the main gun its probably better to have a smaller gun with proximity ammo for use as a anti-missile weapon. Thats where I think the Oto-breda scores well. the USN can support a invasion with their new LR guns but few others have that need. India has
never preferred the Russian main guns – its just hard sell that
gets them in over the Otos.

the new Barak is not called barak2, its called the SuperBarak and
india was supposed to be paying for (some of) its development.
2x the barak range and ability to take supersonic ASMs. not a
SM2 clone.

Muns, no vls…it will be in the usual box launcher as on land.
similar way to the germans using sea sparrow and RAM.

wrt choice of Shtil there was no other choice – SM2 was out of question so what else was there on market ? even now its either Aster15 or Shtil and Aster needs the expensive Arabel or EMPAR.

IN might choose to install ASter on just a few ships to act as
team leads for SAGs.

similarly Phalanx is out of question. Goalkeeper and Kashtans are
both closed loop systems…not much to differentiate them gunwise.

production stopped in 1998, last delivery in 1999. saab civil aviation has been ‘dormant’ since then I think.

Vympel what is the current known status of new versions of the R-73 and ramjet R-77 ?
the R-73 is kinda long in tooth compared to the new gen designs flooding the market and needs a new model and ramjet R-77 is obviously necessary to match the Meteor and improve on the original R-77 shortcomings.

> half the French “sorties” probably involved ferrying
> French wine and cheese

whatever you say. so while the Brits spent years in the iraqi wilderness plinking tents with concrete bombs, the french sat back with their wine and cheese, came out and did their bit when it *really* mattered to EU and went home happy & satisfied.

Clever people these French 🙂

the “mighty” RAF contributed a miserable tally of 12 Tornado and 23 harriers to the Kosovo war. of these the 7 sea harriers flew CAPs against the non-existent Serbian AF.

http://www.kosovo.mod.uk/account/stats.htm

and this link says it all whos got the talk and whos got the big bite:
http://www.danshistory.com/operations.shtml#af

UK 39 L-1011K, E3-D, GR-7, GR1, VC-10, Tristar and aircraft on HMS Invincible

France 84 Jaguar, Mirage 2000C, 2000D, F1, MIR-IVP, JAG-A, E3-F, C-135F, UAV CL-289, UAV CR, PUMA SA-330, HORIZON, C160, aircraft on FS Foch

Germany 33 Tornado PA-200H, PA-200E, UAV CL289

Total Number of UK sorties 1,618
UK total made up of:
Strike sorties – GR1 & GR7 1,008
Combat Air Patrols – FA2 102

France
Over 100 aircraft. 2414 sorties

Italy
1081 sorties

Netherlands
1252 sorties

in the biggest “just” war in its backyard UK failed to pull its weight. they
would much rather fight colonial wars against strawmen like Saddam it seems.

> french BVR missiles and ECM technologies are mediocre at best?

the Mirage ICMS and Rafale SPECTRA have been to exercises and performed very respectably.

the FrAF I believe pulled the most missions among the EU during
the Kosovo war.