Well for starters, You need Forgotten Battles, Aces Expansion which adds a variety of western aircraft, Pacific Fighters has more american,british and japanese aircraft along with carrier ops and more objects and of course pacific themed maps. Then there is another add on the Pe-2 Peshka expansion(adds russian tactical bomber pe-2 variants and various eastern maps and objects).

Then just announced at the Il-2/PF mainpage there is a new addon coming titled 1946 32 new flyable aircraft (probably the last pay add on), an unhistorical add on but with historical planes which features the IL-10,Mig-9,Ar-234 the weird Hs-132. Maps include Manchuria and Keiv so far, perhaps a Norway one aswell.

As for Bob, you can create or download scenarios simliar, however the map templates will be unhistorical as so far the western most map is Caen. No British Isles yet. Its really the aircraft and objects that make up for this. If you want authentic Bob setting, best wait for the new game which may come out next year or later.

I dont see why the UK doesnt just purchase Mi-26’s themselves, they are very useful, and operate in extreme conditions. What other choices do they have for heavy lift operations?

Or else why would they practice this in the first place, if they can simply do it from their own country with long range balistic missiles?

I remember a year or two ago, when Bush talked about a missile defense system, Russia came back and basically said “That’s ok, we have nice cruise missiles for you…” etc.

These are basicly probe flights the same as the Soviets used to always do, as to what kind of loadout these Tu-95 Bears are carrying we don’t know. One reason Russia is doing this to keep their bomber crews trained and familiarizing them with these exercises. In the end they are just probing defenses along the Artic circle. It is also kind of a diplomatic language that says, look were still here and servicing strategic bombers in the grand scheme of things.

As for the NMD It poses no threat to Russias ICMBS, I think what they said was not cruise missles for you but rather the TOPOL-M which is their new baby of their strategic missle forces.

Thanks for sharing these awesome pictures

It is about power projection in an area that has plagued the major world powers for decades. The difficult mountianous terrain in the bordering countries makes it an ideal location for terrorist or rebel camps. APCS or Armor are among the worst weapon to use especially as most roads are in valleys and easily ambushed. This is why Russia, India, the United States and China want airbases close to potential future targets in the area.

It is impossible to secure the area 100% from terrorists or rebels walking from country to country in the terrian. So it is best to just have a rapid reaction or strike force kept in range. So if somthing suspicous pops up on satellites, they can take out the camp. Unguided weapons are still useful against non moving targets.

I really enjoy “Combat aircraft” above all. I also read “Air International” and “Flight Journal”.

Exactly, what would be the point. It sounds like LMA posturing for funds more than anything. It makes so much more sense to develop a completely new airframe with no cockpit to save space and weight for a UCAV.

What are they planning on doing, throwing a couple cray computers & a fuel tank in place of the ejection seat? Shortened fuselage?