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Rii

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Viewing 15 posts - 46 through 60 (of 3,311 total)
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  • February 21, 2017 at 3:34 pm in reply to: Turkey-Russia negotiating terms of S-400 Triumf sale #2157098
    Rii
    Participant

    Dont quite remember NATO doing a “1956 Hungary” or “1968 Czechoslovakia” thingy on the past, invading their own “allies” is, oh, so “Soviet”, but not particularly “Natish”…

    You mean besides Iraq? And Libya? And Afghanistan?

    February 21, 2017 at 6:37 am in reply to: Russia and UAE to develop new 5th Gen Fighter #2158002
    Rii
    Participant

    A new “light” (read: medium) fighter powered by a single AL-41 would certainly be interesting. Somewhat smaller than F-35 without the 2000lb-class internal munitions requirement (internal A2A and light A2G only). Such an aircraft would seem reasonably well positioned in an increasingly crowded international market.

    Alas, all fantasy until we hear (a lot) more.

    February 21, 2017 at 6:26 am in reply to: 2017 F-35 news and discussion thread #2158032
    Rii
    Participant

    That strengthens the case for not delaying the F-35 since now multiple 4th gen have to be kept flying before being replaced by a single F-35.

    True. Buying early-block F-35s certainly makes more sense than upgrading tired F-16s (and maybe even F-15Cs).

    February 20, 2017 at 6:05 pm in reply to: 2017 F-35 news and discussion thread #2159242
    Rii
    Participant

    This is the same cost/benefit analysis that has to be done when calculating Concurrency costs.

    For every F-35 that is delayed is a 4th gen that has to stay in the air longer, require more support while it’s there, and takes more of them to get the job done.

    Sure, if you’re sticking to fantasy-land where existing aircraft are going to be replaced 1:1.

    In the real world, as acknowledged recently even by John McCain in his otherwise feverish DoD budgetary blueprint — that isn’t going to happen. USAF could delay F-35 procurement and cancel expensive upgrade programs for legacy platforms.

    But whatever. I don’t particularly care how the US mismanages its resources.

    February 20, 2017 at 2:26 pm in reply to: 2017 F-35 news and discussion thread #2159519
    Rii
    Participant

    With that reasoning, you have to wonder what Maj. Gen. Jerry Harris thinks of the entire procurement strategy to date.

    And now for input from Lockheed Martin…

    February 20, 2017 at 2:16 pm in reply to: Chinese air power thread 18 #2159556
    Rii
    Participant

    Looking at other pics of J-20 with EFT, I don’t think so. If they are, it isn’t nearly as visually apparent as on SH. Need someone to do fancy ruler check to be sure.

    February 18, 2017 at 1:10 am in reply to: Military Aviation News #2163948
    Rii
    Participant

    Obsolete news article since all personnel mentioned were replaced by Trump

    I can just imagine Trump arguing with Trump across the table.

    February 18, 2017 at 1:08 am in reply to: Mig-29s for Argentine Air Force? #2163951
    Rii
    Participant

    It’s also unproven and unavailable. Five years from now, might be a different story.

    February 18, 2017 at 12:30 am in reply to: Mig-29s for Argentine Air Force? #2164048
    Rii
    Participant

    Get serious.

    I am serious, and I would say the same of Australia’s RAAF if we were ever in that position: say, if all of Europe has collapsed into an industrial black hole and the USA no longer produces anything under 25-tons/$200m (circumstances that are unlikely, but not inconceivable). If you won’t consider a platform that is clearly “best fit” in terms of capabilities/cost simply because it doesn’t fit with your cultural conceptions, then it’s clear the need isn’t that urgent in the first place.

    February 17, 2017 at 11:34 pm in reply to: Mig-29s for Argentine Air Force? #2164130
    Rii
    Participant

    If Argentina won’t consider Chinese aircraft because “we are a western nation, lol” then that simply demonstrates that Argentina doesn’t need any combat aircraft.

    February 17, 2017 at 11:18 pm in reply to: Harrier Carriers: Relevant or failed experiment? #2009229
    Rii
    Participant

    The answer to the question “why isn’t there a new Harrier?” is political, i.e. because nobody saw fit to build one. Not because a smaller STOVL platform is no longer useful, but because they couldn’t be bothered allocating the necessary resources. Same reason there are no medium bombers anymore.

    February 17, 2017 at 12:05 pm in reply to: Harrier Carriers: Relevant or failed experiment? #2009235
    Rii
    Participant

    Jonesy‘s was one of those posts that make one wish for a ‘like’ button. In its own way my post was intended as a reply/extension, to the point of why the minimum size has gone up, i.e. it’s not a technical evolution, but a political one.

    February 16, 2017 at 9:38 pm in reply to: Military Aviation News #2165790
    Rii
    Participant

    The most utter BS I have heard in decades.. The only thing Greeks deserve to fly for their financial discipline are Sopwith Camels.. funny how EU nations, some of them flying old MiG-29s and Mi-17s should participate in saving Greeks, so that they can afford NH90s, EC725s, AH-64s and upgrade their “old” Block 52+ with AESA radars.. gotta be kidding me..

    Well, it wasn’t my suggestion… 🙁

    February 16, 2017 at 6:07 pm in reply to: Harrier Carriers: Relevant or failed experiment? #2009268
    Rii
    Participant

    The countries that would operate a contemporary Harrier/CVL combo can’t afford and/or don’t have the expertise to develop their own aircraft (or carriers for that matter).

    The countries that have the expertise and/or funds aren’t interested in such a combo.

    The European nations that previously came closest to the sweet spot of ability and desire have all abdicated, for one reason or another.

    February 16, 2017 at 5:33 pm in reply to: If you were in charge of the JSF/F-35 program what would you have done differently? #2166576
    Rii
    Participant

    You mean that the international aspects of the JSF program were designed to strip the last remnants of self-sufficiency from European and other allied nations to ensure their ongoing fealty to Washington? Yeah, we already knew that.

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