Cite them then!

Anybody can do that. They have to mix something in to try and attract Russian readers or those of us non-Russians with an interest in Russia, so will try and do the odd report that isn’t scathing in soft areas like history and culture.
Note how “culture and history” is followed by “etc”.
I take this “etc” to mean he will struggle, as we all know already, to find any balance in the reporting of things to do with Russian foreign policy, international politics, domestic politics, fiscal policy, political figures not-previously-approved-by-us, media, economics…one can go on and on.

Anyway, MrMalaya is actually a good poster, and this is not directed by me to him, so I’m out of this discussion.

For what its worth guys, you can hardly find mention of these incidents today on the BBC website and in answer to Wilhelm’s fears about the BBC, I use the service a lot across lots of platforms and most people in the UK would accuse it of being too liberal rather than the mouthpiece of the US led anti-Russia conspiracy.

I can cite any number of article about Russian culture, history etc which are interesting and not anti-Russian. You see what you want to see.

Hardly, huh? What about yesterday? And the day before that? And the day before that?
The word you used “etc” is interesting. Does that cover politics, foreign policy, sniping constantly at domestic policy?
It’s ridiculous you’re even defending the BBC on their reporting record of Russia.

Oh, and they aren’t “fears”. It is simply what it is. I’m not Russian, so don’t really care, beyond not bothering with the BBC wrt anything Russian, but again, you’d have to be living under a rock not to see the blatantly obvious.
I also note you didn’t bother to address the point that the BBC, via Peter Horrocks own words, basically admit that this is what they do.

Either way, I don’t want to derail any further discussing the obvious.

I almost never quote the Moscow Times – I never go near its website. What are you talking about?

My posts are doing fine, thank you.

:rolleyes:
Your posts are lopsided, and basically your default position is to take an anti-Russian stance on everything. Questioning and criticising everything Russian, but never bothering with the equivalent critique on others. Other posters have noted it here and called you on it too.
But whatever floats your boat.

On the topic, your posts on Russia’s involvement in Syria have been in exactly that vein. But it’s hardly gone unnoticed, which I’m sure you must have noticed by now by others responses. It’s the worst kept secret on the forum.
It’s your choice, although it makes things difficult to read sometimes when the inevitable critiquing deflection from you comes in.
Frankly though, and by all means, I suppose it’s your free right to carry on the good crusade….

Anyway, that is only my opinion. I don’t want to derail further, as there is enough of that around these parts utilising moral equivalency.

Happy to find a legitimate source to balance it out. Any ideas?

I try and read widely and between the lines to try and make sense of things in this agenda-loaded age. It’s your only hope, sorry to say.
I might go to the BBC for certain documentaries, but give them a wide berth on certain of their rather obvious “pet projects”, of which Russia is one.

It appears that there may indeed be an upgrade and further production, as well as a possible Rooivalk Mk2.

A Rooivalk recently on display with Mokopo heavy ATGW and A-Darter AAM

Denel pushing Rooivalk Mk 2, export orders

Written by Guy Martin, Tuesday, 16 February 2016
A Rooivalk fitted with Mokopa and A-Darter missiles and rockets.Denel is in discussions with various government departments including the South African Air Force (SAAF) on upgrading the Rooivalk combat helicopter and developing a next generation Rooivalk Mk 2, which is being marketed to potential foreign clients.

Denel revealed plans for the next generation Rooivalk during a demonstration event at the Denel Overberg Test Range (DOTR) in the Western Cape earlier this month, during which the Rooivalk fired two Mokopa precision guided missiles as part of ongoing qualification testing.

Mike Kgobe, CEO of Denel Aviation, told defenceWeb that the demonstration was based on renewed interest expressed in the helicopter, especially following its performance with the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He said February’s demonstration was aimed at talking to the broader community about the Rooivalk, with interested countries present at the demonstration, including delegations from Poland and Nigeria. Poland is currently seeking new attack helicopters under its Kruk programme while Nigeria has an urgent operational requirement for attack helicopters to combat Boko Haram militants.

Egypt is also believed to be potentially interested, especially after the United States delayed the delivery of AH-64 Apache helicopters following the military’s removal of Mohammed Morsi from power. Although Egypt recently ordered 46 Ka-52K helicopters from Russia, these are earmarked for its Mistral class vessels and the country still requires land-based attack helicopters.

“Denel is open to partnership possibilities regarding the Rooivalk and we are open to discussing these capabilities,” Kgobe said.

Denel officials said that international interest in the programme was revitalised with the support of the South African government and the successful deployment of the system in the Democratic Republic of Congo. “Discussions are continuing with the SAAF for the enhancement of the Rooivalk,” Denel said, adding that the present Mk 1 will require a midlife upgrade within the next five years as a result of known obsolescence afflicting the current baseline.

