Oh Russia's still pretty secretive. They are still an extremely tough fighting force.

The Comanche would still be cancelled, it became obsolete with the invention of the UAV.

Remember the Comanche was a reconaissance platform, the Apache was still going to retain the job of tank busting.

The commanche still could have done some tank busting of its own though. However it is a light helicopter and it would be dangerous for a mission which involves tank busting. Its a pity to see the chopper cancelled.

I believe the USSR would be stuck in the 1980's or early 90's when it comes to civilian technology. They never payed attention to cars, tv's and such. As for military... it would be much, much stronger than it is today, thats for sure. They'll surely have large numbers of all of the new equipment they have today.

Speaking of civilian technology, i bet they would've responded to the internet in a way similar to china, but not as restricitive. If glasnot continued and there was no coup, gorbachev would've wanted the soviet people to be more exposed to western ideas as well as new entertainment for the masses.

Too bad they can't prove it in Chechnya.

Originally Posted by EagleStrike

Oh Russia's still pretty secretive. They are still an extremely tough fighting force.

As for the USSR defense budget being so high, it's not because their economy was doing so well. It was too high for the USSR to sustain. It's a bit like looking at North Korea through defense spending in PERCENTAGES. NK looks like it should have at least 10 aircraft carriers but it doesn't because the country is so poor and the percentage is high because they got so little money.
The USSR in the Cold War spent itself to death. So that number you see, it would have never maintained itself for the past 10 years.

Personally I don't see how the USSR could have ever lasted up until now. But if it did, I'm sure we'd be having 1990 in 2005 instead.

How close have you been to Chechnya?, they are god damn fighting people....

And this is Russia forces today(from a German page) http://www.globaldefence.net/

(Defence Budget): 18 Mrd. US-$


allgemeine Wehrpflicht (Conscripts): ca. 330.000 Wehrpflichtige (18 - 24 Monate / Month)
Aktive (Actives): ca. 980.000
Reservisten (Reserves): ca. 2.500.000
Landstreitkraft (Army)
Soldaten (Soldiers) 321.000
Kampfpanzer (Main Battle Tanks) 21.370
gepanzerte Fahrzeuge (Armored Vehicles) 29.000
Artilleriegeschütze (Artillery) 20.500
Kampfhubschrauber (Armed Helicopters) 1.700
Helikopter (Helicopters) 1.200



Luftstreitkraft (Air Force)
Soldaten (Soldiers) 184.600
Kampfflugzeuge (Combat Aircrafts) 2.600
Transportflugzeuge (Transport Aircrats) 280



Strategische/Weltraum Kräfte (Strategic/Space Forces)
Soldaten Nuklear-Kräfte
149.000
Soldaten Raketen-Kräfte 100.000
Soldaten Luftverteidigung 21.000
Bomber 74
ICBMs 740



Seestreitkraft (Navy)
Soldaten (Soldiers) 155.000
Marines 9.500
Marineflieger (Naval Aviation) 35.000
Kampfflugzeuge (Combat Aircrafts) 217
Kampfhubschrauber (Combat Helicopters) 102
Flugzeugträger (Aircraft Carrier) 1
Kreuzer (Cruiser) 7
Zerstörer (Destroyers) 14
Fregatten (Frigates) 10
Uboote (Subamrines) 53
Patrouillenboote (Patrol Boats) 108
Minenboote (Mine Warfare Vessels) 72

Nicht slecht. Aber nummer ist nicht alles.
(Not bad. But number isn't everything)

Originally Posted by the_13th_redneck

Nicht slecht. Aber nummer ist nicht alles.
(Not bad. But number isn't everything)

Of course not but it matter.

U.S.S.R spend too much on building huge number of strategic weapons and did not paid much attention on its deteriorating economy.

Furthermore, the introduction of western type doctrine during Gorbachev's rule effected communist ideologies to some extent and military failure in Afghanistan brought the final nail to its coffin.

But if we suppose that U.S.S.R cut down its military expenditure on time and focused more on its economy and existed till today then the challenges would stay in the shape of IRON CURTAIN in Europe and though Iraq would be punctured as it happened in our times but whose side China would join would be the most interesting part (As China had problematic relations with both U.S.S.R and U.S.A) but if it joined any side, that would simply tilt the balance of power in the favour of that particular superpower.

Also a new war might brake out in either IRAN or DPRK over Nuclear-issue.