Not sure what’s so remarkable about a glide bomb that would occasion so much excitement?

It was my understanding that the 36 aircraft signed for are only intended to replace the Mirage IIIs and 2000s that have already been retired, with the F-5EMs and AMX to be replaced by follow-on orders.

Hadn’t heard this rumour, but seems to me the only aircraft ‘bigger’ than Y-20 or J-20 would be H-X.

Or Long March 9 😉

Regardless of the rumour’s provenance, it seems best not to get one’s hopes up. These things will come when they come.

Reminds me of the discussion on SDF when it was build quality of Chinese warships under the spotlight. That discussion was amply put to bed with the following image of Mistral hull under right photographic conditions:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]232984[/ATTACH]

I expect the same is true here.

A preliminary feasibility study and actual development are hardly the same thing.

Here is the old thread.

Isn’t S-70B the ‘old’ naval model? What about MH-60R?

The operational and strategic utility of Sao Paulo (or a single successor vessel) is limited and largely symbolic. But Sao Paulo exists and, as a consequence, Brazil is one of only three nations with current CATOBAR experience, and if practical this capability should be preserved* for future generations when Brazil is able to take advantage of it more effectively**. Brazil has already demonstrated its commitment to doing just that, and the path forward, if ambitious, is not beyond reach. The benign threat environment allows Brazil to divide its admirably limited military budgets in ways markedly different from the norm, with a high emphasis on domestic industrial development as well as developing and maintaining the skillsets and capabilities of a modern military force. Maximising the extent of those capabilities is simply not a factor, either in qualitative (e.g. F-35/Flanker vs. Gripen) or quantitative terms. Such depth will come with greater national resources in future generations, and when it does it will be largely indigenous in nature, owing to the wise investments made in the past. Other developing nations (such as India) only wish they were so lucky in being able to take this route, rather than attempting to develop their indigenous capabilities whilst simultaneously having to maintain large standing forces against extant threats.

* Much as France and Russia are currently preserving their skillsets with CdG and Adm. Kuz. The UK has already shown us how difficult it is to get these capabilities back once they have been lost.

** By 2030, Brazil’s GDP will be on par with France and the UK. Before 2050, it will become the fourth largest economy in the world, with annual military budgets comfortable exceeding those of Fr/UK even if Brazil’s commitment remains at ~1.5% of GDP vs. >2% for those nations.