Russia, the erstwhile Soviet Union worker's paradise, has been in the business of selling crappy low-cost, marginally effective weapons world-wide for at least half a century. Since the collapse of the SU their market share has deteriorated badly. That's why they need some new product. Enter the PAK-FA T-50.
It first flew about six months ago. I say "it" advisedly. What flew was an aerodynamic shape, an aircraft mock-up. It was powered by an engine from the previous generation T-35. It had no avionics or sensors aboard. Indeed, none have yet been developed. It has no weapons yet and nothing has been publicly postulated.
It does have 3D articulated engine nozzles which give it remarkable agility. It would be superior on "So You Think You Can Dance" but the tactical utility of such hot air concentrations in a swirling IR weapons arena is dubious.
Now we've got CEO and national leader spokesperson bleating on what it is going to do:
Putin Likes The New Jet
Let's summarize:
- A one-off research aircraft with old engines and no weapons suite
- Opponent to a full production, operational jet that has been flying for 13 years
- The "wonder" of access to sensors and controls without leaving stick and throttle has been standard since the 1970s in fighters under the acronym HOTAS (Hands on Thottles and Stick)
- The language convolution of "costs three times less" is mathematically impossible. One time less than cost is already zero. An English news source should know the proper phrase is "costs one third".
Maybe we should have a counter-campaign in which the Bamster touts the Raptor. Of course Putin has flown and the Bamster hasn't experienced fighter aviation. I know some guys who would love to take him for a ride in a modern tactical jet.
7 comments:
Naw - Obama's liable to say something like "Let's hear a shout-out for the AF Raptor Corpse. Boy, you just can't keep those dinosaurs down, huh".
(He was very impressed, as young street agitator, by "Jurassic Park".)
An interesting and informative post about the T-50. Of course, many of us are less concerned about the Russians than with the willingness of the American people to support our own weapon systems. To wit:
Why are we halting production of the F-22 Raptor after just 183 units? One would think that if you have the world’s best fighter you would produce it in greater quantity (to equip many more wings, of course), thereby providing increased mission capabilities, lower unit acquisition costs and the preservation of tens of thousands of jobs. And let’s not just blame Secretary Bob Gates and the Messiah; both major parties have for many years failed to provide funding for adequate weapon systems and munitions purchases, not to mention troop levels.
As an additional point of interest, Raz’s posting occurred on the very day that a NY Times article appeared concerning the F-35 Lightning II. Entitled ‘Lockheed in Talks to Reduce Price of F-35 Planes by 20%’ (by Christopher Drew, p. B-5), the article references Lockheed Martin, its CEO Robert J. Stevens, and the projected tri-service buy of F-35s (previously known as the Joint Strike Fighter). The article notes “the 2,457 planes could cost an average of $92.4 million before adjusting for inflation … Mr. Stevens said that if the Pentagon kept buying the planes at the planned pace, Lockheed believed it could bring the cost down, by 2014 or 2015, to a level comparable to updated and fully loaded versions of older fighters. That would mean reducing the price of each F-35 to $65 million or less.”
We, the American people, need to stop whining about defense spending and focus more on stories like this. And let’s remember that of 833 F-105s, 382 (about 46%) were lost in an unanticipated conventional war in SEA. We need to buy lots of F-22s and F-35s.
Unfortunately the PR department for anti-defense spending has more money than God and isn't afraid to press the congress critters with it.
I'd take him for a ride. No I'm not a pilot, but if someone would start the engines for me, I've flown enough sims that I could probably get him off the ground and over the ocean. After that I'm punching out, he's on his own from there. He's better than George Bush at EVERYTHING isn't he? I'm sure he could figure out how to land an F-15 by himself....
Everyone worries about the Russian Bear while forgetting the PRC already has in service their knock-off clone of the Lavi/Taifun.
It is a sad state of affairs that there is presently on the civil registries across the world almost as many WWII Mustangs as there will be F-22s.
And the July issue of Air&Space starting on pg 38 we have Eagle pilots worrying the F-22 won't be the air superiorty fighter the F-15 is because the F-22 is multi-mission.
Mr. Rasimus,
I own both of your books but do not know how to contact you so am writing here, thru the USPS and have contacted the Red River Vally Fighter Pilots Assn. My contact info is below. I live in a suburb of Sarasota Florida and am originally from Norman Park, GA 8NM north of where your WSO Kirby Carlton of Moultrie, GA is from. (don't hold this against me please) I want to have you autograph the books I bought if you are willing to do so. Thanks,
Charles Gayre
P.O. Box 1332
Osprey, FL 34229
Ph-941-320-8240
email: Farmbroker@Earthlink.net
But it's so pretty!!! And with regards to it being just an empty "demo model", I have little doubt that uncle barry will give them plenty of time to catch up...
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