I agree.
Tshe 24.5tons mentioned as the MTOW is not specified as being with 5,500Kg from the deck. It might also be the MTOW with the use of longer runway and 6,500Kg payload.

Also a question if any one clear it.
How much does all the weapon/stores pylons (9 nos) weigh in total?

MIG-29K has 5 weight stations. Atleast 5000kg on these 5 paylons.
MIG-29K 2000km range on internal fuel is identical to F-18C but MIG-29K has much larger nose and wing area. so it will be slightly heavier but not heavy as F-18E.
7 tons external load+5 tons internal fuel+12.5 tons empty weight will be the correct assumption for MIG-29K for 24.5 tons MTOW. MIG-35 will be lighter.

still stronger engine is needed for AESA radar.

http://en.take-off.ru/news/107-june2012/729-rd33outputontherise

or in other words you don’t have an empty weight estimate of the MiG-35

I never mentioned that i know the weight of MIG-35 as it will depend on AESA radar.
NTOW of MIG-29K is 18.5tons. MTOW is 24.5 tons. It is 6 tons difference.
http://www.migavia.ru/eng/military_e/MiG_29_K_KUB_e.htm
if F-18E can carry 6.5tons and F-18C 5tons. most of length of F-18E is nose.
MIG-29K should be able to do between 5 to 6 tons fuel. this much fuel will be consistent with 2k km range on internal fuel.
F-18C has the same 2k km range on internal fuel. F-18E 2350km. F-18E is heavy beast due to AESA.

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1100&tid=1200&ct=1

SAP 2020 Break Up of 23 trillion rubles now seems clear

Army and Airborne Force – 2.6 trillion rubles [ $ 80.5 billion ]
Navy – 4.7 trillion rubles [ $ 145.2 billion ]
Airforce – 4 trillion rubles [ $123.5 billion ]
Strategic Forces – 1 trillion rubles [ $ 30.8 billion ]
Air and Space Defence – 4 trillion rubles [$123.5 billion ]
Classified Program – 4 trillion rubles [ $123.4 billion ]

Total 20.3 trillion rubles [ $627 billion ]

MIC Program – 3 Trillion [ $ 92.6 billion ]

Total MIC/Defence Program – 23 Trillion Rubles [ $ 719 billion ]

Some of the money already has been spent by companies taking loans from banks and government later reimbursing them. even though programe starts from 2013-2020.

http://www.4-traders.com/news/Russian-Econ-Min-Impossible-To-Postpone-Defense-Spending-Program–14395073/
Russian Econ Min : “Impossible” To Postpone Defense Spending Program
07/02/2012 | 06:32am US/Eastern

By Ira Iosebashvili

MOSCOW–Russia has no plans to postpone its 20 trillion ruble ($614.8 billion) defense-spending program, Economy Minister Andrei Belousov said Monday.

“This is impossible. Companies have already taken out loans and are buying equipment,” Belousov said.

Vedomsti reported Monday that the government may postpone the start of the seven-year program, which some officials have said would dangerously stretch the country’s budget, from 2013 to 2016.

Write to Ira Iosebashvili at [email]ira.iosebashvili@dowjones.com[/email]

i would calculate it is atleast 15.5tons empty. with 8ton external load and 6.5tons fuel for F-18E. http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/fa18ef/docs/EF_overview.pdf

There is only 5% wing area difference between MIG-29K & F-18E and 3 feet length difference but MIG-29K has much taller tails and shorter nose. so i dont think there would 20% difference in internal fuel capacity.

the other link is just random rumbling with guess estimates. there were never 4000kg internal fuel for MIG-29A. MIG never said that 24.5tons of Maximum takeoff weight of MIG-29K is from an aircraft carrier with 5.5ton external load.Infact we dont know the MTOW with 5.5ton external load of MIG-29K.

http://thietre-blogdothietre.blogspot.com/2009/08/mig-29kkub-vs-fa-18ef-empty-weight-and.html
If base plane MiG-29A had internal fuel of 4000 kg, variant МiG-29М – 5810 litres (it approximately 5.500 kg if to take factor 0,9). Two-seat variant МiG-29М2 has less on 600 л (the general stock of 5000 kg). As is known, on the basis of МiG-29М (9-15/1, the first flight on April 26, 1986) has been created early variant МiG-29К. Hence, the volume of internal fuel by deck planes cannot be more. But even 5500 kg of internal fuel on «Indian» МiG-29К it are a lot of, almost improbably. It is considered, that the weight of internal fuel capacity on МiG-29КUB is less on 600 л.

For comparison, F/A-18E carries weight of internal fuel capacity – 6.530 kg, F/A-18F – 6145 kg

from where these numbers come?

thobbes@

Yes its true that most European Nato members contributed with small numbers of units in Libya.
Wich is exactly my point thank you..
In small conflict as Libya, Stan and the like which is 95% chances of future Nato missions.
So in view of this, its quite enough for Norway, Denmark etc to contribute with only 6 F-16/F-35 each.
Despite many countries contributed with such small numbers, the mission itself was a sucsess.

Lets not blow things out of proportion here.
The Cold war are long gone. There are not any reasons to maintain the Nato AF structure as it was in the 90’s.

aussienscale@

I would not be so sure about your assesment here.
There are no fact or sources of the current LM F-35 fly away price and the reduction of its procurments from each countries.

Norway have no eco recession at all. Yet we have fixed AF structure that include a large reduction from the 72 ordered F-16 to our current F-35 procurment plans.
If LM could somehow reduce the fly away price with say $ 20mil each, and keep up their promise that the F-35 would be cheaper to maintain than our F-16 fleet. There are no reason Norway would not order more

Military buiddup in 21st century is on much greater scale than in 20 century when you look at range/effectiveness of platforms and weopons.
Chinese airforce will be be atleast 1000 times stronger in 2020s compared to 1980s. India will be atleast 100 times compared to 1980s. that is very conservative estimate.
than add Naval strength with long range cruise missiles & Aircraft carriers. this will be first time in modern history that Asian powers can come to door step of Europe. that will have very negative effect on Afrikans/Middlestern view of EU interms of protection and currency value.
EU simply cannot afford its own built fighters EF/Rafale let alone imported JSF. if Nokia goes bust how Finland is going to afford new fighters. rest of EU is not Norway.

new Fulcrum is very sleek design. and nose size is now approaching F-15/Flanker.

PAK DA prototype already 2020?

One must wonder, if they are aiming high enough..

Bombers are like civil airlines. It does not take that much flying prototypes like 5G fighter. and weopon integration can done after entering service. it is not high g weopon realease.