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But in 2006 Russia signaled it no longer intended to abide by that decision when then-Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said that Russian submarines were carrying tactical nuclear weapons on patrol.

Are their accompanying tugboats armed as well?

Knowing the Russian philosophy with regards to weapons (ie: more the better), probably…

Burtsev said the navy will also build six new nuclear submarines carrying intercontinental ballistic missiles. The first sub in the series, the Yuri Dolgoruky, already has been built and is undergoing tests.

However, the prospective Bulava missile designed to equip the new submarine has failed repeatedly in tests, making prospects of its deployment dim.

Says enough really…

What’s the Russian for, “we are still important. No really, we are”…

Most of what happens at Avalon happens on the first 4 days of the show. A bit Friday morning and then it’s just an open show for the public.

I made the trip down on the Friday morning, did the rounds of the exhibitors (media accreditation comes in very handy) tried out Elbit’s very nice battlefield management system (and met their “wonderful” actors…) had lunch at the Northrop Grumman Chalet (and a meeting over lunch with Tom Twomey no less – Northrop Grumman Director – High Altitude Unmanned Systems project – aka Global Hawk…) and watched the show until the low cloud cover came in at about 6pm, as others have referred to.

Overall the show was less impressive than 2007, IMHO, though the B-1Bs nearly made up the different between the years.

I was disappointed with Army Aviation Corps, display (static and flying) at the show. No MRH-90, no Tiger ARH, no Chinook and only a Blackhawk static display.

Navy was fine as per usual and RAAF showed some interesting new capabilities that haven’t made a lot of press, but of course still don’t make them anywhere near capable enough to take on the flood of Sukhois… :rolleyes:

Speaking with an acquaintance who works in the defense industry last night, and he recommended a career as a defense analyst for me; but how does one go about find out more?

Are there any courses at defense colleges or do you have to study in particular fields, such as engineering, and then use that expertise? I really have no clue :confused:

Most have no formal training whatsoever. They simply pontificate and then the Internet will love you.

As proof I offer you this:

http://www.ausairpower.net/

If, China continues with its Carrier Program. Nobody should be surprised if South Korea and Japan don’t follow suit………with F-35B equipped Light to Medium Sized Aircraft Carriers.

South Korea for certain.

Japan, maybe… :rolleyes:

Boeing and L-M will be dusting off their Powerpoint Presentations for C-130J and C-17A right now, I expect…

They are the only game in town for the forseeable future…

SK, with a modern and large force equipped with F-35, F-15K and (eventually) Wedgetail, is certainly becoming a force to be reckoned with…

😎

Is this current to paint the plane shape of a simulated kill on his plane ?

No, the American’s really shoot each other down with live ordnance on training exercises… :rolleyes:

According to the current plan only 1% of testing will be done before they start building production JSF’s.. now that’s confidence or idiocy …:eek:

Cheers

Only a handful of LRIP aircraft, not FULL production aircraft and flight testing has already passed the 2% mark, with only 2 actual aircraft (not including CATBIRD) to have actually done any testing as yet.

By the end of 2009 there will be 17x aircraft, plus CATBIRD undertaking the flight test program and the testing will be much more advanced.

So far only Holland and the UK, besides the USA have committed to purchasing test examples and they haven’t ordered them yet.