Any more details on how this mid-air collision occured?

Transall – JASDF Museum??? Where in Japan is that?

The MiG-29M as MiG-33, and the advanced MiG-29 derivative as MiG-35, are both unofficial designations by the Mikoyan OKB that postdate the fall of the USSR. The official designation of the MiG-29M is still “MiG-29M”. I guess it is possible that if the MiG-29M had entered production as the MiG-33 for export purposes, that the Russian airforce would have skipped the designation, but given their stubborn insistence on calling the “Fullback” Su-34 “Su-27IB” somehow I doubt it.

That’s all I needed to know. Thanks Paul. Unofficial they might have been, but the plausible export ‘what if..?’ could have made them reality.

Its really wierd, no fighter is perfect when it comes to the defence of Australia, agility is one thing, but then………the weapon’s range is always the problem. Defending a country like Australia is very hard.

On the flip side, invading Australia, or even effectively attacking Australia is extremely difficult too. It would require high combat persistence, highly effective long range weapons and realtime intel, as well as a strong naval element too possibly, just for starters.

So you are saying the Australians will get JASSMs right now? The Russians have plenty of cruise missile type weapons… they have used GLONASS/GPS type guidance on their Kh-55s since the mid 80s. Why do you think such a purchase is impossible?

No Garry, of course we are not going to get JASSM right now.

And Kh-55, or Kh-65 to Indonesia? I didn’t say it was impossible, but I do believe it to be highly unlikely. I think considerable pressure from the US (and Australia) envoking the MTCR would stop any such transfer to Indonesia. They would be better off trying to fit the 3M54E KLUB missile to their navy somehow. Call it how you like, but I think this is what would happen if they tried to get 300km+ class missiles.

As far as I know the only long range cruise style weapons that have been cleared and integrated on FLANKER thus far are the Kh-31 ASM/ARM, the Kh-35 AShM, the Kh-59 ASM, and possibly the Kh-41 Moskit AShM (not exactly a stealthy missile). None of them are dedicated land attack cruise missile weapons, and only the Moskit has a range close to the JASSM. So yes, the Russians do have lots of weapons ready to go for the FLANKER, but nothing in the JASSM class.

So fast!! I guess work on the third must be just as advanced too. Looks like this program has indeed been accelerated, which was indicated in a report a few months back now. The last sentence is a bit of a surprise though. They mention the Pr.971, which is the AKULA class SSN. Why are they not mentioning the new Pr.885 SSN as becoming the joint-backbone of the 21st century fleet? Has it been delayed?

Indeed!! Some really good images there. 😀 Thanks Steve.

It would be nice if you post them, really looking forward to it.

Sorry, I don’t have them. 🙁