PAK-FA future?

[hellfish6]

This is apparently from Sukhoi...?

http://sploid.gizmodo.com/cool-graphic- ... 1682799823

I haven't heard a thing about South Korea being interested, and it may be wishful marketing on Sukhoi's part. I realize the ROK has some ex-Russian/Soviet equipment, but opting for the Su-50 would be a bit of a leap for them.

[hellfish6]

Oh, disregard. It's fan-made, based on an offical Sukhoi Su-30 series infographic.

Still kinda interesting.

[Agiel]

Yeah, I don't see Russia giving their top of the line fighter to South Korea only for one to mysteriously show up at the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada [:D]

[AlmightyTallest]

lol, it would round out the Sam systems they have there if they did.

http://geimint.blogspot.com/2007/08/us-restricted-and-classified-test-sites.html

Tolicha Peak electronic combat range has the S-300PS or some derivitive apparently.

[mikmykWS]

You would think however South Korea has Russian equipment in their OOB.

First and foremost their KM-SAM which they developed jointly. Russian variant is Vityaz

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KM-SAM

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/sh ... ooperation

They also have T-80's and BMP-3's

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/sh ... -and-BMP-3

South Korean KA-27 (Coast Guard)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamov_Ka-2 ... 829%29.jpg

Mike

[hellfish6]

The T-80s, BMP-3s and KA-27s were all debt repayments after the Soviet Union collapsed. IIRC the T-80 and BMP-3 are used as OPFOR vehicles too.

[mikmykWS]

and?

[hellfish6]

ORIGINAL: mikmyk

and?

...and it wasn't like they went out seeking to add Soviet/Russian weapons to their order of battle, like they would with the PAK-FA. Adding the PAK would be a major shift for the South Korean military - all new TTPs, maintenance, training and logistics requirements. Could a PAKFA pilot be reasonably expected to have an Air Force career (which would likely entail eventually transitioning to other more numerous airframes, putting the personnel from PAKFA units at a disadvantage vis-a-vis their peers who have been in F-15/-16 units their entire career).

I'm still not even sure the Russians would seriously offer the aircraft to the ROKs.

[mikmykWS]

Fair points although they went after the SAMs which would suffer from the same paradigm.

Mike

[hellfish6]

ORIGINAL: mikmyk

Fair points although they went after the SAMs which would suffer from the same paradigm.

Mike

Heh. Their alternative was, effectively, the US. The Russians are advanced and cheap(er), plus with co-development, the ROKs are able to ensure required compatibility from the start. I'm not so sure we'd allow that same level of co-development with the ROKs.