Russian air force hopes for revival

[Lars77]

Russia's Air Force is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and to mark the event a new jet fighter has been shown off at the Moscow Air Show. The T-50 is not only showcasing the country's military might, but could also be a big earner for the country. Al Jazeera's Melissa Chan was in Moscow to watch.



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They definately have a military-industrial complex of their own. Btw that maneuver at :50 is freaking insane.

[Confusious]

1. They won't have to try to hard

From what I've heard, the f22 is a piece of shit.

To heavy, not maneuverable, can't fly in the rain, problems with the oxygen supply system, the list just keeps getting bigger.

[Plucketeer]

2. The T-50 may be impressive

but those low-speed whirls and back flips would best serve against WWI era Fokkers and Spads. There's no way stealth-tech jets are gonna duel like like a jousting match!

Financially, we4'd be better off if we bought our aircraft from Russia or China.

[Ready4Change]

3. People have, incorrectly, declared dog fighting dead since the end of WW2.

The speeds of jet fighters were supposed to render dog fighting obsolete. Korea proved that wrong. as gun firing F-86s and Migs dueled away.

Heat seeking and radar guided missiles were supposed to render dog fights obsolete. Vietnam rudely exposed that as incorrect, as cannon armed Migs proved very effective against missile only equipped F-4s, until tactics (and gun pods) were developed to counter the threat.

Today, stealth and information unified forces are supposed to bring about a similar end to dog fighting. We'll see if that pans out. Manufacturer computer simulations showing stealth fighters blowing away 10x their number with impunity are very comforting.

But I wouldn't bet on it. History has shown over and over that air battles rapidly devolve into close in knife fights, where sustained turning abilities, potent close range weaponry, and pilots trained to wrestle down and pin opponents win the day.

The F-22 is unquestionably having teething problems. But when it works, it rocks. Its fast, its sneaky, its nimble, it packs a punch, and it's systems allow the pilot to concentrate on his job, rather than serve the needs of a computer panel.

This T-50? Not enough info at this time to know. But in the past, when Russia has produced 'look-alikes' they most often prove lackluster. However, their follow-ons, which incorporate lessons learned in producing the look-alikes, often feature outside of the box thinking giving them troublesome solutions to use against our tech. So I'm not expecting much from this T-50. But, when something like a T-60 (or whatever they call it) shows up? Watch out.

[Diclotican]

4. Lars77

Lars77

You have to put it into perspective, the russian air force have been starved for the last 18 year, and have had to just crawl ahead, as spare parts, and other sides of the russian air force got sparse over the years... The mighty Soviet Air force of 1989, was by 1995-98 just a Shadow of itself... And have been it for many years...

Their best aircraft they have in the arsenal is going on the 20 year mark now.. And the best bombers, are from the 1950s - similar in age to the B52 by the way... And even the TU160 blackjack is from the 1970s design.. But will soldiers on for many years - as the russian air force yet have to put anything else into service... And compared to what US have in their arsenal, most of the spearheads in the russian air force are now, finally beginning to travel into the 21 century technological speaking.. The US have a great leap ahead of the russian air force, and it Will take at least a decade to catch up to what US have in their arsenal....

Even with the modernization of the russian air force - new build aircraft, modernizing and even with the new T-50 Stealth fighter no one with a little knowledge about the russian air force for real believe the Russian Air force to be a danger to anyone... At least not the US air force and NATO... And I doubt that the T-50 stealth fighter would be in production for at least a decade - the Sukoi who have the deal, have often worked slowly to be sure the design is proper, before they produce anything.. Like the SU27 in the intro to this segment - It took at least a couple of different designs, before they got ahead with the aircraft who is known as the SU27 family of aircraft....

If I was to be worried about a air force, looking it from the NATO and US perspective I would be far more worry about the PRC air force - who have a more aggressive policy against the US in the Pacific.. The Chinese air force are at yet not an challenge to the USAF, but in the years ahead as the PRC will be more willing to use military options against other nations - not just small country's on their own borders, but also against other, greater nations, like Vietnam (who Chinese have had a troublesome policy against for hundreds of years) Japan (who they now and then really really is in trouble with) and not at least the US interest in the area could make for some inter sting hot spots in the future...

Diclotican