SayethWhaaaa

How awesome is this?! "Think in Russian" Indeed! http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23257591-29277,00.html I gotta have a crack at this!!

Just like it said up there ^^ Ch ch check it out! I wasn't expecting to see this when I got home. But then again, I wasn't expecting to see Heath Ledger had died when I got to work either... So does this mean that with Raul in charge, things may thaw a little between the US and Cuba?

"Rhetorical eh...? ...Eight!"

He's done this a bunch of times since just before Hugo Chavez came to visit. By the way, big shout out to Perez Hilton for making the call about Castro's alleged death last year! Way to go tiger! I've got four words for you: "Swing and a miss."

There was something in Aviation Australia about them reactivating some Macchi MB-339s for conversion training. They used to have the ability to carry stores (they filled the LIFT/CAS/Ground attack role) and as far as I know, they haven't had the capacity removed, so technically... they could be considered to be combat aircraft. But the Kiwis are pretty steadfast about not maintaining a combat arm of the RNZAF. And strictly speaking, their P-3s aren't combat capable. They're used in the maritime surveillance role, not ASW or any offensive roles as such. AFAIK. It's kinda ironic about the scooters though. We got rid of them because the government/RAN didn't want to retain an offensive fixed wing capabilty (Great move guys, no really! :fuk: ), so we flogged them off to the Kiwis to supplant their scooters. Then in the mid to late 80 they kept a sqn here to train with the RAAF and RAN and then in the 90s our AF and Navy relied on the A-4Ks (some of which were originally RAN A-4Gs) heavily for dissimilar air combat training... Not bad for an obsolete jet.

A couple of interesting articles that showed up on news.com.au Those stinking bloody Seapsprites and SuperDuds jk The new government has described the current defence acquisitions situation as a "nightmare" whilst the shadow defence minister says it's not and that he should be grateful for a quality defence procurement program. The way I see it, if you're paying Aus$100 million + for Seaprite helicopters that are not new builds, but refurbished airframes built in the 60s, you've got problems. These stories come in the wake of statements by the new administration of a complete review of defence procurement procedures after there quite vocal concerns were raised about the lack of suitability for some the ADF’s new toys ranging from the M1 Abrahms tanks to the F/A-18Fs designated to replace our F-111Cs in the long range interdictor/Strike roles. Also, there’s been a lot of talk in defence circles about the previous government’s lack of understanding about the needs of the ADF, about the lack of due process in procurement (cronyism, lack of competitive tenders cited specifically) of military hardware with the previous government’s focus on cost and ‘our relationship’ with the US and it’s defence industry. As though cancelling inappropriate defence contracts would somehow damage our relationship with the US… go figure. Interesting to see that the new government here IS actually reviewing the situation, not just paying lip service. Who’d have thought… Only downside is that this also means that the two flattops for the RAN are also under review. And here I was hoping to see the day when the navy had carriers again…

These are the Kiwi Scooters, yeah? I'm guessing Woodbourne, Phil Goff and the stonewalling they're getting from the US. I can understand that though. Those are the pimped out A-4K Kahus. Those things are badass! They're comperable to Blk30/40 F-16s!

Nobody here can neither confirm nor deny that this is a question, nor if it can be answered...

Who was the smartarse (or possibly a trainspotter) who gave this one star??

They're currently refitting the Tommies they haven't cannibalised and the F-4 is supposed to have gone through a modernisation programme a short while ago. I'll let you guys decide on what constitutes an Iranian modernisation programme. But apparantly, and information is hard to get on this subject, but apparantly, the IRIAF is developing a pseudo stealth plane. Now, the story I've heard is that it's based on the new trainer that was unveiled on state run TV in mid to late 2006. But it's also, being said that, and this is the one I believe is more likely because of the informational blackout that surrounds it (I know it sounds like conspiracy nutjob-esque, but hear me out), they are also supposedly making a RAM coated, low RCS variant of the Suq that makes use of certain design changes, RAM coated and redesigned disturbed airflow intakes, new wing etc. That's what my friends at ASPI are saying, and there's supposedly an article coming up in AirForces Monthly, but it got me to thinking... What would be the point of 'stealthing up an F-5 series jet??? I mean, how are the weapons going to be carried? I have a million questions... most of them variants on "Why?" :yes:

I laughed so hard at that, I think I peed a little!

