On the topic of the thread…on the SAAF forum a while ago, there was some very interesting info (by a fellow working on some aspects of the programme) on where the Mirage F1 was ultimately to be taken to…avionics, weapons systems, and aerodynamically/motive wise.
A real “Super” Mirage F1 if you will.

And true to form, FBW has derailed, going by the last replies and responses.
Yawn…
Thanks TR1 for trying to keep the thread on track in spite of what goes on.

The usual unrelated kneejerk defensive tripe.
This is the Russian Airforce thread.

Is it more correct to say this is either a “partial” M2, or at least part of the M2 process rather?
The M2 will be new build airframes, with an entirely new electronic/ avionics suite, and new build upgraded engines.

As such, even though this airframe took as a starting point a previously begun but incomplete “vanilla” Tu-160 hulk, it is part of the process of re-establishing skills and production facilities that will enable the new M2 to be constructed.
This latest completion of a previously started Tu-160 might then have none/some/all of the new electronics/avionics, and will either from the start, or eventually, receive the new engines.
Just as all the original “vanilla” Tu-160’s will.
So, whilst not a fully reprentative M2 by any means, it can be said to be “partial M2 prototype”, or at least part of the M2 process.
Is this basically correct?

Seems silly that Tu-160 and Tu-22M do not share a common engine lineage. And quite frankly, Su-34 should have used one engine of the same lineage, too. It’s really quite fortuitous that Russia is so wasteful.

Fortuitous?
Why are you here in this thread then?
There’s so much daftness in your post it’s hard to know where to begin.
The other mouthbreathing knuckledragger forum is that way.》》

So, quite big news then that the Tu-22M will be re-engined with the the Tu-160 Blackjacks engine.
Wasn’t there a single similarly reingined Backfire many years ago? I seem to recall seeing a picture of it.

The new South African Marlin BVRAAM is making steady progress.
http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49580:marlin-missile-making-swift-progress&catid=35:Aerospace&Itemid=107

Despite wilhelm’s accusations, I didn’t see anything in the PAK FA thread that would warrant closing and deleting it, so I don’t know what’s going on.

RadDisconnect, it’s not an accusation.
The usual suspect came into the topic and across multiple posts accused the entire Russian Government and aviation officials in Russia of all being liars.
That is not a meaningful contribution. It’s his usual theme of corrosive trolling without contributing in the slightest to meaningful discussion about the topic or the PAK FA.
It’s quite obvious what the result was.

Let us stick to the topic instead of airing personal inadequacies and prejudices.