Russia Loses a Jet to NATO (pictures)

Kommersant ^ | Sep. 16, 2005 | Vladimir Vodo, Ivan Safronov

[The KG9 Kid]

Baloney.

Russian military equipment can be awesome.

[End Times Sentinel]

Yeah, you're right, the Russians are the first choice for military equipment.  Those tanks were just fearsome in GWII.  And the planes in GWI.  Heck, they made an ace out of a Saudi Pilot they're so well made. 

Their armor made short work of of the Afghans didn't they?

We should see if we can place an order for some Migs or maybe one of those submarines with the screen doors, you know, the ones all the time getting stuck at the bottom of the ocean?

Russian military equipment sucks.  They even admit that.  Rather than have one good tank, take your chances with ten crappy ones.  That's always been their strategy because the former option wasn't available.

  Owl_Eagle

(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,

 it was probably sarcasm)

[60Gunner]

Don't forget about the F-22? Where the heck are the F-22s? The Sukhoi-27 has been flying around for 20 years now, and we haven't even deployed a single front-line squadron of F-22s yet. I ain't baggin' on the military. I'm just sayin' that it isn't smart to underestimate a potential enemy. The only difference between the Sukhoi-27 and the F-22 that means anything right now is that the Sukhoi is deployed and the Raptor is NOT. The most advanced, maneuverable fighter in the world is just an expensive hunk of parts as long as it sits where it is not needed. A good plane in the hands of a good pilot is a very dangerous thing. Never, ever underestimate the capabilities of the guy holding the stick. Instead, make it your goal to make sure that you are better in a plane of equal capability. That's what Top Gun was all about. Do you doubt the veracity of this maxim? I need only utter two words to remind you of its truth: Pearl. Harbor.

[Echo Talon]

Yea, but we have bombers and planes(B-2,F-117,F-22) that can carry nukes that they can't see. I like our position more. Also more F-22's are completed than what you probably think.

[ChinaThreat]

The SU-27 and its later variants are nice aircraft from a performance standpoint. The later models SU-3x have more updated avionics and weapon systems but as you point out, they are nowhere near the level of the Raptor. The F-22 represents a generational leap in millitary aviation. We did steel one idea from the ruskies on the raptor, vectored thrust.

[Alter Kaker]

Since when did the U.S. start supplying rations to the Lithuanian army?

Since they joined NATO.

[Echo Talon]

scroll to chart at bottom

[meyer]

The SU-27 looks remarkably like an F-14 to this admittedly non-expert viewer.

[Wristpin]

Russian Pilots get very little flight time these days. They were selling back seat hops to rich businessmen just to pay for fuel a few years ago.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Well, I guess our experience with Soviet equipment are pretty different then. You're entitled to your opinion, and I'm entitled to mine.

[Michael81Dus]

Yeah, but being replaced with the Eurofighter Typhoon right now...

[KimmyJaye]

Are these recent photos'? Cuz some have the word 'archive' written on them.

Don't know why, but this whole thing seems screwy to me.

[GarySpFc]

The SU-27 does NOT have thrust vectoring, but the SU-30Mk does have it. The Russians sold the SU-30Mk to China and India, but it is not operational in their air force.

I suspect neither plane will stand up to the F-22.

[GarySpFc]

Russian military equipment sucks. They even admit that. Rather than have one good tank, take your chances with ten crappy ones. That's always been their strategy because the former option wasn't available.

We're not talking about tanks. I know American fighter pilots who will tell you the SU-27 would be a tough one to fight, albeit they still think they would win. The SU-30Mk with thrust vectoring is another story, albeit with our AWACS capability our pilots can fire from a long range and hit them. I've pinged pilots for the F-14 and F-16, and will let them give you their opinion.

[Joe Brower]

"Since they joined NATO."

I can certainly see that happening, if even on a temporary basis. I didn't see any such when I was a medical corpsman with the USMC. We did do some trading, though.

When was Lithuania admitted to NATO?

[Alter Kaker]

When was Lithuania admitted to NATO?

29 March, 2004

[muir_redwoods]

"Can't make a jet,..."

A few western pilots might hold differing opinions.

[Cheburashka]

You ever hear of NATO?

[FreedomCalls]

Russian military equipment sucks. They even admit that.

OK, fine. Then we can cancel the F-22 right?

[A.A. Cunningham]

Can't make a jet,

You might want to talk to Ed Kolano about that.