READ the cover story of this week’s Jewish Journal exploring the organizing work of One LA-IAF -

One LA-IAF is a broad-based organization of congregations, schools, unions, and community groups throughout Los Angeles County, affiliated with the  Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), the oldest and largest national organizing and leadership development network in the United States.

The primary purpose of One LA is to enable its member organizations to effectively deal with the issues affect their constituents. This is done through building relationships between IAF’s institutions and their people, acting together on commonly identified issues affecting our families and communities, and building leaders.

Immanuel connects with One LA through the Immanuel Community Organizing Team. We organize our congregation to collectively identify issues that most affect our daily lives and then do something about them.

• We identify members who desire to work together to address neighborhood,
community, regional, and countywide issues.
• We build the capacity, ability and willingness of our people to address these issues.
• We represent our church in the Central Region of One LA.
• We support other One LA institutions in addressing their issues and coordinate
the countywide organizing of One LA.

If you want to get involved, please contact Jane Hirsch or One LA organizer, Robert Hoo at rhoo@metroiaf.org

عرض جميع نتائج البحث في الويب لـ صور الباك الإسلامي

UFO spotted in Kuwait?

Posted: 24-11-2009 , 13:51 GMT

Two men in Kuwait told local media that they spotted what they called a “flying saucer.”The UFO, one man said, first appeared on the 10th of November and resembled an illuminated halo. The second man, a government employee, spotted a UFO nine days later. After reading of the UFO account by the first man, he decided to report the incident to the police, saying it matched the description of the first man. The body carries the same attributes mentioned by Failakawi [the first identifier], it contains considerable light in the middle and is lined with small lights,” Kuwaiti daily Al Rai quoted the second man as saying.     The man also told reporters that the object flew horizontally before disappearing behind a condominium in the Sabah al Salem area.   Despite reports in Kuwaiti media, no photos or recordings have been provided as proof of the two citings. Nevertheless, the two men and several supporters have defended what the men saw, saying two identical descriptions by strangers cannot be a coincidence.   Others, however, have argued that the men merely witnessed solar reflections from small meteorites. © 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

سفير مصر بالجزائر يعود للقاهرة “للتشاور”

Triple impact and female kickboxing  

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نجلا الرئيس مبارك، علاء وجمال، كانا ضمن مشجعي المنتخب المصري بمباراة الخرطوم

القاهرة، مصر (CNN)– أعلنت وزارة الخارجية المصرية الأحد، أن سفير مصر لدى الجزائر عبد العزيز سيف النصر، عاد إلى القاهرة مساء السبت بعد استدعائه “للتشاور”،، وقدم تقريراً لوزير الخارجية أحمد أبو الغيط، حول “الاعتداءات” التي تعرض لها مصريون بالجزائر.

وقال المتحدث باسم وزارة الخارجية، حسام زكي، إن “التقرير أوضح ملابسات الاعتداءات التي تعرضت لها بعض المؤسسات والشركات المصرية بالجزائر، وما تعرض له عدد من المصريين هناك، من عمليات تخويف وترويع”، في أعقاب المواجهة بين منتخبي البلدين، ضمن التصفيات المؤهلة لكأس العالم.

ونقلت وكالة أنباء الشرق الأوسط أن السفير سيف النصر “تلقى عدة توجيهات في هذا الصدد، من وزير الخارجية”، مشيرة إلى أن الوزير وجه مجدداً بـ”تسخير كافة إمكانيات السفارة للتواصل بشكل مستمر مع أعضاء الجالية المصرية في كافة أنحاء الجزائر، بهدف معالجة أية مشكلات يتعرضون لها.”

وكانت الخارجية المصرية قد استدعت سفير الجزائر بالقاهرة عبد القادر حجار الخميس، لتقديم “احتجاج شديد اللهجة”، كما أبلغته “استياء مصر البالغ من الاعتداءات التي تعرض لها المواطنون المصريون الذين توجهوا إلى الخرطوم لتشجيع الفريق المصري على أيدي المشجعين الجزائريين.”

ووصفت القاهرة “الاعتداءات” على المشجعين المصريين لمنتخبهم الوطني لكرة القدم في السودان، وعلى المصالح المصرية في الجزائر، بـ”الوحشية.”

وكان الرئيس المصري حسني مبارك قد خصص غالبية خطابه أمام البرلمان السبت، للحديث عن “الاعتداءات” التي تعرض لها عدد من المصريين، قائلاً إن “مصر لن تتهاون مع من يسيء إلى أبنائها”، مؤكداً أن “حماية المصريين في الخارج هي مسؤولية الدولة.”

وفي وقت سابق، كلف مبارك الوزير أبو الغيط، باستدعاء سفير الجزائر بالقاهرة، حيث نقل إليه مطالبة مصر للجزائر بأن تتحمل مسؤولياتها في حماية المواطنين المصريين الموجودين على أراضيها، ومختلف المنشآت والمصالح المصرية بالجزائر.

وتأهل المنتخب الجزائري لبطولة كأس العالم “جنوب أفريقيا 2010″، بعد فوزه على نظيره المصري بهدف دون رد، في المباراة الفاصلة التي جمعتهما بالخرطوم الأربعاء الماضي، والتي جاءت بعد أيام على فوز منتخب مصر على نظيره الجزائري بهدفين نظيفين بالقاهرة، مما اضطر المنتخبين للجوء إلى مباراة فاصلة.

وشهد حي “الزمالك” الشهير بالقاهرة مظاهرات غاضبة مساء الخميس الماضي، أمام مقر السفارة الجزائرية، احتجاجاً على “الاعتداءات” التي تعرض لها مصريون في الخرطوم والجزائر.

Womens International

MuayThai

WIN Sandra Bastian
Decision

In a battle featuring two of the top female athletes in the world, Canada’s Sandra Heart Bastian squared off against Britain’s Anna The Ginger Warrior Zucchelli. Zucchelli was coming off winning the IFMA European Championships in Latvia in May. The bout opened with Zucchelli spending most of her time delivering probing low tiips at Bastian’s lead knee. Though none landed successfully, Zucchelli was to continue to attempt to apply pressure at the Canadian. During the first round Zuchelli was to throw long range kicks that appeared to have her holding back on her power. In the first clinch of the two athletes, Zuccelli managed to spin and dump Bastian to the canvas – only once during the match. At the end of the first round Bastian was to admit that she had seriously injured her shoulder, and after the fight it was confirmed to be a torn muscle grouping.

The remainder of the fight see-sawed back and forth between the two athletes. Zucchelli continued to try and move forward, and surprisingly it appeared her power did not increase in her kicks. Bastian did not have her usual pizzazz in this bout and spent most of her time counter striking. The opening of the bout appeared stronger for the British girl, while the last rounds appeared more successful for the Canadian. The decision went to Bastian.

“I do not mean to sound terrible, but both of the two athletes looked like they were ‘off’ on this day. Neither athlete appeared to carry power in their shots. The decision surprised me because personally, I felt that Zucchelli could have swung the bout had she come up with a heartier performance. However, the officials scored it differently. All of these officials have participated in judging seminars conducted by the UK’s Tony Myers, so they understand the scoring system as well. Mr. Judd protested the decision, and I feel that as a coach he did the right thing. Regardless of the outcome of the bout, these two athletes will have to meet again, as I am sure Zucchelli wants revenge and I know Sandra will want to redeem herself as well. Fullest respect to Anna Zucchelli and her coach Bill Judd”, said Bastian’s coach Mike Miles.

