tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post6345206560058849745..comments2024-03-28T05:22:10.255-07:00Comments on Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence.: US military sees virtue in 50-year-old aircraftBroadswordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-18957031217820603012012-08-07T04:22:53.701-07:002012-08-07T04:22:53.701-07:00@Ajai sir
US is still using some of its flying pl...@Ajai sir<br /><br />US is still using some of its flying platforms that are over 50 years old. <br /><br />This gives rise to questions on C17 Globemaster III, which is similar in terms of usability with the aircrafts mentioned above. <br /><br />1. C17 production is being shutdown by 2014 because there is no scope for further improvement in the plane or because its becoming uneconomical for the US to make C17s?<br /><br />2. What type of plane can replace the C17s?<br /><br />3. How many C17s you think India should order apart from the 10 ordered?<br /><br />Hope to get answers<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />Joydeep Ghoshjoydeep ghoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00038225081192821456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-17554558572165949182012-08-06T22:52:26.401-07:002012-08-06T22:52:26.401-07:00The fact is adaptability and versatility rather th...The fact is adaptability and versatility rather than "modernity " was always a winner everywhere.The podded engine of the Buff is "yuck" in many ways but it has allowed the old thing to be re-engined or up engined easily.The British obsession with the "buried" engine which was "aerodynamically cleaner" Vulcan,victor,Valiant & Comet also helped to push these fine aircraft towards extinction.Eyewitness & Hearsay- Autobiographical Notes of an unknown IITianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06780765856387051068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-17933734568902459532012-08-06T22:47:16.008-07:002012-08-06T22:47:16.008-07:00The key design parameter to aim for is not moderni...The key design parameter to aim for is not modernity but adaptability.These aircraft are still there and still valued because they could evolve whereas "superior"designs which could not evolve withered away. A small example was the British obsession of "burying" the engines in the wing. The Victor ,Vulcan,Valiant and the DH Comet all had buried engines but it was uneconomically difficult to re-engine these aircraft and they slowly faded out. The B&37 had the German idea of pylons which had more wetted area but engine thrust increase via newer technology engines was a cinch. The second point is old indeed is gold .Look at what is happening with OBOGS. Make haste slowly.Eyewitness & Hearsay- Autobiographical Notes of an unknown IITianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06780765856387051068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-13838185793662504912012-08-06T18:58:10.913-07:002012-08-06T18:58:10.913-07:00nope, we will still not buy it.nope, we will still not buy it.AKhttp://torabora.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-47765705573868792512012-08-06T13:19:38.327-07:002012-08-06T13:19:38.327-07:00Come on Shukla Ji, of course its a virtue when US ...Come on Shukla Ji, of course its a virtue when US continues to peddle "updated" variants of old hardware. It only becomes a blasphemy when Russia does so. But then what the so called "high & mighty" do shall be the "right stuff", right?<br /><br />At the end of the day as you point out correctly, its not the design age of the specific platform but value addition to its capabilities that makes it state of the art. (ducking for cover from salvos fired by Russia haters!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-8866470210842129832012-08-06T06:14:47.994-07:002012-08-06T06:14:47.994-07:00Title is a little misleading. 50 yr old just means...Title is a little misleading. 50 yr old just means the basic design is 50 yrs old. You can't compare the capability of the 1st version of the chinook to the latest variant. <br />Its really 50 yrs of evolution of a basic design that is now completely optimized to its fullest.<br /><br />CujoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-22378043399997676102012-08-05T20:29:46.981-07:002012-08-05T20:29:46.981-07:00Good article Ajai-ji. All of these weapons platfo...Good article Ajai-ji. All of these weapons platforms may be old, but these were way ahead of their times when introduced, and therefore, ever half a century later, they are truly second to none. This is why I think we made a bid mistake by not selecting F-18E/F for the MMRCA. It had everything we needed, plus was battle tested, and came with a proven AESA. All the other competitors came with their AESA either in development phase or only had just stated to build their first AESA at the time of bid submission.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com