Russia owns the engine and missile technology to compete in the theater, China doesn’t have proven resources in these fields yet. China is able to provide J-7 and J-8II reliably, that’s about the extent. Russia has the better trainers and simulators plus both Red Flag and Top Gun equivalents. China does have JL-7A, but it’s more or less an Su-24M replacement with anti-ship and precision strike missile capabilities. If Iraq picked up Su-35S it doesn’t need JL-7A. The MiG-35 doesn’t have the range to carry out long range precision strike equivalent to either one, but it’s no slouch.

MiG-35 is the poor man’s Su-35S. Same missiles, less overall payload and range. Regardless of the choice they need a good R73 and R77 supply. If they opt for OVT they have a good display jet for national pride.

Do they really need Mi-35? Would they be better served with Mi-171 and a light attack helicopter for scouting and escort? They already are getting Apache for heavy work. If they want a squad lift they should go Blackhawks.

I have a strong feeling that T-50 is going to be the BRIC eequivalent of F-35A. I can see Brazil, Russia, India and China all using it. The last one may be a long shot I know, but J-20 is only a prototype and may be repositioned at any time for an A2G role rather than a T-50 competitor. Russia is going to need the orders to make it as affordable as they originally planned.

Untrue. A classic liberal is in favour of free markets & a general lack of compulsion. Think about the origin of the word – liber = free – same as liberty. And that is how liberal is still used by many non-USians, e.g. me.

You are thinking of the extremely odd (bizarre, really) US twisting of the word into almost its opposite.

European and American ideas of liberal and conservative are not the same.

India’s F125 is with full digital control whereas previous versions were mechanical.

And one knock on F-CK-1’s F125 was the performance limitations imposed on the originals. The negotiated improved performance into later contracts that unlocked the artificial limitations, giving engines about 1500 more pounds of thrust. The spool up time is pretty comparable to the performance of the KF-16, but neither F125 that they use or the F100 are going to spool as quickly as the F404.

Costs aren’t always relative to the weight of the aircraft, but in this case the Gripen can reach that number because of its less sophistication, lower wage rate in the supply line, and considerable focus of keeping work in the field versus the depot.

Ken

I wonder what’s the story on the Vickers VC10 behind the Q-5.

The F-15C and F-15E look best with their racks. The Super Hornet loaded doesn’t look as nice as it clean.