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Iran launches its huge Modafean-e (Defenders) Aseman-e-Velayat air defense exercise Sunday, Nov. 22, to protect its nuclear sites, after failing to persuade Russia to deliver the linchpin of its air defenses, S-300 missiles. For two weeks, high-ranking Iranian politicians and generals bombarded Moscow to make good on its contract to supply the key weapon, to no avail. Saturday, Nov. 21, Iran’s air force commander Brig. Gen. Ahmad Mighani spoke at length about the highly sophisticated S-300, without which, DEBKAfile’s military sources say, Iran has no real defense against US and Israeli aerial or missile strikes against its nuclear installations.

Indian Express, New Dehli

Two days after he said women could be recruited as fighter pilots only if they did not become mothers till a certain age, Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal P K Barbora on Thursday took a swipe at the political class, saying politics over defence purchases impinged “very badly” on the country’s military requirements.

“As far as defence goes, we don’t even match up with Pakistan,” Barbora, while referring to Defence exports, told an aerospace seminar organised in New Delhi by the CII.

“The internal politics over the years is such that whatever defence requirements are cleared by the government, they are opposed by the opposition parties and the same happens when roles change and the opposition sits in government. That impinges very badly on our defence requirements.”

He asked the private defence industry to take note of the China example on reverse engineering of defence technologies. “Forget about ethics. China has done reverse engineering. Has anyone ever had the courage to ask China why are you doing it? No one cares a hoot. If you can’t do it yourself, you should know how to do reverse engineering.”

اوباما ينحني نصف قامته امام امبرطور اليابان

the attack and negative criticism that the famous Lebanese artist Haifa Wahbe received back when she released the video clip for her the song “Al Wawa” (Bubo) a few years ago. The writer Wisam Al Amir, composer Dani Yunis and the director of the clip Ameel Cilati all received similar criticism as well.

اوباما ينحني نصف قامته امام امبرطور اليابان

Hussein Fahmi teary-eyed at the Lawyers’ Association

Somayah’s voice and songs different from Shireen’s

Abas Al Nouri to return to “Bab Al Harah”

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force today said it was planning to have women fighter pilots in future, but they will be inducted with a pre-condition of not bearing children till a certain age.”In a few years time, we might see this change (women getting inducted as fighter pilots) coming in with certain pre-conditions that till this age we request you to be happy, be married, but no offsprings,” IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal P K Barbora told reporters here.”After 13-14 years of service, investments made on fighter pilots are actually recovered by the government,” he said in an indication that women fighter pilots will be allowed to have kids only after putting in 13-14 years in IAF.Now, women in the age group of 21-23 years are inducted into the flying branch and may be allowed to start family after crossing the 35-37 years age bracket.The IAF Vice-Chief said if a woman pilot has to take pregnancy leave, she will be off-flying for around 10 months, which will not be fruitful for both her and the Service.Citing reasons for Services not inducting women into combat arms, Barbora said, the armed forces “feel that it is not right to have a lady or a woman exposed to a conflict where she can be a prisoner of war.”"Secondly, psychologically, are we fit? another factor,” he added. Barbara said: “Even male pilots are allowed to change streams only after they have put in certain number of years in service.”He said for “purposes of show”, IAF can induct a batch of ladies and they can participate in day-to-day exercises.But, “it may not be prudent” if the Force is not able to operationally engage them for flying after investing money and training them.He said “step by step”, the Force has moved ahead and hoped that in few years of time, lady fighter pilots would be inducted.When asked about the Pakistan Air Force having inducted women in their fighter stream, Barbora said, “a week ago, a senior dignitary of their air force met a senior dignitary of IAF and said that we had recruited seven of them (women fighter pilots), but only one is remaining in the fighter stream.”Citing examples of the Israeli and US air forces, where women have been operating as fighter pilots for quite some time now, he said “there also women pilots are not exposed to direct combat.”At present, around 500 women officers are serving in all the branches of the Force other than the fighter stream.

The Kingdom | Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner | Official Site | On DVD …bak-satanism-george-youssef

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New Delhi, Nov 17: President Pratibha Devisingh Patil is all set to enter Guinness Book of world records on November 25 by becoming the first lady president to fly a fighter jet.

The President will fly on the fourth-generation twin-seater Sukhoi-30MKI at the Lohegaon airbase in Pune on November 25.

“We all should be proud that it will be a record in the world that a lady president will fly the latest technology aircraft…I think we all Indians should be proud of that why to talk of the Indian Air Force. India has created many firsts and this is the another first and it also shows women empowerment,” said Air Marshal PK Barbora, Vice Chief of the Air Staff.

The Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force said on Tuesday that President Patil has been declared fully fit for the flight and no modifications have been done for her on the aircraft.

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1. MÜLLER, A. G.; BERGAMASCHI, H.; BERGONCI, J. I.; RADIN, B. FRANÇA, S.; SILVA, M. I. G. da; Estimativa do índice de área foliar do milho a partir da soma de graus-dia. Revista Brasileira de Agrometeorologia, Santa Maria, v. 13, n. 1, p. 65-71, 2005. Disponível em <http://www.sbagro.org.br/rbagro/pdfs/artigo504.pdf>.

By: RupeeNews | Moin Ansari

The Pakistan Air Force has unveiled plans to purchase, build and fly more than 150 J-10 planes, one the finest flying birds in the Chinese inventory. This acquision (which includes shared development, improvement in design, and local manufacting in Pakistan) will add unprecedented fire power to the PAF which is continueing to build, and export the JF-17 Thunders. Islamabad plans to build more than 500 JF-17 Thunders and keep at least 250 of these for its own use.

Some versions of the redesigned J-10s will take off in 2009, however the official flight date for the Pakistani FC-20s is 2015, but in actuality the Pakistanis are way ahead on the schedule and working beyond the J-10 redesigns. The PAF is looking beyond the JF-17 thunders and the J-10s. The design for the next generation of Pakistani aircraft has already begun. The Chinese J-10s are ready for export now. The rediesgn and upgrade of the FC-20s will take about five more years. Here is a report by Defense Industry Daily, a very respectable news source on defense equipment.

Pakistani FC-20s–improved and redesigned versions of J-10s made per Pakistani specifications–will be manufactured in Pakistan: In November 2009, a long-rumored deal was announced for China’s Jian-10/ FC-20 4+ generation fighter, whose overall performance compares well with the F-16C/D Block 52 aircraft that Pakistan has ordered from the United States.

Pakistan and China have been cooperating for a number of years on the JF-17/ FC-1 Thunder, a low-medium performance, low-cost aircraft that has attracted interest and orders from a number of 3rd World air forces. In November 2009, a long-rumored deal was announced for China’s Jian-10/ FC-20 4+ generation fighter, whose overall performance compares well with the F-16C/D Block 52 aircraft that Pakistan has ordered from the United States.

