I like the sky blue. It also has a clear purpose 🙂

The purpose I am aware of, but the bright Sky Blue?

Official sources said that to achieve the sea-leg of India’s under-construction MND, the Navy reportedly entered into a covert agreement with Moscow recently for the lease-purchase of two Akula (Bars)-class Type 971 nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) for around $700 million each, with the option of acquiring a third one. The first submarine would reportedly be handed over by 2005.

Can anyone confirm the exact type of AKULA-class SSN involved? I have heard they would be AKULA IIs, but find that hard to believe since the Russians under Putin are unlikely to hand over the cream of their currently active sub force. They have only two AKULA IIs (possibly three) in service. Could they be refurbed AKULA I-class?

Official sources said the Navy had “shelved” for now its earlier, associated proposal to lease four Russian Tu 22M strategic bomber/maritime strike aircraft.

Well one alarmist and over-rated analyst by the name of Carlo Kopp can rest easier now. :rolleyes:

The Indian Maritime Doctrine, released in April by the Navy Chief, urges the Navy to recognise its responsibilities towards developing a credible minimum nuclear deterrence and builds a strong case for it to acquire a “non-provocative strategic capability” through the submarine.

I don’t buy the line of non-provocative. An SSN, armed with land-attack missiles, and especially nuclear-tipped missiles, gives the Indians a very lethal long range capability that will be hard to counter, especially for the Chinese, let alone ANYONE (bar the USN) in the Indian Ocean theatre. You can walk softly, but the bigger the stick you have, the more intimidated your neighbours are going to feel. That will provoke a response, and hence a counter.

The Navy views with trepidation the rapid resurgence of the Chinese Navy, the only Asian navy with SLMB capability and one that was rapidly moving from being a coastal navy to a formidable ocean going force. In addition to operating an aircraft carrier by 2015 – the Chinese have acquired decommissioned carriers from Australia and Russia in order to study their construction details – the Indian Navy envisages China embarking on the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as soon as it is able to project power well beyond China’s shores.

While I see the PLAN making moves further south especially for similar reasons to India’s, I don’t see a carrier by 2015, certainly not an opertional one.

Gaaaaaaaaah I cant stand the blue paint these guys use everywhere. It looks atrocious.

I agree, that Sky Blue colour is quite a contrast to the rest of the paint job.

I think the Vietnamese Air Force should be like this:

Air Force

150 MiG-21-93= Russia
70 Su-27SK/UBK= Russia
50 Su-30MK= Russia
70 MiG-29M2= Russia
50 MiG-AT= Russia
20 KTX-1= South Korea
80 Mi-35= Russia
15 IL-76= Russia
200 Mi-8/17= Russia
75 AN-24/26= Russia
30 Ka-27/32= Russia
30 Mi-26= Russia

And where will the billions to pay for it come from?

The Mi-24PN has the twin-barrelled 30mm GSh-30 nose-mounted, while the Mi-24VM was fitted with the chin-mounted turret and twin 23mm GSh-23s. Do the Russians have a preference for the 30mm, or was it an opertional issue?

Got any idea why the Hawk or any other overpriced thing should be better than this one?

Beyond basic fast jet training, types like the latest Hawk series can be built or modified more easily to simulate the ‘parent’ fighter the crew are training for. Plus the latest jet trainers (and designs) are becoming more and more like Light Combat Aircraft in the guise of a trainer than the other way around. Clearly aiming at two markets, and thus more advanced, and expensive, to reflect the market they are after.

I remember the Mig-29 going down, but I don’t recall the Gripen crash.