Difficult to see where the J-10 would have any advantage, except
in cost and maintenance. The PAK-FA would seem to offer so very
much more to an operator. the J-XX might offer similar capabilities,
but that remains to be seen.

“LOS ANGELES – After a decade of development, the Air Force this month plans to launch a robotic spacecraft resembling a small space shuttle to conduct technology tests in orbit and then glide home to a California runway.

The ultimate purpose of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle and details about the craft, which has been passed between several government agencies, however, remain a mystery as it is prepared for launch April 19 from Cape Canaveral, Fla.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_mystery_spacecraft

One can read parts of the Yengst book (Lightning Bolts) here:

http://books.google.se/books?id=lN0w6X0PG3QC&lpg=PA1&ots=DxFF2iH8tz&dq=lightning%20bolts%20%20william%20yengst&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Looks like it could be interesting….

From the Aviation Week website:

“New ISR Project Planned For 2011

New clues are emerging about a follow-on to the now-discarded Next-Generation Bomber. Among them is the revelation that it will be as much about intelligence-gathering as bombing and that many of its weapons will produce effects other than explosions.

The arsenal of this “long-range, ISR/strike” aircraft eventually may include directed energy and network attack, says Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). Directed-energy weapons under development by the Pentagon include lasers and devices that produce pulses of high-power microwaves. Other nonkinetic features involve the ability to attack enemy sensors with precise, exotic-waveform jamming, and the low-power, electronic invasion of networks that link tactical weapon systems such as advanced air defenses.

The new bomber will reflect experience gained in Afghanistan with operation of Lockheed Martin’s RQ-170 Sentinel unmanned, stealthy, surveillance aircraft. That knowledge also will validate a much greater ISR content in the new design.”

The whole article is here:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/NGB122109.xml&headline=New%20ISR%20Project%20Planned%20For%202011

Interesting quote from the Wall Street Journal article:

“The U.S. government has known about the flaw since the U.S. campaign in Bosnia in the 1990s, current and former officials said. But the Pentagon assumed local adversaries wouldn’t know how to exploit it, the officials said.”

The usual arrogance and inertia….

One does wonder if this will further embolden UCAV critics as well.

A new article for anyone interested:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091208/pl_afp/usaviationmilitarydrones_20091208212912

Not much that is new in the article except it confirms
that the craft is a Lockheed product.

>Most Chinese food is awesome, but you have admit some of that stuff they eat is thoroughly revolting.

‘Revolting’ is in the eye and mouth (and ear) of the beholder. There
are plenty of dishes/things from the USA/Europe that other countries
find ‘revolting’. Besides, cuisine is outside the purview of a ‘Modern
Military Aviation’ forum, I should think.

>We’ve built McDonald’s restaurants on nearly every corner of the globe, there’s really no reason to eat cats and dogs. Why don’t they just have
>a cheeseburger or a fillet o’ fish instead?

This is a joke or sarcasm, correct?

And what exactly does this have to do with the RUSSIAN PAK-FA? :confused: