SNAFU!

Wednesday, June 06, 2012

F-35 News. 06.06.12

A little F-35 news to set the proper tone for the week for all those deluded fools that actually think this airplane isn't every bit the gamechanger I claim...

First from the Why the F-35 Blog....

The veteran F-16 operational tester and Weapons School grad shared some of his impressions the F-35. The jet is powerful, stable and easy to fly.
"One of the things this aircraft usually takes hit on is the handling because it's not an F-22," Kloos says. "An F-22 is unique in its ability to maneuver and we'll never be that."
But compared to other aircraft, a combat-configured F-35 probably edges out other existing designs carrying a similar load-out. "When I'm downrange in Badguyland that's the configuration I need to have confidence in maneuvering, and that's where I think the F-35 starts to edge out an aircraft like the F-16," Kloos says.
A combat-configured F-16 is encumbered with weapons, external fuel tanks, and electronic countermeasures pods that sap the jet's performance. "You put all that on, I'll take the F-35 as far as handling characteristic and performance, that's not to mention the tactical capabilities and advancements in stealth," he says. "It's of course way beyond what the F-16 has currently."
The F-35's acceleration is "very comparable" to a Block 50 F-16. "Again, if you cleaned off an F-16 and wanted to turn and maintain Gs and [turn] rates, then I think a clean F-16 would certainly outperform a loaded F-35," Kloos says. "But if you compared them at combat loadings, the F-35 I think would probably outperform it."

Read the whole thing but that puts a fork into the heart of the Bill Sweetmans and Carlos Kopps that claim that the F-35 can't compete with 4th gen fighters.

From US News DotMil Blog...

So when the F-22 oxygen system flaws led Panetta to step in, there were whispers in defense circles that the F-35 might be prone to spawning the same pilot wooziness.
Lockheed Martin responded to DOTMIL after multiple requests for comment, sounding a confident tone.
"They are different systems," Lockheed spokesman Michael Rein says. "The F-35 and F-22 have common aircraft oxygen system suppliers but the systems are very different...The two systems each utilize a similar approach and architecture, but they are packaged and implemented differently.
"The F-35 program continuously monitors issues present in other aircraft assessing applicability to our current design," Rein says. "The program has leveraged the lessons learned from F-22 development to enhance the F-35 across all subsystems, including the Onboard Oxygen Generating System."

Another punch in the gut to the critics. Different system so NO. The F-35 will not be affected by whatever is wrong with the F-22.

Next we have Element of Power Blog...

The Concurrency Bogeyman is not going to disappear until people who use it get called out for their lies, so 'good on' Bucci and the Heritage foundation!
Awww. The Usual F-35 Hatin' Suspects seem to have shown up at the Heritage site with their usual quiver full of lies, half-truths, and distortions. How quaint. They range from ignorant to stupid-but they're quaint. Around here people say 'Bless their hearts' when we see that kind of lunacy.

Three different blogs...all come to the same conclusion. And if all that isn't enough, the testing program is rolling full speed ahead...

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – Cmdr. Eric Buus brings F-35C Joint Strike Fighter test aircraft CF-3 in for a landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., May 29. The flight was the 300th flight for the F-35’s carrier variants and evaluated improvements in flight control laws for carrier approaches. The F-35C carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter is distinct from the F-35A and F-35B variants with its larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear to withstand catapult launches and deck landing impacts associated with the demanding aircraft carrier environment. The F-35C is undergoing test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River prior to delivery to the fleet.

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Blast from the past. 22nd MEU (Special Operations Capable) in Afghanistan circa 2004...

Afghanistan (June 2, 2004) � U.S. Marines assigned to Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) wait for the word to move toward a mountain from which Taliban snipers are engaging the lead elements of their convoy. The Marines were near the village of Siah Chub Kalay, while participating in Operation Asbury Park. The intense fighting between the Marines and Taliban lasted for eight days and more than 80 Taliban fighters were killed while eight Marines were wounded in the most intense clashes during their deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). U.S. Navy photo by USMC Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks (RELEASED)

) move toward a mountain from which Taliban snipers are engaging the lead elements of their convoy. The Marines were near the village of Siah Chub Kalay, while participating in Operation Asbury Park. The intense fighting between the Marines and Taliban lasted for eight days and more than 80 Taliban fighters were killed while eight Marines were wounded in the most intense clashes during their deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). U.S. Navy photo by USMC Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks (RELEASED)

Notice how lightly equipped the Marines are. Notice the lack of optics on rifles and how Marines are equipped while pursuing the enemy. That is the hallmark of warriors on the offense. Today, we're so encumbered with bodyarmor, snivel gear and other doodads that we've lost mobility.

Marine Corps WarFighting Lab needs to fix that!

Avatar...the laaaate review.

An entertaining little film once you got past all the mythical "mother" planet nonsense. Paganism....a certain kind of Paganism is still around...at least on the movie screen.

Utah State Aggies win challenge issued by USAF Special Ops.

Interesting.

Not DARPA hard but interesting non-the-less...Full story here.

What is Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (LF CARAT) 2012 ?

Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (LF CARAT) 2012 is comprised of multiple bilateral exercises, which are conducted alongside the Naval and Marine/Army forces of partner Southeast Asian nations. The exercises constitute significant theater security cooperation events for the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet, Marine Forces Pacific, and the U.S. Pacific Command.
The primary exercising force is a Naval Task Force, which has been designated by Command Seventh Fleet. Included are embarked Marine Corps forces, which compose the landing force. The landing force conducts tailored exercises with counterpart armed force elements, alongside adjacent Naval exercises conducted concurrently. The scope, size, and details of each exercise varies depending on individual tailoring in the host nation's request for subject matter exchange.

For the 2012 exercise, the landing force is composed of an Infantry Rifle Company, Amphibious Assault Vehicle Platoon, and Headquarters. 4th Marine Regiment is the operational command element. The landing force is embarked throughout the exercise.

Aweome.

By the very nature of these exercises, the Marine Corps will be coming into contact with Army Special Forces teams more and more.

And I find that interesting.

Outside of Army SF, the rest of SOCOM is basically dedicated to direct action missions and direct action missions only. The Rangers can easily revert back to a swing role of being the nations Rapid Response Force (they'll get competition from Marine Expeditionary Units and the 82nd's Division Ready Brigades) and generally example to the Big Army but MARSOC, AFSOC, and NAVSPECWAR are all going to be looking for work. The Pacific as big as it is might become a crowded place real soon.

Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (LF CARAT) 2012

U.S. Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Tyson

Pic of the day. Amphibs..

Thanks to Scott for forwarding this pic. Love it.

GCV participants.

Thanks to my buddy Dwi for sending me this link!

via Yadlishyron.com

So called artists are just sick bastards with title.

This is just sick. You can dress it up and call it art but its just sick. Nicholas Fiorenza of Aviation Week pointed to the article.

Read about the craziness here.

BAE/Iveco SuperAV datasheet.

I made contact with BAE and the good folks provided me with this datasheet...Questions still remain though, and I hope to have answer soon.

Marine Personnel Carrier 0911

General Tolley sacked.

Thanks Tom for sending me this story.

via the New York Times.

SEOUL, South Korea — The Pentagon has replaced the commander of United States Special Forces in South Korea after a media report quoted him as saying that American and South Korean troops have been parachuting into North Korea on spy missions, a statement denied by Washington and the government in Seoul.

He's lucky if all that happens is that he's sacked, and the cover story that its all part of the normal rotation of jobs is nonsense. Let me put it another way. I bet he didn't have PCS orders before the conference in which he made the gaff...and they were suddenly on his desk afterwards.

Good riddance.

May the General's travels be filled with stormy seas and gail force winds.