Asleep at the wheel ?

[thunderdownunder]

Think of a circle jerk, with the collective heads stuck up the elementary canal.
I mean what did they think was going to happen after you educated them.
Unexpected
http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/news?...XgS9YdPw&pos=9
mean while back a Boeing they seem to be in a dream.

[Shakespear]

Re: Asleep at the wheel ?

It will be a chance for Gates to negotiate to buy some equipment. Or perhaps he is going to ask what do they need this stuff for.

Weird :-)

[D-Mack]

Re: Asleep at the wheel ?

China’s first known stealth aircraft just emerged from a secret development program and was undergoing high-speed taxi tests late last week at Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute’s airfield. Said to be designated J-20, it is larger than most observers expected—pointing to long range and heavy weapon loads.
Its timing, Chengdu’s development record and official statements cast doubt on U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates’s 2009 prediction (in support of his decision to stop production of the Lockheed Martin F-22) that China would not have an operational stealth aircraft before 2020.
The debut of the J-20 was announced in a November 2009 interview on Chinese TV by Gen. He Weirong, deputy commander of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. The general said a “fourth-generation” fighter (Chinese terminology for a stealth fighter) would be flown in 2010-11 and be operational in 2017-19.



http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gener...s&channel=awst

so Gates was 1-3 years off the mark

[lakedaemonian]

Re: Asleep at the wheel ?

Something to keep in mind......

The US developed the F15 Eagle to counter the MIG25 Foxbat.

When a MIG25 pilot defected with said MIG25 to Japan in 1976 it was quickly determined that the one trick pony MIG25 was a very poor cousin to the incredibly capable and successful F15.

The VERY long term consequences of the US no longer able to maintain the ability to produce weapon systems like the F22 that offer absolute battlespace dominance is a problem....a BIG longterm problem.

But just like the MIG25, just because the J20 looks cool, doesn't mean it possesses the capability to match.

And that is very likely the case as China is still unable to reverse engineer and manufacture the engines for the unlicensed J11 fighter counterfeit copies of the Russian SU27.

Personally, I'm more worried China is developing a manned space flight program at a time the US has ZERO national capability to put a man in orbit(once next Shuttle lands and value of doing do aside) 40 years after the US put a man on the moon and China's space program was less capable than the average Chibese New Year fireworks display.

[thunderdownunder]

Re: Asleep at the wheel ?

Something to keep in mind...... History!
As the Sun sets on American manufacture, China's Sun rises. They have no need to reverse engineer anything. Like the Roman empire the US has traded manufacture for Financial industry. Like Rome its Military supply lines became drawn out and increasingly expensive to maintain, while its Oligarchs where busy planning the next expensive Orgy of decadence while ignoring all the costs of empire. The US presence is everywhere but not strong anywhere. You educated them(China and India) then you set up the plants and gave them the plans. They then found better ways to build what is needed while you settle for the profit on sale of what you subcontract. Ie I can buy a better Chinese smart phone at 25% the cost that even has DTV or a HD video recorder for $69 with better features than one 10x more expensive.
I call it "The Afghanistan Effect" - that little pile of rocks and sand has seen Genghis Khan call it "the stone in his shoe" - Alexander the Great's empire was decayed by it - The Might of the British Empire was broken by its stubbornness - Mighty Russia went home in their underwear and its Collapse followed shortly after.
China Builds while America decays over destructive policies. President Kennedy would be appalled at the US wasting its "Ammo" on ghostlike targets while the Farm is on fire at home. History tells me that America was at its best for twenty seven years doing exactly what China is doing now - manufacturing the Future
My worry is can I learn fluent Cantonese in the time it takes for the Penny to drop that the axis is shifting and won't be returning.
You are correct -Watch the "Space". I am talking about the space between a certain border and China mainland. It is not something which China is pleased to have.
also - "so Gates was 1-3 years off the mark" - A week in politics is a very long time indeed, 3 years is an eternity to play catch up

[Shakespear]

Re: Asleep at the wheel ?

I learn fluent Cantonese

I am sure you could do it, the problem is the size of the labor pool in China