Kgobe said that Denel has developed a roadmap for the Rooivalk including a future upgrade. A phased programme will consist of using the present Mk 1 Rooivalk design, addressing obsolescence, introducing new modern avionics, updating the weapon system and increasing reproducibility. The next generation Rooivalk will feature better sights, improved firepower, greater payload and better survivability amongst other improvements, he said. The airframe and engines are still deemed satisfactory and would not be changed in a future upgrade.

“Denel Aviation is interested in seeking partners and clients in the development of a new generation Rooivalk…In this process, significant opportunities exist for technology transfer as well as production and MRO participation. In order to exploit the intellectual property vested in Rooivalk at an economically feasible level a broad client base would be required,” Denel said.

“Through a joint venture programme of industrial participation and transfer of intellectual property, an indigenous attack helicopter production, support and upgrade/modification capability can be established.”

Jan Wessels, Denel Group COO, said that Rooivalk production is “inevitable” and called on potential partners to join in the programme. Funding has been made available from Denel Aviation to proceed with upgrading the Rooivalk and the company has brought back the Rooivalk jigs in anticipation of producing the Mk 2.

Denel estimated that it would take only four years to put the Rooivalk Mk 2 into service, including the development of prototypes, establishment of production, and production and assembly for launch customers.

Rooivalk 679, one of 12 Rooivalks delivered to the South African Air Force, was damaged in a hard-landing and at the time deemed uneconomical to repair – its tail boom broke off and the cannon was destroyed, although the crew survived without serious injury. It was subsequently stripped of usable parts and resides at Denel Aviation’s facilities. The company wants to rebuild it, but it still has to be formally transferred by the SAAF.

When promoting the Rooivalk to potential foreign clients, Denel emphasised the importance of eliminating OEM (original equipment manufacturer) restrictions and controlling intellectual property, noting that the Rooivalk’s intellectual property is vested in Denel Aviation. However, the main gearbox and main and tail rotor system (the dynamic components) are based on the Airbus Helicopters Super Puma/Oryx. Hugh Petersen, Executive Manager: Business Development at Denel Aviation, told defenceWeb that as Airbus Helicopters owns the intellectual property on the dynamic components so Denel has been in talks with them on the supply of these items.

New weapons

As part of the revitalised Rooivalk programme, Denel is moving forward with certifying the Mokopa missile on the aircraft. Denel Dynamics surface targets group manager Petrus Mentz said that Denel is busy with Mokopa type certification aboard the Rooivalk and will have to do nine firings before this is achieved – two missiles were fired in 2011, and another two during the Rooivalk demonstration on 3 and 4 February.

The first firing involved the Rooivalk successfully firing the missile at a target that was laser designated from the ground. The second firing the following day was not quite as smooth – the target was laser designated by a Gripen flying overhead. The Rooivalk launched the missile at a range of 8 km, which followed the laser beam from the Gripen, but narrowly missed the target.

The 2011 tests used telemetry missiles, but 2016’s firings were designed to evaluate trajectory and penetration and long range capability in conjunction with an airborne remote designator. The 10 km range Mokopa has a dual anti-tank warhead able to penetrate 1 350 mm of armour, although Denel has developed a high explosive penetrator warhead for anti-shipping and other missions.

At the Denel Overberg Test Range Denel also displayed the Rooivalk with a Denel Dynamics A-Darter air-to-air missile mounted on a stub wing. Denel officials said they were looking at the possibility of incorporating the missile into the Rooivalk and emphasised that this is an ongoing programme which has just started. It is possible to integrate the Mistral air-to-air missile on the Rooivalk.

More here:
http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=42356:feature-denel-pushing-rooivalk-mk-2-export-orders&catid=124:military-helicopters&Itemid=282

The United Kingdom tries to portray itself as a “good” country, both to itself and others, for the same reason no person considers himself a villain.

Of course, history tells a rather different story from the myths the UK likes to tell itself, as it does for most nations.

Good post.
Plenty of people, as this thread amply demonstrates, drink deeply and uncritically from the well of National Myth.

Hmm, one would have expected license built items to be included in sanctions…or maybe Chinese just don’t care.
How about Chinese gas turbines? Are they based on Ukrainan or US designs?

There is a long path of sanctions busting, particularly on propulsion, carried out over the decades, by various countries. Most often through 3rd party licencee manufacturers, or simply routed via 3rd party users of those propulsion units. And sometimes direct simply via “dual use” reasons.
I can think of a few examples.

I have a good pic of the placard and it is full of random numbers. So no, it is not accurate at all.

1.44 was always with AL-41F’s.

Thanks Berkut.
I suspected the numbers were incorrect just looking at what I think what was the length and wingspan on the placard.
That’s why I asked to clear up my confusion.