The J-10 has been reported as a derivative of the 1980s Israeli Lavi project, and reportedly incorporates an Israeli fly-by-wire control base that was transferred in the project’s early years. The change in relations that followed the Tienanmen Square massacre hurt the J-10 project badly, however, forcing the replacement of planned Western avionics and engines with Chinese and Russian equipment. The required redesign was very extensive, affected all areas of the airframe, and took over a decade, amounting to the development of a new aircraft. The first operational J-10 unit entered service with the PLAAF in July 2004.

China has reportedly ordered 100 J-10s to date. The initial Pakistani order is for 2 squadrons, but could expand as technical cooperation and orders increase. The $1+ billion sale represents the J-10’s first export order… but almost certainly not its last.

Chinese J-10
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Nov 11/09: Widespread reports surface that Pakistan has signed a $1.4 billion contract for 36 of CATIC’s Jian-10 fighters, which will be known as FC-20 in Pakistan. The deal is described as a preliminary agreement, and there are reports that Pakistan may eventually be interested in acquiring up to 150 of these aircraft. Retired Pakistani general Abdul Qayyum is qoted as saying that:

“The agreement should not simply be seen in the narrow context of Pakistan’s relations with China…. There is a wider dimension. By sharing its advanced technology with Pakistan, China is … also saying to the world that its defence capability is growing rapidly.”

The UK’s Financial Times echoes this theme, noting that the $21.7 billion Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) group is rapidly emerging as a big military goods exporter. The group is also involved in China’s civilian aircraft program, and gives only total revenue figures, but the Financial Times quotes industry sources who believe a recent remerger of 2 split-out groups late in 2008 was aimed at creating a bigger and internationally competitive player.

It is not clear whether Pakistan’s FC-20s will carry Russian Salyut AL-31FN turbofans (17,130/ 27,557 pounds dry/afterburner thrust) that are similar to the engines in many SU-27 family aircraft, or the larger Chinese WS-10A derivative (reportedly a lesser 16,523/ 24,729 pounds dry/afterburner thrust) developed by China’s AVIC Aviation Engine Institute and Shenyang Liming Aero-Engine Group. Pakistan’s Daily Times |IBN Live | Press Trust of India | Times of India | UK Financial Times.

Pakistani FC-20s improved the J-10B: Nov 11/09: Widespread reports surface that Pakistan has signed a $1.4 billion contract for 36 of CATIC’s Jian-10 fighters, which will be known as FC-20 in Pakistan. The deal is described as a preliminary agreement, and there are reports that Pakistan may eventually be interested in acquiring up to 150 of these aircraft. Retired Pakistani general Abdul Qayyum is qoted as saying that:

March 7/09: The Associated Press of Pakistan reports that a contract for 42 co-produced JF-17/ FC-1 fighters has been signed in Islamabad by China’s CATIC and the Pakistani Air Force, financed by “seller’s credit.” Production capacity is listed at 15 aircraft in the first year, rising to 30 aircraft per year thereafter. Pakistan has been flying 8 aircraft to work out tactics, techniques, and procedures, and expects to stand up the first JF-17 squadron before the end of 2009. The aircraft will be based at Peshawar, alongside existing Chinese-made Q-5/A-5C “Fantan” fighters that are a hugely modified Chinese derivative of the MiG-19, and their accompanying JJ-6/FT-6 MiG-19 trainers.

The article adds a quote from Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed. He reiterates that cooperation on China’s canard-winged J-10/FC-20 is also progressing, with first deliveries to Pakistan expected in 2014-15. CATIC’s President MA Zhiping reportedly added that the first FC-20 aircraft built under that agreement would fly in 2009. APP | Pakistan’s The News.

March 29/07: Pakistan’s The News International references an interview that Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed gves to Jane’s:

“On other important projects with China, the Pakistani air chief also revealed that Pakistan is well advanced in negotiations with China on the possible acquisition of up to 40 J-10 fighters which are the most advanced fighter aircrafts so far produced by China. Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf was given a detailed briefing on the J-10 during his last visit to China.

“We are serious in our discussions and, as air chief, I look forward to getting this programme (of the J-10) to a stage where we can contract this. I am looking at two squadrons of aircraft, anywhere between 32 and 40 platforms,” said the Air chief.”Defense Industry Daily

The Pakistan Airforce has become an essential ingredient in the design and manufacture of Chinese aircraft. The Sino-Pakistani symbiosis is developing some of the best planes anywhere–at a fraction of the cost. The original metallurgy was Chinese, but now the manufacturing expertise developed in Kanbra and Sargodha provide valuable feedback to Beijing about the viability of the redesign. The PAF places tremendous pressure on the PLA Airforce on upgrading the aircraft to world class standards. The basic designs of the aircraft are taken from Russian prototypes, but the avionics, cockpits, and aerodynamics are provided by the PAF to the PLA Airforce. The joint ventures assist both countries in producing world class aircraft in record time.

In December 2008, rumors were rife of the J-10’s latest incarnation, the J-10B, had taken off for the first time. Now in April 2009, we see the initial leak of images for this plane. The J-10B appears as the next iteration of China’s vaunted 4th Generation fighter and looks to take the J-10 to the 4.5 Generation level.Grande Strategy

Why did Pakistan refuse the F-16s? There are three reasons for this location, location and location. The J-10s come with TOT (transfer of technology) while the F-16s come with stringent rules and regulations. The earthquake in Azad Kashmir allowed Pakistan a prefect opportunity to dump the F-16s and place an order for the J-10s also known as the FC-20s. Now, the time is near for receiving the FC-20s.

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has shown a great deal of interest in the J-10 project as a possible substitute for Western combat aircraft for its high end requirements. The PAF, however, wanted a more modern version. Just as the FC-1s (and before the FC-1, the F-7s) were significantly upgraded due to the PAF’s push for improvements, the J-10 appears to be going through a similar phase. The reason for this is that the PAF has a far closer view of Western technologies and trends and thus can provide deeper insight than more insulated Chinese expertise. The J-10B in all likelihood has had major input from the PAF and is the FC-20 that the PAF has ordered. Grande Strategy

Is there a difference between the J-10s and the FC-20s. There is a world of difference. The Pakistan Airforce is one of the few Airforces in the world that flies Chinese and US equipment. The PAF has a lot of experience with F-86s Sabres, F-104s, and of course the F-16s. The Chinese have neither the experience nor the US equipment. Therefore it is very important for the PLA Airforce to partner with the PAF in designing and upgrading Russian designs. The PAF has been instrumental in helping the Chinese improve the basic deisgn of the FC-10s which emerged as the JF-17 Thunder. The PAFs role in improve the J-10s is recognized by the Chinese. The FC-20 is a vastly superior plane than the original J-10.

Chinese experts were observed giving exhaustive information on the J-10A to military delegations from Angola, Nigeria and Venezuela at the air show. Venezuela seemed most interested in the aircraft.

The first foreign buyer of the J-10A will be Pakistan, a source from the Chinese aviation industry said. In March, Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshall Tanvir MehmoodAhmed confirmed that a deal with China had been reached, and the aircraft would be delivered in 2014 and 2015. The version for Pakistan will be called the FC-20. UPI Asia. (Andrei Chang is editor-in-chief of Kanwa Defense Review Monthly, registered in Toronto, Canada. John Wu is a reporter for the same magazine.)

