Aivazovsky

I'm outa here for some more quiet adventures in Japan, my second homeland. I don't know when I'll be posting anything next.

As is my habit, I like to share something of the roads less travelled. Here are some of the works of Ivan Aivazovsky (1817-1900), a Russian Armenian famous for his nautical art.

These paintings have a way of pulling you in and turning you about.

Travel is like that.

Taiga Tiger

A Siberian tiger viewed from behind. Note the "eyes" on the back of its ears, to ward off being snuck up on. Can't be many creatures that would try it.

Found this in one of three articles written by Patrick Evans for the The Japan Times Sunday feature... collectively part travelogue, part wildlife, part conservation tale about the Siberian tiger and life in Eastern Russia. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20100214x1.html

Russian and Indian future of fighter aircraft

There has been newspaper coverage of the successful test of a new Russian 5th generation (meaning post 2005) fighter aircraft prototype. Maiden flight was on Friday. It's called the T-50, build by Sukhoi (not to be confused with the South Korean T-50 Golden Eagle).

Putin is quoted as wanting the first batch in service by 2013.
This seems unlikely. Other Russian authorities seem hopeful of doing so by 2015, and yet others (i.e. the deputy head of the Moscow-based Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies) see 10 years or more between now and commercial production... which leads me to another observation:

The article I read did not mention India's involvement. They're in it for a derivative two seat version (the Russian one is a one seater).

India are not passive partners either, as they are developing a lot of the important software and have some key knowledge in structural matters.

The T-50 is believed to be capable of supercruise. This means no afterburners, the heat of which is what you see at the back of big carrier fighters taking off in all that Top Gun style stock footage. No afterburners means less detectability by radar (it's already a stealthy design) and lower fuel to mass ratio, meaning you can put other stuff on the plane. The engine was thought to be based on the Saturn 117S but it turned out not to be, so we don't know yet exactly what the specs are. The margin of technological advance for this fighter are thus not yet clear.

The Joint Strike Fighter does not have supercruise capability. The F-22 Raptor does.
Whether that does or does not translate to combate advantage is unproven, although people tend to think it does.

All of which makes for some interesting speculation on how this works to India's military capabilities in the coming years, as it continues to undergo major industrial and social development.
Things between Australia and India aren't great at the moment, for a variety of reasons - probably "effort" among them. We can't just get along with China. India is a major player. Especially when we consider their shadow over Pakistan.

Meanwhile I shall bask in the gorgeousness of Aishwarya Rai, and hope for a peaceful future.