Your reasoning does not make much sense to me.

Likewise. My point is that an ICBM/SLBM is not a suitable replacement for a manned strategic deterrent. Missiles may keep a nation in-check, to a certain extent, but are more of a trump card than a working pair.

I have no doubt that the RoKAF could make short work of the North Korean Air Force.

Bombers can be recalled, missiles cannot.

Old Airframes

The last Skyhawks came off of the line in 1979. That would make even the youngest airframe 33 years old. I can’t see a long future for any of them. Brazil intends to keep theirs until 2025 (Wikipedia). I bet those will be the last A-4s in military service anywhere. The USAF has aircraft in service much older than that, so anything is possible. I would see a market for retired BAe Hawks fulfilling the contractor roles the A-4/Alpha Jet fills now.

Thanks

Yes for the R-27R/ER (SARH), no for the R-27T/ET (IR) or R-27AE (ARH with 9B-1103M seeker).

Thanks

R-27 Question

Hello,

If one were to shoot an R-27R/AE (AA-10 ‘Alamo’) from either a MiG-29 or Su-27, would the shooting aircraft have to stay on target until impact? Sorry if this seems like an inane question, but finding a Russian pilot to ask is tough, where I am.

Me too

Understood. I don’t think the minister meant what he is reported to have said. I think he meant 4th generation. Perhaps he is not too familiar with what is considered 4th generation and what is considered 5th generation.

Neither am I for that matter 🙂 I take fifth gen. fighters to be the F-22, F-35, J-20 and PAK-FA with the 4.5’ers being the Gripen, Eurofighter Typhoon and the Rafale.