Russian jets are designed to fight a war in Siberia – do the Russians really expect to fight some sort of civil war in the future? It’s a bit like saying that all USAF fighter jets are designed to fight a war in Kansas.

No, Russia is not expecting to fight civil war, but to defend their homeland from foreign attack. US warmongers really do their best to start WW3 and Russia is getting ready for defense. Russia doesn’t have aspirations for global domination like US.

what spares and ammo? the whole idea of the FAB buying and assembling the Gripen E was to have rights to build and sell the Gripen to other nations. After all they’re paying nearly $ 900 million over the initial contract cost that was announced ($5.4 billion instead of $4.5 billion)..what parts other than the radar and IRST does the UK build for the Gripen E?

The radar and IRST being Selex developed could theoretically be replaced by other versions from other countries. Though it is a fair point that the integration and development of replacement radar and IRST (which could be eliminated itself) would be a cost to be added on. If Argentina could bear that cost then there is no reason why it is not possible to do that. the UK has not got veto rights over the Gripen E itself- merely over the Gripen E equipped with the Raven ES-05A and Skyward IRST.

Practically a third of Gripen is made in UK and there is a big question if Argentina could receive AMRAAM, Iris-T or newer Sidewinder missiles for Gripen and if US will sell F-414 engines for them. Gripen is not cheap plane, but replacing half of the plane make it super expensive, so it will be far cheaper for Argentina to just buy Su-35 or MiG-35.

Su-30MK2 is still in production for Vietnam, so they are not left over planes, but new build ones.

Looks to be fairly intact as far as crashes go.

Looks like emergency landing. Plane is in 1 peace, so it could be repaired.

A big fat 0. Or you want Russia to annex Georgia?

More pics here: http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/slukoyanov?&p=3

No need to annex Georgia. Su-25 was also produced in Ulan Ude.

Russian Navy Su-30SM with 3M-54 Klub missiles which have around 600 km range, but air launched version could have even longer range. With Bars-R radar, modern data link connection to C4ISR and long range of plane, this is very potent combination.

Scotland will still need to protect their air space and their interests in Northern sea with their own force. If they will not get planes from RAF, than maybe they should buy some from France like Rafale fighters and helicopters.

China is Russian ally in new cold war against NATO. In case of dividing Ukraine, Ukrainian jet engine producer Motor Sich in Zaporozhje will be in prorussian part. To buy new planes Ukraine doesn’t have money and main industry is in the east. Western Ukraine will have to work with planes which they have, but majority of flying ones are already shot down. I think they will stay with Mig-29 fighters and remaining Su-25 attack planes, for which they could get spare parts from eastern European NATO members. Su-24 and Su-27 will be soon grounded as the source of spare parts is Russia and eastern European NATO members don’t have them. They could get some retired western planes donated from NATO members, but they will be also 40 years old and very expensive to maintain. No one will give Ukraine new fighters for free.