Good god, the numbers of active combat aircraft are dwindling in every service. How can someone make an argument out of cuts? It has nothing to do with the capabilities in the first place, but with budget constrains. The services would most likely opt for more airframes of either type, but the financial situation doesn’t permit it. And yes up to date some 160 Typhoons ARE CONTRACTED by the UK! That they won’t all be active is NO NEWS. Even at the time the RAF intended to purchase 232 airframes it was meant to allow for an active fleet of 137 aircraft over the expected live time with aircraft being rotated in and out of service to spread the fh more even on the fleet to sustain the fleet for a given period.

@Haavarla,
I in fact think that the internal fuel load for the Su-30MKI is 9400 kg as for the Su-30 or Su-27. It’s the Su-30MKK/MK2 which features additional tanks in its enlarged fins which will increase the fuel load, though I have seen figures ranging from 9640 kg to 9720 kg.

The point about unused Su-27 airframes is that there were no proposed customers which got no aircraft for what ever reason which were in production. The only option I could image would have been Su-27s produced for the RuAF/Soviet AF but which weren’t delivered due the lack of money. But never heard about something like that, not even rumour wise. That’s why I’m somewhat sceptic about it.

You first must take into account that the original Su-27SM upgrade was largely based on the Su-30MKK technology, that’s why these aircraft are similar from an equipment/avionics point of view. The Su-27SM has received a variant of the N-001V, probably similar to the N-001VEP fitted to the Su-30MK2. There are information available, not that much but at least enough and it simply makes no sense to fit different radar types to such a small quantity of aircraft. It’s certainly not impossible, but that’s the low cost solution. The Su-27SM was merely an effort to keep numbers up and have somewhat operationally relevant airframes until new designs would be available. I subsequently believe that the Su-30M2 will be largely similar to the MK2 export variant with some changes adopted from the Su-27SM, which weren’t exported.

@Sign,
where does the 11975 kg figure for the F414G come from?

@Seahawk,
lol

And you do realize that the claim was made taking into account the F-22’s more forward position due stealth and that they compare their stuff to other equipment of themselves?

Su-27SM has more thrust(13.5t), less drag, more fuel and less RCS VS the MKI.

Any source confirming a higher internal fuel load for the SM? I doubt so to be honest and the difference in RCS may not be that significant at all.

The RuAF General was refering to the Su-35S.

Not in that interview concerning the Su-27SM, he stated it would be superior to the export variants, it was made quite some time ago.

It is unclear what kind of radar will get installed on the new build Su-27SM squadron by KnAAPO.

Are these 12 lattest Su-27SM really new built examples or upgrades? Indonesia recently received some Su-27SKM. I doubt they have fitted any new radar and the old style Flanker radome is a clear indication for that.

It could be a SM2 upgrade with a new radar..

Unlikely.

On a striker delivery capability, with the Bahramos the MKI is unchallanged.

Well no other fighter could carry the Brahmos, that doesn’t mean that the Su-30MKIs overall strike/AG capability is unmatched.

@Spudman,
what are you talking about? Maybe the mickey is up to Scooter himself who posted that non relevant rubbish about the F-35s internal AAM carriage capability. My point was about AA performance/effectiveness F-35 vs F-22. His claim was that LM and US government sources confirm an equal performance/effectiveness. I say, I’ve never seen something like that, on contrary I’ve seen the opposite. It’s just ridiculous how people try to present the F-35 as an upper air dominance fighter equal to the F-22. That’s simply not the case according what the customer and even pilots say themself. There is nothing wrong about the F-35 being a less capable fighter in comparison to the F-22, but the brain dead brigade continues to spam its crap around.

NOT quite:

“Discussing maximum mission radius, Mazanowski presented an air-to-air mission profile in which all the aircraft took off with a weapon load, remained at high altitude and returned after about a minute of combat. All but the F-35 and Su-30MKI were carrying three external fuel tanks.

Under this scenario, the Rafale had a maximum mission radius of 896 n miles, the F/A-18 816 n miles, the F-35 751 n miles, the Eurofighter 747 n miles, the Su-30MKI 728 n miles and the Gripen 502 n miles.”

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/products/f35/f-35A-ctol-variant.html

>590 nm and that’s consistent with various sources. And even if the F-35 would achieve a 751 nm combat radius on internal fuel (~25% more than required in the KPP!), it still holds more internal fuel than a Typhoon with internal+external, while offering no range advantage!