Taking a bit of a break from DB work to focus on writing some scenarios in the backlog, but the MQ-4C Triton and Wildcat are definitely on the "to do" list.

 

Keep posting requests!

In Portugal the last days without sources for the next four days, at least, but I remember now in the last Air International: Tu-22M3M Backfire-D, I think with FLIR and new smart bombs. IOC february 2012, more in the nest days, I hope ...

Thinking about the Tu-22M3M, perhaps codenamed Backfire-D (it's not 100% clear):

- Basically is a Tu-22M3 Backfire-C with improved systems for precision navigation/strike partially based in the capability to use GLONASS (Russian/Soviet system analog to NAVSTAR/GPS). Forget about the FLIR, was my erroneous stimate.

- 30 planes to be upgraded to 2020, the first delivered in February 2012 (as stated in the September issue of Air International and other sources). Current Russian inventory of Backfire are now (2012) probably this:

http://www.russiadefence.net/t820p45-fate-of-tu-22m3-engine-production-discontinued

Concerning their numbers i found that Vozdvizhenka Airbase is abandoned. So we have Tu-22M3 only in Shaikovka airbase and Belaya airbase for the air force (about 30 in each base). And in naval aviation bases in Alekeseyeva and in Olenegorsk (about 50 in both fields)

http://englishrussia.com/2011/06/10/abandoned-air-base/

Approximately 110 Tu-22M3

In the same forum more data about the Tu-22M3M conversion and her weapons.

The new weapons will be probably:

- Kh-32, a development of Kh-22 (AS-4 Kitchen) with new seeker and improved targeting capabilities: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kh-22

http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Strategic-Weapon-Systems/Kh-32-Russian-Federation.html

- Kh-31/AS-17 Krypton.

- Kh-101/Kh-555/AS-15 Kent.

- Kh-38:

http://www.russiadefence.net/t820p45-fate-of-tu-22m3-engine-production-discontinued

... the new Kh-38 missile with options for IIR, MMW radar, semi active laser homing and GLONASS guidance options and combinations of these which has been reported to have a range of 40km for export as a replacement for the Kh-25 family and the Kh-29 has a range of 80km in the domestic version.

http://eng.ktrv.ru/production_eng/323/513/537/

- KAB-500S GLONASS (GPS) guided bombs:

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/KAB-500S

 

Also scarce data in these sites:

http://www.ruaviation.com/news/2012/2/3/770/

http://www.deagel.com/Long-Range-Attack-Aircraft/Tu-22M3M_a000322002.aspx

http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20120131/171049406.html (probably linked to the original press release).

http://warsonline.info/images/stories/news/12/08aug/tehno/tu-22m3m/ (images of "Red 37" the first upgraded plane)

- Kh-32, a development of Kh-22 (AS-4 Kitchen) with new seeker and improved targeting capabilities

 

Last I heard the Kh-32 had been cancelled?

 

http://warsonline.in...tehno/tu-22m3m/ (images of "Red 37" the first upgraded plane)

 

That's a good looking bird.

I've not idea about the cancellation of Kh-32, and about the others weapons are almost speculative his use on Tu-22M3M, less perhaps the KAB-500S.

A pair of Typhoon articles in the Air Forces Montly September 2012 issue about German and Spanish variants:

 

- Neither German or Spanish Typhoon are yet equipped/integrated with Taurus.

 

- The Spanish Typhoon uses the GBU-10 and GBU-16 for precision attacks.

 

- The German Typhoon will use the GBU-48, a Mk83 bomb guided by GPS or laser from a Litening III designator pod (From some time ago integrated in the German Tornado IDS). The Luftwaffe plans to upgrade the GBU-48 (Previously designated EGBU-16/Enhanced GBU-16 Paveway II with GPS/INS) with Trojan Improved Penetrator (TIP) warhead for use against hardened targets, also equipped with less explosive charge to avoid collateral damages.

http://www.designati.../paveway-2.html

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paveway

 

Weapons table (projected 2011) here: http://de.wikipedia...._Typhoon#Nutzer

The new Puma Mk2 for the RAF (IOC 2012), as game effects basically adds 2xpayload and 3xrange, armor, RWR/ESM and decoys:

http://www.eurocopte...=true&width=700

http://www.defensein...icopters-03784/

The upgrading was realized by Eurocopter Romania:

http://business-revi...ent/puma-mk2-2/

http://www.capital.r...zat-171985.html

FINALLY got around to getting my hands on a Windows XP machine to start messing around with the scenario & platform editors... so I figured I'd chime in!

