"Iran Unveils Squadrons of Flying Boats"

[Agrippa]

Just some years ago China needed Russian experts to control their jets for the parade!

They are really just into copying what Russia has long ago - they will produce more of it, sooner or later they MIGHT be far ahead by themselves, but seriously, that will need a lot of time still - the creative-technological potential of China is, let's say it blunt, highly overrated SO FAR.

Even with all the European-Western technology they got so far, they are far behind in many respects, just in the foreground they seem to have closed the gap and they have a tremendous speed, if looking at where they started.

But to say when they will have a real advantage in this or that field of conventional and nuclear warfare is hard to tell, so far I see no reason to underrate Russia in comparison, in fact, Russia is still the only realistic threat for the complete existence of the USA and all its people in a total war.

[RoyBatty]

They're definitely short-range craft, not like the big, long-range flying boats that the U.S. used during the Pacific War with Japan in the 1940s. Maybe a range of a couple of hundred miles? I wonder if they're intended for, say, sub-hunting or ship-hunting? I can easily see those things with, say, a torpedo or a depth charge on them as a refit.

They are pretty small and sit low in the water. I couldn't figure out where a torpedo could be mounted. The photos aren't clear but it didn't look like the wings had hardpoints nor enough space or clearance.

As for depth charges, that Iranian plane doesn't appear to have the space to store them (one would need multiple charges, one won't be enough) nor the power to carry such a heavy load. Those WW2 flying boats were pretty big. I visited the RAF museum in Hendon some weeks ago where they had a Sutherland Flying Boat which could be fitted with smallish depth charges. It's a big beastie.

[youtube]lIcltyMwJRg[/youtube]

[RoyBatty]

Compared to China? China has at least as good technology in non-nuclear areas, and much greater production capacity, size, and economy.

China's Scitech base isn't as advanced as Russia's, at least not yet. Their entire Space Program is a direct clone of the Soviet one. Their most advanced domestically produced fighter planes are Sukhoi clones. Much of their civilian nuclear tech is based on Russian systems.

I'm not saying the Chinese are backward but they have some way to go before they'll surpass Russia in these fields. I don't believe that it will necessarily take them very long to catch up to and perhaps surpass Russia and the US but right now they are behind.

Russia has better size than any other European power, but that's not saying much.

Better size what? The Soviet / Russian industrial machine went to the dogs after the Soviet Union collapsed. Germany will surely have a much larger overall scitech base than Russia but Russia has the advantage in certain niche fields like hitech weaponry and Space technology.

As to what these planes will be used for: mine laying, and I really wasn't kidding about the kamikaze attacks

Those little planes don't look like they can carry much weight apart from the pilot and fuel. I don't see how they could really be fitted with mines or torpedos or carry the weight for that matter. As a Kamikaze weapon against an armed target they'd be useless. Too slow and not nearly nimble enough.

Besides, the Iranians have much better anti-ship weapons. Hezbollah illustrated that when they employed one (presumably sourced from Iran or Syria) against the Zionist aggressor during the recent Lebanese war.

http://defensetech.org/2006/07/19/he...prise-weapons/

[Cato]

They are pretty small and sit low in the water. I couldn't figure out where a torpedo could be mounted. The photos aren't clear but it didn't look like the wings had hardpoints nor enough space or clearance.

As for depth charges, that Iranian plane doesn't appear to have the space to store them (one would need multiple charges, one won't be enough) nor the power to carry such a heavy load. Those WW2 flying boats were pretty big. I visited the RAF museum in Hendon some weeks ago where they had a Sutherland Flying Boat which could be fitted with smallish depth charges. It's a big beastie.

[youtube]lIcltyMwJRg[/youtube]

If not sub detection or sub-hunting, maybe coastal recon? The MG would keep most minor foes at bay, at least as minimal defense.