some of the best f/a-22 pics that i have seen….here are some more

also for all of u guys in the states make sure to watch ON THE RECORD with gretta on fox news at 10pm on the 28th…..might be a little surprised to see some of the manuevers the f/a-22 performs there

so if they are paying 3.3 billion for 140 jets then the unit royalty cost is aprox 21 million is it not….add to that the development cost which at this moment is only a guess….lets suppose it is 25 million per unit…then u get 46 million per fighter minus weapons and other frills…..also a fact noting is 5.55% inflation per annum

i dont see the house trying to shoot itself in the leg by trying to make a statement to the united states….unless ofcource it turns out like iran…but as of now SA wants to increase its interoperability with US and other western forces so going in a tottally different direction may not be that suited to their current plans

does any 1 know how to remove the posts

well every force has its set of problems…and the usaf isnt immune to it…..the indian air-force isnt a bunch of dune coons either getting 20 hours on mig-29’s to see if they are working

also i have read that the swedes are paying a net 25-30 mill for their gripens in 98 dolllars…i guess it is all confusing……also the fact that the usaf paid 20 mill+ for their early f-16C’s if u go by the official figures…..

well this is all hypothetical of cource as u have said…maybe a much more detailed studies have been done by the buyers….the important thing to note here is that despite all of this i dont see an air force with the requirements of the su30 mki actually buying the b50/52 or vice versa….unless ofcource u take into account politics….also the fact worth noting is contracter and supply stability. and potential cost of upgrades as well as taking into account the cost of bassing , cost of training everyone from a flight crew to maintance people as well sa avaialblity of spares….

IAF plans to buy US plane

Srinjoy Chowdhury in New Delhi
June 2. — While India and the United States are winding up their current defence policy group meeting, the Indian Air Force is looking to buy an American plane — the C-130 Hercules aircraft for commando missions.
The IAF plans to buy about six such transport planes for a total cost of about Rs 2,000 crore in the coming years for special operations, which means special forces activity, para-dropping and perhaps, air-landed operations. The plane has the advantages of extended range, compared with the Russian-built An-32, currently with the IAF and also, size. This means it can carry more men for a longer distance. Besides, it could be refuelled in the air, an advantage, now that India has the ability to do so.
The plane being considered at is the C-130-J and some discussions have already taken place. The IAF’s Directorate (Operations) Transport and Helicopters has had a look. It is bigger (perhaps by 50 per cent) than the An-32s the IAFs have, but smaller than the huge Russian Il-76 planes, that can carry even a tank. They are proven as well. The famous Israeli rescue operation at Entebbe airport, in Uganda, involved these planes.
India has rarely bought weapons systems from the US in recent times except weapon-locating radars and specialised commando equipment of various kinds in small quantities. There is talk of acquiring the PC-3 Orion for the Navy but why so few C-130s are being bought is a question. Keeping them operational would not be easy either. The IAF, for instance, has about 14-15 Il-76 planes, of which only 8-9 are operational at a time. There is also the political issue. Will this government have close defence ties with the USA? The defence minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, may be meeting his US counterpart, Mr Donald Rumsfeld, soon. Many purchases could depend on the state of the bilateral ties.

How’s this for improving the paradrop capabilities which are already the best in all of Asia. So are the recon capabilities of the IAF.

i can give u guys the link but the story needs to be dound out yourselves…it used to be there…

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=44760