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You do not always pay what you owe. If you did there would not have been the many problems generated in the KF-X programme, generated by Indonesia not honouring payment agreements. Sorry, I'm not going to spend time looking up the times that Indonesia has not honoured its payment commitments to...

How do you get across the river Seym when you've blown the bridges? That stops everyone crossing - Ukrainians as well as Russians.

It was a good move politically to take some Russian territory. Now that 3 bridges used by Russia to supply Kursk are gone it is not going to be easy for Russia to retake it.

Seen from the point of view of companies that would be supplying Indonesia with parts to assemble KF-21: we must be paid for goods and services we deliver according to contract. If Indonesia breaks its contracts with ROK suppliers, ROK government is not going to pay them what Indonesia owes...

Good to hear - could take Germany one step closer to supplying the Taurus strike asset to Ukraine.

I agree - Ukrainian manpower long term is of concern to me. Assuming the EU continues its support for democracy on its doorstep, I think that Ukraine can carry on fighting for years. Ukrainians want to retain their country's independence and culture by resisting the Russians. How many would be...

Ukraine targeting Russia with weapons provided by the West would be the stupidest thing to do? Would you advocate leaving intact Russian bases in Russia proper so that they can be used to launch attacks on Ukraine indefinitely? Do you think it sensible that attacks on Ukraine from within Russia...

A good way to reduce the glide bomb damage to Ukraine is to strike the bases in Russia from which aircraft carrying them take off. Ukraine seems to be able to neutralise all or nearly all attack drones if numbers do not swamp defences.

Fighting vehicles: I think Russia is losing tanks many times faster than it is producing new ones. I read that a lot of stored tanks are being brought back into service but they are older types and the stock is finite. IISS estimate for 2023 T-90 production: 60-70 IISS estimate for 2024 T-90...

I think that what happens in the next few months depends on - continuing American support by the next administration (low probability IMO) - continuing EU, UK, Norway support (high probability IMO) - whether rules of engagement allow Ukraine to use donated weapons to attack Russia - whether...

One thing that is clear to me is that the US has little interest in providing Ukraine with the unfettered means to win the conflict. It appears to see the Ukraine war as a proxy contest between itself and Russia, one aimed to drain Russia militarily and financially. Provided Russia does not...

It would be interesting to see how close Kale could get to existing GE, GE/SAFRAN, P&W and RR civil aviation engines in the next 10-20 years.

I thought this was about propulsion systems, not about how they would propel Turkiye to world domination.

Indeed. In any event, ROK suppliers to Indonesia for KF-21 would need export credit guarantees which would cost a fortune: what premium do you charge to insure against non-payment by a customer with a long history of not paying? The only way I see for ROK suppliers to supply Indonesia would be...

It is a long time since I heard any talk of an Indonesian KF-21 assembly line. I presume that plan has been shelved or scrapped.

I commented on Erdogan's lack of diplomacy when speaking in public to the the German chancellor. If a statesman wants to influence another statesman, he is almost certainly going to fail if he behaves the way Erdogan did in Germany. If the prime minister of my country behaved in Turkiye as the...

I heard what Erdogan said. I was listening attentively and was astonished at his undiplomatic performance. If the idea of going to Germany was to publicly embarrass the German chancellor, he succeeded all too well. Tell me: in international diplomacy, is that the way you gain the cooperation of...

Where is the manipulation in the post I passed on? Turkiye does not have good diplomatic relations with France, Germany or Sweden. Like it or dislike it, that is the case, is it not?

I was suggesting that Turkiye act to safeguard in its own interests by ensuring access to an engine for KAAN until an indigenous one is available. Since it is unlikely that any country will attack Turkiye in the near future, perhaps it would not matter greatly if F110 for KAAN were blocked and...