Posted on 07/13/2009 11:52:27 AM PDT by pobeda1945
India announced its plans to double the purchase of Russia’s Su-30MKI fighter jets. If the plans become real, Russia will set a new record selling the largest quality of fourth-generation aircraft to a foreign customer. The deal will considerably improve the reputation of Russia’s renowned jet, although it does have significant competitors from the fifth generation.
India may considerably enlarge its fleet of Russian-made Su-30MKI by 2015 – to 230 planes, news agencies reported with reference to India’s Defense Minister Arackaparambil Kurian Antony. The official said that India had purchased 98 of such fighter jets from Russia since 1996.
The quantity of warplanes, which Indian Air Force plans to purchase from Russia during the forthcoming years, is equal to the quantity, which the nation has already ordered within the framework of current agreements. In 2010, India will most likely have the fleet of 100 Russian fighters. The deal to purchase 120 jets from Russia will cost India about $12 billion.
Therefore, Su-30MKI may become the most common fourth-generation aircraft that has ever been exported in the world.
India considers acquiring USA’s F/A-18E/F as its frontline fighter, but the nation sees no alternative to Russia’s heavy interceptor jet for the time being. The analogue for Russia’s Sukhoi Su-30 is USA’s F-15 Eagle. The latter exists in three versions: F-15I – for Israel, F-15K – for South Korea and F-15J – for Japan. These planes differ from the point of view of their equipment and capacities.
For example, Japan’s warplanes are optimized for intercepting air targets, whereas F-15I are universal jets, just like F-15E Strike Eagle, on the basis of which they were made.
Russia’s Su-30 range develops similarly. Su-30MKK, designed for South Korea, are long-range interceptors, whereas the jets, which Russia designs for Malaysia , can work with ground targets. The flexibility of the Su-30 platform makes the jet Russia’s basic export warplane.
Many experts believe that the new and expensive designs of fifth-generation aircraft will not oust 4+ and 4++ generations – Russia’s Su-30 and Su-35. The capacity of the fifth-generation aircraft is excessive for many types of battle missions. The fourth-generation aircraft can be much more preferable at this point.
A computer modeling of an air fight between USA’s F-35 and Russia’s Su-30, which was conducted last year in Australia, showed that the state-of-the-art American fighter took advantage of the Russian jet in four of ten cases. US officials originally said that their plane would prove to be entirely predominant.
Not to worry. Our socialist government will most likely loan the money to other countries so they can buy them. Loan your tax money for planes that are capable of shooting down our own pilots.
That’s great but has our F-35 even gotten off the runway yet?
I could be wrong, but it appears to be airborne
I was hoping someone had a shot of that....THANKS!!!!
Really?
I wonder how the F-16 stacks up?
Over 4,400 built (and counting) sold to over 25 air forces around the world.
I have a problem with this photo, I smell Adobe at work. Interesting but too many logical improbabilities.
Raptor bait.
It looks fake due to long (telephoto) lens depth compression effect. Photoshop not required.
“A computer modeling of an air fight between USA’s F-35 and Russia’s Su-30, which was conducted last year in Australia, showed that the state-of-the-art American fighter took advantage of the Russian jet in four of ten cases. US officials originally said that their plane would prove to be entirely predominant.”
Hmm, a computer modeling no doubt based on hyped stats for the SU-30? Still, 4 out of 10 means the SU won 6 out of 10, right? Not good...
The US has a few already....
Do you really need an excuse? I think you’d be forgiven for giving that it’s own thread. ;-)
OK, I found the photo as from AP/UK DailyMail and obviously to be taken as genuine barring any other reasons. This quote answers one of my suspicions; "Officials waived rules to allow the Navy flyers to swoop under 100ft along the waterway.
This is probably an FA-18E(Super Hornet) and these have a wingspan of 45 feet. Given the individual standing on the balcony, I think that the floors are no more than 11 feet and MAYBE less and since the plane covers 3 floors - IT WAS RIGHT THERE!! I, off-hand would say that the photo was taken from about 6-700 feet away from the apartment house and the plane was about 2-300 feet further - WOWWOWWOW - why weren't more people watching in the picture?
We nee both, and in quantity. The SU flankers are going to be in everyone's air force soon. F15-F18s are not going to be survivable - see the June 8, 2009 Air Power Australia assessment - only F22s will survive future conflicts, but only if procured in original quantities...
Still, one of the keys is that even the best airframe is only as good as its pilot. If our military has learned anything, it is that there is NO SUBSTITUTE for practice and while sim training is good, air hours are golden. I'll take an experienced US / Brit / Israeli in an F-16 so long as it isn't an ambush or trans-horizon missile.
I remember that Eastwood movie about the super Soviet fighter that he stole. What got my goat after laughing at the story line is that they had the weapons on mental command while the pilot flew the aircraft. I would have reversed the two and kept my forebrain skills for the fighting.
They were probably hiding from the godawful, apocalyptic noise. That’s what my instinct would have been.
This is from Pravda.
Just saying.
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