F-35?

Perhaps Vietnam isn’t as safe a bet for T-50/PAK FA in future as it once seemed. F-35 for VPAF…? A lot can change in 10-15 years.

Let’s not get carried away. There will be flankers over the skies of Vietnam for decades to come.

Better than nothing

When did Wikipedia become a reliable source???

It is much better than nothing at all. Prove the information therein wrong, and change it. That’s the cool thing about Wikipedia.

054

Here is a nice shot of 054

I pity the Gripen pilots; a six-hour drag across the Atlantic with only soggy cheese sandwiches for lunch and a bag into which to pee.

Meanwhile the tanker crew are stretching-out and kicking-back.

I’d happily bear the grind of a Gripen pilot 🙂

1. reduced weight

2. cool looks

3. ease of construction and no need for regular maintenance

4. reduced RCS by hiding the titanium engine blades without sacrificing aerodynamics as in the case of a purposely built engine blocker

Advantages in combat? The reduced weight can be a plus, though I seem to notice a weight-creep in types as time goes on. A reduced RCS is not the only thing that will win a fight.

I think corrosion was being sarcastic at the new Uber Sino-Pakistani carrier killer.

Me too… One conventional missile will not sink a carrier. The ship does have onboard defenses aside from the aircraft themselves.