It's hard to see SU30s and Rafales going to war with each other as both type of aircrafts are chosen and operated by countries unaligned to popular Democratic West. Countries who have acquired the two designs are ones that refuse to be dictate by America especially and it's allies generally; Britain and Australia. Of course countries who do allow themselves to be dictated are rewarded with lucrative industries that will enriched the ruling political party in power at that time. Britain and Australia are ones who benefitted the most through this sort of alignment to US. No doubt by doing so they provide jobs to their people, but the downside is of course they have to send their soldiers all across the world to die, all in the name of USAs interest. Excuses to go to war are sugar coated by words in the likes of democracy, freedom, human rights and so on.
Countries refused to be Pied Pipered by USA will look into acquiring SU30 and Rafale to defend their air. India is great example of a country acquiring both. And what a great buy that was.
Both fighters have great range, variation of weapons at their disposal, variation that are carrier based and in some countries they used the same Damocles pod.
They vary in size, price and certain capabilities ie. air to air Sukhoi may be slightly better than the rafale. SU 30 Is equipped with N011M BARS passive radar that can detect target at 400km an awesome range for BVR encounters and can act as a mini AWACS. The Sukhoi is also equipped with thrust vector nozzles giving it superb maneuverability and has also thrust vector missiles, a very big plus point for dogfighting. However in an unconfirm report of a training exercise between F22s and Rafales the sccored was 0-0 for BVR engagement. SU 30 is yet to go against a F22 in either BVR or dogfight.
Where air to ground is concern, Rafales may be at an advantage over Sukhois. Rafales has got fire and forget air to ground missile called Hammer where else weapons operator in a Sukhoi has to tiresomely tv guide it to its target. Rafales too can attack many target in one fly pass. It is very much doubtfully that SU 30 can do the same.
Where weapons and instruments are concerned Rafales are small enough to help in its mobility. The Sukhois are not as so.
Rafales systems are more complex but made simple as oppose to Sukhoi's that maybe simple but not as user friendly.
All in all India will have both fighters in the next year or so, and ultimately pit them against each other. Only then we will know which areas one shines the most over the other. Until then we will have to wait, that if India ever releases the result at all.
Saturday, 30 June 2012
Friday, 29 June 2012
SU 30...a poor man's multirole
Back in the old days Honda Accord used to be a poor man's Mercedes or not so long ago Hyundai a poor mans Jaguar. Presently Hyundai Sonata could qualify as poor man's Mercedes CLS and it's Tuscon an BMW X6 if you noticed. More importantly although they may not have the quality as well as the comfort of their rich man's counterpart, they still get their job done, that is to get their passangers to their destination.
Just like cars an SUVs, they are many multirole fighters available in today's international market. But like mercedes and BMWs not many can afford these multiroles that are in the likes of F15, Rafale, Typhoon and even the absolete Tornado as well as the not so obsolete Mirage. We very well see that in todays present and yesterdays past they belong only to the very rich of countries. So like Honda and Hyundai, middles class countries can only afford multiroles in the likes of F18, F16, Gripen and the cheapest of them all the SU30. Of course out of these poormans multiroles, only F 18 and SU 30 completes most of the requirement of a multirole fighter.
It is norm that countries aligned to Americas west will acquire F18 or F16 while countries that are not will buy into either Gripen and SU30.
Many middle class and upcoming middle class nation have opted for the multirole SU for their cheap pricing and it's capability to cover a wide and vast areas of airspace. China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia are Asian states that have either massive land or seaspace, or even both to protect so SU 30 serve as a cheap alternative to the other types.
Many too operates SU 27 the original derivative to SU 30, an air superiority fighter with basic air to ground role, again with a big tank to cover wide range of airspace.
In peace time time they are used more for air policing as well as sometimes sea patrolling from the air, and they do well in this area as they can cover wide areas. In the event of skirmishes or war SU 30s have a lethal range that put fear to even enemy that are distant to it.
