Imho maybe, despite all the hype around them (yanks “officially ” say they are in the 35,000lb class , but various “informed” individuals on the american fora claim 37,000 or even 39,000lb-which folks also claim incredible things like the F-22 can supercruise at M1.8-M2 or something like that), they are very thirsty, hence the comparatively short range of the F-22.

Also imo , T-50 is “slicker” which also helps with range, i guess.

I know but it’s not like they will fly their full ferry ranges on their fastest possible speed with the highest possible throttle you know. I guess the fuel consumption of the engine in the testing facility is very good, however the s-duct intake somehow increases the engine fuel consumption when mounted on the aircraft like paralay said.

Fuel F-22 9367 kg, range 2500 km
Fuel Su-27 9400 kg, range 3680 km
Fuel T-50 8700 kg, range 3000 km

Hmm, is the figure for real? :confused: Because if it’s the case then the either the aerodynamic character of T-50 is miles beyond F-22’s or the T-50 engines is miles beyond F-22’s or both are better than F-22’s. 🙂

I think this is a joint-venture product with Russia. Here is a picture of Russian developing a VLS Buk in 2000s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quxhj0bwcj8&feature=player_embedded

The picture of the 101KS-O would indicate that PAK-FA’s IRST will stay ball-shaped.

Isn’t the 101KS-O the IRST ball behind the cockpit :confused:

that’s official:
– 4 RVV-SD in central bays (2 per bay)
– fast bays only can hold one RVV-MD per bay
– RVV-BD can be carried in central bays, number is unclear (4 fits)

I know that official number indicates 4 RVV-SD in two central bays but I am still hopeful 6 RVV-SD can be fit in since the RVV-BD looks much bigger and two bays can already fit 4 RVV-BD 🙂

Regarding the R-73, actually I can see one difference on the underside. The R-73 has a spine on the lower side of the missile when the RVV-MD is all smooth and round.

Tone down the signature please (suffering temporary blindness now!).

I doubt he can, try to tone down a Chinese kid talking on the phone in the library 😀 j/k

Anybody got a pic of the Aung Zeya class, said to have been ordered/received by viet navy?

I don’t think Vietnamese navy ever order that :confused: Myanmar is the ally of China and it’s supporting bilateral talks to solve dispute in the South China Sea. The political instability of Myanmar is a big turn off for any purchase decision from the Vietnam side no matter how good their weapons are.

The Soviet military role in Vietnam increased after that

They did not intervene but they did provide intelligence to the Vietnamese. And you were very close in getting another boot imprint from a Soviet/Russian boot on your ass. It was really the question of what America would do ..that made them hesitate. They were really afraid of another Bay of Bengal malarkey 8 years back where SU assisted India …except this one going hot.

There’a source in Vietnamese here indicates that the Soviet Union did mobilize about 29 divisions (250k personnels (:confused: I can’t find any other source for this)) to the border of Soviet and China, help transporting Army Corp no. 2 from the Southern front to the border with China (however the China quickly retreated) and send Vietnam Grad rocket system. They also send the military advisors to Vietnam as well as the Soviet Pacific Fleet did do something to protect Vietnamese water.

These two boats are a start, but Vietnam’s going to need something larger and more powerful if it hopes to defend its maritime claims against China.. and to some extent, Malaysia and Indonesia.

I think Vietnam do not need really big ships for now because its navy and airforce are much smaller than China’s one so big ships will just become a prioritized targets. Those 2000-tons stealth is much easier to hide. For now I think Vietnam will stick with using small-fast ships, airforce, coastal defense to conduct guerrilla warfare in case the conflict happens.