I hear that Libya might be getting up to 24 Rafales in their talks with the Frogs. Apparantly there's a massive modernisation program in the works and the French are cashing in big. This month's AFM has an article in it too, I think... might be last month's.

Consequently, does this mean if I'm using something like this when playing BF2, I have to think like someone who has a head injury?? :biggrin:

Finally got home to give this a crack, and what's the first thing this smartarse here does?? I pike my A-4 into the ground...

Oh, I dig that there are vipers with AESA, but I don't think the RAAF could seem themselves 'slumming it' in F-16s somehow. There's nothing wrong with the 'pig' that a little RAM coating and duct tape won't fix. They still kicked arse at Red Flag! One a different subject, at one point I had even heard talk from my former colleagues that the Mirage 2000D was being considered until Dassault made it clear that they were looking to shut down the Mirage 2000 production line. That could have been interesting too...

The Bug wars... Read it when I was a teenager. I can't be arsed explaining it after a few hours at the pub, so bust it here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bug_Wars It'd prolly have to be a CG job... thing is, I hate CG films. Freespace and/or Freespace2 would be sweet, so long as they don't let Freddy Prince Jr near it with his kiss 'o death!!

Apparantly the RAN was looking at buying a Forrestal class back in the late 60s. That would have been an interesting what if...

It's scary to think that for that amount of cashmoney, we could have had a fleet of new-build Seahawks or extra NH-90s (or whatever they're called.) I still maintain (despite how much I'd love to see Su-34s in RAAF colours!) that the F-15E would have been the way to go. Hell, even Rafale would be a great second choice. Cost was sited as one reason for not going down the Eagle path... and since we already have a plane called wedgetail, they couldn't figure out another 'eagle' name to apply to it!. AESA was another (apparantly we can ONLY get it through buying the F/A-18F. So what are the Singaporean F-15SGs packing then??) I couldn't get over the fact that the Dr. Nelson, who's as much a doctor as Dr. Teeth from the Muppets is, was describing the SuperBug as being a "stealthy" plane. I know there's degrees to stealth and that it's RCS has been improved when compared to the legacy Bugs, but stealth is pushing it a bit... That's like saying Amy Winehouse is only "a bit" of a skank...

Just heard one of the pilots rescued has died... http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23250762-2,00.html That sucks hard!

The Mig-29M2 and the 35 will both have the lastest versions of the the Zhuk or phasotron AESA arrays too. I sincerely doubt the US would share that tech with India. US defence contractors will claim property rights and suggest it'll harm it's business interests. They may produce it for them, but I doubt India will be given a liscense. Remember, India wants a FULL tech transfer here and only Russia has been open to that with them, historically speaking. The US, sorry, not to be US bashing here , but they don't have a great track record on the transfers of technology and the Indians deem this stipulation in the contract to be non-negotiable. I reckon they'll play it safe.

The Pakis have plently to worry about than having the Indians possibly buying some F-16s. Given the level of violence in the country at the moment from the fundamentalists as well as a potential backlash from them after they lost 51 of their 53 seats in the recent election, a President that is grasping onto power and the only replacements having a history shrouded in corruption allegations, F-16s east of the border are going to be the least of their concerns. Besides, I’m willing to bet that India will go with the Mig-29/35 given it’s history with the Russians and that they’d be more compatible with the existing inventory of IAF aircraft (not to mention already having 2 other Mig-29 types inservice).

Damn you all! I'm stuck at work for the next 7 hours, I don't wanna hear how good it is until then!! You buggers did the same thing when COD4 was released!!! :threaten: ps. I'm guessing the shadow problems won't be an issue on a dual core, 2 gig RAM machine...

Sometimes there are double entries for weapon stations, so adding it to them both may cause this problem too. Also, you could change the weight limit on the station so as to only allow the carriage of one pod...

Yeah... don't think that'll happen somehow. It's not like Tasmania...

What is it with you lot wanting Israeli skins on everything?! Next thing I know, I'll be looking for STL Aftermath downloads and I'll see Israeli skins for the Enterprise!!!