i know the Air Force wanted the A321 to replace the A330, but i cant help think they made a mistake with the choice of aircraft.
sure for flights within Europe it will suffice, but when the aircraft needs to make trans-atlantic flights, i think they will realise the aircraft will fall short in terms of range (4500km, compared to the A330’s 10.500).

if they wanted a smaller narrow-body airliner airframe for long distances, they would have been better off buying or leasing a Boeing 757 derivative.

and i do like the idea of an all-grey color scheme like this, i dont really like the tail design, low-vis defence logo with a high-vis finflash?

for the UK to buy new AH-64E’s doenst make any sence, the current WAH-64D’s are only roughly 10 to 12 years old.
sure the helicopters that have flown in Afghanistan has accumulated a large number of flying hours, but that doenst make them old.

my suggestion would be to look at the fleet first, and upgrade the youngest airframes to an AH.2 standard (AH-64E), and replace the oldest ones with the most flying hours with newbuilt machines.

what is with the UK wanting to retain old equipment, but retiring all they’re newest toys (AH-64D, Sentinel,….)
to me, even looking at the RC-135 buy doenst make sence, why replace the nimrod R.1 with a machine thats just as old (or even older).
would have been cheaper or more future-certian to buy a 737-based derivative. but thats another topic….

the Belgium Air Force is looking into industrial cooperation and offset for its F-16 replacement program.
since it is to late to enter the F-35 JSF program, the Gripen-E/F has a conciderable chance of being a favorite for the 40 aircraft requirement.

i think, in terms of costs, capabilities and NATO-compatibility, the Gripen is ideal for Belgium.

Indonesia Purchases Air Defense System From Thales

the right link: http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140114/DEFREG01/301140041/Indonesia-Purchases-Air-Defense-System-From-Thales

Yes, Russia is concidering retireing the Su-33 from service, but there have been proposals for an upgraded Su-33K.
but that plan has appeared to be dropped in favour of buying the Mig-29K, witch makes sence as the aircraft is already in production and development was largely funded by India when they bought the ex-gorshkov.

yes, there is a difference, the Su-33 was a navalised development of the 1st generation Su-27.
the J-15 is a navalised development of the J-11B (unlicenced copy of the upgraded Su-27SK), they might look the same on the outside (except for the addtion of canards and a beefed up tailhook), but the main differnce is on the inside.
Russia could also build an upgraded Su-33 based on the newer Su-35 if they wanted to, but as noted, it was cheaper to buy Mig-29K’s as they are already here.

just remember, there is still little known about the J-15, so it will be difficult to compare it with the older Su-33.
it might not have the take off weight of the Su-33, but its avionics and weapons systems are far more advanced, so i say it is a better comparison to the Mig-29K.

PS:

as to what Russia is getting out of the J-15?
awnser: absolutly nothing.

China has been building unlicenced copies of aircraft for years (J-7 = Mig-21, J-6 = Mig-19, H-6 = Tu-16,….)
if they have 1 aircraft, they will take it appart and reverse engineer it, just like what they did with the Su-33/J-15 and, more recently, the Z-20/S-70 Blackhawk.

is F-35 the next F-4 Phantom, Hell no!!
the next F-105 Thunderchief? Yes!

Belgium to decide on F-16 replacement in 2014

Update: the requirement will call for 40 aircraft, of an estimated budget of 4 billion Euro’s.
no type has been selected yet, but the F-35 was a favoured contender, although other aircraft (Gripen-E/F, Rafale,….) are also being concidered.

personally, dont think 4 billion will be enough for 40 F-35, specially if you see that the Dutch are paying 4.5 billion for just 37 aircraft :/