Pakistan used the earthquake as the perfect opportunity to gently turn down the offer of 60 F-16s (block 50) to Pakistan and reduced the number of American planes to be purchased. The Pakistanis then further diversified the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). In Pakistani minds, the US is an unreliable arms supplier. Pakistan has suffered many times by American sanctions. President Musharraf and PAF head was invited to China to evaluate China’s latest toy, at the time, the J-10.

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has shown a great deal of interest in the J-10 project as a possible substitute for Western combat aircraft for its high end requirements. The PAF, however, wanted a more modern version. Just as the FC-1s (and before the FC-1, the F-7s) were significantly upgraded due to the PAF’s push for improvements, the J-10 appears to be going through a similar phase. The reason for this is that the PAFhas a far closer view of Western technologies and trends and thus can provide deeper insight than more insulated Chinese expertise. The J-10B in all likelihood has had major input from the PAF and is the FC-20 that the PAF has ordered. Grande Strategy

Pakistan is in midst of building about 500 JF-17 Thunder fighters, probably the biggest build up of planes in the history of the world. This is one of the greatest achievements of the Pakistani government in the past 8 years. This project removes the Pakistani defense from the shackles of foreign government. One can argue about the comparison with 4thgeneration American state-of-the-art planes, but this much is clear—it was designed for Pakistan, and is being produced in Pakistan. Serious plans are underway to upgrade the plane to new levels.HongKong, China — China is aiming at a substantial share of the international market for third-generation fighter aircraft, with a particular eye on oil-rich third-world countries as part of its arms-for-oil strategy. This was evidenced by the high-profile display of its J-10A fighter at the 2008 Zhuhai Air Show last November.

China did have its own indigenous engine on display at the show, the Taihangturbofan engine, with a thrust power of 13,200 kilograms – although some experts say it is only 12,800 kilograms. The Taihang’s exterior design and modular structure, as well as the processing and polishing technologies of the core machine and engine blades, seem to be an improvement over China’s previous aviation engines, but it is still far behind similar systems from Russia and Western countries.

Pakistan, on the other hand, is not a traditional client of Russian aircraft. Therefore Russia allowed its engines to be used on the JF-17 fighters China is developing with Pakistan. The same arrangement may therefore hold for the J-10A. UPI Asia

India, which according to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is supposed to be a friend of Pakistan and not an “enemy” has been meddling with the Chinese and the Russian deals on aircraft exports. Delhi unsuccessfully tried to halt the export of the Russian engines to Pakistan when it was manufacturing the JF-17 Thunders. Delhi failed to convince Moscow and Pakistan got the Russian engines. There is a Pakistani plan to upgrade the JF-17 Thunders with Chinese made engines ultimately manufactured in Pakistan.

The J-10B incorporates a new small ECM housing on the vertical stabilizer and this stabilizer also appears to be longer and ending in a “shark-fin”. The ECM housing is similar to the housing on the JF-17. The two ventral fins are also extended further and are larger irrespective of the shark-fin. The aerodynamic refinements of the longer vertical stabilizer and the ventral fins appear to be a result of the DSI intakes which create greater lateral forces on the aircraft.

The wide angle HUD featured on the J-11Bs seem to have also appeared on the J-10B. While it cannot be confirmed, it appears that the cockpit itself has been redesigned extensively. Other than the new ECM housing on the vertical stabilizer, new MAWs appear on the tail bump. Just below these, curious breaks appear on the fuselage that some observers are referring to as possible formation lights “slime lights”, but expert opinion from a Lockheed Martin source suggest that they are FLIR sensors. A redesigned satellite communication unit appears right behind the cockpit.

A retractable refueling probe is likely, given the development of the J-10 thus far, and is possibly located on the port side, not visible in the latest photographs. The photographs also suggest new under-wing pylons. These appear to be strengthened for a variety of possible uses, ranging from larger drop tanks to ASMs.

The engine is likely to be either a redesigned WS-10A (B?) or possibly the WS-15, a new generation engine currently in advanced development. This would not only have higher thrust than the AL-31s, but also feature TVCs, giving the J-10Bs vaunted agility an even greater boost. The actual engine on the aircraft presently on the released pictures, is the AL-31. Grande Strategy

Both China and Pakistan want to build the FC-20s with Chinese Engines and Pakistani technology on license from Europe. Thus the upgraded FC-20 will truly be a different plane than the original J-10.

The J-10A is currently equipped with Russian-made AL-31F aviation engines. It is unclear whether Russia will permit China to install these engines on its aircraft and then export them to Pakistan. Such a move would have not only economic but also political repercussions, considering that Pakistan’s rival, India, is a major purchaser of Russian arms.

For this reason, the export version of the J-10A fighter is still under design. Both the engine and the weapon systems on board will be different from the domestic version, according to the source from the Chinese aviation industry.UPI Asia.

India’s unnecessary interference in the JF-17 Thunder deal did not delay the design to manufacture of the Thunders. The first squadron of the Thunders was recently placed in combat operations in Peshawar Air base. While Bharat is purchasing $10 Billion worth of airplanes because it cannot produce its own, the Pakistanis are now in the forefront of aircraft development.

India has been using the Russian AL-31FP engine extensively in its fighter aircraft. If China exports large numbers of J-10P/FC-20 fighters outfitted withRussian engines to Pakistan, India will be much more concerned over this deal than with China’s earlier export of JF-17 2.5-generation fighters to Pakistan. As a third-generation combat aircraft, the J-10A will pose a real threat to the Indian Air Force.

With this concern, India sent a strong delegation to the Zhuhai Air Show to expand its contacts with the Chinese, led by its air chief of staff. The Indian Air Force’s aerobatics demonstration team also put on a performance at this event. UPI Asia

Curiosity killed the cat. The Bharati generals are curious about what Pakistan has been able to do with a basic Chinese design, and which to their chagrinthey have been unable to do with Russian equipment. Bharat’s LCA and Tejas fighters have been in development for the past two decades with no end in sight while the JF-17 Thunders have already been operationalized with a squadron ready for combat in Peshawar. 450 more are on the way.

At the Singapore Air Show earlier last year, Indian Air Chief Marshall Fali Homi Major had already carefully inspected the simulation cockpit of the JF-17, which is being jointly developed by China and Pakistan. His trip to Zhuhai was to examine the J-10A/ FC-20 fighter. UPI Asia

The Russian-Indian arms relationship has been in the doldrums, the victim of geopolitical wrangling as well as Russian reluctance to transfer technology to Delhi. The case of the Russian Aircraft Career is a classic lesson in a relationship that has gone sour. The Russians keep escalating the price of the carrier, the Indians keep complaining and there is no agreement on the delivery of the Admiral G.

In contrast to India’s increased interest in engaging with China, Russia sent a much smaller delegation than usual to Zhuhai. For the first time, Russia did not exhibit any combat aircraft or radar systems at the air show. Some representatives of Russian enterprises even cancelled their planned trips to China at the last minute.

Since China has achieved technological independence it does not bank on Russian planes or technology.

The J-10B incorporates a new small ECM housing on the vertical stabilizer and this stabilizer also appears to be longer and ending in a “shark-fin”. The ECM housing is similar to the housing on the JF-17. The two ventral fins are also extended further and are larger irrespective of the shark-fin. The aerodynamic refinements of the longer vertical stabilizer and the ventral fins appear to be a result of the DSI intakes which create greater lateral forces on the aircraft.

