You act like that’s a bad thing? Planned obsolescence is the capitalist cornerstone. What was said about the Soviets during the cold war? If we didn’t have the Russians, we’d have to invent them.

I doubt anyone said that during the Cuban Missile Crisis. War can make you rich, unless it gets you killed.

Recommend we create a great thread of butt-hurts and move these posts over there.

What F-15s forever?

Yeager’s comment makes a certain amount of sense in that both the J-20 and T-50 were reactions to the F-22 and F-35 that wouldn’t exist otherwise. Had the US not radically shifted the game the world would’ve been content building 4++ gen fighters for decades more. Instead a lot of money has been spent to kill the 4th gen fighters, creating an uncertain future with the sole benefit of relatively short term over-kill advantage when US already enjoyed lopsided advantage.

In the longer term, these disruptive innovations may provide the tools to threaten the status quo of American air supremacy. Even a small number of 5th gen fighters in the hands of say Iran would require asymetric spending by status quo powers to maintain the balance.

Not sure how to separate airpower and information technology topics.

China’s new satellite to test quantum cryptography communication:

China on Tuesday launched the world’s first quantum satellite, which will help it establish “hack-proof” communications between space and the ground, state media said, the latest advance in an ambitious space program.

The program is a priority as President Xi Jinping has urged China to establish itself as a space power, and apart from its civilian ambitions, it has tested anti-satellite missiles.

The Quantum Experiments at Space Scale, or QUESS, satellite, was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the remote northwestern province of Gansu in the early hours of Tuesday, the official Xinhua news agency said.

“In its two-year mission, QUESS is designed to establish ‘hack-proof’ quantum communications by transmitting uncrackable keys from space to the ground,” it said.

“Quantum communication boasts ultra-high security as a quantum photon can neither be separated nor duplicated,” it added. “It is hence impossible to wiretap, intercept or crack the information transmitted through it.”

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-space-satellite-idUSKCN10R07J

With the Turkish relationship strained, wouldn’t be surprised those F-35 sales never materialize. Can’t afford a repeat of the Iranian F-14 fiasco.

Why only F-16’s? For political reasons (wants to please USA)? Cost of frames + upgrade cost + support is lower than Gripen C 0r FA-50?

Sure Vietnam’s after American training, military relationship, and of course for political reasons. USA may not do anything for them in a shooting war, but at least it’s got more clout than the Swedes and Koreans.