is the tailed aircraft was the better solution to this problem than the canard configuration was and was also the reason the X-32 gained a horizontal tail. I seriously doubt the Rafale comes anywhere near meeting the U.S. navy's requirements in this regard.It wasn't about risk, it was about what was the best design to meet the requirements, pure and simple. The mission drives the design, not the other way around.
Actually, you're incorrect regarding "risk aversion." The reason the JSF went from a canard to a tailed aircraft is the same reason the ATF prototypes didn't have canards; Canards have a more limited AOA capability when compared to a standard tailed aircraft. Especially in the naval environment where they have the bring back weight requirement coupled with the WOD requirement. The simple fact is the tailed aircraft was the better solution to this problem than the canard configuration was and was also the reason the X-32 gained a horizontal tail. I seriously doubt the Rafale comes anywhere near meeting the U.S. navy's requirements in this regard.
It wasn't about risk, it was about what was the best design to meet the requirements, pure and simple. The mission drives the design, not the other way around.
