The Perfect Soldier: Special Operations, Commandos, and the Future of Us Warfare by James F. Dunnigan
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Dirty Little Secrets
Chasing the F-22
by James Dunnigan
December 30, 2006
Discussion Board on this DLS topic
The Russian Air Force is accepting its first two Su-34 jet fighter-bombers this week. Russia is not happy that the U.S. has put dozens of F-22 fighters into service, and Russia has nothing of comparable capabilities. The Su34 is a 44 ton variant of the Su-27 that is roughly equal to the U.S. 36 ton F-15E fighter-bomber. Both aircraft are equipped to deliver the latest smart bombs and precision missiles. A Russian answer to the F-22 is perhaps a decade away, and the Russians are expected to make a major espionage effort to steal the F-22s technical secrets. Otherwise, it would cost billions of dollars to develop the high-tech features that make the F-22 such a superior combat aircraft.
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