I actually had given quite a bit of thought to naval forces in the next 20 years, and came up with the following conclusions:

1)Aircraft Carriers are just sitting ducks for supersonic-hypersonic cruise missiles fired from SSNs from a great distance away which would make detection impossible. The nature of air-defense systems dictate that once the speed of a missile exceeds around Mach 3.5, it would be difficult to exterminate that threat.

2)Fast, high-powered, quiet subs will be important in future naval warfare. I am envisioning subs that would mainly carry cruise missiles with ranges exceeding 500 km.

3)Admittedly, USN SSNs are extremely capable and are the best in the world. That being said however, it is apparent that SSNs would not be able uphold the dominance USN currently holds over the Pacific. Let’s put it this way: the best chance for China to break out of US’ naval death-grasp is to initiate a naval-air blitzkrieg upon US naval and air bases in the Pacific, somehow disable them, and then quickly storm Taiwan. US SSNs are no help then. Nor are aircraft carriers, as they are not geared toward fighting high-altitude high-speed bombers, which I think is going to be a great priority to the Chinese, and which I believe they will be successful in acquiring.

The most important thing for China is to knock out the USN’s Pacific fleet in a very contracted period of time, which the Japanese in WW2 failed to do, including the fleet air arm, and also USAF bombers and strike aircraft stationed in the Pacific. Screw the Army, screw the Fighterjets, it’s the bombers and the strikers and the cruise-missile-launching SSNs that matter the most.

I think China is lucky in the respect that they could learn from the mistakes of the Japanese, if they do wish to use armed conflicts are a tool for clearing way for the Chinese rise. But generally, back to the topic, a full-out WW3 is really out of the question, whereas controlled, regional, short, capital-intensive, high-tech conflicts are possible, especially in the Pacific.

I believe that the Vigilant, the largest combat ship of the service, is Canadian-built

Korea? probably more like helping china than attacking her. lol
Aussies, considering how much their economy relies on china nowadays, it would probably close its ports to american warships and declare absolute neutrality.
The most likely possibility is actually Japan. JSNDF is actually quite a good one.
nvm…off-topic…but still, i gotta say, China is not Iraq, and even Bush gotta be smart enough to noe to keep any possible war as small and quick as possible, for mutual benefits, so really, i dunt c much of a chance or battleships wringing it out on each other

cost overruns.. uhmm, interesting question. However, you must at least noe that J-10 development was started by Chengdu, NOT the gov’t, and in fact when Chengdu ran out of cash it was only the inspection by President Jiang that reportedly provided funds for the development to continue. Thus, i am personally positive that this thing is gonna be in-budget. plus, chinese engineers have a historical record of keeping costs in check and being cost-conscious.

You do realise that Boeing has a much shallower pocket and R&D complex than Airbus, which is backed up by EADS and BAe, which in turn are backed up by European governments?

Now, to the specs. One thing I consistently don’t understand about Boeing’s lineup is that there is 757 and 767. 757 is getting replaced by 787, but really strikes me as interesting is that the new 2+3+2 787 isn’t replacing the 2+3+2 767, but rather the 3+3 757. Can anyone help me out over here? I am frankly confused.

The whole thing about 787 “technology” is complete bull. Airbus would get it within a year or two, and then there would not be anymore technological advantage. Making Boeing superior technologically-wise is a complete oxymoron.

Alrite, Condor, i take back my last post. And in no way do i disput the fact that more F-16s r coming to Chile. But at 60 mil a piece, dunt you find it rather expensive? I mean the standard quote for Gripen is 30 mil.

Nowadays, Israel won’t get stuff for free anymore (luckily)