BTW, things between China and Taiwan are between China and Taiwan. Don’t see anything US should have any word in there.

Ever heard of the Taiwan Relations Act?

On the other hand, I do agree that it should be an internal issue between China and, basically, itself. The whole world gets too into everybody else’s business. Yugoslavia is perhaps the best example-it should’ve been left alone as it was an internal issue. Everybody needs to stop trying to impose their own set of morality and values on everybody else.

You are referring to the Kh-58E. Not the point here….etc….etc

Now I get it. You’re on the “every nation is stupid enough to buy downgraded systems” bandwagon. Russia really pulled one over on everyone, didn’t they? They even got them to accept SAM systems with identical engagement envelopes, so that they could sell them downgraded ARMs!

The Kh-58 is not going to have a large enough performance increase, IF ANY, over the Kh-58E to make a 200km shot at medium altitude and low speed possible. That has nothing to do with Cold-war biases regarding Russian technology and everything to do with mass, inertia, kinetic energy, specific impulse, and other aspects of physics.

Besides, I’m suprised nobody has mentioned that this is a failed argument in the first place. The Kh-58 series was originally conceived to blast through the HAWK air defense line in West Germany. The missile optimized for attacking Patriot, and therefore the more likely weapon to be employed, is the Kh-31P.

[color=red]HEY. Flex and pigeonracer, knock it off. The verbal judo back-and-forth may be amusing to the two of you but is in reality a pain to be constantly deleting and a disruptive influence on the thread.[/color]

The China-Taiwan crisis scenario is one such scenario which would necessitate the use of the F-22A, and therefore is relevant to a discussion of continued production. Provided it doesn’t degenerate into yet another anatomical measuring contest, there is no reason to quash that line of discussion. Which would be my job, and not yours.

“kick ass the eurostuff”…”outperforme the euromess”…yup, this thread will be getting a lot more attention. Feel free to have a sensible discussion and disagree, but all of this pointless nationalism and flame baiting will no longer be tolerated. Infractions will be handed out if we can’t all be mature. And yes, if somebody mouths off and you type a witty and pointless comeback of your own, you will BOTH be dealt with. Just so we’re clear.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

You guys forget about this? I’ll let you all contemplate that for a few minutes, then I’ll start dealing out the points.

It’s a dreadful 2 ½ hr long advert for toys. Some very (IMO) age inappropriate language, convoluted plot, we’ve got the Uber Orb for all time. Ah, but we have the energiser bunny, for all time, yadda yadda…… poor, very poor.

But Megan Fox, oh yes:diablo:

I think most of your points there are quite accurate. Yet…I thought it was great fun regardless, even if the back door to the Udvar-Hazy museum does now magically lead to Arizona! Didn’t want anything to do with Star Trek, missed Terminator 4, but made sure to see this one. Can’t wait for this to be on Blu-ray!

For the 5,678th time….

OK, you watch Jaws like I watch Predator, apparently 😀

they are taking a gamble that the low threat scenario comes up.. rather than the high threat scenario

That’s because the high-threat scenarios were thoroughly unrealistic to begin with, such as a full-on war with Russia or a massed air campaign against China. The former won’t happen for obvious reasons, and the latter is a fallacy created in part by the idiots we keep electing in order to justify the latest gigantoid defense expenditure. As far as realistic type scenarios are concerned, while 183 may not be the preferred figure, it is sufficient. Just how many Raptors are necessary to eliminate logical enemies like Iran, Pakistan, Syria, or maybe even Venezuela? None of them possess or are buying anything that’ll rate, and certainly not in any sort of sufficient numbers. 183. Yeah, it’s a big blow to a good aircraft, but in this day and age it is what it is.

Old info. The latest test program was HyFly.