It’s lasted over 90 years so far. Plenty of states have almost split in that time, but ended up staying together & becoming stable. There’s a big one in North America, for example.

Well yes, but Quebec indendence movement is not totally dead yet…

Agreed, makes you think that despite it coming with political strings and not being the most advanced solution, had the IAF gone with the F-18E/F or F-16I, they may well be inducting their first sqd instead of playing games with the French.

Of course if they had just decided to buy off-the-shelf aircraft, no domestic production etc. requirements attached to MRCA tender, things would be different. That is what French offered them with Mirage 2000-5, but India wanted more ambitious route, so that’s why they are there now.

India leads the world in bureaucratic inertia & ineptitude. Puts me in mind of the Russian Empire.

And it just seems to get worse…their military procurement is on verge of breaking down. Even a simple procurement takes a decade, to say nothing about domestic development.

“XXXX paper company: We cannot accept your tender because it is not on the correct pre-printed tender form. Your argument that the Government Stationery Office has run out of forms is not in the list of valid reasons set out in the regulations.”

This reminds me of a story how Finnish army lost Vyborg to Soviets in 1944: artillery battalion requesting shells from a nearby supply depot was denied…because the depot had ran out of correct forms.

Given Iran’s previous submarine building experience….I don’t think anyone needs to worry.
One sank recently IIRC.

“In the land of the blind, one-eyed man is the king” 🙂

It’ll give good excuse for everyone else to start training ASW, if nothing else…

Why would the radar scope be deliberately disabled? Even if I am in a bomber, I’d still like to know what’s around me.

Radars require quite a bit maintenance (especially old 60/70s technology radars), if it is not essential for the role, might just as well get rid of the radar entirely and lighten the plane. Also, for radar to be any good (especially radar of that era) pilot has to continuously operate it, and it gets difficult if you are already tasked for ground attack.

Of course, part of the increase is just good old-fashioned inflation. That said, this once again serves us an example why cutting resources from a project does not necessarily produce net saving.

Oh well, I’m sure Russians have some carrier hulk somewhere they can sell for a bargain…

By the end of 2015, when Moskva is going off for repairs and modernization (taking Ustinov’s place @ Zvezdochka in the north), Kerch will be brought back into service and will act as temporary Flagship of the BSF.

Hmmm. Not out of the ream of possibility, but old man Kerch was slated for decomming soon. Wait and see what the preliminary repairs reveal I guess.

Awesome, my favourite BPK gets another extension!
It sorta makes sense when you think about it: they want gas turbine ships as they’re easier to deploy, but other fleets have no spare cruisers to borrow. I guess they could move an Udaloy to Black Sea, but those are sorely needed too, and Kerch is equipped to lead a task force, whilst Udaloys are not. Also they do not have area air defence system, whilst Kerch has Shtorm. Admittably obsolete, but better than nothing.

Zelenodolsk received an order for 5 more project 22100 coast guard ships, for FSB use in the North primarily. The lead ship of the class was laid down in 2012, and should be launched this year.
These are the biggest ships built by the shipyard, at around 3000 tons.

It’s kinda funny that such big ships are being built like 1000km from the sea. I wonder how big warships they could theoretically transfer via channel network. ISTR that there is a Krivak class frigate moored in Moscow.

“FMV stated that the primary purpose of the “Malmo operation” (note it was under armed escort! ….can’t imagine the MoD raiding Bae Systems with gun-toting guards ;-)) was to ensure that the state regained control of all advanced defense technologies attached to the A26 program so that it does not leave the country.”

Perhaps the Swedes didn’t do their homework or the Germans weren’t quite ready to hand over what the raid was set up to obtain:

“….it now appears that FMV officials left empty-handed, failing to locate or secure the classified defense documents and naval technologies relating to the A26, which sparked the raid.”

The thing is even if Saab take over all and buy the physical sites of the sub building subsidiary the intellectual property rights can be held by the parent company or other group company and not necessarily held in the Kockums subsidiary….perhaps ThyssenKrupp are looking to negotiate for a pay-off? (The new build submarine and refit contract is worth $4.5 billion).

Really, the Germans are unwise if they are trying to play hardball here. A government acting on what it perceives as a matter of national security does not have to play by the rules.