Posted on 07/30/2007 2:22:09 AM PDT by neverdem
Israel is looking into reports that Russia plans to sell 250 advanced long-range Sukhoi-30 fighter jets to Iran in an unprecedented billion-dollar deal.
According to reports, in addition to the fighter jets, Teheran also plans to purchase a number of aerial fuel tankers that are compatible with the Sukhoi and capable of extending its range by thousands of kilometers. Defense officials said the Sukhoi sale would grant Iran long-range offensive capabilities.
Government officials voiced concern over the reports. They said Russia could be trying to compete with the United States, which announced over the weekend a billion-dollar arms sale to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.
Despite Israeli and US opposition, Russia recently supplied Iran with advanced antiaircraft systems used to protect Teheran's nuclear installations. At the time, Moscow said it reserved the right to sell Iran weapons, such as the antiaircraft system, that were of a defensive nature.
The Sukhoi-30 is a two-seat multi-role fighter jet and bomber capable of operating at significant distances from home base and in poor weather conditions. The aircraft enjoys a wide range of combat capabilities and is used for air patrol, air defense, ground attacks, enemy air defense suppression and air-to-air combat.
But didn’t Bush say that Russia is an ally in the WOT?
Yak yak, yadda yadda.
Guess the old wheeze that calling a pig a duck still doesn’t make it a duck.
Iran buying target drones ...
,”This administration does not have an arms sales policy, except to sell, sell, sell,” said Daryl Kimball of the Arms Control Association. “That approach in the Middle East can be like throwing gasoline on a brush fire.”’
Perhaps. If we weren’t to sell to the Saudis and the rest, Russia, India and China surely would, no?
I think the current idea is to arm our friends with superior American weapons, so the others abandon expansionist plans.
What do you think of the theory that Iran has no choice but to try and seize oil fields elsewhere, since its reserves are running out?
Putin is trying to bring back the glory days of the old USSR as an unrepentant communist. He’s tried it with taking over the yukos oil company, polonium poisoning of a dissident in england, energy squeeze on europe, claiming the sea floor of the arctic ocean, nuc plants in iran, now the sale of advanced airplanes... In short we’ve got another wannabe stalin on our hands there.
If you have the eyes to see, you perceive armageddon forming right before your eyes as described in the book of revelation, putin being the leader from the north invading the middle east.
Actually, a mix of missions were flown during Cope-India’04.US F-15Cs primarily flew in air defense & escort packages,while Indian SU-30s were primarily in the air superiority mode & had the freedom to shoot first & from long range.That being said,the result of the F-15C vs SU-30 matchup wasn’t a real surprise,since the USAF itself says that SU-30 is a better aircraft.
I must add that these scenarios were not unfair as many think,because this is what US fighters would expect to encounter if & when they fight the Chinese or Taiwan.China operates 100s of SU-27s & SU-30s,which they will operate in the same mode that the Indian air force exhibited-escorting Mig-21,Mig-27,Jaguar & like strike aircraft.So the restrictions were not mean’t to be unfair,but as close to reality as possible.
Hey Dog ... Is there any truth to this sale?
“The F-15 has never been shot down in combat as far as I know.”
I think you’ll find that the Iraqis shot down two F15Es.
88-1689 2xKIA
88-1692 2xPOW
I think air to air is the main reference here.Those were downed by ground forces.
Remember, that Iran will have to fly that stuff over US (Iraqi) or NATO controlled airspace, and thus will be shot down by F-22 Raptors.
Gorby wants the Soviet Union back...
Putin is NOT pursuing democracy.
The only threat to the F-22 is the Russian PAK-FA, which is coming out later this year.
Those were SAM shots.
“Those were SAM shots.” Absolutely they were. However the initial assertion was unqualified with respect to the method of downing.
Ok I’m being pedantic, but it does illustrate that that the F15 is far from invulnerable. There ware also a number of close calls in GW1 vs Mig 25s whereby the immense skill of the USAF pilots was the deciding factor.
Moreover the F15 has never faced anything as good as an SU30MK2 - The sheer availability of the numerous Su27 variants is precisely why the F22 is required.
But, how does the F22 stack up against SU-47, MiG 1.44, J-XX, and PAK-FA?
Pretty well, given that they are all ‘paper’ airplanes as opposed to the F22 which is in service.
I hope you are right about that, and you are, given that the nation does not wax Dimocrap in the 2008 erection.
Get these Commies out of the G8 pronto!
And if I NEVER hear about Bush seeing the soul in the eyes of another soulless devil, it will be too soon.
The naivety is just too much to bear!
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