F/A-18 Hornet: $94 million.
First entering service in the 1980s, the twin-engine fighter plane was the U.S.'s first strike fighter — an aircraft capable of attacking both ground and aerial targets. It has seen action in Operation Desert Storm and as the aircraft of the Navy's Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron. The F/A-18 is also used by Canada, Australia, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Spain and Switzerland.
The Photo Gallery starts here ....
Modern Top Of The Line MiG Design Bureau --
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,921768,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,921768,00.html
The MIG Design Bureau and plant. is the country's major producer of jet fighter aircraft. It developed the family of technologically advanced MiG aircraft, including the Soviet Union's first jet fighter. The MiG design bureau is part of the state-owned multifirm aerospace complex VPK MAPO (Military-Industrial Complex-Moscow Aircraft Production).
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My Comment: Quite a difference from an F-22 assembly line plant.
The application of advanced avionics software in the F/A-22 is key to the Raptor's revolutionary performance advantage over any other fighter. In the air-to-air arena, the stealthy F/A-22 will be virtually unseen on radar, while its sophisticated array of sensors and advanced radar will allow it to reach out and strike adversary aircraft undetected from long range. The advanced software package will also enhance the Raptor's ability to deliver precision air-to-surface weapons on target, day or night, in any weather. Editor: The link to an impressive collection of F-22 pictures is here.
Russia Orders £2000 Inflatable Copies Of Planes, Tanks And Missiles To Fool Enemies --
The Russian Defense Ministry has ordered elaborate inflatable copies of its most ubiquitous planes, tanks and missiles at a cost of almost £2,000 per model to fool its enemies in future conflicts.
The purchase has drawn sharp criticism from military analysts, who say the Kremlin should be spending its oil wealth on buying real military hardware rather than rubber copies.
"Inflatable military hardware is most effective in conflict situations when there is a need to confuse the enemy," the daily Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper argued .....
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Comment: While real military hardware is preferable, this type of deception cannot be underestimated. My own take, this is going to be highly effective, especially if countries like Iran are able to get their hands on such perfect (and deceptive) copies.....
