I am not sure MIG-29KUB is heavier than F-15A.
F-18E Naval is as heavy as F-15E but does not have that large nose.
I would say MIG-29K gives the largest nose relative to its size.
F-15A is longer than MIG-29. MIG-29K is same size as F-18C but with larger wing area. much closer to F-18E. Infact the foldup wing span of F-18E looks greater than MIG-29K.
F-18E is a big airplane, no one is denying that.
Empty weight of MiG-29K/KUB is 13300/13800kg
Empty weight of F-18E is 13387kg
Empty weight of F-15A is 12500kg
Uni light-medium grey is quite effective I ‘d say. For CAS aircraft and helicopter the old German Luftwaffe approach (“Flecktarnung”) would seem interesting.
In any case – military themed couture is strange.
yes WW2 Germany had good camouflage, I’m surprised it wasn’t adopted earlier
As much as I do not like the boring grey color schemes on NATO aircraft, they are probably the best. I have never seen an Su-27, or MiG with the azure c/s against a real sky, so I cannot comment on that scheme’s effectiveness. I am for full-color markings. USAF/USN aircraft devote more attention to squadron markings and badges, whilst hiding the national marking (F-15, F/A-18, F-22 to a certain extent). It can go without saying that if one were to encounter an F-22, the owner is understood as no one else but the USAF flys the F-22. The color schemes on USN/USMC aircraft from the 1970’s are my favorite. Just my opinion…
indeed the greys are boring but a uniform one seems to be the most adaptable to many conditions. I’m surprised Russia hasn’t opted for it earlier as many border areas where it may have conflict, tend to be cloudy weather.
Paint jobs like those on the older Su-32/34 suit well for maritime missions over warm water areas where its green/blue.. but much of Russia’s waters are a dark color
new Fulcrum is very sleek design. and nose size is now approaching F-15/Flanker.
that’s because the two seat Fulcrum is nearly as LONG as the F-15, being shy of a few feet and weighs as much as the F-15A
Su-22 has no future. I would not invest a penny in modernization of those things even if they were gold plated. They have served well an might have been well liked but it’s time to go.
I believe the F-16s were bought to eventually replace the Su-22, hence the Polish AF decision to arm it with a2g weapons.
All three are quite ugly, but workmanlike in appearance.
I wuoldn’t say ugly
the A-7 has a utilitarian kind of look to it. Its got a VW beetle kind of charm
the Su-17 is ugly but a brutish ugly kind of look. Its like the Floyd Mayweather of ground attack aircraft
the jaguar on the other hand is neither brutish or utilitarian or sleek its just boring looking
so when are we going to see a Turkish made movie “Phantom Down” starring Tarkan?
AMCA intake!
now THAT’s an s-duct!
I’m not sure what the thread title’s getting at, that piece is a criticism of the J-20 programme by that poor excuse for a defence journo RFJ.
But… PAK-FA has 1 static tester, 1 ground based lab (KNS), 3 flying prototypes with a 4th to fly by year-end, 2 more to follow in 2013 and then at least 8 pre-production models to shore up state trials and validation (so~14-16 flying prototypes/EMD in total).
This means serial machines will probably attain regimental IOC ~2018/19.
did not know about the ground based one, thanks!
The Turkish Military High Command has now published their report on the RF-4 incident including a map based on the radar plot and investigations. The aircraft RF-4E seri_al 77-0314 was on a radar calibration flight and DID enter Syrian territorial waters for a short while only to be shot down 10 minutes later OUTSIDE the Syrian terr. waters. The wreck has apparently been found and should be salvaged tomorrow. Maybe one of our Turkish members could translate the report in full (their turkish is better than mine)
Hello friendly Andorran,
allow me to translate.. Şafak, the Ş is a “sh” sound in English so its shafak. Which either means the Iranian stealthy fighter trainer, or dawn.
the ihlal cikis and ihlal baslangic means start and end of whatever it is.
From what Russian MOD said lately they wont be funding a light fighter this decade ( SAP 2020 ) , they are alredy developing a new CAS aircraft and the PAK-FA/FGFA program.
There is no money or appetite for another fighter and they probably dont need one as Su-35 should do the job.
AMCA has no Russian involvement its more of DRDO own program , they might go for Western consultancy if required
yes Russia doesn’t need it, but they may need it for exports. Just like how the US developed the F-35 for intentions of export, and the Chinese with their J-21 (or J-16?). Most other countries don’t need something as large and powerful a the Pak-fa
Ukrainian L-39s in the new scheme. This year 16 planes are supposed to be overhauled and modernized
http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=1493709&postcount=311
Speculation about the upgrade.
I like the low viz digi camo and all, but shouldn’t the roundels and numbers also be low viz? a grey shield instead of a blue one?
btw, you post many interesting news and pictures in this forums. Keep up the good work.
Yeah, all that security says L-15.
you need to take a look at an L-15 nose.. its also narrow and long. its neither L-15 trainer or the SAC mock up.
to be fair for the non mock up believers here’s a few actual aircraft being transported by ground in the US


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but of course, none of them being transported at an angle
now whether its that SAC mock up.. the nose on the transported aircraft is shorter

UK F-35B Pilot currently posting on PPRuNe
http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/478767-no-cats-flaps-back-f35b-57.html#post7249467
More questions being posted for him. Hopefully he will reply!
http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/478767-no-cats-flaps-back-f35b-57.html#post7249668
you talking about that wolf guy?