The wide angle HUD featured on the J-11Bs seem to have also appeared on the J-10B. While it cannot be confirmed, it appears that the cockpit itself has been redesigned extensively. Other than the new ECM housing on the vertical stabilizer, new MAWs appear on the tail bump. Just below these, curious breaks appear on the fuselage that some observers are referring to as possible formation lights “slime lights”, but expert opinion from a Lockheed Martin source suggest that they are FLIR sensors. A redesigned satellite communication unit appears right behind the cockpit.

A retractable refueling probe is likely, given the development of the J-10 thus far, and is possibly located on the port side, not visible in the latest photographs. The photographs also suggest new under-wing pylons. These appear to be strengthened for a variety of possible uses, ranging from larger drop tanks to ASMs.

The engine is likely to be either a redesigned WS-10A (B?) or possibly the WS-15, a new generation engine currently in advanced development. This would not only have higher thrust than the AL-31s, but also feature TVCs, giving the J-10Bs vaunted agility an even greater boost. The actual engine on the aircraft presently on the released pictures, is the AL-31.

Like the J-10S, a J-10BS is also eventually likely. This would be an advanced trainer with the 360 degree view similar to the J-10S. EW/Wild Weasel variants could also eventually be possible.Grande Strategy

Now reports are surfacing that China has been able to duplicate the SU-27, the most lethal bird in the air. The Chinese version of the Sukhoi SU-27 (Flanker) is now called the J-11. The Su-30MKI (another derivative of the SU-27), a heavy-class fighter, with the F-16C Block 50, F-16C Block 60, and F-18E/F aircraft is largely theoretical. The American Fighters belong to conceptually different fighter classes and have their own, preferential areas of combat employment. The F-18E/F version, owing to the F/A-18 basic design, features a more pronounced strike-mission capability, while in terms of dimensions, this aircraft is close to the Russian fighter.The basic price for the J-10A is about US$29.3 million, according to the Chinese source. Considering that China aims to sell this fighter primarily to oil-producing countries – and is prepared to trade it for oil and other natural resources – it could be an attractive option for such countries.

A general assessment of the export version of the J-10A fighter can concludethat its engine has less thrust than the F-16 Block 52, while its radar system is more or less on a par with the Zhuk-ME multifunction radar on the Russian MiG-28 SMT. This is because Russia’s Phazotron Design Bureau exported to China three sets of its Zemchung multiroleradar systems after 2001, allowing China to come up with its own version of the Zhuk-ME radar. This radar has a detection range of 120 kilometers for 5m2 aerial targets and can attack four targets in the air simultaneously.

By: PKKH

Farhan Bokhari, Islamabad

China has agreed to sell Pakistan at least 36 advanced fighter jets in a deal worth as much as $1.4bn, according to Pakistani and western officials.

Beijing will supply two squadrons of the J-10 fighter jet in a preliminary agreement that could lead to more sales, said a Pakistani official. The official said Pakistan might buy “larger numbers” of the multi-role aircraft in the future, but dismissed reports that Islamabad had signed a deal to purchase as many as 150 of the fighter jets.

Defence experts described the agreement with China as a landmark event in Pakistan’s defence relationship with the military power. China’s transition from a manufacturer of low-fighters to more advanced jets comparable to some western models is seen as evidence of Beijing’s increasing strategic clout in Asia.

“China is developing a real capacity to produce and export its arms. At one point, the Chinese were dependent on imported Russian technology, but obviously China has advanced significantly beyond those days,” said Marika Vicziany, Professor of Asian studies at Monash University in Melbourne.

“This agreement should not simply be seen in the narrow context of Pakistan’s relations with China,” said Abdul Qayyum, a retired Pakistani general.

“There is a wider dimension. By sharing its advanced technology with Pakistan, China is … also saying to the world that its defence capability is growing rapidly.”

China has supplied Pakistan with fighter jets for more than three decades. But Beijing has seldom supplied Pakistan’s air force with advanced fighter aircraft. Islamabad turned to France for Mirage fighter jets in the 1970s and to the US for F-16s in the 1980s.

Pakistan has a fleet of 45 F-16s built by Lockheed Martin. The Pakistani air force is using the fighter jet in its campaign against militants in South Waziristan.

The US has agreed to sell Islamabad another 18 new F-16s and Pakistani officials also expected the US to supply about a dozen older versions of the aircraft.

Over the past decade, China and Pakistan have collaborated on building their first jointly produced advanced fighter jet, known as the JF-17, or “Thunder”. Pakistan is expected to roll out the first domestically built version of the Thunder within weeks.

Pakistan’s air force plans to purchase at least 250 of the Thunder fighters over the next four to five years.

Experts see the new Pakistani focus on China as evidence that Beijing is trying to expand its military power.

“Countries like Iran and possibly some of the Middle Eastern countries would be keen to deal with China if they can find technology which is comparable to the west,” said one western official in Islamabad.

“Pakistan will work as the laboratory to try out Chinese aircraft. If they work well with the Pakistani air force, others will follow.”

Hello everyone,

One of us attended the Airforce FTS at Delhi yesterday…not a lucky chap…got out after the PP-GD round….in his own words..

” Hi, I attended IAF’s FTS on Saturday 7th November 2009. The air force had published an advertisement for this on the 31st October. It called for Electronics (read : electronics, E&I, E&C, Telecommunication, CS, IT etc) and Mechanical students for the post of Aeronautical Engineering. The tests were to be held at many places through the country. In fact, at some places these were already over. We were supposed to register for the EKT (Engineering Knowledge Test) at the venues between 8-11AM on the assigned days.

On 7th I reached the venue (NSIT) at 8am….there was already a big crowd outside. The airforce personnel then asked us to form queues according to our streams. By the time my turn came it was 2 o’clock in the afternoon (I STOOD THERE IN THE QUEUE FOR NEARLY 6 HOURS!!!)!

The process was quite simple….but GOD knows why they took so much of time. All they did was keep a part of the registration form with themselves and hand us the other part after assigning us registration numbers. They had asked for identity proof and nearly all the certificates a graduate is supposed to have…but never bothered to even see them (though it is possible that due to the sheer number of E&C grads they relaxed this part).

After registration numbers were alloted to us, we were supposed to wait outside the college’s E&C department (wow…what a gorgeous college!!) till we were called for our written exam. The wait was quite frustrating because of the way they had assigned us the registration numbers!! Ours was the last batch of the day…we were seated inside the hall at 7pm. A “FLIGHT-LIEUTENANT” came at 7.30 to our hall to conduct the exam.

The test::

• Had two parts :: General Engineering & Specialist paper (E&C, CS, etc)
• No negative marking
• The first paper was having 40 questions and needed to be returned before getting the second one.
• The second one had 35 questions.
• The question papers were to be returned…in NEAT & CLEAN condition
• Although there were 5 options in the question paper only 4 were available on the answer sheet…that too we had to cross out and not the usual shade in.

