One factor not mentioned so far - whatever tradeoff the PLAAF currently
makes between warfighting skills and "political reliability."

During more antagonistic times between China and the free world, PLAAF
pilots were posted to front-line billets based at least as much on their
political reliability as any other factor, to minimize the likelihood of a
Yuri Belenko-type defection.

Not sure how prevalent this is today but I know that among humans, old
habits die hard.

--
Mike Kanze

"Somewhere in the heavens there is a great invisible genie who every so
often lets down his pants and ****es all over the pillars of science."

- Ernest K. Gann



"BOB URZ" wrote in message
...
Given the tensions in the pacific rim part of the world, it seems a
possibility of a air exchange between China and a US naval carrier
battle group. My question is what would be the likely outcome of such an
exchange? (non nuclear)

With modern SU27 and SU30 fighters, the Chinese seem far from
defenceless. Maybe even ahead. Would putting the Sukhoi's up against
F18's and F14's be an even or uneven exchange? With the newest Russian
hardware, one might give some advantage to the Chinese.
Yet with no AA refueling and more limited airborne Command and
Control, would that skew the equation back over to the carrier
battle group? And given a hostile incoming Chinese sortie
on the CBG, what would be the likely order of events? Ship born
Sea to Air missiles first? At what range would each side likely use
there Air to Air assets against each other? How good are the EW
suites on the SU's compared to what is deployed with the fleet?

It would be an interesting war game scenario.....

Bob



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