- Ukraine downed a Russian Su-34 fighter jet over Kursk amid an ongoing territorial push.
- The Su-34, worth around $36 million, is Russia’s most efficient fighter bomber with advanced tech.
- Ukraine has previously held long kill streaks with Russian Su-34s.
They can’t even make sufficient ball bearings to keep their railroad alive; they depended entirely on western imports lol
Solid propaganda but I am sure China can machine them some fucking ball bearings lol
There are shortages though.
The bearings in trains are actually pretty complicated to build. They use slanted roller bearings, not just regular old ball bearings. 10 companies in the world make like 70% of all rail bearings, and 5 of those are in Japan. Plus, only a few countries produce the two steel alloys that you make these bearings out of.
China does produce around 20% of the bearings used in trains, but pretty much all of it gets used for domestic purposes and they still have to import due to their massive rail expansion projects
Okay im ignorant on this one, why do trains use ball bearings? And is this for traditional trains or high speed?
Pretty much anything with a turning wheel and axel relies on some sort of bearing system. That means traditional and high speed rail systems both require them.
There are some differences in types of bearing depending on what you use your rail system for. In the US we utilize antiquated plain bearings that are relatively easy to manufacture, but that’s because our rolling stock is ancient compared to most countries. Mainly because we rely heavily on trucks for transporting most goods and haven’t bothered investing in our aging rail network.
In Russia they have a much more modern rolling stock, as everything they ship goes through their rail network. Their rolling stock utilizes angled/slanted roller bearings, which can vastly increase their weight capacity, speed, and can double to triple their lifespan. The only problem is that they are complicated to manufacture.
This has really peaked my interest. Are these the types of bearings you are referring to? I’d like to read more but not misinform myself. https://www.savree.com/en/encyclopedia/tapered-roller-bearing-rail
Yep, that’s a tapered/angled roller bearing. They’re conceptually a pretty easy concept, but deceptively hard to manufacture
100% this isn’t a lost technology, it “just” needs some machines built
Does Russia even have that precision machining capability?
yes, they are capable. have you ever shot an AK-47?? They are marvels of engineering. You can bury it in mud, pick it up, and shoot it with no malfunction.
dont underestimate our enemies, that puts them at an advantage.
I have. They’re so reliable because of loose tolerances, not because of precision machining. If you shake them, they rattle. (An AR-15 does too, but only because of the plastic handguards.)
right, nothing to do with the size of the gas piston lol the tolerances were not a mistake, they are intentional in order to allow it to function when dirty.
I have never shot an AR15 that didn’t have slop. Don’t get me wrong, I prefer AR, but let’s not pretend AK isnt a marvel of engineering. Even Stoner would agree, and did
The ball bearings are made in Germany with a very specific level of precision that China can definitely replicate given how they rapidly caught up to the rest of the world in the past 30 years economically and technologically. (Hint was done primarily through corporate espionage and theft)
fuck IP, knowledge belongs to the world not imaginary borders created by hairless apes.
honestly. the reason 3D printing didnt take off until 2012? IP We could have been making progress in this technology since the 90s. but no… Imagine where we could be today if greed didnt keep that tech locked up for decades.
We have been stifling progress in the name of IP while China is starting to gain ground faster and faster.
I bought a chinese made phone, oneplus open, and it blew me away. US foldable phones are 2 years behind, despite being created by TRILLION dollar US companies. If the US is so afraid of competition maybe we should start competing!?
Everything you said I agree.