how bout sending a fake freighter into these waters to bait the pirates, and when they come close, to reveal that they are heavily armed?

You mean Q-ships?

Japan reportedly requested technical information on the F-22A during a 2006 industry trade show in Singapore. Loren Thompson, defense analyst at the Lexington Institute, told Dave Hirschman of the Atlanta Journal Constitution on March 15, 2006 that Japan is the only realistic F-22A buyer. The plane is probably too costly for Israel, he said, and “Israel doesn’t have the greatest track record when it comes to technology security.” Britain and other European allies are committed to buying similar but less capable F-35s or non-stealthy fighters made by their own consortiums. “Japan has a big wallet,” Thompson said, “and its neighbors are some of the biggest threats in the world. Japan is completely trustworthy, and it’s in a location where the planes are needed.”

With China and Russia capable of mounting an air-to-air threat against America and its allies, having extra squadrons F-22s bedded down in Japan would make strategic sense to the Air Force. Japan is interested in purchasing the F-22A as a replacement for its aging fleet of F-4 aircraft. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force has four fighters in service: F-15J/F-15DJ Eagles, its F-4EJ “Kai” and RF-4EJ reconnaissance Phantom IIs, the Mitsubishi F-2s (a Japanese variant of the F-16C), and F-1s. The F-1,, which entered service in 1978, is is being replaced by F-2s; the JASDF introduced the F-4EJ in 1973, and will begin retiring them within the coming decade. If Japan makes an F-22A purchase, it would probably buy about 60 airplanes. This would equip two active squadrons of 24 airplanes each as well as spares and a few planes for training. Such a 60-plane sale in either 2007 or 2008 would add three years to the F-22A assembly line. About 2,200 workers build F-22As at Lockheed’s 7,800-employee plant in Marietta. Without additional sales or new authorization for production, F-22A production would end in 2012.

Over the two decades years that the F-22A was in development, the world changed and the capabilities the US Air Force once needed and planned for the F-22A no longer satisfy today’s needs. The F-22A was developed to replace the F-15 air superiority aircraft. The continued need for the F-22A, the quantities required, and modification costs to perform its mission have been the subject of a continuing debate within DOD and the Congress. Critics argue that the Soviet threat it was originally designed to counter no longer exists and that its remaining budget dollars could be better invested elsewhere. Paradoxically, Japan now faces in Asia much the same threat that the F-22 was initially projected to face in Europe: large numbers of Su-27 Flankers, in the hands of Chinese rather than Soviet pilots.

Source: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-22j.htm

UAE Orders PC-21 Turboprop Trainers

Article from Defense Industry Daily

UAE Orders PC-21 Turboprop Trainers
19-Nov-2009 20:42 EST

During the 2009 Dubai airshow, the United Arab Emirates signed a contract with Pilatus to buy 25 PC-21 intermediate trainer aircraft, in a package worth $511 million. That package also covers several training simulators and associated systems and services. The UAE will join Switzerland and Singapore as PC-21 operators; earlier PC-7 and PC-9 designs are widely used around the world. Pilatus | Dubai Airshow 09.

UAE Air Force flight training takes place at Al-Ain near the Omani border, beginning with basic training on Grob 115s. The PC-21s will replace the existing Pilatus PC-7 fleet. An expected contract for Alenia’s M346 advanced jet trainers will replace the BAE Hawks, and possibly the Alenia MB-339As, that are currently used in the lead-in-fighter trainer (LIFT) and instructor trainer roles. Staff Major General Pilot Faris Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Chief of Logistics Staff, United Arab Emirates GHQ Armed Forces:

“These [PC-21] aircraft will be used for basic and combat operational training which will help train pilots in modern systems, such as navigation, radar, early warning, night vision, thermal cameras and data link systems. They will also help in training them in launching munitions, bombs, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.”

Source: http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/UAE-Orders-PC-21-Turboprop-Trainers-05962/

India & Israel’s Barak SAM Development Project(s)

Article excerpt from Defense Industry Daily

India & Israel’s Barak SAM Development Project(s)
12-Nov-2009 17:03 EST

Despite a development timeline measured in decades, India’s indigenous “Akash” and “Trishul” programs for surface to air missiles have failed to inspire full confidence. Trishul was eventually cancelled entirely, and Akash is now slated for limited deployment only. India still needed advanced SAMs to equip its navy and army, however, and decided to try to duplicate the success of the Russian partnership that had fielded the excellent PJ-10 BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.

