Gendo Ikari

If the US is going to produce a new AWACS, it'll have to be based on the 767 won't it? Apparantly the 707 model's not in production anymore which is why japan is using it, yeah? When is the weaons pack going to be released Snapper?

Its easy to forget that the Su-35 and 37 are both technology demonstrators. The 35 served as demonstration and proof of concept vehicle initially for the Su30 program (And then eventually for the 30MKI program) with enhancements intended for the 37 (AESA, thrust vectoring etc) and was then going to be the standard to which frontline VVS Su27s would be upgraded to (despite the Su35 being constructed from carbon fibre and composite materials meaning it is actually lighter that the 27). The program ground to a halt after the first preproduction aircraft was built, not because of any design flaws but because Russia and the CIS have little in the way of financing available. Both the 35 and 37 are still unmatched (F-22,YF-23and Eurofighter notwithstanding) potentially equipable vehicles for air forces using 27s as operating costs are about the same... Its easy to say the F-22 is the best, period but when you consider that: -The technology is not going to be made available for quite a while (if ever) as Taiwan found out late last year about potential sales -It’s average unit cost is at about $193 million US per copy (compared with about $39M-$42Mper copy for the F-15 and about $36M-$40M for the Su30MK) and likely to drop to around $130M if the production run continues to FY09 which is in doubt -Requires specific maintenance facilities (similar to the B-2) which limits deployment -Existing weapon systems (AMRAAM, New gen Aim-9 and ASRAAMS, JDAMS, JASOWs etc) have had to be modified or produced specifically for the Raptor That notwithstanding, it's easily one of the best fighters around but these are MAJOR drawbacks. But then again, most of the technology used by the 22 had to be developed for it... Also Actually, it is in development with one Su27 user... http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article....RTICLE_ID=15276 and Brazil had the Su35 at the top of its list before deciding start of this year to was too poor to buy a 4th gen fighter...