SU 30 munitions too although huge and heavy by western standard are still lethal in its own right, more than enough to demolish any enemy target that is warranted by its operating state.
Like a Honda or hyundai, SU 30 gets the job done, of course maybe with a little discomfort, but for much a lesser price.
Just like cars an SUVs, they are many multirole fighters available in today's international market. But like mercedes and BMWs not many can afford these multiroles that are in the likes of F15, Rafale, Typhoon and even the absolete Tornado as well as the not so obsolete Mirage. We very well see that in todays present and yesterdays past they belong only to the very rich of countries. So like Honda and Hyundai, middles class countries can only afford multiroles in the likes of F18, F16, Gripen and the cheapest of them all the SU30. Of course out of these poormans multiroles, only F 18 and SU 30 completes most of the requirement of a multirole fighter.
It is norm that countries aligned to Americas west will acquire F18 or F16 while countries that are not will buy into either Gripen and SU30.
Many middle class and upcoming middle class nation have opted for the multirole SU for their cheap pricing and it's capability to cover a wide and vast areas of airspace. China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia are Asian states that have either massive land or seaspace, or even both to protect so SU 30 serve as a cheap alternative to the other types.
Many too operates SU 27 the original derivative to SU 30, an air superiority fighter with basic air to ground role, again with a big tank to cover wide range of airspace.
In peace time time they are used more for air policing as well as sometimes sea patrolling from the air, and they do well in this area as they can cover wide areas. In the event of skirmishes or war SU 30s have a lethal range that put fear to even enemy that are distant to it.
SU 30 munitions too although huge and heavy by western standard are still lethal in its own right, more than enough to demolish any enemy target that is warranted by its operating state.
Like a Honda or hyundai, SU 30 gets the job done, of course maybe with a little discomfort, but for much a lesser price.
Sunday, 10 June 2012
Mig 29...the way foward
Mig 29 was great fighter for its time and definitely was look at as an alternative benchmark to the western fighters in its day . It's weight to thrust was superb, it had the first ever helmet mounted sight capability and effective sensitive passive sensors. Even it's manouverability was mind breakingly hard to beat even by today's standard.
However it's lack of range, small numbers of hard points and poor serviceability that effect operational readiness create a big sense of dissatisfaction amongst operator countries. As time passed, minimal upgrades that was made available for this interceptor, however they were not enough to keep it at par or least close the gap with the most modern fighters that we have today.
This is a sad end for such a glorious fighter that could have had such a great future.
Mig 29 was a fighter designed to operate during wartime rather than peace time. The theory was that in an all out war most fighters would be shot latest by the third day. So it is wise just to make them simple and cheap. Even some of is parts were made of lower quality because the planes were deem not to last as long as the wear and tear of the spares the self.
By doing the above more planes could be easily be repaied or replaced during war if the need arises. As long these fighters are working fine and can maintain at an effective number, and quantity is a quality of its own, one can to win the war. We have seen this in the case of Low quality t34 but high in numbers against high standard of built of the tigers where the earlier prevailed.
In an all out war this brilliant concept would work well. However today an all out war is hard to come by, good of course, however this defeats the purpose of the way the mig 29 was built.
Today's fighters must perform peace time roles with little maintainance and cost less to operate. However in the light of war they must be able to perform multirole functions to cater the dire need of their air forces.
Actually Mig 29 has a lot more to give because it has a lot of room left for improvement, and if done this type has a fighting chance both in international sales and even air battles when the need arises.
Areas to look into for improvements for the mig 29 are;
1)adding on AESA radar
2)Adding additional hard points at the two wing tips and under the fuselage
3)building Conformal fuel tanks for it
4)Change the smokey engine
5)Add more mordern helmet mounted sight
6)Paint radar absorbing material
7)Thrust vector
8)add recce pod as well as targeting pod
9)Change certain parts with other material, ie titanium wings and fuselage to make it lighter and improve on the engine and other spare so that they will last longer.
