Yes..they apologized for one of their people having a big mouth and not even being accurate with what he was ranting about.Lots of errors in his speech.

Rimmer,

It is not the word of one airforce against another..the IAF did not say anything,nor did the USAF(except for the above mentioned col blaberring something) for good reason…red flag is not a “which jet is better” exercise. There is no point in such an exercise when you are spending all that money.

Despite of the headline on the following article, I don’t think the USAF actually apologized. “Clarified” is probably a better description. The USAF is not disputing the veracity of any claims made by the Colonel which it probably would have if he was making false claims, since the organization’s credibility would have been tainted. That alone says a lot.

‘Red Flag’ official apologises to IAF

Gautam Datt
First Published : 18 Nov 2008 02:04:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 18 Nov 2008 04:38:45 PM IST

NEW DELHI: After a US Air Force (USAF) pilot was shown in a YouTube clip trashing India’s frontline fighter jet Su-30 MKI saying it failed to impress during the recently held Red Flag war games, the organisers of the exercise have apologised to the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the remarks.

In a letter to Air Headquarters, an official of the Red Flag said it was the personal view of the USAF pilot talking in the clip and not of those involved in the exercise.

The organisers are looking forward for the participation of the IAF in the future editions of Red Flag, said the letter.

The appearance of the clip in the cyber space had embarrassed the IAF even as it was immediately rubbished. The clip shows a pilot apparently giving a presentation but there are no audience shown in the video.

The person, in uniform, talks about how the Su-30 MKIs were dominated by USAF’s F-15s and F-22 Raptors.

The person said in the clip how the aircraft lost out during dogfights and singled out problems with its thrust vectoring and the fact that it took up to a minute to arrange its take-off while the rest of the aircraft took only seconds.

The official, however, praised IAF’s MiG- 21 Bison which has been modified with Israeli radar, active radar missiles and electronic jammers. He claimed MiG-21s were nearly invisible to the F-15 and F-16s, a fact which was demonstrated when the USAF fighters had taken part in joint exercises in India. After the clip surfaced, the IAF took up the issue with defence attaché in the US embassy and efforts were made to get it removed.

The officials said some of the technical claims made in the clip were incorrect and it was a pathetic attempt to prove a point.

Aviation expert Pushpender Singh told to this website’s newspaper that it was unfortunate that the most powerful air force in the world was resorting to such tactics. He said the video was full of inaccuracies. For example, the person in the video claimed that the MiG-21 Bisons were equipped with the Israeli radar.

“It is wrong. The aircraft has a Russian radar,” said Singh.

The clip is being viewed as a ploy by the industry to prove a point. It might be an attempt to convince the US Government in ordering more F-22 Raptors. The US aviation giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin, the makers of F-16s and F-18s, are also competing with Russians for multi-billion dollar contract to supply multi-role combat aircraft to the IAF.

Acoustic intercept receiver. Automatically detects and classifies torpedoes and sonar types.

Its part of submarine acoustic warfare control system (SAWCS).

Thanks.. sorts of sticks out like a sore thumb though:D

I think either entry would serve the needs of the USAF.. don’t really matter which one to me. Not another delay, this thing has taken too long already.

I think it would be strange if a Raptor pilot had to go subsonic so that he could launch an AMRAAM, don’t you?;)

AIM-120D is reported to have a range of up to 180km. It is said to have a dual-pulse motor so it will still have energy left to maneuver in the end-phase. Anyone know what the range of Meteor is?

No PAK-FA? 😀

Seriously – No Rafale, but a F-15 incarnation? That tells me they value AMRAAM highly and don’t trust in Meteor. And they don’t trust in Rafale’s AESA future.

Almost more interesting is the de-listing of the F-35, which as a penetrating LO striker would have signalled a more offensive role of the JSDF in the region. So a straight counter-air & anti-ship replacement for the R/F-4EJ/Kai it’ll be then.

Are the benefits of the EF2k over a F-15X (the Silent Eagle?) worth the hustle of a new production line, a new logistics complex, and completely new personnel requirements? I say only if the F-15 is also replaced by EF2k in the longer run, and if the Jap industry is getting something good out of it. But at the cost of hurting the Jap-US relations??

And the SHornet seems to win on electronics, as usual. Couldn’t figure out any other reason why it should make it on that shortlist. Certainly not for its stellar performance as a counter-air fighter. Not even the Marines in Japan will ever fly it – inshallah. Would be intersting if the Japs would go for Growlers also.

Facit: Prepare for the F-15SEJ “Silent Washi”.

Looks like a reasonable analysis. I think the long leadtime on the F-35 is also a valid concern.

I’m sure the a/c will be put to productive use, probably in the commercial freight market to help defray expenses.

So how would it ever fly into gulf peninsula from a US carrier if unprepared for sand and dust?

A lot less sand blowing in the wind out in the open ocean, maybe? Who knows if the report from India was even true.
:diablo: