I was beginning to wonder a week or so ago if there might be some news in the pipeline regarding developments over the 5th gen programme.

On June 7th the Russian channel ‘Guberniya TV’ ran a news presentation from KnAAPO which mentioned that the plant expected a production order “by the end of 2006”. It also made mention of an “export order within 18 to 24 months” but it wasn’t clear as to whether this referred to the 5th gen aircraft or something else entirely.

Could be another piece of the jigsaw puzzle.

Steve Rush

Flex,

that AP item on CNN seems to be cobbled-together from more than one story that’s emerged over the past year or so. The helicopters have been a “done deal” for a long time now (Mi-17-V5, Mi-26T and Mi-35), whilst CASA/EADS are going to push ahead with the CN.235 sale despite the US embargo.

What Chavez said on Venezuelan TV on Wednsday was:

“These are the most modern jets in the world. We’re ready for a possible future purchase depending on how the price of oil goes.”

As for the Russian side of things: reports are that Rosboronexport will be pushing the Su-27SK, Su-30MK and, interestingly, the Mi-28N at the arms expo in Caracas.

See: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20060613/49402868.html for example

Best regards

Steve Rush

Well the need for replacing T-2E/C ‘s is extremely urgent. Greece has not pulled out from Eurotrainer (in theory), but it is not going to get in service in the near future. So it is decided, the need to be covered by internanional contest between the existing solutions. Furhter more, some of the candidates are also candidates for Eurotrainer as well..

I agree completely, Petros.

And, yes, it would also make sense to me for any nation with a front-line inventory as large and as modern as the HAF’s to not only throw their hat into the ‘Eurotrainer’ ring, but to procure support a number of these autonomously as well.

Steve Rush

With all due respect i disagree. It isnt the same thing!!!

It may not be the same thing from your viewpoint, BIO, but it certainly is from my own. From their posts it would also appear to be much the same for Nicolas 10 and Flex.

Not a single person at work or who I spoke to socially expressed the emotions of glee that I was responding to on here. Does that have anything to do with “moral superiority” as Sauron asserted? Personally I don’t happen to think so: I’ve always thought of it as “civilisation”.

Steve Rush

I’ve just asked my sister and i’ll tell you what she said.

” The Phantoms regulary ARE stored in Ovda Airforce base in Underground storage.
I don’t know what’s going on in there right now, but they might pulled them out for out sider to take a look at them ( expeditions from over sea ), because they aren’t allowed to enter to the base underground storages.
But yes, All of the phantoms and skyhawks ARE regulary beeing stored in Ovda, I don’t know about any of them beeing stored at Hatzerim or any other base in Israel, expect for a couple of Phantoms in the Hatzerim Air Force Museum “

And you can probably understand why i’ll take her side and not that TXT file.

With respect, “that TXT file” isn’t plucked out of thin air, nor is it a work of fiction: I’ll trust concrete evidence based upon actual sightings that record tail numbers, places and dates a lot more than I would simple hearsay.

Steve Rush

So PII,

how does that make you any better than the baying mobs cheering “Allah akhbar” as the remains of the Apache Longbow crew were dragged from the crash wreckage recently or the four Blackwater contractors were strung up from that bridge? It’s exacty the same human emotion that you’re tapping into.

I’m definitely with Flex on this one. He got what was coming to him, certainly, but please excuse me from the celebrations; either of his death or his martyrdom, whichever extreme you look at this event from. :rolleyes:

Steve Rush

Why?

I’ve been to Ovda many times.

from a total of 180-185 F-4E Phantoms Israel had, 140 +- were left, and are currently in underground bases.

…..except for the scores and scores of them parked out in lines at Ovda, obviously!

Who are you trying to kid, and why?

Steve Rush

p.s. check out the text file attached to this post: it took me all of 5 minutes to find 127 IDF Phantoms that are withdrawn and stored at just Ovda and Hatzerim alone, all out in the open.