That Tu-22M3 is fantastic! Nice touch: they painted the gills over those auxilliary air-intakes 😉

Totally agree! I think it is probably the most original shark’s mouth I have ever seen on an aircraft. 🙂

So when is Russia going to make another Carrier?

I think my still non-existant kids will probably be in High school before that happens! If ever…

India would like to buy the Admiral Kuzzie…

With what money? They have spent their wad on the Gorshkov and it’s refit.

First Gulf War battle damage pics..

Major wing damage on 82-664

Big hole in the nose of 77-268.

Tail damage on 80-186

You lookin’ at me??

Hi,

I found this article from Aerosud, the South African company involved in the RD33 Super Mirage F1 project. It looks it was only one plane modified with the RD33 and then no follow up since that.

SYSTEM ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT

The lead role that Aerosud played in the re-engining of the Mirage F1 and Mirage III-derived Cheetah aircraft with a variant of the Russian Klimov RD33 engine used in the Mig 29 Fighter has brought the company substantial International recognition. Aerosud was assigned overall system responsibility for this program, and also conducted the detailed design of all airframe and airborne systems modifications, whilst its Russian partners were responsible for the redesign of the engine and the design of a new accessory gearbox. Both the F1 and Cheetah prototypes were successfully flight tested and performed exceptionally well. The ” Super Mirage F1″ technology demonstrater was displayed and successfully demonstrated at the MAKS airshow in Moscow during August 2001.

Thanks MirageIII. 🙂

Actually I think it is Mr Kopp that points out that the stealth and RCS reduction features for the F-35 are not all round and are mainly optimised for ingress into a target area with the main focus on ground based SAMs and radar systems. As such its all round stealth is not that useful.

True Garry, which I believe is one reason why the F-35 has been touted as ‘affordable stealth’. But compared to the likes of the Su-30 series which have an RCS like a barn door compared to the F-35’s own RCS in the frontal aspect, I know which one I woud rather be in with head-to-head air defence.

I just can’t wait until the wisdoms of Carlo Kopp are quoted in this thread…

You didn’t have to wait long Arthur. 😉

stmok,

The reading you did in Australian Aviation, was it written by Carlo Kopp? If so, take what he says with a BIG grain of salt mate. He will bring ANYTHING down to make everything HE WANTS to see in the RAAF look so much better. Consider this:

I read in that Aussie Aviation Magazine, that the F-35 is not suitable for interceptor/air defence role. (That RAAF is planning to use it in this way).

Neither is the Hornet really, and yet we have been with it for 20 years now and will for another 8-10 years. The Australian Hornet community doesn’t like Kopp all that much. He has often critisised the Hornet in his articles as being inadequate too.

What I mean is, the stealth technology applied to this design is useful against SAMs/AAA. Its not suitable against AWACs type as well as the family of Flanker aircraft…Essentially, long range airborne radars. (Where as the F/A-22A has stealth applied on a different level to cover a larger radar frequency range so it has that “First look, first shot, first kill” capability…Their job is to clear the skies while F-35s clear the ground.)

Well of course, the Raptor was designed from the start as an advanced air superiority fighter. The F-35 however, will still have a very low RCS comparatively. It is not going to stick out like a sore thumb in the air.

I’m just wondering, with this disadvantage, why can’t our RAAF get a mix of F/A-22 and F-35?

First of all, the ‘disadvantage’ is not a critical one to warrant needing a PURE fighter to protect our skies. Second, the Raptor has not yet even been cleared for export.

Maybe have a variant of the F/A-22 to replace the F-111…Long range tactical bomber with stealth…Maybe a stretched version of the F-22?

FB-22 perhaps, if it happens? Again in my opinion unlikey. UCAVs are more likely beyond 2015.

Although I doubt US would release such stealth technology even to an ally like Australia.

Yet we are able to get the F-35…. ??

Welcome stmok, good to have another Aussie in here, but trust me when I say Kopp suffers from rather selective tunnel vision when it comes to how the RAAF should be defending our skies.

A labour win this year will effectively sink the large LHD plan. (pun intended) 🙂