Vladimir Putin's Nuclear threat to the west

[Oberon]

Exact crush depths are classified anyway, I heard rumours that the Traffie can go near 2000ft which is just insane depths for an SSN. The Alfa, Mike and Sierra classes could go damn deep but in the Alfas case it was damn noisey, in the Mikes case it caught fire and was too expensive to build a new one, not so sure about the Sierras, heard they were quite effective.
The major problem the Soviets had was a lack of money to run their navy the way they wanted, something which thanks to the global oil crisis, is now solved for the most part.
I think this is the first time in many years that the Russians are virtually neck and neck with the US in terms of technology, perhaps because of the 'glasnost' of technology which occured at the end of the cold war, more people now know about the capabilities of US submarines and US technology, we know how Stealth works, we know about pumpjet propulsors, and while I have no doubt that the US has even better toys that we DON'T know about, now that the Russians are getting more money, I have no doubt that they will begin making their own special toys.
Who knows, we might not be far off from a global arms race the likes of which hasn't been seen since the 50s/60s.

[Kazuaki Shimazaki II]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Exact crush depths are classified anyway, I heard rumours that the Traffie can go near 2000ft which is just insane depths for an SSN.

Near? That can mean anywhere from 1500-1999. But anyway, if they use HY-130, they have a chance for a ~3000 foot crush depth just like the Akulas (corresponding to the 600m test). The British use about 1.75 as their safety factor IIRC, so that translates to 1715 feet of test depth.

The Alfa, Mike and Sierra classes could go damn deep but in the Alfas case it was damn noisey,

It wasn't like it would have been less noisy if it hadn't dove as deep.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Kazuaki Shimazaki II

Near? That can mean anywhere from 1500-1999. But anyway, if they use HY-130, they have a chance for a ~3000 foot crush depth just like the Akulas (corresponding to the 600m test). The British use about 1.75 as their safety factor IIRC, so that translates to 1715 feet of test depth.

It wasn't like it would have been less noisy if it hadn't dove as deep.

Aaaah, yeah 1715 ft sounds about right to what I heard
Another problem with the Alfa was that damned power plant

[bradclark1]

ASAT History
http://www.ucsusa.org/global_securit...-programs.html

[Sea Demon]

Here's an interesting transcript about the upcoming SM-3 attempt.

http://www.defenselink.mil/transcrip...nscriptid=4145

Obviously the US is not going to come out and threaten Putin's ability to launch missile attacks. But it's hard not to think that Putin can't see that if this system works, or is being worked on to this degree, there will be challenges faced.

[sonar732]

Ok everyone...the first part has taken place...sit back and let's keep the civility as time goes by.

Kosovo Declares Independance

Fox News Coverage

Has pictures of Kosovo Albanians holding British and American flags.
CNN Coverage

[Skybird]

As expected. But I think Kosovo has turned more Albanian than independant. More important, it is a late total victory for islamic land-taking. In a medium- and long range perspective, for the West it is set to prove to be a pyrrhus victory only, and it is not worth the row it has created with Moscow. The US and the EU may have piushed for this move together, yes - but the consequences will affect Europe exclusively. Wishing wisely is an art. The West does not excel in it, but is like a kid in a store full of sweets.