About the nature of the questions:

GENERAL ENGINEERING:

Not that tough, but for someone like me it was a bit worrying (weak memory ) Some of the questions that came are ::

• Chemistry: about elements electronic config, isotopes, electron spin, partial pressure
• Physics: Radioactivity, Magnetism, hydrometer (??), escape velocity
• Maths : Probability, trignometry, basic aptitude, permutation and combination, complex numbers

SPECIALIST PAPER (EC):

Was relatively easy. The questions asked were about RADAR range, frequency used for sonar, life of satellites, trackball (yes, in specialist paper!), R3E encoding (WHAT’S THAT!?), geostationary satellite maximum coverage angle etc

I attended only the questions I knew and finished it in about 35-40 minutes (had a bad headache and wanted to go home)…they didn’t even let us leave before time!

On the 8th morning I was back at the NSIT & results actually had been pasted on the college entrance. I was in for the PPGD.

The Air Force staff came in at about 8.30 and we were allotted badges bearing numbers (they called them CHEST NUMBERS ). We were asked to wait in a hall for sometime. After the arrangements were ready, we were called out and asked to sit in the same hall according to our assigned numbers.

After we were seated one officer introduced himself and told us how to go about filling in the form and how to do the picture perception test. The picture was shown to us for 30secs (military grade precision!) and we were to mark the main characters in it inside a box and also try and estimate their physical details i.e mood, gender and age. Then we had to write in one sentence what was shown in the picture. Finally, we had to write the story based on the picture. As per their rules…the story must at least be of 100words must include events that led to this picture, something describing the present event and what will happen to the characters! We had some four minutes to write the story.

After writing the story they divided us into four groups (15 each) and we were sent for GD. Everyone was supposed to tell about their story first and later discuss about it. Finally one person had to summarise it.

Three people were selected from my batch and were asked to wait. They would have been asked to fill some kind of form and assigned their AFSB centres.

How FTS is different from the general process? For FTS they conduct the phase one of SSB at the time of reg…as it happened for us…so your SSB duration would be less

What you need to do to get through the GD? Be active, give good points, take initiatives and have a good STORY to start with!!

That was all. “

We thank him for sharing his experience with us.

Hope it will help the others.

Take Care.

By: Daily.Pk

Pakistan’s first of five Saab 2000-based airborne early warning and control aircraft has entered final system testing in Sweden, with the work having already demonstrated the capabilities of its integrated self-protection equipment.

Islamabad became the launch – and so far only – military customer for a Saab 2000 derivative when it signed a deal for the Saab Microwave Systems Erieye radar-equipped type in June 2006. Its first example made its flight debut from Saab’s Linköping site in mid-2008.

Saab in early October announced the start of final system tests for Pakistan, and says its first aircraft will be flown to the country later this year to expand the work. The latter process will assess the “aircraft, radar, command and control system, communications and live situation picture into the Pakistan air force’s command and control ground environment”, it says.

Recent tests conducted in Sweden have included the release of flares intended to protect the modified regional turboprop against missile attack.

Saab has previously said that the AEW configuration developed for Pakistan includes five on-board operator stations, with the surveillance aircraft to have an operating ceiling of over 30,000ft (9,150m) and a mission endurance approaching 10h.

The Swedish manufacturer is promoting the AEW version of its Saab 2000 to other potential future customers, and is also offering to supply further variants of the type configured for tasks including maritime patrol and signals intelligence.

By: PKKH

A lot can be achieved in two and a half decades. For an individual, its roughly one-third of the average lifespan. For a nation, its enough time for an entire generation to come through. A nation can be transformed from a marshy swamp into one of the largest economies of the world – as in the case of Singapore.

What did Indian Air Force (IAF) achieve in twenty six years while consuming over $2 billion? the answer to that is Zilch; Zero; Nada; Nothing – except a failed project and a continued embarrassment in the shape ‘Tejas’. Tejas LCA (Light Combat Aircraft, also known as Last Chance Aircraft) has gone many trials and tests and there’s no sign of induction as yet. It has now been announced to enter IAF in 2010.

Pakistan’s own ambitious JF-17 project was launched in partnership with China in 1995. In just eleven years and with just $500 million spent, the JF-17 was flying in Pakistani Airspace on March 23rd 2007 – with the maiden flight having taken place much earlier in 2003.

The Indian Air Force on the other hand has with significant assistance from France, Israel, and the United States worked on the Tejas (meaning Radiant) LCA project for over two decades and the aircraft is no closer to induction. Infact it gets worse; the unit cost of one JF-17 is $15 million dollars, while a Tejas will cost up to $31 million – which is closer to the far advanced Russian Su-30’s starting cost ($33 million). India would be well advised to buy more of the Russian aircraft instead of wasting billions of dollars in trying to produce its own ‘indigenous’ fighter plane.

In 1983, IAF launched a Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program to replace its flying coffins, the MiG-21’s. Earlier in 1981, a study was conducted by IAF, the ‘Long Term Re-Equipment Plan’, to make plans for a future aircraft that would not only replace MiG-21’s but also be cheaper option to foreign imported planes. The Indian government created an entire agency to manage the LCA Tejas program. Tejas was to be developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), but Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) was the managing agency of the program.

To develop Tejas, India sought help from Israel and France. The IAF’s Air Staff Requirement for the LCA would not be finalized until October 1985. So, for the first four years, Indian authorities failed to even come up with personnel list who would work on the project. Initially Indian authorities believed they would be able to do a test flight in 1990, and have Tejas induction ceremony in 1995. You would think that 12 years would be enough to produce a fighter plane – however thanks to India’s utter incompetence, Tejas is still waiting to be inducted into IAF as of October 2009.

In 1990 HAL started work on the technology demonstrators but because of the financial crunch in India, full-scale funding was not authorized until April 1993. First technology demonstrator, TD-1, was rolled out in Nov 1995 and was followed by demonstrator 2 in 1998, but they were kept grounded for several years due to structural concerns and trouble with the development of the flight control system. (http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/fighter/lca/).

The Indian engineers wanted to develop a fly-by-wire system of its own. This is no easy task and requires extensive knowledge of flight control laws and the expensive writing of a considerable amount of software code for the flight control computers, as well as its integration with the avionics and other electronic systems. India tried but failed. With no other option left, India sought help from British Aerospace and Lock Heed Martin for its ‘indigenous’ project, who in turn obliged in 1993.

Until 1998 when India, in an attempt to flex its muscles conducted meaningless nuclear tests which have recently been revealed to have been complete failures, Lockheed Martin was helping India’s failing Tejas project by providing a series of in-flight simulation tests of the integrated flight control software which were conducted on F-16 VISTA until July 1998.

For the Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) of Tejas, India turned to Ericsson, and Ferranti Defense Systems, who make such radars. The Indian engineers disgracefully decided to copy those radars and call it indigenous production. As of 2002, the development of MMR was experiencing major delays and costs escalation. It took India four years just to figure out the problem with the radar. Test results in May 2006 proved that the there was a compatibility issue between radar and the advanced signal processor module. The Indians would be well advised to learn from China – the undisputed champions of reverse engineering – before its own botched and expensive attempts.

India also signed a deal with Rafael of Israel to supply Laser pods, and Sextant of France and Elbit of Israel to supply multi-function displays. Despite all these failures, the Indian authorities still believed they produce the engine on their own. Initially it was decided to equip Tejas with the General Electric F404-GE-F2J3 engine. In 1986, a parallel program was developed to produce an indigenous engine. It was named, Kaveri, but India overconfidence while trying to reverse engineer only managed to ensure the production was slowed because of technical difficulties – followed by the 2004 test of the engine that was a complete failure.

