Ouch, the trip became more embarrassing than intimidating.

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/21/russian-carrier-plagued-by-technical-problems/

Can you blame them? They have needed that tug on previous trips…

http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a18141/towing-admiral-kuznetsov-video-tugboat/

In February 2012, Russia’s only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, returned from a brief visit to Syria where it had showed the Russian flag in support of the Syrian regime. The three-month voyage was par for the course for the Russian carrier, but then things went awry: Kuznetsov lost propulsion on the way home and began drifting in the Bay of Biscay off the coast of France and Spain.

Russia apparently concealed the incident from the rest of world at the time, but the website gCaptain posted this video, taken from the Kuznetsov, showing the crew of the Russian Navy tug Nikolay Chiker struggling to take the carrier under tow. You can see the Chiker wallowing in heavy seas in front of the Kuznetsov, which then fires a line-carrying projectile (watch for the smoke trail) at the tug. Chiker’s crew takes up the line and begins the towing process.

why hasnt anyone else thought of that ?

Because it is just bonkers maybe?

The pylon issue is specific to the F-35C… it was detailed in the most recent DOT&E report.

DOT&E is particularly concerned with December testing of the AIM-9X, which revealed “load exceedances,” or excess stress, on the Navy F-35C variant’s wing structure during landings and certain maneuvers. This will either limit the F-35C’s ability to carry AIM-9X or require a redesign and testing of the supporting wing structure, DOT&E says.

http://aviationweek.com/defense/weapons-tester-cites-further-f-35-challenges

Propaganda cartoons?

:stupid:

Sigh.

As stated previously: The mk1a seems to become something that is somewhere between the Gripen A and Gripen C in some important performance measures. Even if we assume that it becomes quite close to Gripen C in performance; it is not really something that a country like India would like to induct in 2020, in particular considering the threat environment.

As stated previously: too little, to late.

If mk1a arrives in 2020: when will mk2 arrive? mk2 should be Gripen E analogue. By 2030? What kind of a/c do you think China will introduce by 2030?

Again, too little, too late.

Learn as much as you can from the LCA, and move on to the AMCA the sooner the better. In the meantime, fill the gaps with either F-16 or Gripen E, whatever the IAF fancy the most.

This basically… not only has LCA arrived far too late to fulfill its intended purpose and failed to meet its goals for technological independence… it just isn’t a competitive design technologically. It will be a 4th generation fighter entering service around 2020… assuming no further delays. Why bother? India should just move on to a new design and hope to bring it to production in less than 30 years.

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The Gripen demonstrator isn’t a Gripen E, which is quite a bit heavier…

The actual Gripen E should supercruise when clean or very lightly loaded, but it will likely be

So you have no idea. Thought so.

The conversations on Indian forums is the exact opposite. The biggest question being asked is how to get the industrial eco-system in India to be able to step up Tejas production. Far from being a failed project, it is obvious to most people who are willing to actually understand the entire issue, that it is vital that even more support needs to be extended to the Tejas.

The Tejas program began over 30 years ago with the goal of producing a modern indigenous fighter to replace India’s Mig-21s.

The program has not succeeded in producing a truly indigenous design as key components, such as its engine, are still foreign. It hasn’t managed to match the current state of the art technologically… and it has no chance of arriving in time to replace the Mig-21s, forcing India to buy Rafales and now apparently some 100+ of another foreign aircraft type.

The program failed, period.