Gee amazing what reactivating an old toipc can do!

Thanks all for the pictures too. Still would like to know some more on the weapons if any…

This is a new missile.

I think Crobato is right. It doesn’t seem to match anything Russian, although it looks very much like something Russian. And It does not match any known DF-31 pics either. If new, who owns it?

Re: wow!!The first DF-41 ICMB photo in public

Originally posted by iamdongdong
Just find this pic from Chinese BBS. Can experts here check this pic?

Modified DF-31A perhaps. The DF-41 program appears to have been cancelled.

NRDC Nuclear Note Book – Chinese nuclear forces 2003

Not sure if the current Su-30s (only 2 so far) for Indonesia incorporate the same mods that were intended for the Su-30KI deal that was cancelled several years ago. Time will tell. Hopefully more detailed reports will emerge.

I believe the agreement was for 40% of both development and production workshare.

See here

Anyway, the total development and production budget set forth by the JDA in 1996 was for approx. USD$14 billion at 110 YEN per the 1U$. The rate today is not far off that.

The average estimated procurement cost of about USD$80 million per aircraft was set in 1996 dollars at the same rate mentioned above. If they do in the end build the full 130 of them, the total cost per unit is still only $105~107 million if all costs are passed on. But I wonder about that part, the JASDF estimated their average procurement cost on the production budget alone, which is about $10.5 billion.

$10.5 billion / 130 airframes = $80.7 million each

There were technical problems during development so costs might have risen. The figure I last saw was $90 million per plane a couple of years ago. This figure could have been modified to allow for the exchange rate at the time.

Cheers

Originally posted by djnik
I am also wondering about Ka-52.Why are they being so secretive or they don’t wont other helicopter producers to “jump in” with their offers.When are these Ka-52s supposed to be delivered?

The Ka-52 report seems odd. The latest IAPR reports that the Russian AF is about to receive it’s first batch of them. But there has been nothing in the press about a major foreign order. I would be surprised if they could keep it secret long enough to secure any deal.

Question for Vympel: Do you know of many Russian avaition sites with English?

I notice your news reports usually come direct from Russian sources. I would like to know more, as I have a keen interest in that news too.

Cheers.

Re: Single Engine v. Two Engines

Originally posted by WACHENR0DER
how bout a debate over one of the longest standing issues in aviation..a single engine design versus a double engine design.

in the past, double engines were favored due to the unreliability of engines compared to today’s engines as well as survival reasons (making it back to base with one engine)..

however today, engines have definitely improved and we see single engine aircraft such as the M2K series being very reliable, then there are factors such as fuel consumption as generally, two engines suck up more gas than a single engine..

so what’s your take on it.

(of course this doesn’t really apply to the big fighters like the F-15, 14, and Flankers, but more to lighter aircraft such as middle weights, light weights, trainers, etc).

Might be a good thing to ask a RAAF pilot. They will in time switch back to the single-engined F-35 after flying Hornets since the 80s.