That is obsolete yesterdays thinking. But this forum does proof too, that most people are unwilling to change their accustomet belief. 😉

Like it or not, there are genuine grounds for NATO countries to avoid Russian equipment, especially military hardware.

Recent disagreements with Russia over Gas prices, the war with Georgia, the Litvinenko affair with the UK come just off the top of my head. Arguments such as these could disrupt the flow of spare parts and/or production aircraft, and would give Russia even more political leverage.

It’s not that their hardware isn’t up to the job (in most cases), but these reasons, combined with EU tariffs and entrenched attitudes and preconceptions will, imho, prevent Western European nations from buying Russian military hardware.

How is the experience in the UK with their Merlins ? Most things I read about it and it’s variants are negative reports about quality issues and low availability.
Just two examples:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2004/10/20/cormorant_ground041020.html

http://www2.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=f2bb3c5f-8663-4987-bab2-0d598d126052&k=84953

I concur with the last poster, apart from the normal teething problems when they were brought in the UK armed forces seem happy with their Merlins.

I for one would like to see the UK order more.

Found this today, the internet a la 1964!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9dpXHnJXaE

Pure tech-nerd heaven! 😀

A Herc wouldn’t have the performance, nor the degree of operator comfort required for sustained efficiency. Nor is it a good platform for the required antennas. And it’s small. You can put a capsule in the hold, of course, as the Yanks do with their Senior Hunter aircraft, but the result is an Elint aircraft with a very limited number of operators.

A C-17 might be a better option, or maybe even an A400M.

Using a C-17 would be like using a Rolls-Royce as a taxi, it can do the job well, but its needlessly extravagant.

Well, the Il-76 is a highly capable aircraft, but is it politically acceptable to the West?

The C-2 could be very promising (if they can ever export it), as could the new Embraer offering.

It’ll be interesting to see where it goes.

I agree with the spirit of the petition, but it doesn’t go far enough, imho.

Gurkhas should enjoy the same pay and pension as any other soldier in the UK armed forces, and automatically have pensions after service, especially if they are wounded or killed in action.

And who can forget Sean Connery, a Scotsman playing a Russian in ‘The Hunt for Red October’; he didn’t even try!

Can you put up some screenshots or images?