In February 2006, therefore, Israel and India signed a joint development agreement to create a new Barak-NG medium shipborne air defense missile, as an evolution of the Barak-1 system in service with both navies. In July 2007 the counterpart MR-SAM project began moving forward, aiming to develop a medium range SAM for use with India’s land forces. Both missiles would now be called Barak-8. In between, “India to Buy Israeli “SPYDER” Mobile Air Defense System” covered India’s move to begin buying mobile, short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems for its army, based on the Python and Derby air-to-air missiles in service with its air force and naval aircraft.

These projects offer India a way forward to address its critical air defense weaknesses, and upgrade “protection of vital and strategic ground assets and area air defence.” In Israel, the Barak-8 is slated to equip its next-generation frigates, and may find its way to other roles. Beyond those 2 countries, export prospects beckon for a missile that may offer a value-priced alternative to the popular Standard-2 and Aster-15. This DID FOCUS article will cover the Barak-8 pograms in India, Israel, and beyond. The latest development involves additional reports that a firm $1+ billion contract has been signed…

Source: India & Israel’s Barak SAM Development Project(s)

The Russkies have a tradision to do test flight in Jan-Feb month..

Why the hell not, if the test flight goes well in -25 deg with icy a runway it should do fine in the summer month too;)

Thanks

Maybe it’s testing the ruggedness of the PAK FA in harsh climates.

X-45C UCAV

X-45C UCAV

Perhaps a UCAV like the X-45C would be useful for Wild Weasel missions, punching holes in an adversary’s IADS so conventional non-stealth aircraft can safely penetrate, or a dogfighter against an adversary’s elite squadron of Su-35s or PAK FAs.

One major conclusion bandwidth and jamming is a big issue for UAV!

Also look at the recent American and British purchase of Beechcraft King Air with “special fit”

UAVs Suck

Pakistan Buying Chinese J-10 Fighters

Pakistan Buying Chinese J-10 Fighters
11-Nov-2009 22:11 EST

Pakistan and China have been cooperating for a number of years on the JF-17/ FC-1 Thunder, a low-medium performance, low-cost aircraft that has attracted interest and orders from a number of 3rd World air forces. In November 2009, a long-rumored deal was announced for China’s Jian-10/ FC-20 4+ generation fighter, whose overall performance compares well with the F-16C/D Block 52 aircraft that Pakistan has ordered from the United States.

The J-10 has been reported as a derivative of the 1980s Israeli Lavi project, and reportedly incorporates an Israeli fly-by-wire control base that was transferred in the project’s early years. The change in relations that followed the Tienanmen Square massacre hurt the J-10 project badly, however, forcing the replacement of planned Western avionics and engines with Chinese and Russian equipment. The required redesign was very extensive, affected all areas of the airframe, and took over a decade, amounting to the development of a new aircraft. The first operational J-10 unit entered service with the PLAAF in July 2004.

China has reportedly ordered 100 J-10s to date. The initial Pakistani order is for 2 squadrons, but could expand as technical cooperation and orders increase. The $1+ billion sale represents the J-10’s first export order… but almost certainly not its last.

Contracts and Key Events

Nov 11/09: Widespread reports surface that Pakistan has signed a $1.4 billion contract for 36 of CATIC’s Jian-10 fighters, which will be known as FC-20 in Pakistan. The deal is described as a preliminary agreement, and there are reports that Pakistan may eventually be interested in acquiring up to 150 of these aircraft. Retired Pakistani general Abdul Qayyum is qoted as saying that:

“The agreement should not simply be seen in the narrow context of Pakistan’s relations with China…. There is a wider dimension. By sharing its advanced technology with Pakistan, China is … also saying to the world that its defence capability is growing rapidly.”

The UK’s Financial Times echoes this theme, noting that the $21.7 billion Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) group is rapidly emerging as a big military goods exporter. The group is also involved in China’s civilian aircraft program, and gives only total revenue figures, but the Financial Times quotes industry sources who believe a recent remerger of 2 split-out groups late in 2008 was aimed at creating a bigger and internationally competitive player.

It is not clear whether Pakistan’s FC-20s will carry Russian Salyut AL-31FN turbofans (17,130/ 27,557 pounds dry/afterburner thrust) that are similar to the engines in many SU-27 family aircraft, or the larger Chinese WS-10A derivative (reportedly a lesser 16,523/ 24,729 pounds dry/afterburner thrust) developed by China’s AVIC Aviation Engine Institute and Shenyang Liming Aero-Engine Group.

Source: http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Pakistan-Buying-Chinese-J-10-Fighters-05937/#more-5937