Does anybody know the designation of the optronics pod on the Su-27SM in ken’s Maks-05 photos??? (the plane is also carrying a Sapsan E pod).
By the way they are amazing photos and I am extremely jealous that you have the skill to take them.

Mirage I never made a comment comparing the pilot training of the chinese and Indian pilots it was Pilatus who made this statement, and you have simply repeated my response to that statement.
A note, chinese PLANAF Su-30MKK2 pilots are not average PLAAF pilots and likely have substantially more flying time than say a PLAAF Q-5 pilot.
Personally I feel that if a debate is to be had on the topic of this thread it should be based on the technical merits of each aircraft and not the quality of the pilots, which is an extremely variable element.

The age of these ships ISNT a problem, they have been kept in very good condition and have recieved regular upgrades, the need for reconditioning would be very limited. The problem is a lack of a market, Spain, Australia and Italy, have opted to build brand new ships of this size so they are out. Brazil has already satisfied her carrier needs with the purchase of a Foch class. India is building the ADS and buying the former Gorschkov so she is out. The only realistic carrier operating nation this leaves is Thailand and she can barely afford to keep the one she has afloat.
If a country did want to buy one of these an airwing shouldnt be to much trouble, with the US likely to have Surplus AV-8Bs in the near future (these could be re-engined with the Harrier GR-9A’s engine) and some of them have AMRAAM capability. As has already been mentioned they could also be used as JSF platforms.
Another major problem with selling these ships is that they are pure carriers, they dont have a dock, or any real amphibious capabilitys for that matter-most nations looking at ships of this type want a significant amphibious capability.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the Indian MRCA competition, thus far the Russians appear to be putting everything they have into this.
Just think, a Mig-35 with an AESA radar (Zhuk-A), 3-D TVC, and R-77s and R-27EPs.

Well the F-15SG has been selected as the skyhawk replacement, but I would like to know whether the plan to upgrade the F16s to blk60 still exists.

I was in Hull recently and drove past a building called HMS Iron Duke, I think it was a cadet centre of some sort. During WW1 Iron Duke was a 25000 ton battleship with ten 13.5 inch guns, now its a run down building in the worst place to live in the UK.

Lets not forget these boats have a truly outstanding radar fit (probably up in the aegis area-only Sampson is an AESA) The Astor missiles themselves are fantastic pieces of kit (ARH).
These ships can be upgraded to perform just about any role you could want of a ship of that size, the only issue as usual is money.
When you consider the limitaions of what they are replacing, I think the RN has done very well.