I just find the whole scenario highly unlikely, whilst France is keen to get some sales in for the Rafale China is probably too sensative a nation to sell to.

At the moment I think it will be STOBAR all the way with a possible move to some form of indigenous catapault system down the line integrated with native types like the J-10.

STOBAR allows them to gain experiance with carrier ops with out all the technical issues that go with CATOBAR.

There are still question marks over the Varyag and its final use so until we get some new decent pictures of her its hard to say whats going on except for that its almost certain that any use will be millitary.

is tht gorshkov? 😀

Yup thats the Former Goshkov now known as the INS Vikramaditya.

I have been pondering this question for a few days before throwing in my opinion.

I think we need to separate most advanced or newest from the original question of “The best SSK to date?”.

If the term Best is derived from most numerous and more to the point most successful in its primary role then maybe we are getting it all wrong.

Looking at the original question I would argue that the best SSK to date is the German Type VIIC U-Boat.

UK,Pakistan deal to seal P.N. 2 (OPV) ships Castle-Class, [HMS Leeds Castle and HMS Dumbarton Castle].

http://jni.janes.com/public/jni/index.shtml

Ta Dah! I said someone would want them.

I didn’t want to write it, but the F-5 isn’t reknown for his easy maintenance 🙂

Thats strange, I always thought the F5 was a cheap and easy fighter to maintain.

Tyhpoon was also chosen for its longevity. Id’ rather not repeat the mistake buying obsolete second hand fighters that turn into long term solutions like the Draken did. Buy used F-16, and you have to get another fighter in 15 years whereas the Eurofighter is a permanent solution for at least 30 years. Support from industry is also assured with the last of the planned 620 EFs comming of the line around 2015 (?).
Plus maintenance facilities are just around the corner in Manching. 😉

Yes as I said much the same decision making process that made the Swiss buy the F/A-18. New build of an aircraft at the beginning of its service life offers a safe platform for long term service. With careful husbanding (in other words not pushing the envolope to much to save airframe life) Austria can probably keep these aircraft in service for at least 40 years maybe more. Alot of aircraft to be arming with a cannon and short range air to air missiles only, imagine the storm if the Austrian airforce tried to buy AMRAAM or METEOR! :diablo: