it is unlikely Beriev has started on the Indian phalcons yet , they
were supposed to get some semi-complete airframes from Uzbekistan then ilyushin would upgrade them to PS90 engines
and AAR and then Beriev installs and tests the fixed radome.
imo PLAAFs first batch of A50s would fly with what russia is offering.
if the radar and processors is PRC there is no money for russia,
who make little profits on the airframe itself. they will demand
their pound of flesh.
PAK-FA and MCA are two different projects. PAK-FA being mostly
a russian project and available much more quickly if funding
come through. It will be a stealthy air-superiority bird to eventually replace the SU30s , the MCA is a strike plane to replace
-27/2K/Jag. the MCA will likely have external carriage of weapons
while PAK-FA could fit the smaller AAMs into internal bays.
the fuselage of MCA needs to become pregnant for internal bays – its too early to predict its final config.
January 16, 2004 at 5:06 pm
in reply to: Sd-10#2666274
some LACMs like Taurus also use IIR or soon will. I believe ESSM
SAM also will get a IIR. Its the “in thing” among all missiles because its totally passive unlike radar and permits strikes on
selective parts of target like foredeck (get the VLS array) or turret top of a tank.
its pointless for countries to compete at this exploratory stage
in space. Its time to shed national pride for once and form a
“galactic federation” consisting of anyone who can contribute something – robots, computers, rockets, space labs, space capsules, medicine and do joint missions to mars and the moon.
otherwise its too much resources wasted to get the same photo
and collect the same samples.
January 16, 2004 at 12:22 am
in reply to: Sd-10#2666764
as russia apparently isnt developing anything beyond the R77,
I think the writing is clear…india hasnt funded anything in that
dept. India is probably working with israel on domestic Astra missile to replace the R77 eventually.
increasingly india turns away from russia in defence electronics
and most to israel or domestic and france to an extent.
the french took the hint and left pondicherry on good terms, but
portugal was unwilling to leave quickly, hence the mil action.
there was no way a newly independent country appreciate
remnants of the colonial rule that had ravaged it economically for a few centuries.
anyway thats too much in the past to bother with now. relations
are normalized.
various PAF fora have been claiming full ops service for FC1 in
2005, now CATIC says the much more realistic figure of 2007 to
give it the full avionics and then integrate various weapons.
Looks like PAF can expect regular ops only in 2008.
the LCA and FC1 will enter service nearly in parallel it seems……
…good job by CATIC imo – perhaps the quickest timeline for a
late model fighter from first flight to sqdn service.
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