I find the timing posted on this link to be odd because if it’s accurate the presentation will start at 11 PM in Russia.
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Russian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter tphuang
- Start date
An F-16 copy, 45 years late???
One thing I don’t understand is why they still have an IRST when there is a EOTS window under the belly intake. Isn’t this redundant?
Where, precisely, is that window?
I wouldn't call it a copy, I just wonder how much better it can realistically be then the latest variants of 4th gen fighters offered by the West?
That makes perfect sense! Thanks.
The way Russians are marketing it you'd think it was an iPhone they were unveiling. Do they not realise military jets are a very niche market? Few western companies break would even without their own national purchases. Look at how long the rafaele/eurofighter languished without sales.
There are very few potential customers for whatever is unveiled. Iran and India maybe. Iran is broke and India would be risking American sanctions if they were to purchase any number of these. I predict zero interest in this "F-35ski"
Or maybe they have decided on going the Harley Davidson route, where keyrings and posters are what they are really selling.
There are very few potential customers for whatever is unveiled. Iran and India maybe. Iran is broke and India would be risking American sanctions if they were to purchase any number of these. I predict zero interest in this "F-35ski"
Or maybe they have decided on going the Harley Davidson route, where keyrings and posters are what they are really selling.
Yes and we all get it. What you missed is your assumption that Russia is a Chinese vassal or ally when it comes to dealing with smaller threats or non-threats. You assumed they were and therefore was expected to not arm India or Vietnam. This has been going on for decades. It hasn't changed other areas where Russia and China cooperate and support each other politically and diplomatically. There is a lot of nuance to this stuff. It's not a simple black and white. If a handful of Vietnamese Checkmates can even dent PLAAF or PLAN, China should forget about it and balkanise itself now and become a US vassal. Vietnamese Checkmates won't amount to 1% of the threat that comes from the US. How many Checkmates do you think Vietnam will purchase? Take a look at how many Su-30s they operate and how effective they are against PLAAF who operates and understands all there is to know about the subsystems used by Su-30s in Vietnam.
China wouldn't be wasting ballistic or cruise missiles on airfields in Vietnam if Vietnam actually initiates attacks on China for some reason. It would simply use cheap and plentiful artillery. India is another matter and can amount to a much greater military threat.
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If Vietnam purchase 24 checkmates fighters from Russia, then it's "Checkmate" game over for China in SCS as far as 4 or 4.5 gen fighters go. No amount of J-11Bs or Su-27s or J-15s currently stationed on SCS islands can defeat 24 Vietnamese Checkmates.
China needs to dedicate an entire EMAL- CATOBAR worth of J-35s just to counter the Vietnamese threat in SCS. J-35s can't even be deployed effectively on Liaoning or Shandong and J-15s would get wiped out by the Checkmates. J-20s from mainland likely can't sortie to Spratlys without refueling tankers.
So while I'm glad Russia can profit a few hundred million from the Checkmate sales to Vietnam, China must dedicate an entire $12 billion CATOBAR (or two) just to counter the Checkmates from Vietnam.
That's a ton of Chinese resources redirected from facing US Navy into facing a tiny nation on the periphery, esp. if Checkmates are purchased in meaningful numbers. Every CATOBAR counts against the US Navy...
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