S-35 + Mig-29 + Osprey Minesweeper

choi

(1) Dancing With Thieves. Strategy Page, Mar 14, 2012.
http://strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20120314.aspx
("Russia has been hustling to find export customers for its latest Su-30 model, the Su-35. * * * There are few takers so far. There's just too much competition out there * * * That said, the Su-35 is an impressive piece of work. * * * The Su-35 is a 34 ton fighter that is more maneuverable than the original, 33 ton, Su-27 and has much better electronics.")

My comment:
(a) Sukhoi Su-35
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-35
(is a derivative of the Su-27, and was initially known as the Su-27M)
(b) Sukhoi Su-30
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30
(Su-30 started out as an internal development project in the Sukhoi Su-27 family by Sukhoi; "Of the Flanker family [Flanker being NATO reporting name for Su-27], only the Su-27, Su-30, Su-34 and Su-35 have been ordered into serial production by the Defense Ministry. All the others, such as Su-37, were prototypes")
(c) Strategy Page is not necessarily wrong when implying Su-35 is derived from Su-30 ("Russia has been hustling to find export customers for its latest Su-30 model"), since both Su-35 and Su-30 ultimately is based on Su-27.

(2) What Is Worse Than Cheap Russian Crap. Strategy Page, Mar 13, 2012.
http://strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20120313.aspx

Quote:

"Three years ago Myanmar bought 20 MiG-29 fighters from Russia, for $35 million each. China offered the similar FC-1 for less than half the price. Yet Myanmar chose the more expensive aircraft. What was odd about this was that both aircraft have questionable reputations.

"Malaysia, for example, admitted that it got rid of its MiG-29 fighters because the aircraft were too expensive to maintain. It costs about $5 million a year, per aircraft, to keep them going.

"MiG and Sukhoi are now both divisions of a state owned military aircraft company (United Aircraft). Technically, the MiG division is bankrupt. Sukhoi is profitable.

"The Chinese made FC-1 is exported to Pakistan as the JF-17 and offered to several countries (Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Burma, Iran, and Sri Lanka) as inexpensive alternatives to American and Russian fighters. There were few takers

(3) Mine Hunters For Taiwan. Strategy Page, Mar 9, 2012.
www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsurf/articles/20120309.aspx
("The Ospreys are being replaced [in US] by LCS ships * * * The LCS is about three times larger than the Ospreys and may not be able to go places the Ospreys could go. LCS is supposed to be the Navy's green/brown water "solution" but many counter-mine experts believe it is too big for the mine clearing job. The LCS costs a heck of a lot more")

Note:
(a) Osprey class coastal minehunter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osprey_class_coastal_minehunter
(In commission 1993-2007 [in US])
(b) Littoral Combat Ship
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Littoral_combat_ship
(c) USS Avenger (MCM-1)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Avenger_(MCM-1)

-------------------Separately
Jeremy Page, China, South Korea in Row Over Submerged Rock. China Real Time, Mar 13, 2012.
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealti ... ver-submerged-rock/

Quote:

"South Korea’s President, Lee Myung-bak, said Monday that the reef 'will fall naturally into Korean-controlled areas [EEZ],' according to the Yonhap news agency. The same day, South Korea’s Foreign Minstry questioned China’s ambassador in Seoul over the issue.

"In the meantime, South Korea has built an ocean research station on the reef, which is just over 90 miles from the nearest bit of actual South Korean territory – Mara Island – and about 155 miles from the nearest Chinese territory. The building of the station has prompted repeated protests from the Chinese side.