The RR Merlin and the DB 600 series remained very close through the wars. Noone would talk of the P-51 if it wasn't mated with the Merlin engine which finally made it the dominant Long-range escort fighter. The Spitfire along with the 109 were the only fighters in production through the whole war and being able to remain in the top league (the 109 fell back however, as it wasn't able to cope with additional weight as good as the Spit).
You always find a fighter which is better than the Spit in a certain way. In overall performance it is still a remarkable plane and remained the most-feared by the pilots of the Luftwaffe through the whole war. Every german pilot swore it was a Spitfire which downed him even if it was a Hurricane or a P-xx ...
The AV-8B is pretty obviously based on the successful british Harrier design, which is far superior to the crappy und pretty uncapable Yak-38 Forger. The latter was a pilot killer and went out of service pretty soon. Maybe you meant the Yak-141 - its supersonic replacement, a probably very potent plane but sadly it didn't make it into the fleet after the soviet Breakdown.
About tanks: I think the 105mm L7 gun was also of british origin? It was some sort of standard gun - certainly not because it was a bad weapon.
Another thing which comes to my mind is the Tornado bomber which was probably the best in its class when it came into service and is still able to deliver its punch today ...
|