Agreed

Is the Type 10 still undergoing trials or has the go ahead for production been given? Looks like a nice bit of kit, prefer the South Korean K-2 though

Er…

It says you can’t spell ‘armoured’ :p

Moggy

I think ‘armored’ is the American way of spelling it, just like the Yanks leave out the U in colour.

J-20 I think this is a great idea. I have a keen interest in modern fighting vehicles and for one would love to see a thread like this on here. I can’t see why not since we have a forum dedicated to naval warfare 🙂

Slight changes based on comments and suggestions. Still struggling with the “gap filler”. Same text as before basically as I said just with some added and minor changes

KHABAROVSK, RUSSIA
FEBRUARY 2ND 2014

“Nothing lasts forever!” Sergei Bosanko watched from the warmth of his small office as a group of technicians crawled like ants over the waiting An-30, or “Clank” as the West had called it, which sat alone in its revetment to the east of snow covered Runway Number 3 of Khabarovsk in Russia’s Far East.
His father, an expert trapper from the Siberian town of Atrinsk on the outskirts of Omsk, had often quoted the old saying to him when he was a boy. He had never listened of course. Now he had found himself quoting those same words to his subordinates, they never listened either.

The world was changing. Many could see it, many more denied it, but it was happening and it was happening at an alarming pace. Centuries ago, Empires ruled for many centuries before finding themselves challenged by an equal rival. Empires like that of Rome or Persia had ruled for what must have seemed like an eternity to the subjects of such nations. Today thanks to technology, trade and in no small part to an increased level of blind arrogance by those who held the power it seemed the world could change in a matter of months if not weeks.
The United States, long the self-proclaimed “protector of the free world” and seen by many as an unstoppable force had found itself folding in on itself. The great economic collapse of 2013 had brought chaos to American cities. Mass riots, looting and civil disorder had led to National Guard units all across the country being deployed to assist police forces in keeping the peace.
In Texas, Vermont and Missouri anarchist groups and anti-government “Patriot” militias had seized the opportunity that had presented itself. Clashes between the larger “Patriot” militias such as the Kentucky based Confederate State Home Guard and US security forces had often escalated from small scale demonstrations to armed resistance.
The island paradise of Hawaii had declared its independence from the United States on the 2nd of November 2013 leading to immediate anti-US rallies and riots in South Korea and Japan, a nation long tiring of American control and domination of its culture.
In response to these demonstrations, Japans government under the rule of young reformist Prime Minister Akiro Yomato had demanded the withdrawal of US assets on Japanese territory in the Pacific. Japan, struggling with the effects of the new global recession, had found itself facing an uncertain future free of American control and in need of securing its boundaries.
In Seoul and Beijing, politicians and military strategists keen to exploit the new opportunities that had suddenly presented themselves measured distances and studied terrain as both sides modernised long abandoned hopes and dreams of conquest.
The Pacific region was on the brink. It would only take one small spark to ignite the fire of regional war.

Out on the flight line the An-30 had started up its engines, the spinning propellers of the howling engines creating a blizzard of spiralling snow as the pilot of the “Clank” warmed his engines from the frosty bite of the bitter Siberian winter.
Sergei could clearly see the most senior of the ground technicians discussing last minute safety checks with the aircrafts load master before the technician gave a smart salute and the load master disappeared up the rear ramp of the aircraft. The loading ramp raised itself from the ground moments later. It was finished; his part at least, was done.

“Russia must survive!” Those had not been his father’s words, but rather the words of General Igor Ushenko of the FSB. It had been Ushenko that had laid this burden upon him. Ushenko had laid the envelope on his desk that cold evening.
It had not been the cold weather that had sent shivers through his body on that night however, but rather the instructions of the six page letter found inside the envelope. Instructions that any lesser man may have thought twice to follow, or who would have refused outright to follow.
‘Before you read the contents of that envelope’ Ushenko had said quite pleasantly ‘you must ask yourself one thing, “Am I ready to serve my country?”
Sergei had always considered himself ready to serve his country. The instructions that had been included in that damned envelope however, had tested him.
Fifteen minutes had passed from the moment that the cargo doors had closed to the moment the “Clank” slowly taxied to the end of the runway. For every second of each minute, Sergei had expected to hear the approach of the OMON contingent stationed at Khabarovsk. A phone call with the orders to stand down. Perhaps even the sound of his bedside alarm clock to wake him from this nightmare. Instead, the minutes ticked by without event.
Sergei now watched as the transport raced down the runway before climbing into the cold crisp winter air. The technicians, oblivious to the nature of the cargo that they had helped to load onto the transport, watched the aircraft disappear into the snow fall before heading toward their next job of the day.
“Nothing last forever!” Those had been his father’s words. Sergei poured himself a fresh cup of tea and lit his last cigarette before turning the lighter on the contents of the envelope. He tossed the burning pages unceremoniously into the waste bin beside his desk. Watching the small fire reach its peak before dying away quickly leaving nothing but burnt ash, Sergei couldn’t help but repeat his father’s words before adding ‘Least of all peace.’

I wonder what weaponry in the Flankers arsenal has been included in the deal?