“What’s really amazing is that we have not documented, reported, or even rumored of any Chinese AGM-65 Maverick copy. The closest thing in the Chinese arsenal to a Maverick is the C-701, which has two versions, a thermal and a TV guided one. So while the C-701 works on the same princicple, it’s also a publicly disclosed weapon and the fins don’t look like the Maverick’s. So even if the C-701 does not work—and its very likely it does—the next choice would be to use the Kh-29T for the same role.”

I would be interested to see how the J-10 would carry air to ground loads in combat situations. Seeing as it is most likely a fighter-bomber in the F-16 mold. When I first read about the plane it was claimed to have 11 loading points for ordinance and external fuel tanks but the plane to my knowledge has only been seen with 7 loading points.

So really that makes the plane unable I guess to make use of the PL-11 or SD-10 if it is carrying air to ground weapons and the standard external fuel tanks and PL-8/9s. That of course if it only has 7 loading points.

So does the J-10 really have 11 loading points or was that just a typo or a miss reporting?

I figure its air to ground loads will likely include the Kh-31P, Kh-29L/T, C-701, KAB guided bombs (TV and Laser), FAB dumb bombs, Chinese dumb bombs, free flight rockets, cluster bombs, FAEs and anti runway bombs.

The MiG-21UPG seems to be the front runner for the MiG-21 upgrade. It unlike the MiG-21 2000 offers BVR and can make use of the planned R-77E capibility. Not that I’m a fan of upgrading the MiG-21s…

I have no pics of the BPS-500s and the honestly I have no idea on the type of frigate that will be bought.

“An-26 bomber?”

Well several nations have made use of hte An-26 in the bomber role including Vietnam and the Sudan so you can;t be to sure. Plus a transport is a military target.

“How much funding do the Army and Navy get, and any word of modernization from those two branches?”

On the first part I forget.

On the second part…

The Navy is planning for more corvettes (BPS-500), 2-3 guided missile frigates and a couple of SSKs.

The Army is going for more MANPADs, additional BMPs, and an M-113 upgrade was discussed but nothing much came from that.

“Yeah, but you could probably barter for the FC-1 with kumquats and durian fruits that China wants. It’s precious hard currency for planes from France or other countries.”

True but the FC-1 happens to have the range only to take on Cambodia, Laos and China. I doubt China would supply us with spares if we happened to have a major border “dispute”. Then again with a Russian radar, engine and weapons the plane would fit right in, but I doubt relations have gotten that good for us to buy a Chinese fighter.

“The French are probably willing to sell the M2K as long as you have the money.”

That it, I don’t think we have the money to spend on the Mirage 2000-5 or something like that.

“Well before 1998. There’s a good color shot in a World Air Power Journal back issue from the early 90’s showing one of ’em being loaded.”

They showed up in the 1980s.

I just don’t see a threat from the borders. Any conflict in the Spratlys would more then likely stay there if you catch my drift.

I just see a light fighter as taking money from getting even more Flankers or a doing a Fitter upgrade and not being of use with the changing threats. Cambodia is not a threat nor Laos and any conflict with China would mostly be at sea with maybe some shelling on the borders if things got bad.

I think we should improve the navies surface and transportation fleet and the ability of the air force to provide support in the ways of keeping enemy strikers away and launching strikes of our own. And of course we need more Flankers to scare away PAF F-5As or OV-10Cs that might loiter over the area.

And the JAS-39, F-16 and Mirage 2000 are not on offer to us as a light fighter the only one would be the MiG-29 and people do not have terribly much faith in it after Flankers ate them alive in Ethiopia. And throwing limited resources into some fancy Russian MiG-29 upgrade would just waste money from getting more Flankers.

I had heard about this a couple years back (has it been that long already?), the looking into more Su-22Ms from Eastern Europe. A couple of years back i had heard we looked at Poland’s.

We have lost some Su-22M-3Ks due to crashes and such and it is our best and only striker in service today. The planes currenlty use the Kh-28 and dumb bombs/rockets and such. Expanig the fleet and upgrading it would be great. Some sort of anti shipping and the ability to use guided bombs/missiles would go a long way to giving us a regoinaly decent strike ability.

The overall plan for the Flankers is to get a total of 36.

Posted by Victor at CDF…