Just a quick note - the blasters that the stormtroopers use are actually vis-modded FG 42s (

No, not at all. Just a big believer in civil discourse. Using uppercase is a generally recognized equivalent of raising your voice/yelling in text on the internet (as I’m sure you’re aware), so...

Your argument would probably be more effective if you didn’t lead with an insult. Maybe try discussion and reason before jumping to insult and ‘yelling’?

But he’d never buy one, it’s hydrogen powered....

...Up to a point. Their electronics are still behind western equivalents. They gave up trying to produce their own thermal imagers several years back, for example, and have been importing them from France.

There were several very large tank battles during the Iran-Iraq Gulf War in the 80s, and the 91 Gulf War. But no, nothing on a large scale since then. A handful of tank vs tank engagements in the 2003 invasion. Maybe battles involving half a dozen tanks or so on each side in Ukraine.

The problem is that most of the recent conflicts, particularly the ones involving the US, haven’t been between peers in a military sense. Things have been asymmetrical. Large military institutions vs either small and antiquated forces (invasion of Iraq - though tanks still played an important part here, see below) or…

The CIA actually published a history of the plane and its development here:

Actually the sale has been blocked since last year... No Leopards have been sold to Saudi Arabia. That said, there's still pressure to allow the sale to go through, so things could change.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Easiest way to see is to read the url: this-t-33-named-almost-gave-me-a-buzz-cut, so it looks like it was missing the actual name.

The problem with IFVs would be tanks... Tanks are still overmatched in terms of armour and firepower when compared to IFVs. Something as well armed and armoured as, say, a CV90, still wouldn't stand much of a chance against a Leopard 2.

They still have a role. It's a niche role, but it exists. Air superiority still can't win a ground war, and when you're fighting in open terrain, tanks are still unmatched.

I guess if you want a real-world analog, you could look at many of the expeditions to Africa and South America between the 16th and 19th centuries. Ostensibly they were about exploration and wealth and later on exploration and science, but they still brought along a military contingent because they just didn't know…

Cryo has more uses than just long, sub-light travel. Frozen people don't need much in the way of food, oxygen or space. All important especially when you don't know just how long a trip it's going to be.

"is a very hot business category for both Boring and Airbus right now."

I still play a lot of L4D 2 (Versus) with a regular group of players. It can be very competitive if you know what you're doing. Just a matter of good coordination and ability to spot opportunities with the infected. Don't just spawn in and attack, know the map, know strengths and weaknesses of what you have, and…

Coaxial rotors are pretty common with some manufacturers. A lot of Kamov designs are coaxial.

Also, if you broaden it out to naval platforms, the StanFlex system used (with great success) by the Danes and imitated somewhat (half-assedly) for the LCS could be considered:

The Boxer?

Have fun trying to stabilize a gun on a hovering platform. Not to mention a high recoil weapon like a tank gun on a frictionless (or near frictionless) platform... Wheee. You'd need a (near) recoilless, self-guided weapon. Like a missile. Or if we're going full sci-fi, a laser (though stability would probably be…