Its probably not signed yet, but it was widely preannounced. 50 aircraft, $1.5 billion, probably a mix of MiG-29 and MiG-AT.

Yeah, I read several of those stories from AP and the Moscow Times. They said the negotiations are close to agreement. But my impression was that they were still in talks.

Good job by MiG if they locked down the contract already. $30m per plane looks like a pretty profitable price 😀

FYI,

F-1 was the Fury,
F-2 Banshee,
F-3 Demon.

All earlier naval planes in service at the time that were renamed.

Anyone got info on an Iranian version of j-10 called Saeqa (lightning)
or in pharsi Sagheh. It will be shown publicly in mid May or early june.

Alex, the Azarkhsh and Azarkhsh II are Iranian derivatives of the F-5s, a few of these are already in service. AFM and Air International have had articles on them.

The Shafagh is supposed to be from a Russian design and is a subsonic trainer/attack craft. This is the probably one you hear that is close to first flight.

There is confusion whether the Saeqeh 80, the name had been reported in bits and pieces over the past several years and is actually the Shafagh or something else. The original “Saeqeh 80” reports were that it is based on not Russian but American technology and on the F-14 in particular.

But none of them are related to the J-10 in any way as far as I know.

Tom Cooper at ACIG and many of the Iranian members there have compiled a pretty indept list of stories and speculations concerning the Iranian indigenous projects.

Iran has a very interesting industry, even more secretive and less known than the Chinese one. One of those subjects that would be fun to dig into. Publications have already shown pictures of an Iranian indigenous trainer, the Tazarve (this was developed without any outside help and depended on surplus GE J85 engines used in the F-5.)

Maybe people here from the Persian-language boards that could provide us with a few pictures any of the above planes, maybe even the Sae’queh 80 😀

When our Illustrious Mods do get their powers, they might consider eliminating that “LCA vs FC-1” flamebait that Hamburger dug up from the crypt in another one of his endless attempts to get attention and be “cute.”

That thread was last replied to in January, 2002, before he dug it up :rolleyes:

One, 2002 stats :rolleyes:

Two, #4 is not considered major even in 2002? :rolleyes:

This is from the Vietnamese Embassy in the US 😀
http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/news/newsitem.php3?datestamp=20030319180628

HAVE YOU BEEN INFLUENCED BY CHINA’S EXPERIENCES IN JOINING THE WTO AND ATTRACTING FOREIGN INVESTMENT?

In the past, the two countries had a similar economic policy. So, the experience and lessons from China are very useful for Vietnam, including policies to attract foreign investment, better tap internal resources, develop the private sector and improve the competitiveness and efficiency of state-owned enterprises . . . But, each country has its own historical circumstances. Our lesson is that if we just copy one foreign model, there’s a chance of failure. Therefore, our policy is to study and learn from selected cases.

DO YOU WORRY THAT CHINA’S RAPID GROWTH MIGHT DRAW POTENTIAL INVESTMENT AWAY?

China is a very big market for Vietnamese products. Vietnam’s exports to China have recently increased significantly. Two-way trade by value is estimated to reach $5 billion in the year 2005 . . . Vietnam needs to identify the products where we have the best advantage. Something I always tell Vietnamese enterprises is [to aim for] high quality and low prices, in order to be competitive.

http://www.vnagency.com.vn/newsa.asp?LANGUAGE_ID=2&CATEGORY_ID=29&NEWS_ID=83451

Viet Nam welcomed almost 540,000 foreign arrivals, mainly from China and Japan, in the first two months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 13.6 percent.

http://www.vnagency.com.vn/newsa.asp?LANGUAGE_ID=2&CATEGORY_ID=29&NEWS_ID=83451

In the first half of April, exports of fruits and vegetables to China turned over around 700,000 USD, compared with 60,000 USD last month.

Meanwhile, the export turnover of fruits and vegetables to Japan has strongly risen to 840,000 USD, a 16 percent increase over last month.

China is a major market and the fastest growing one for every country in Asia. It’s the second largest two-way trade partner for Vietnam and will almost certainly be the largest in the coming years.

But why the heck am I arguing with a vindictive weirdo throwing one-liners around and who pretends to be cute? :rolleyes:

I like the fighter-bomber one, hook it up with a decent radar, BVR weapons and all kinds of Russian A2G weaps.

Could be a good competition to F-50, FC-1 and LCA

It doesn’t have the performance. It’s a trainer first and foremost. Maybe they’ll uprate the powerplant in the later variants.

There’s a lot of pressure on MiG. The RuAF has made the Yak-130 its future AT candidate, I believe. Correct me if I’m wrong.

The Mig AT uses a French engine and France has no interest in buying from what I’ve read. Mig better get that Algeria contract. Or hope the FC-1 does sell 1000 😀 so the RD-93 could bring money into its coffer.

I also think that Vietnam still hasn’t chosen its political position in Asia. It appears to be very neutral, but at the same time is engaging with ASEAN.

It has chosen its political position. And it IS part of ASEAN. It’s a typical Asian economic Tiger (with communist leadership.) Economics dictate politics to a large extent.

Because of this, there is very little chance of hostility with China or anyone else since everyone else around it is in the same regional organization. And China the Vietnamese depend on as a major export destination like every other ASEAN country, the Spratleys notwithstanding.

When do you get to excercise the powers bestowed upon you by the Proletariat, Comrade Hu?