great, when do you think pics will be released? Since it seems many PLAN aircraft are painted white..should we expect to see this version of the MKK to be white?

Can the Su-30MK2 equip up to 4 AShMs as well as self defense missiles>

Originally posted by mixtec
Lets be serious, the the F-16 and T-50 are in a completely different catagory to the F-5. Yes the F-16 and T-50 is simpler than other 4th gen fighters, but not by much. The gripen for example was also designed for ease of maintenaince. Why cant you guys accept the idea that there should be different levels of sufficistication available, and not everyone wants a state of the art fighter, even if that fighter was designed to be relatively simple for its catagory.

Because times change, technology gets better, and older technology becomes cheaper. that simple. The world will not continue living in the F-5 era.

Yes the F-16 and T-50 is simpler than other 4th gen fighters, but not by much

Define not by much , you seem to know the stats on this, post them up, fuel rates, maintenance costs, etc. If you can do this, then you will have a very strong arguement, other wise it’s just speculation.

For the time being, the very early block F-16s, T-50/A-50, Ching Kuo and FC-1 are the closest thing you can get to a modern F-5.

And based on what other people have posted in this forum.. T-50/A50 approx 20 million.. Gripen/F-16 at least 35 million.. that’s is not “slightly more expensive”.

Originally posted by plawolf
arthur:

“A recon version was never necessary, since the MiG-25RB-series worked just fine for the FA. The MiG-31 was developed for the PVO to improve on the MiG-25’s shortcomings, but those shortcomings only concerned the intercept-part of the job. So no recce. “

i was think more in terms of adding this extra feature to try to attract buyers.

“Again, the MiG-31 was an interceptor aircraft for the Air Defence Force of the Soviet Union. They didn’t bother with attacking ships, that was the job of the AV-MF and (although only minor) the FA. Different services, different jobs, different platforms.”

againt, same as above. im sure it wont be that hard to upgrade the mig31 to do a little anti-shipping on teh side.;)

“That’s what the MiG-31D was developed for.”

nice, but dont know much abt teh ‘D’ model, is it in service? any articles on what type of weapons it can used?

Quite honestly, most countries that are willing to spend the money (especially on the high operating costs) of the MiG-31 don’t really need it..

the MiG-31 was designed purely for specific mission, as well as being able to cover vast areas such as the Soviet Union. Countries have shown that they would rather buy the Su-30s, which may not be as good as the MiG-31 against intercepting specific targets.. but offer much more roles it can do and is still no slouch as an interceptor.. unfortunately, the export potential of the MiG-31 is bleak.

Like stated earlier, I wont use numbers but rather by types..

I would like to use a modified
Su-35UB and
Gripen

as the spearhead of the fighter force… since both aircraft are rather affordable..the Gripen will be mainly concentrated in vital areas such as the capitol etc, and in charge of air defence there as well as any other roles it may need to defend that area.

The Su-35UB will be modified to use many of the same avionics as the Su-35UB (such as the HUD, MFDs etc)..both aircraft will try to have Israeli EW and hopefully both will be able to incorporate some Israeli weapons..at least the guided bombs and short range AAMs.. the Su-35UB is used to patrol long expanses of territories that is not covered by the Gripen.. and also to spearhead any interdiction missions into enemy territory.

however the ratio would be in favor of the Gripens as it would probably be cheaper to operate them.. and also they could probably well have longer air frame and engine lives.. the ratio would probably be something on the scale of 2 gripens to 1 Su-35UB.

Since Usually the areas I imagine scenarios of, will be cold..I will trust Russian tech for helicopters such as the Mi-17s, Mi-35s, etc where spares are probably easy to obtain from non-Russian sources..

if I went western, I’d probably opt for Italian helciopters such as the A109 for multi utility purposes, EH101 for maritime and asw roles, and maybe even the A129 for armed scout.

EW will be done by the SAAB AEW

Originally posted by ELP
A lot has happened since the SK deal. Now the Rafale is checked out on decent ( cheap )all weather PGMs (Sagem), and Enhanced Paveway. Meaning it can compete with the F-15 on A2G. EF2000 is still in the middle of getting checked out in A2G stuff and is not complete.

They are in for a real sticker shock on sustainment issues when they go to run either of these jets for years as opposed to a single engine A-4.

Maintenance:

1. Rafale
2. EF2000
3. F-15

A2G ability

1. F-15
2. Rafale
3. EF2000

(EF2000 is currently 4 in A2G when compared to their current F-16s)

The EF2000 systems progress has been going at a snails pace since the SK deal years ago. I would have thought more progress would be made. O.T. Interesting that the Indian SU-30 is proressing much faster at systems and weapon integration.

off topic..but Elp what do you think about the process of weapons on tigeration on the Rafale and MKI, and the potential of their A2g abilities?