If Hawkeye can’t operate off her (can it?) I don’t believe any other fixed wing could. Are there any other FW carrier AEW aircraft out there? I think the Indian Navy will have to stick with helicopters unless the US finally decides to field an Osprey based system.

The E-2C Hawkeye had demonstrated an ability to launch from a low incline ski-jump built ashore at NAS Patuxent River during the 1980s. In 2004 and early 2005 Northrop Grumman did further research on a ski-jumping Hawkeye 2000 in the context of a proposal to the Indian Navy, and while insisting that this was perfectly feasible had to admit that the required changes for STOBAR operations would reduce the aircraft’s capabilities somewhat compared to the standard model.

They dont build em like this no mo’

Not since 1978.

Yeah I actually took a class on Germany a few terms ago for my Masters degree, and indeed just about everything in the East was state run.

Anything else would be (gasp, shock, horror!) capitalism… which would be unthinkable for a modern Marxist-Leninist state.

$4.8Bn for 24x AH-64E Apaches including weapons, support, training.

The “weapons, support, training” part of these contracts is always significantly more of the cost than the “aircraft” part… so the price is well below $100million per AH-64.

The aircraft, a P-40E model, is the kind flown by the 1st American Volunteer Group formed in China by Gen. Claire Chennault shortly before the United States entered the war.

I wish museums would do their research… the AVG never actually saw combat before 7 December 1941.

The AVG had its first combat on 20 December 1941, when aircraft of the 1st and 2nd squadrons intercepted 10 unescorted Kawasaki Ki-48 “Lily” bombers of the 21st Hikotai raiding Kunming.

The AVG only flew P-40Es from April 1942 on… they had only Tomahawk IIBs (diverted from RAF deliveries) and P-40Bs before that (and continued to use the older birds until they were unrepairable).

Hasn’t the A-10 been made obsolete by modern guided weapons technology?

Regards

No, the upgrade of the A-10/OA-10s to the A-10C included the following: http://defense-update.com/products/a/a10c.htm

A-10C Warthog – Receives Modifications for Precision Engagement

A-10s are currently operated by US Air Force Reserve and Air National Guards. Some of the aircraft are being upgraded into the new A-10C, and all aircraft to remain in service will receive new wing sets within the next 10 years. Boeing was awarded a contract worth up to US$1 billion to design and build the new wings. As a near-term update, the aircraft are equipped with Improved Data Modem (IDM) to link to and support ground elements by establishing direct data connectivity with Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), enhancing the standard, lengthy and inaccurate ‘talk through’ process.

The A-10 Prime Team led by Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has received a $48 million award from the U.S. Air Force to produce 107 Precision Engagement (PE) modification kits for the Under the Precision Engagement (PE) upgrading program, the A-10 close air support fighter is modified into the A-10C.

From a clear weather, visual only attack aircraft the A-10C is transformed into an all-weather, multi-mission precision weapons delivery platform, capable of employing the Joint Direct Attack Munition and the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser. The program is integrating advanced sensors, a datalink and the LITENING AT and Sniper XR targeting pods onto the aircraft, which will boost pilot situational awareness, targeting capabilities, survivability and communication with other coalition ground and air elements.

Comprising hardware and software upgrades, each installed kit transforms the legacy A-10A aircraft enabling precision weapons capability. Each PE kit consists of a new cockpit instrument panel with two 5×5 inch multi-function color displays, a new stick grip and right throttle to provide true hands-on-throttle and-stick fingertip control of aircraft systems and targeting pod functionality, and six pylons upgraded to ‘smart’ weapons capability. A new computer called the Central Interface Control Unit manages the avionics and the integrated Digital Stores Management System (DSMS), which controls weapons functionality.

Lockheed Martin is expected to deliver a total of 356 kits over five years for an estimated $168 million. Kit production will run to 2008 with kit installation scheduled to go to 2009. To date, 21 aircraft have been modified at Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base, Utah; 356 total aircraft are to receive the upgrades, constituting the entire fleet, including active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard. Flight testing of the A-10C aircraft’s DSMS and digital map is taking place at Eglin Air Force Base, FL, and at Nellis Air Force Base, NV. Maryland Air National Guard 175th Wing at Warfield Air National Guard Base in Baltimore will be the first unit to convert to the modified aircraft.

As A-10 prime contractor and systems integrator under the direction of the Air Force A-10 program office (508th Aircraft Sustainment Squadron), Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego leads a team composed of BAE Systems, Johnson City, NY; Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio TX; and Northrop Grumman, St. Augustine, FL.

http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2008/June%202008/0608fade.aspx

Also included is the Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) to provide sensor data to personnel on the ground.
…..
One of the last weapons equipped on the A-10Cs just prior to their deployment was the laser Maverick air-to-ground missile—the AGM-65E—which until last year was used primarily by the Navy and Marine Corps.

The Air Force Material Command’s Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill AFB, Utah completed work on its 100th A-10 precision engagement upgrade in January 2008. At that time the program was expected to upgrade 356 A-10s to A-10C configuration

In July 2010, the USAF issued Raytheon a contract to integrate a Helmet Mounted Integrated Targeting (HMIT) system into A-10Cs.

Despite the obvious limitations, I would have thought the survivability of an A-10 in a hostile combat zone, would by far
exceed that of any combat helicopter. For that reason alone I believe it should stay in service for as long as possible.

And the new systems and weapons ensure both minimum-time weapon-delivery runs and allow weapons to be deployed from higher altitudes, outside range of Manpads and light/medium AA guns.

Since you didn’t bother with translating for us, we have to machine-translate what you quoted (and thus get a crappy quess as to meaning):

Is in progress the adoption of the Program of Obtaining Navios-Aerodromos , the PRONAE, which provides for the replacement of the NAe “Sao Paulo” until 2028, which will be achieved with the construction of a Navio-Aerodromo with approximately 50,000 tons of displacement, endowed with catapult for launching of aircraft and equipment downtime for your recollection;

The long-term, Brazil intends to acquire two aircraft carrier of 50,000 tonnes, in the context of the program PRONAE. It seems that were consulted the Navantia, Fincantieri, DCNS, BAE Systems and Gibbs & Cox, in order to obtain information about this project.

I had to do some googling to learn what you were talking about.

That thing looks bulkier than a chest parachute!

parasuit gallery