Aircraft Carriers II (Closed to posting)

bd popeye said:

It has of yet not been cleared for export. GA is making a gamble here IMO. I doubt if it will be exported.

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If it were exported, I can think of only one place it might go at this point in time.

India.

And there have already been some significant discussions about that very thing for their IAC2 carrier...which they intend to be CATOBAR.

EMALS has been discussed and the US is desirous to bring India further and further into its camp with respect to geopolitics. With the P-8s, the C-17s, the new C-130s, the AH-64D Longbows, etc. this is becoming more and more of a reality. Winning a big deal where the US helps with any vital components of what will be their surface flagship would help further cement the relationship.

Jeff Head said:

If it were exported, I can think of only one place it might go at this point in time.

India.

And there have already been some significant discussions about that very thing for their IAC2 carrier...which they intend to be CATOBAR.

EMALS has been discussed and the US is desirous to bring India further and further into its camp with respect to geopolitics. With the P-8s, the C-17s, the new C-130s, the AH-64D Longbows, etc. this is becoming more and more of a reality. Winning a big deal where the US helps with any vital components of what will be their surface flagship would help further cement the relationship.

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Jeff I had to use google to figure out what "IAC2" is And it seems here's the latest news about IAC1, then:

Jura said:

Jeff I had to use google to figure out what "IAC2" is And it seems here's the latest news about IAC1, then:

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

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Yes, we reported on the INS Vilkrant's (IAC1) initial launch here and on the Indian news thread last year in August

She is undergoing further build and outfitting and will be launched again probably in 2015 for final outfitting, for sea trials starting in 2016, and then ultimate induction into the Indian Navy in the 2018 time frame. She will displace about 40,000 tons and carry 30 aircraft.

IAC2, INS Vishal, will be larger and is intended to be a CATOBAR carrier. She will displace 65,000 tons and carry about 50 aircraft. The IAC2 should start building in the 2017+ time frame for a planned induction into the Indian Navy in 2025.

Guys I gotta run to work, you may have a look at the video I just stumbled upon: (the Russian carrier in Med; I think you could enjoy it even without any command of the Russian language tell me what you think, will read it in about twelve hours from now ...

For thunderchief: they're armed now

The fact DCNS was showcasing its Aircraft Carrier model at Defexpo last week indicates they are hopefull to sell it to the Indian Navy... The fact that the General Atomics person told me what he did shows even US defense companies believe the French may have a chance to sell a carrier (design) to India.

Just stumbled upon this:

Lots of French-US ops lately...

USMC V22 Osprey conducted deck trials onboard French Navy's Mistral Class LHD Dixmude

In January 2014 a United States Marine Corps (USMC) V22 Osprey landed for the first time onboard the Dixmude, a French Navy Mistral class LHD. The success of this experiment confirmed the full interoperability of Mistral class amphibious vessels with the means implemented by American Expeditionary Strike Groups. The French LHD are indeed fully interoperable with LCAC landing crafts, with heavy helicopters (Sikorsky CH53 Sea Stallion) and now with the Bell-Boeing V22 Opsrey tilt rotor aircraft.
...
Two French Navy test pilots (one from an experimental squadron, CEPA/10S, the other from the French Procurement Agency DGA) were present onboard the V22 to observe and assist the USMC crew in the maneuvers. According to the commander of CEPA/10S and flight test engineer, "with this first phase we validated the location, refined procedures and performed environmental measures primarily of wind and temperature. Although we had little concern about it, these experiments confirm the ability of Mistral class LHDs to accommodate the V22 in acceptable security conditions from the vessel perspective as well as from the aircraft perspective."

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Jura said:

Guys I gotta run to work, you may have a look at the video I just stumbled upon:

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

(the Russian carrier in Med; I think you could enjoy it even without any command of the Russian language tell me what you think, will read it in about twelve hours from now ...

For thunderchief: they're armed now

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Nice. I also like this one:


...and this one. It is longer, but gives you a lot of looks at the internal spaces, as well as a SU-33 launch with an eight A2A missile loadout.

Wow V-22 from Mistral Class big development

Jeff Head said:

Nice. I also like this one:

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...and this one. It is longer, but gives you a lot of looks at the internal spaces, as well as a SU-33 launch with an eight A2A missile loadout.

...

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This one is even longer, but even more interesting, it seems (I could only watch it muted right now so I'll do it on another occasion); for example I didn't know the Admiral Kuznetsov had fled Sevastopol (not to become part of Ukrainian Navy), with only 18 fighter pilots (the video tells the story of their leader ... well, part of his story, as he was fatally injured during an airshow incident after the film had been made).

Jura said:

I didn't know the Admiral Kuznetsov had fled Sevastopol (not to become part of Ukrainian Navy), with only 18 fighter pilots. The video tells the story of their leader Timur Apakidze... well, part of his story, as he was fatally injured during an airshow incident.

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Major-General Timur Apakidze, was indeed a hero of the Russian Federation.


He was born into the Royal Family of Georgia in 1954, and was sent to the Soviet Union's best military training and education. Upon his graduation he was personally recommended to the Kremlin for special notice because of his extraordinary capabilities. He became a Major at the age of 29. And ultimately was brought into the fledgling carrier naval aviation program.

He landed the first SU-33 aboard the Kuznetsov. He established most of the training regiment for all other pilots. He was probably the most influential person who kept the Kuznetsov from being decommissioned and laid up like so many other Soviet era capitol vessels were after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Even though numbers, and training dwindled to next to nothing for many years, he kept the program alive and was its heart and soul, and the energy upon which it survived.

Even though living and working in the Ukraine at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, and even though he was a native Georgian, he refused high level appointments to command the Air forces from both countries, replying simply, "You swear only once."

He actually was an official Hero of the Russian Federation with a "Gold Star" distinction presented to him directly by the Russian Federation President in 1995.

He was killed at an airshow in 2001, flying a SU-33 when it malfunctioned, and trying to get the aircraft to the runway and away from any onlookers. He would have been 60 this year.

Here's a great video about him (all in Russian). Listen to him lecture, watch him fly. This guy was one driven individual.