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NEWS Waterfront property in the Spratlys? Good investment or not?
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As good a place as any I suppose.
Has a strong familial resemblance to the Japanese US-2:
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Yup!
I'll say.........even down to the paint job
Modi in Japan: Why China Should Be Worried
Japan and India are expected to advance defense, economic, and even nuclear cooperation.
http://thediplomat.com/2016/11/modi-in-japan-why-china-should-be-worried/
When Indian Prime Minister Narnedra Modi visits Japan on November 11, on a 48-hour trip for the Third Annual Summit meeting, Tokyo is expected to sign its first major defense deal in the last 50 years, the sale of US-2 Amphibious aircraft to India. Sources also say that the aircraft will bear the name US-2i, which clearly indicates how serious Modi is about promoting the “Make in India” campaign. The US-2 aircraft will enable India to better surveil its Exclusive Economic Zone in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean region. This will in turn speed up an Indian Navy response to incidents near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, major strategic holdings from a geopolitical viewpoint.
Japan and India are expected to advance defense, economic, and even nuclear cooperation.
http://thediplomat.com/2016/11/modi-in-japan-why-china-should-be-worried/
When Indian Prime Minister Narnedra Modi visits Japan on November 11, on a 48-hour trip for the Third Annual Summit meeting, Tokyo is expected to sign its first major defense deal in the last 50 years, the sale of US-2 Amphibious aircraft to India. Sources also say that the aircraft will bear the name US-2i, which clearly indicates how serious Modi is about promoting the “Make in India” campaign. The US-2 aircraft will enable India to better surveil its Exclusive Economic Zone in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean region. This will in turn speed up an Indian Navy response to incidents near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, major strategic holdings from a geopolitical viewpoint.
Given that: squabbling over unimproved islands in the IO and SCS looms large, you need fixed-wing aircraft for heavy logistics, building airfields is a political trigger, and questions about cost and vulnerability of carriers, I wonder if this will bring about the revival of heavy seaplanes?
As big as a fan I am of seaplanes I really don't see the utility for bigger ones like the US-2, if there was there would be more of them out there and not just the US-2 and the Chinese equivalent. Other than for some a little unique long-range SAR utility their role can be done by something else, usually much cheaper and much more efficiently. For supplying far-flung island outposts ships are a lot more useful, ones with helos even better. Seems more like a political move more than anything else.
The important thing, India and Japan are talking and starting to try and figure out why they can do together about China. For us that is not a bad thing.
I've heard that occasionally political goals drive military strategy, which drives military procurement. Not lately, I'll grant you, but you know...back in the day.
Agree. Seaplane development in the inter-war years was because of there being no airport infrastructure (the reason why there are so many in Alaska). Also their use is extremely limited by sea state. I can't think of one that went into military production for us since WWII.
That came to mind............just too lazy to look it up. I knew it wasn't the Mars. Also I think the HU-16 Albatross was post war.
You don't say. The Japanese have track record of make-work defense projects like their 'domestic' version of the F-16, the F-2, that cost them so much they had to cut their planned buy. They could have just license-built F-16's for less than half the cost but nope, they had to have their own plane! Then the US-2, P-1, Kawasaki C-2, OH-1....
The Grumman HU-16 Albatross too.
Edit: Jmcquate beat me to it!
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Seaplanes died out because the strategic need died out. You had helos for limited access areas and plenty of airfield infrastructure for the heavy lifting.
My point is that small islands are becoming a strategic thing again. You can't count on airfields in an opposed environment, either to hold islands or take them, and helos are limited in capacity and range, which necessitates large air-capable ships, which are coming to be thought of as vulnerable. So for the first time in a long time, there is a viable role for large military seaplanes.
My point is that small islands are becoming a strategic thing again. You can't count on airfields in an opposed environment, either to hold islands or take them, and helos are limited in capacity and range, which necessitates large air-capable ships, which are coming to be thought of as vulnerable. So for the first time in a long time, there is a viable role for large military seaplanes.
To do what? Not being a dick, interested in your thinking.