 

First off, thanks to CV32 for the awesome databases. I've been playing a few scenarios with the 1980-2015 database and it's plenty of fun working with it.

 

Messing around in the database, I noticed a few items missing that I'd like to humbly suggest for future addition if the DB ever goes beyond 2015:

 

Ford class carriers: Only the Gerald Ford is in the DB now, but CVN-79 was already in the works to be the John F. Kennedy, and as of today the Navy's announced CVN-80 will be named Enterprise (because the fleet *always* needs an Enterprise! ).

 

Zumwalt: DDG-1002 has been named the Lyndon B. Johnson.

 

Arleigh Burke IIA: Next ships in the hopper are the John Finn, Ralph Johnson, and Raphael Peralta.

 

Arleigh Burke III: First in the next flight (not included in the DB) will be Thomas Hudner. The new BMD radar (AMDR) is the biggest upgrade (*if* they can find enough power for the sucker)

 

Virginia Flight I: Texas isn't listed. SSN-778/New Hampshire and SSN-779/New Mexico are Flight II boats.

 

Virginia Flight III: Additional Flight III boats include Illinois, Washington, Colorado, Indiana, South Dakota, and Delaware.

 

Freedom Class LCS: LCS-2, -4, -6 and -8 are Independence hulls. Little Rock and Sioux City aren't in the DB.

 

Severodvinsk/Yasen subs: There's a third boat coming, no name yet but not in the DB. Also, the class is listed as an SSN, but most of the recent literature I've seen categorizes it as an SSGN given its heavy cruise missile loadout.

 

Losharik sub: Not in the DB... ? Probably a modern version of the Uniform in capability/mission.

 

Shi Lang: Chinese carrier's been named Liaoning for a while.

 

Global Hawk Block 40: In addition to the BAMS Global Hawks, the Block 40 isn't in the DB. MP-RTIP radar is the big upgrade.

 

(Note: the Block 30's aren't in the DB, either, but AF tried to cancel them this year... Congress stopped them for now, so they'll fly a little longer at least, but my guess is they'll eventually get mothballed).

 

EMARSS: U.S. Army's intended replacement for Guardrail, roughly equivalent to the MC-12 Liberty. Army canceled the program but has been looking to restart it, and are delivering at least a few production aircraft.

 

LEMV: Army's big surveillance blimp. They only have one, they may never build another, but if the DB has fancy niche stuff like ABL or JLENS in it, might as well have LEMV, too.

 

Oh, and as long as we're wishlisting... can we get a hypothetical U.S. Navy railgun mount on one of the Zumwalts, just for fun?

davek, a fantastic first post if I may say so!

I agree with TonyE

Thanks for the contribution, davek. Great first post, for sure.

You might have noticed that the HCDB hasn't been updated in about six months now, so inevitably time catches up with it as new developments come on stream and clarifications become known. (The commissioning of the Chinese carrier Liaoning, for example). In the meantime, other issues can be clarified, such as:

 

 

 

Virginia Flight I: Texas isn't listed. SSN-778/New Hampshire and SSN-779/New Mexico are Flight II boats. ...

Freedom Class LCS: LCS-2, -4, -6 and -8 are Independence hulls. Little Rock and Sioux City aren't in the DB.

 

Some units, like New Hampshire, New Mexico, LCS-2, etc were added long before the Virginia and LCS programs were clarified into separate flights or classes, as the case may be. Since they already appear in scenarios, they cannot be removed (which would break the scenarios), and instead their names are substituted by their pennant numbers to show the distinction.

 

It will probably be the New Year before a new update is released, and as available space in the annexes is rapidly diminishing, suggestions for new entries are going to bear even greater scrutiny.

Add the Tanin name as fourth boat to the Israeli Dolphin-class SS (delivered late 2012) and Rahav as fifth boat (2013): http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolphin-Klasse

The RBS15 batteries are apparently equipped with 6 truck/launchers, as stated in the Swedish wiki: http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotsystem_15 (RBS15KA)

Add the SCALP Naval/MdCN with 1000 or 1600 Km range, for FREMM frigates and Barracuda SSN:

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCALP#Sviluppi_futuri

http://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/premier-tir-complet-reussi-du-missile-de-croisiere-scalp-naval

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCALP_(missile)#Le_Missile_de_Croisi.C3.A8re_Naval_.28MdCN.29

Don't forget the very easy of modelling C-17 SOLL II Special Operations variant using present loadouts, NOE capable, as per Air International March 2002 issue, the IOC should be Octobre 2003:

http://airforce.americanspecialops.com/special-operations-low-level/