If china jumped in a decade to this level then within 5-10 years it will be the next worldpower that produces everything. I doubt that it is possible to copy that. While China is getting orders after orders the Indian side sells almost nothing and imports almost everything. Basicly it shows that you cannot compare these two nations anymore. It does not degrade any side but it shows that there is no reason to make fun remarks out of it (making toiletpapers for others). Just compare the military celebrations of China and India… I think it is obvious who is improving and who is mis-using the title.

I think very valid and fair points, wars arent won by people sitting around playing top trumps with there defense industries.

Also to note that history has proven time and time again that when it comes down to Brass tax nothing is ever certain and just military numbers alone do not assure you of a quick and easy victory.

Israel did not do so badly in the 70’s against overwhelming odds.

And there’s nothing wrong with that. My point isn’t to denigrate the Akash, but to show that it is not technically superior to the Buk systems. India probably decided they didn’t need something that complex or that expensive. With that many MKIs flying around SAM coverage is a bit redundant anyway.

I violently agree, i do not think there is anything wrong. Its life.. And I would wonder if anyone who developed the AKASH would care either or if they would be so averse to say in closed circles they used a helping hand 🙂 (more for IP reasons than pride reasons).

SOC , Akash uniqueness lies in its Rocket/Ramjet propulsion , giving it low volume/low weight and power all the way flight for the end game energy , PAR and mobility

But Austin wasnt the AKASH’s body based on another such Indian bought Soviet made SAM? I believe this was done to reduce some of the risk and based on the old idium “dont fix what aint broke”

Warship Business Gives Boost to UK Economy

(Source: BAE Systems; issued November 9, 2009)

Portsmouth, UK – A report published today has revealed that BAE Systems Surface Ships, formerly BVT Surface Fleet, added almost £600 million to the UK economy and supported almost 15,000 jobs last year, demonstrating the economic and social value of the warship industry to the UK.

The study by the University of Strathclyde’s Fraser of Allander Institute examines the direct and indirect economic impact of the warship business, recently brought under full ownership of BAE Systems. It covers employment, wages, turnover and contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for BAE Systems Surface Ships’ operations in Glasgow, Portsmouth and Filton for the year 2008/09*.

Key findings for BAE Systems Surface Ships:

— Total turnover generated amounted to £1.12 billion
— Its operations contributed £231 million directly to GDP, with an additional £366 million created in the wider economy through the knock-on effects of wage and supplier payments
— It employed around 6,700 people directly across its UK sites, with a further 8,200 supported elsewhere in the UK
— This means that for every 100 people employed directly, a further 122 jobs were supported in the wider economy
— The business generated a total of £426 million worth of wages across the UK, including £199 million paid directly and re-expenditure accounting for a further £227 million
— Every £100 paid directly in wages to its employees supported a further £111 worth of wage income elsewhere in the UK

Alan Johnston, Managing Director of BAE Systems Surface Ships, commented: “The findings of the study demonstrate that our business and the warship industry continue to thrive in the UK and the number of people who benefit from the shipyards continues to increase year on year.

“Despite the current economic climate, we have seen significant growth in the past year and have the strongest future order book that this industry has seen in many years. Our long-term partnering agreement with the Ministry of Defence will help to sustain key industry capabilities in the UK and we will continue to invest in our people and facilities to ensure that, as part of BAE Systems, we remain at the heart of British industry.”

The report reinforces the importance of BAE Systems’ commitment to working closely with its supply chain and industrial partners to drive innovation, enhance efficiencies and develop the skills necessary to ensure the long-term contribution of the warship industry to the UK economy. Its Surface Ships business has quadrupled its commitment to research and development to £2.5 million and continues to invest in skills to provide a strong base for its future domestic and export business.

The Fraser of Allander Institute is a research unit of the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. The Institute carries out research on regional issues generally and the Scottish economy in particular, including forecasting and the analysis of short-term and medium-term movements in Scottish economic activity.

