Originally Posted by
typerated
I look at the Osprey as an example of why the west is doomed!
The Russian fly Mil-8s and they cost (and pulls numbers out of his bum!) 1/10th as much to buy and 1/20 to fly as an Osprey. Can lift more (fair enough they don't go as fast) and be maintained by two illiterate peasants with just a bottle of vodka and a screwdriver.
And when both arrive they drop off a few grunts
Now how much was the US Deficit and how much do the spend on defence?
Yup, look past the significant speed advantage, the significant range advantage, the payload advantage, the ability to self deploy, the ability for sustained shipboard operations, etc and you nailed it.