In the end India had to turn to French aircraft company Snecma for technical assistance. The height of India’s false ego and attempts at saving face is evident from them naming the French engine that will be used in Tejas, as Kaveri. On the other hand, the GE engine is still being procured for use in Tejas planes that are going to be produced for induction into IAF. The engine trouble didn’t end there, in 2008 it was announced that Kaveri, is not ready for Tejas, and India announced, in May 2009, a tender for $750 million for more powerful GE engine or Eurojet EJ200 engine. (http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1802/18020420.htm)

As a result of all this rambling the unit cost of Tejas has jumped from $21 million to $30 million. The first batch of Tejas is scheduled to be inducted in IAF in 2010, and will be combat ready in 2012 – or so they say. By 2012, PAF will have at least 60 JF-17’s combat ready fully equipped and prepped up.

The JF-17 Thunder – a joint project between Pakistan and China – was riginally designed to be a small and capable lightweight fighter powered by a single engine to reduce costs – the JF-17 was supposed to be a simple and inexpensive solution for replacing large fleets of obsolete types in the air forces of developing countries. The JF-17 evolved into a more advanced fighter during the later stages of development with revised terms of reference by the Pakistan Air Force and the incorporation of more modern features and technologies.

Being simultaneously manufactured in Pakistan and China, ten JF-17’s have already been inducted in PAF. The Pakistan Air Force plans to make the first JF-17 squadron officially operational by the end of 2009.

Apart from smaller Air Forces, Egyptian and Iranian Air forces have confirmed interest in purchasing these aircraft from Pakistan.
The JF-17 Thunder project has been completed in a record period of four years. China National Aviation Corp officially signed the development contract for the FC-1 airplane in 1999. The project initially suffered a setback due to imposition of sanctions in 1999, which hindered acquisition of avionics and weaponry for the aircraft. The avionics had to be delinked from airframe development in 2001. China National Aviation Corp completes the detailed preliminary design in 2001 and in 2002 the company completed the detailed design structure and the system charts.

On 25 August 2003 the “owlet dragon” FC-1 airplane carried on the initial flight. It flew 17 minutes before it returned to the airport.
The aircraft was intended to be a match for the Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which is (despite all setbacks) still expected to form the backbone of the Indian Air Force in future. There are, however, some features like advanced and futuristic avionics and cost effectiveness that give the JF-17 an edge over the LC – apart from the fact that it is actually ready and being inducted in the Pakistan Air Force, compared to its Indian counterpart which may take many years, if it is ever finished. There are rumors within official circles in India that a proposal to purchase the 60 JF-17 aircrafts from Pakistan was actually drafted before being vetoed by Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik after the attacks in Mumbai.

SPECIFICATIONS OF THE JF-17 and TEJAS LCA

Click to Enlarge

JF-17 – Specifications

Role: Multi-role combat aircraft.
Manufacturer: Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.
First flight: 25 August 2003.
Introduced: 12 March 2007.
Status: Under serial production and in active service.
Primary user: Pakistan Air Force.
Produced: In Pakistan: January 2008.
Unit cost: US$20 million (estimated).

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 14.0 m
Wingspan: 9.45 m (including 2 wingtip missiles)
Height: 4.77 m
Wing area: 24.4 m²
Empty weight: 6,411 kg
Loaded weight: 9,100 kg (including 2× wing-tip mounted air-to-air missiles)
Max takeoff weight: 12,700 kg
Power plant: 1× Klimov RD-93 turbofan
Dry thrust: 49.4 kN
Thrust with afterburner: 84.4 kN
G-limit: +8.5 g
Internal Fuel Capacity: 2300 kg

Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 1.8
Combat radius: 1,352 km
Ferry range: 3,000 km
Service ceiling: 16,700 m
Thrust/weight: 0.99

Armament

Guns: 1× 23mm internal GSh-23-2 twin-barrel cannon.
Hard points: 7 in total (4× under-wing, 2× wing-tip, 1× under-fuselage) with a capacity of 3,629 kg (8,000 lb) external fuel and ordnance.

Rockets: 57mm/90mm unguided rocket pods.
Missiles: Air-to-air missiles: PL-5E, PL-9C, PL-12 / SD-10.
Air-to-surface missiles: anti-radiation missiles; anti-ship missiles (AM-39 Exocet); cruise missiles (Ra’ad ALCM).

Bombs: Gravity/Unguided bombs: general purpose (Mk-82, Mk-84); anti-runway (Matra Durandal), Precision guided munitions: laser-guided (GBU-10, GBU-12, LT-2); satellite-guided, Cluster bombs: anti-armour (CBU-100/Mk-20 Rockeye).

Others: Up to 3 external fuel drop-tanks (1× under-fuselage 800 liters, 2× under-wing 800/1100 liters each) for extended range/loitering time, Externally mounted avionics pods for EW, ECM, ELINT, FLIR and targeting, BM/KG300G self-protection jamming (ECM) pod, KZ900 electronic reconnaissance (SIGINT) pod, Blue Sky navigation/attack pod, FILAT (Forward-looking Infra-red Laser Attack Targeting) pod.

Avionics: NRIET KLJ-7 multi-mode fire-control radar.

Production: 10 aircraft already inducted. First full batch manufactured in Pakistan to be inducted by end of the year.  30 planes will be manufactured at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex every year.

JF-17 Planned upgrades: all PAF JF-17 jets will be modified to aerial refueling capable; Subsequent upgrades will be made on PAF JF-17 jets approximately every five years.

PAF JF-17 Order: Pakistan Air force will produce total 350 JF-17 jets excluding export.

The Indian Air Force Tejas LCA

Tejas – Specifications

Role: Multi-role fighter.
Manufacturer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
First flight: 4 January 2001.
Introduction: 2011.
Status: Under development / pre-production.
Primary user: Indian Air force.
Unit cost: US$20 million (estimated).

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 13.20 m
Wingspan: 8.20 m
Height: 4.40 m
Wing area: 38.4 m²
Empty weight: 6,500 kg
Loaded weight: 9,500 kg
Max takeoff weight: 14,500 kg
Power plant: 1× General Electric F404-GE-IN20 turbofan
Dry thrust: 53.9 kN
Thrust with afterburner: 85 kN
G limits: +8.5 g
Internal fuel capacity: 3000 liters

Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 2.0
Range: 3000 km
Service ceiling: 15,950+ m
Thrust/weight: 1.02

Armament
Guns: 1× mounted 23 mm twin-barrel GSh-23 cannon.
Hard points: 8 total: 1× beneath the port-side intake trunk, 6× under-wing, and 1× under-fuselage with a capacity of >4000 kg external fuel and ordnance.

Missiles: air-to-air missiles: Astra BVRAAM, Vympel R-77, Vympel R-73.
Air-to-surface missiles: Kh-59ME TV guided standoff Missile; Kh-59MK Laser guided standoff Missile, Anti-ship missile, Kh-35, Kh-31.
Bombs: KAB-1500L laser guided bombs, FAB-500T dumb bombs, OFAB-250-270 dumb bombs, OFAB-100-120 dumb bombs, RBK-500 cluster bombs.
Others: External fuel capacity: 5×800 liter tanks or 3×1,200 liter tanks, totaling 4,000/3,600 liters.

