not a big surprise. IAF came to same decision in early 1990s with same
two options. Mirage needs three external fuel tanks probably to match the
flanker in range yet still not in payload or manouver.

ofcourse operating costs are more. but u get what u pay for.

is the canadian company radarsat subcontracted by raytheon to
supply the SAR module for this platform ?

other than the USN, none of the other western navies (even including their SSNs) are safe when operating within Flanker range of the india/china/russia shores.

The british & french carriers can be matched by shore based flanker, migs, aew so that advantage is neutralized. shore based LRMP a/c and ship based helos can make life rough for a SSN esp as torpedoes arent really long ranged weapons..

That leaves the surface ships to clean up, which as noted above
isnt very difficult…using stuff like subs armed with klubs.

The “West” looks strong onlee because of the vast USN presence. if due to a economic decline or political changes
the US CVN fleet were to drop down, the “West” will cease
to control the worlds oceans the way it does now. This will
signal the end of a particular phase in world history – expeditionary ops against powerful enemies far away.

Imo In around 2 decades, india & china will be strong enough
to beat back massed US CVN + SSN attacks even if the
US spending continues at its present super-high levels.

seems to have a Typhoon style divided air intake. did it reach
beyond wooden models ?

PAF_fan, indeed I am sleeping easy at night. However unless you can provide Pak media reports that the PA is undertaking atleast one-two big integrated exercises every year it would seem my ‘feelings’ have some substance. the success of Riposte also needs a great deal of support from the PAF, so I am interested to know of joint PAF-PA exercises also in the last few years.

I am aware that you are not an authority on the PAF, let alone the
PA. someone in the know wouldnt have needed Steve to tell them only 6-7 C-130 were operational from 20 delivered and would be well aware of the Bell helicopter issue he outlined.

My expectations have been suitably lowered.

PAF_fan, actually I am unable to find media reports of large exercises. I
note a couple of ‘leadership exercises’ in which top commanders huddle together in two teams and work the strategic aspects.

My feeling is that Riposte is now abandoned or kept on backburner due to lack of funding to match the indian buildup after 1999. Last 2-3 yrs
the Pak media / commentators / experts havent talked much or at all of riposte but more of going nuclear if even light losses in territory are faced.

lack of large protected sources of petroleum supply may also
have something to do with it.

is this PA orbat good for study ?

http://www.pakdef.info/forum/archive/index.php/t-357.html

anyone have a photo to share of the cancelled Mikoyan Mig33 light fighter project (the F16ski) ?