Sorry my friend – 16 x Blackjacks, armed with 200 x ALCM`s is nothing to scoff at, you are most right! One nuclear weapon delivered is too many!!
But once again how many of these sixteen impressive bombers are able to sortie at once, when the launch is really needed?
How well are their crews trained or proficient to perform the role of nuclear warfighting?

I am talking about them delivering conventional cruise missiles like the Kh-555 and Kh-101.

Heard that an Su-24M and Su-34 completed a non-stop flight across all of Russia.

They were of course refueled by Il-78s.

Sounds like a good way to practice “coast hopping” in the event that something goes down with someone serious and additional units are needed elsewhere.

Except for broadband low observables, operational sensors/weapons systems and a cadre of trained pilots with several deployments under their belts :p

PAK-FA checklist:

Broadband LO @ Production (inc. 2D nozzles, new radar blocker, etc): CHECK

5 freakin’ radar arrays: (including one w/ 2000TR modules): CHECK

Badass looks: DOUBLE CHECK

Unfortunately that 20m2 is a number that we know nothing about.

Worse case is likely, as there’s nothing that’s 20 meters flat to reflect off of the front angles in a Flanker.

So refrain from using it.

Except that a dozen or two F 15C had APG 63(V)2, the F 15 C of the Air Nationa Guard just started to receive APG 63(V)3. Not to mention the ~ 150 F 18E/F that already got their APG 79…

Right, that bunch. Which again, would likely be shooting at AWACS or something that doesn’t carry any serious jamming or decoys.

To my knowledge, the R-37 was chosen over the KS-172, and it’s not currently in service.

Yes, it’s not in service, yet, because the only platforms that can meaningfully use it are the MiG-31BM, Su-35 and PAK-FA. The two former are in various stages of procurement, so you will see this missiles in a few years.

AIM-120Ds are being bought right now, and will be in the inventory this year.:cool:

And no platform can even meaningfully use the weapon. The F-22 might, but that integration isn’t happening for a while now is it?

Using the Su-34 for that role would be a waste of a resource, and the Su-30 would be a much better choice. Of course the KS-172 isn’t in service, nor has it been ordered so it’s a moot point.

The AIM-120D isn’t in service either. And we don’t know if the KS-172 or R-37M which is similar have been ordered – or not. Details of the last weapons orders from the RuAF were light on details.

It seems that Yasen may equal the Virginia in noise level and exceed it in sheer fire power , but in Sensors/Sonar suite , Netcentric Capability and Versatilty of employment the Virginia exceeds Yasen.

Well the Russian would still be happy if they caught up with US 4th Gen sub in noise level it been nearly 5 decade struggle to reach where they are in noise level.

Where is RSM55 need his opinion on Yasen launch.

Netcentric capability is a trivial matter. I’m fairly certain the electronics aboard the Severodvinsk are open architecture enough so that they can be reprogrammed to function with new communication tools once they become available and online.