If you’ve really read the Russian literature you would know they never really planned on plasma stealth to cover the entire airframe, unlike the mass media descriptions, the program had much more modest goals. Basically what they developed was a plasma screen that went in front of the radar in the nose. The thing worked very much like a neon light, there was plasma contained glass tubes. As RAM developed such a technology became unnecessary since they ultimately developed RAM’s that let in and let out select frequencies very well. I dont think they will deploy plasma screens on the PAK-FA or on Su-35BM ever.

the horizon will make detecting surface ships by a A-50 or any other aircraft impossible at much past 400km’s. They cant find surface ships at 600km.

When those bombers flew to Guam recently they didnt and couldnt find the US carriers near Guam, by pure luck they flew within 300 miles of a CVN, but they didnt see it. Ground based radars did see the bombers, but no interceptors went up to greet them. There was no point in doing an intercept when the Russians were blind.

The status of the Russian US-PU network is god awful with only 1 sat up most of the time. At best they can reliably follow and track 1 or 2 carriers with this satellite.

The Russian admirals readily admit in interviews that their fighting power is 1/5th that of the US navy and their goal is to maintain a 60 ship ship navy in the face of a 300 ship navy for the US. That says everything. Parity in naval matters never existed and it is nowhere close to existing now.

Given its central location and land mass Russia has no use for a blue water surface fleet. It also doesnt help that all Russian ports are effectively geographically blocked and exceptionally vulnerable. Why build ships when the geography makes them all sitting ducks?

now for a more interesting question, how many have been upgraded to SM standard?

I believe there were 3 batches sent to the factory and received back, 1 of 7 aircraft, one of 12 and one of 14, right? 33 airframes in total or was it only 7 and 12 for 19 in total? I have it written down somewhere, but please refresh my memory.

An article in Interfax-avn said 24 would be upgraded in 2008, but as usual we shall see.

Also, how many Su-24’s have been upgraded to M2 standard? 12 or 18?

this rick chap is a bit insane and is ruining one of the finest threads on any forum anywhere as far as Im concerned.

The Kirov PtG didnt participate for obvious reasons, its a 12,000 mile 2+ month long voyage and the Russian navy is on an endless mission to conserve reactor life. Conserving radioactive fuel has been their #1 mission since 1991. There is no way they will send a Kirov on a show the flag mission. Sending the Kirov out for 2 months will cut 3 years off its life expectancy as far as the Russian navy is concerned.

The surface fleet is indeed in absolutely horrible shape. Another year is done and the Yaroslav Mudry still hasnt been commissioned and no new destroyers planned to be laid down next year. No 20380 corvettes will be finished in 2008 so there will be no good news for the surface side of the fleet next year too.

The sub force is doing okay, but even there lets be honest, the Chinese and Indians are leaving Russia far behind.

On the upside subsystem development is arguably better than its ever been, but there are no new Russian hulls for the new electronic goodies.

If they cut up the Lazarev I promise to shed a single tear. What a complete waste at a time when the Americans are planning their own 14,000+ ton nuclear surface combatants.

there have been several articles recently in the Russian military press about the dense foliage in Chechnya being so dense that there are few if any helicopter drop zones for troops in some areas and how border guard garrisons (92 posts exist on the Chechen-Georgian border alone) are effectively isolated since road traffic to them is impossible because of foliage and the poor state of roads many of which havent been repaired in 40!!! years and effectively only exist on maps.

The helicopter (Mi-8) that was lost back in Chechnya back in February or March in which 22 GRU soldiers were killed crashed because there was no good drop zone and they had to drop the soldier on a steep slope, the rear rotor hit the ground and the whole chopper ended up sliding down a mountain, the fuel tanks were punctured and friction ignited the fuel which killed everyone on the helicopter.

A bomb like this would kill any prepared ambush and create quite a nice drop zone. I guarantee you that this is what it is primarily designed for so accuracy is not necessary. Such a weapon could make helicopter operations much safer.

not really boring, but you have to have a good eye to spot all the new “bumps” and protrusions. There are lots of of new electronic goodies on this thing. I dont pretend to recognize half the little things protruding from the airframe.

speaking of VTOL, yesterday on Roy’s website he translated an interview with the head of Saturn and he talked about potentially developing the 117S engine with VTOL in mind….

“Now, while developing the 5th generation engine, we are taking this experience into account. We know already that the future engine should be a land-based modification, a modification for installation on an airplane with vertical takeoff and so on, inasmuch as it will increase the sales base of this engine significantly.”

http://www.royfc.com/acft_news_old_aug1.html#08aug