I don’t know. I haven’t seen the Mi-28’s RFP. Only the one for the AH-64.

Not impossible (for a different reason) – as I recall the US was reluctant to sell the AH-64s (offering the AH-1Z instead). In either case, it is again an apt example of why Iraq’s conditions cannot to carried forward to other operators (like India).

Just FYI the DSCA quotes the upper limit of the potential value (for Congressional approval). The actual contract figure may be vastly lower. (And yes this applies to Iraq too.)

Case-in-point: 10 C-17s for the IAF –

DSCA: “The estimated cost is $5.8 billion.”
Actual contract: “India Approves $4.1 Billion Boeing Order”

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/fedbiz_daily/2011/09/boeing-wins-469m-contract-for-c-17.html
The Indian Air Force upped the total value of a contract with Boeing Co. for aircraft maintenance and upgrades by nearly half a billion dollars, according to an announcement from the Defense Department Wednesday

Well for starter it is not a $50Bn contract, never was, never will be, it was the upper band limit of the whole project, but reporters have muddied the waters on this one as usual.

What pressure from the Americans ? They have no input whatsoever !

where you get this idea?. French are capable of milking this project multi decades. Just look at India and Brazil. how long first boats takes.

Are Russian AF Su-35 and Su-30SM still being based in Syria?

They are there but alot more stuff there. This ceasefire looks to me to gain time for industrial production to catch up for aircraft weopons and in mean time alot more use of attack choppers. I presume the ammunition of helicopters is built at different factories. Bottom line is Russia does not need Israel. If it esclatez so will be oil prices and Russia popularity in Arab Street.

Just like R-77-1 was not operational with Su-35S. Or KAB-500S was not operational with Su-34. They weren’t… until they were..
I think it can be made operational easily, the only question is if there is any need to do so.. Kh-25 is a quite dated design, IMHO..

I would estimate that more lighter weopons for T-50/UCAV Russia will be able to deploy cheaply in next 5 years. this will also helps Attack choppers. Plus there are about 80 Attack choppers from Russia in Irak-Syria theater getting real world experience in desert heat for extended period of time. Long term Ka-52/Mi-28 has bigger advantage for high tempo wars.

Of course you can.. Finally, you’re not buying a single vehicle, but a whole force.

Choosing a design based on individual characteristics, which you then may never put to use and ending up with 22 helos instead of ~40 for the same price may be a questionable choice by itself. Especially if you already own full stocks of engines and drivetrain spares for your Mi-171s or Mi-35s. The real world is often not about 1-to-1 comparison charts..

It is not just Apache deal but Rafale also. some thing trialed in 2009-2010 and delivering in 2020 is not future proof because prices, upgrades, affordability and sustainability of Western military equipment depends on Middleastern Sales. and that are practically doomed in post 2020 era.

Middleastern countries simply will not have money to buy it.

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2016/04/northwest-passage-influence-global-trade-160423173949765.html
China says it wants merchant ships to use this alternative route that has been opened up by climate change

And exactly how would the Americans stop it? Declare war on Japan?

The USA can ask. Japan can refuse.

Mitsubishi regional jet majority of flight testing in US.

Japan is the weakest and most depended country on US. It need NAFTA and Chinese labor.

US envoy has told Turkey that national projects have no economic importance. I presume the same approach will adopted to Japan.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/local-production-not-of-great-importance-us-envoy.aspx?pageID=238&nID=98200&NewsCatID=344
Local production not of great importance: US envoy
he said, upon a question over whether any indigenous projects, such as “national ship” or “national airplane” projects, were of importance in terms of maintaining economic development.

Finally, some real confirmation from the known and trusted(from my POV) source, that problem with the canopy glass has been really resolved. Now it’s a silicate glass, instead of plexiglass. Photoreport from the Nigniy-Novgorod ‘Sokol’ repair plant where MIG-31’s undergoing refurbishment and upgrade.
http://fotografersha.livejournal.com/787576.html

No body will be upgrading these planes if they don’t perform there intended role. that’s why I already indicted to you that you don’t understand logic and reason.