What modifications were made to the 2 Vulcans that took part in the black Buck raid in 1982, were there not engine upgrades?

The engine upgrades were not specific for the war, but yes those Vulcans had the engine modifications.

Both RD-33 and RD-93 are the approximate size of F100, so it’s reasonable to assume it should be higher than 9 tonnes. MiG-29 is pretty much a pocket Flanker. The Al-31’s are way too long for MiG-29, but RD-33 is much shorter in length. F100 would probably fit fine. But what is the point of an engine that outlasts the airframe?

Perhaps NATO could base its forces in Turkey, that would be more secure that putting them in Iraq.

Don’t expect the Turks to help, even though it’s in their backyard. The Turks have been the middleman here. The sad ideology here is that the IS movement is the rebirth of the Ottoman empire that hasn’t been much of a factor for decades.

Part of the problem is the IS guys were from within the Iraqi military and they now drive equipment once owned by the Iraqis. You’ll be surprised at what helicopters they now own…

You may have missed the term “South Asia”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asia

Your welcome

The Allied forces in Afghanistan operate more advanced aircraft than an F-16 Blk52….

It’s one thing to drop ordnance, but if you’re hunting targets of opportunity then you need the sensor slant range of the U-2, the firepower of the AC-130U, and the precision of a laser. Computerized aiming systems for 105’s will put shells on individual targets the vast majority of the time. The UK long ago developed a Merlin mortar submunitions that can hit illuminated targets. There are laser guided ffar-type rockets just now reaching initial production. The B-1B can already drop 80 gps-guided bombs on a single mission.

There isn’t much need to get into firing range of the groundfire except to locate the enemy. No sense decoy targets couldn’t do that.

Isn’t it a static rotor face? Doesn’t need to spin…

Yakovlev built trainers and airliners.

The former Warsaw Pact members had the same issues until the currency stabilized. Even then there was no pool of parts to draw from. MiG was collapsing before the rest of the country.