The most prominent solution to this would be Mig 29 operators from different countries must team up and set up an entity to dwell on it's viability of improving their migs and proceed through it if they find it worthwhile. By doing this they can pull together their resources especially in the finance and attract technological advance companies to work with them on upgrading their interceptors. Russia for one might also agree either to take sole responsibility to upgrade these aircrafts or even work together with others to do so.
Many of these improvement can be made with the French even the Israelis companies. They have advance research in the above said areas of technologies. The French, israelis or even the British as well as other European countries would jump to the opportunity and would love to tag along on these projects and make enormous profits. So far attempt by these companies and even the Russian have failed because hey are unable to sell these improvements in quantity, thus there is no economic scale to support the sales.
Operating countries can agree on the standard upgrade and create a viable economic scale to support such upgrades.
By doing this current operating countries may keep its old migs and upgrade when nessacary which in most time it is. By doing this they can save a lot from buying new unproven fighters.
Based on the same formula F15 and F16, both 40 years old aircraft by design are still very much marketable today.
However it's lack of range, small numbers of hard points and poor serviceability that effect operational readiness create a big sense of dissatisfaction amongst operator countries. As time passed, minimal upgrades that was made available for this interceptor, however they were not enough to keep it at par or least close the gap with the most modern fighters that we have today.
This is a sad end for such a glorious fighter that could have had such a great future.
Mig 29 was a fighter designed to operate during wartime rather than peace time. The theory was that in an all out war most fighters would be shot latest by the third day. So it is wise just to make them simple and cheap. Even some of is parts were made of lower quality because the planes were deem not to last as long as the wear and tear of the spares the self.
By doing the above more planes could be easily be repaied or replaced during war if the need arises. As long these fighters are working fine and can maintain at an effective number, and quantity is a quality of its own, one can to win the war. We have seen this in the case of Low quality t34 but high in numbers against high standard of built of the tigers where the earlier prevailed.
In an all out war this brilliant concept would work well. However today an all out war is hard to come by, good of course, however this defeats the purpose of the way the mig 29 was built.
Today's fighters must perform peace time roles with little maintainance and cost less to operate. However in the light of war they must be able to perform multirole functions to cater the dire need of their air forces.
Actually Mig 29 has a lot more to give because it has a lot of room left for improvement, and if done this type has a fighting chance both in international sales and even air battles when the need arises.
Areas to look into for improvements for the mig 29 are;
1)adding on AESA radar
2)Adding additional hard points at the two wing tips and under the fuselage
3)building Conformal fuel tanks for it
4)Change the smokey engine
5)Add more mordern helmet mounted sight
6)Paint radar absorbing material
7)Thrust vector
8)add recce pod as well as targeting pod
9)Change certain parts with other material, ie titanium wings and fuselage to make it lighter and improve on the engine and other spare so that they will last longer.
The most prominent solution to this would be Mig 29 operators from different countries must team up and set up an entity to dwell on it's viability of improving their migs and proceed through it if they find it worthwhile. By doing this they can pull together their resources especially in the finance and attract technological advance companies to work with them on upgrading their interceptors. Russia for one might also agree either to take sole responsibility to upgrade these aircrafts or even work together with others to do so.
Many of these improvement can be made with the French even the Israelis companies. They have advance research in the above said areas of technologies. The French, israelis or even the British as well as other European countries would jump to the opportunity and would love to tag along on these projects and make enormous profits. So far attempt by these companies and even the Russian have failed because hey are unable to sell these improvements in quantity, thus there is no economic scale to support the sales.
Operating countries can agree on the standard upgrade and create a viable economic scale to support such upgrades.
By doing this current operating countries may keep its old migs and upgrade when nessacary which in most time it is. By doing this they can save a lot from buying new unproven fighters.
Based on the same formula F15 and F16, both 40 years old aircraft by design are still very much marketable today.
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