BAE Systems is the premier global defence, security and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. With approximately 105,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems’ sales exceeded £18.5 billion (US $34.4 billion) in 2008.

Order for F-35 Fighter Assembly Line is KUKA Systems North America’s Largest Aerospace Contract

(Source: KUKA Systems Corporation North America; issued November 9, 2009)

STERLING HEIGHTS, MI / AUGSBURG, Germany — A contract from Northrop Grumman Corp worth over $100 million for installation of an integrated assembly line for the F-35 Lightning II jet fighter program is the largest ever received by the aerospace division of Sterling Heights/MI-based KUKA System North America.

It’s also believed to be the first time a major aerospace manufacturer has contracted with a vendor to supply and install a complete assembly line and underscores how major aerospace companies are embracing large-scale automation.

The line, designed by the four-year-old aerospace division of KUKA Systems North America in Clinton Township, MI, in close collaboration with Northrup Grumman’s engineering staff, will be installed between 2010 and 2014, and enable Northrop Grumman to achieve a production rate of one center fuselage per day for the F-35 program. The US Department of Defense is committed to acquiring more than 2,400 F-35s in three variants: the F-35A for conventional land-based operations, F-35B with short takeoff and vertical landing capability and F-35C for carrier-based operations.

Several countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Italy and the Netherlands, are contributing development funds towards the estimated $40-billion cost of the project. Lockheed Martin Corp is prime contractor and Northrop Grumman a major partner.

KUKA Systems’ contract covers the supply, installation and commissioning of all assembly tooling and equipment to manufacture the F-35 center fuselage. That’s over 500 tools required for 78 tool positions occupying 200,000 sq ft of floor space. KUKA Systems is supplying some of its own KUKA Aerospace automation tools and solutions as well as KUKA robots, the most widely used in the aerospace industry. The company also will be sourcing equipment from some of Northrop Grumman’s regular suppliers on the US West Coast and regular KUKA Systems vendors, particularly in Michigan.

When completed, the center fuselage assembly line will represent the culmination of many person years of development by KUKA Systems and Northrop Grumman, working collaboratively, to design and install an aircraft manufacturing line as a fully optimized system rather than as a conglomeration of independent tooling stations. “The contribution of Northrop Grumman’s extremely talented, dedicated team, working with our own great group, has been instrumental in making this concept and design a reality,” says Robert Reno, Director Aerospace, KUKA Systems North America.

The contract leverages KUKA Systems’ considerable expertise as a leading automation supplier and systems integrator for the automotive industry. “No major aerospace company has ever really contracted a supplier like us to design and build an entire integrated assembly line,” says Reno. Typically large aerospace manufacturers are their own integrators, bidding specific parts of the assembly line from different suppliers and then integrating them. “In this case, Northrop Grumman wanted the most efficient process design layout to produce one center fuselage per day and sought out our expertise in automation,” says Reno.

“This really is a significant step for the industry, but for KUKA Systems, it’s just one of many integrated automation solutions we’re developing for improving the productivity and efficiency of aircraft manufacturing.”

KUKA Systems is an international supplier of flexible production systems to the automotive, aerospace, renewable energy and other industries in which highly automated processes are required. A workforce of around 3,700 worldwide works on ideas, concepts and solutions for automated production, as well as supplying products and services for virtually all tasks in the industrial processing of metallic and non-metallic materials. KUKA Systems posted a total order volume of around (euro) 855m in 2008.

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Who copied from who?, Sorry, never been much interested to find answer on that question.

Thanks for the leads on the materials first of all, some interesting info, although the home brew composites used in 5th gen airframe seems a bit low on strength.

When i was asking if it was re-branded what i actually ment was that were these systems bought under a Russian spec from other western or japanese composite producers… but having looked at the specs i have my answers.

You are taking me totally wrong there.

The EPE engines being offered has nothing to do with the increased G limit, neither did I imply it.

The SH is a 9G capable aircraft which is G limited for the USN through FCS that limitation will be removed for the ones offered to IAF.

Why would the the USN have limiters on its aircraft to 9g?