Avionics: EL/M-2052 AESA radar.

Production: Still in pre-production.

IAF orders: Indian Air force will get total 220 Tejas jets (Expected)

Damit meine ich Fairchilds A-10 Thunderbold II und zwar in der Typ-C-Konfiguration!

Warum?

Nun, anknüpfend an meine Überlegungen bezüglich der Anschaffung von AC-130, sollten auch einige A-10C beschafft werden, da auch hier die dort gesagten Dinge über Low-Level-Konflikte, Präzisionsangriffen, minimalen kollateral-Schäden und Außenwirksamkeit, bei gleichzeitiger voller echter Kriegseignung gelten.

Dieses seit 1976 bei den Amerikanern im Einsatz befindliche Bodenkampfflugzeug, mit dem wenig schmeichelhaften Spitzennamen “Warthog” (Warzenschwein) auch bekannt als “Tank-Killer” bietet trotz seines Alters allerhand Vorteile.

Es ist richtig, die Amerikaner wollten es schon mehrmals komplett ausmustern und seine Rolle ihren F-16 und ähnlichen überschallschnellen Jets übertragen, doch überzeugte sein Einsatz (und deren Versagen in dieser Rolle) in beiden Golfkriegen und in Afghanistan, es noch eine ganze Weile zu behalten und ihm gar ein bitter benötigtes technisches Upgrade zu verpassen.

Die Kosten für das Gesamtupgrade der noch aktiven Flotte von einigen hundert Stück, betrugen dabei weniger als die Anschaffungskosten einer einzigen F-22 (oder F-35 so sie endlich auf den Markt kommt).

Dabei wurde nicht das Cockpit digitalisiert, nein auch Daten-Uplinks und die Einsatzfähigkeit bei schlechtem Wetter und in der Nacht entscheidend ausgebaut, so das diese Warzenschweine zu hoch effektiven und sehr präzise, im Verbund einsetzbaren Waffen auf dem modernen asymmetrischen Schlachtfeld wurden.

Während die Piloten der alten Versionen dieses, zum Aufhalten der massiven Panzerkolonnen des Warschauer Paktes entwickelte Flugzeuges, dessen Einsatzdoktrin vorsahen das es kurz hinter der Frontlinie unter schwersten Bedingungen und auch auf unbefestigten Flugpisten operieren kann, noch mit Ferngläsern und einer einfachen Papierkarte zur Navigation sich ihre Ziele mühsam suchen mussten, sind nun moderne Zielaufklärungen und Zuweisungen und weit bessere Sensoren verfügbar.

Zahllose Soldaten der Koalition im Irak und Afghanistan verdanken ihm ihr Leben und waren auch in weniger lebensbedrohlichen Situationen höchst dankbar, wenn sie die Silhouette dieses, zugegeben recht hässlichen, Flugzeuges im Tiefflug zwischen den Hügeln Afghanistans erspähen konnten und es ihnen auf Funkruf zu Hilfe eilte um ein Bedrohung am Boden für sie auszuschalten.

Seine geringe Geschwindigkeit, die hohe Wendigkeit, die Fähigkeit zu extremen Tiefflug, seine hohe Überlebensfähigkeit auch unter Feindbeschuss und ganz besonders seine enorme Feuerkraft, machen es auf dem modernen Schlachtfeld fast unbezahlbar.

CAS in Perfektion!

Für all die Situationen, in denen das Überleben der eigenen Soldaten, z.B. durch geraten in einen Hinterhalt, wirklich auf der Kippe steht und die Gefahr eine sichtbare und schon mit Blut getränkte Linie in den Sand des Gefechtsfeldes gezeichnet hat und viele andere mehr.

Wenn Kampfhubschrauber zu langsam, durch leichte Luftabwehr zu gefährdet, richtige Jets zu ungenau, das Gelände für Panzerunterstützung oder wegen der Gefahr durch moderne Panzerabwehrwaffen nicht geeignet sind, möchte man diese Pfeile im Köcher haben.

Dabei unterstützen sie durch ihre robuste Bauweise und mehrfach redundante Auslegung wichtiger Bauteile und die nachgewiesene Fähigkeit, selbst nach massiven Treffern noch nach Hause humpeln, dort feldmäßig gewartet und schnellstens wieder eingesetzt werden zu können, die Designpilosophie der israelischen Armee ebenso wie beim Merkava.

Der Verluste von Menschenleben wiegt dabei stehts schwerer als von Material und das nicht nur weil man einem Zahlenmäßig vielfach überlegenem Feind gegenübersteht und ist deswegen bestmöglich zu vermeiden.

Während dies beim Merkava-Kampfpanzer ducrh modernste Panzerung, aktive Abwehrmassnahmen und ein vor dem Kampfraum mit der Besatzung angeordneten Triebwerk geschieht, so das auch nach einem Volltreffer die Besatzung möglichst lebend aussteigen kann, schützt bei der A-10 eine massive Titanwanne den Piloten und alle wichtigen Teile, während deren redundante Auslegung zusätzlichesn Schutz und Überlebensfähigkeit gewährleisten.

Auch wenn zur Reduzierung der feindlichen Panzerwaffe entwickelt, was beispielsweise im 6.Tage und Yom-Kippur-Krieg höchst wünschenswert gewesen wäre, eignet sich das Warzenschwein auch hervorragend zum Einsatz gegen Bunker und befestigt Stellungen wie sie Hamas und Hizbollah so gern verwenden.

Davon abgesehen sind sie massive Moral-Booster bei den eigenen Truppen und verringern den Kampfwillen des Gegners bei Gefahr ihres Einsatzes, durch spezielles Geräusch ihrer Bordwaffen und ihre Plötzlichkeit, nachhaltig.

Beim Einsatz durch die Israelis wären allerdings einige Änderungen vorzunehmen.

1. Nur Verwendung von Wolfram-Karbid Geschossen für die Hauptwaffe – keine Verwendung von DU-Munition (diese könnte zu Propagandazwecken benutzt werden, stellt auch ein gewissen gesundheitliches Risiko dar und ist deswegen mit den Grundsätzen der Reinheit der Waffen der Tzahal nicht vereinbar, auch wenn die Wirksamkeit höher wäre)

2. Anpassung und Verwendung israelischer Waffen- und Sensorsysteme

3. Integration in die israelische Führungsstrategie, besonders außer dem frontnahen Einsatz, dem Kampfverbund mit kleinen schlagkräftigen Gruppen.

4. Integration eines modernen Datenlinks für Zielzuweisungen, Command and Controll und Übersicht über die Vorgänge auf dem Schlachtfeld, daneben außer zu Kommandostellen auch Up- und Downlink zu Bodentruppen, UAV’s und anderen Lufteinheiten.

5. Einsatz eines effektiven IFF-Kennungssystem für die Bodentruppen.

6. Weiterentwicklung des Systems, gegf. Erweiterung auf 2 Besatzungsmitglieder d.h. Pilot- und Waffensystem-/Datenbeobachtungsoffizier.

7. Full-Time-In-the-Air-Readyness im Krisenfall für schnellst möglichen Einsatz.

Israel sei wie ein Igel – bewaffnet, doch als Friedensheld!