Turkish Navy LHD TCG Anadolu L-400 Amphibious Assault Ship

🇹🇷Navy LHD TCG Anadolu L-400
amphibious assault ship. The photos are fresh. She looks beautiful.👍

Gel de bitsin bu hasret👏⚓️⚔️#Turkey #Navy #ship #anadolu #tcg #turkishnavy #lhd pic.twitter.com/vXSXGRv63d

— BoxShipCaptain (@boxshipcaptain) May 6, 2020

Coming along nicely.  Additionally that new AAV they're working on will be a good match.  Since they're out of the F-35 program I guess they'll be stuck using attack helicopters and assault helicopters for their missions.

That might have dodged a bullet with that the more I think about it.  Not another ramble about the F-35 but more about this type of ship.

They were designed as helicopter carriers with a surface attack capability. Only later did they pick up the fast mover role.  In hindsight I think doing so was a mistake.  The better option in my mind is a Cavour type solution of a real deal light carrier, not a hybrid.

Open Comment Post. 7 May 2020

Snow Leopard looking fierce...even the hair is standing on its back...

FNSS PARS 8x8...

Bonus coverage?  How about I add a neat little tank destroyer...

I wonder if this could be developed into a universal weapons carrier.  If it can carry twin anti-tank missiles then a lightweight 25mm or 30mm setup should be possible.

Why am I so hot on this 4x4?  Armored, amphibious (I've seen it in vids swimming inland bodies of water...don't know if it could go from ship to shore) and it agility/maneuverability/off road performance seem to be high.

FNSS is on a roll.  Keep an eye on these guys.

State tests of the latest Boomerang BTR will be completed in 2021, the vehicle is being prepared for mass production

Russie : Les tests d'État du dernier Boomerang BTR seront achevés en 2021, le véhicule est en cours de préparation pour la production en série, a déclaré le directeur général (développeur) de la société militaro-industrielle. pic.twitter.com/Qi9wSUv95w

— Rebecca Rambar (@RebeccaRambar) May 7, 2020

Wait!  I thought they were redesigning this beast!  What happened?  Did the increased float requirement go away?

The Polish RAK-SMKs

The Polish RAK-SMKs on poligon. Rak is the 120mm self-propelled mortar system. The mortar can conduct indirect, semi-direct and direct fire against mechanised units, command posts, command-observation points and fortifications.
(c) militarysta pic.twitter.com/SI4qpRP5Lg

— The Dead District (@TheDeadDistrict) May 6, 2020

Former Captain of US Carrier Roosevelt Given Desk Job Instead of Old Command After COVID-19 Recovery

via Sputnik

Though many were looking to see Capt. Brett Crozier reinstated as commander of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, he is currently serving as special assistant to Capt. Max McCoy, chief of staff for the commander of Naval Air Forces, US Pacific Fleet.

Naval Air Forces spokesperson Cmdr. Ron Flanders confirmed Tuesday to the Navy Times that Crozier had arrived in San Diego, California, on Monday night after departing from Guam, where he and more than 1,000 other sailors from the Roosevelt were quarantined after testing positive for the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.

Flanders revealed to the US military outlet that Crozier will report to the commander of Naval Air Forces, US Pacific Fleet, while on temporary duty assignment.

When asked whether the temporary assignment signals a larger decision pertaining to Crozier’s possible reinstatement as the Roosevelt’s commander, Flanders refused to comment, noting the matter is “above us.” 

Here. 

Justice.  The US Navy is supposed to operate in all climes and places and in all kinds of conditions.  COVID-19 was an operational hazard but one that should have been contained enough not to turn into a national security hazard.

It wasn't.

He leaked the drama to the press.

Now?

Now he pays the price.

LAPD officers under investigation...

This LAPD officer is under investigation after footage showed him repeatedly punching a suspect pic.twitter.com/8yzohcIlBV

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) May 7, 2020

Ok.  This one looks bad.  From the video it looks like dude just went off and started punching the guy.  I don't know what happened cause I wasn't there but we'll find out pretty soon I'm guessing.

Late Weds Debate....Do stay at home orders violate the constitution?

Let's hash this out (in a real deal way...meaning a thinking discussion).

Do stay at home orders violate the constitution?  Are they legal?  Do they fit the purview of the govt?

On one hand you have the govt acting in what they think is the public good.  They're seeking to flatten the curve so our hospitals aren't overwhelmed (what they're trying to do now is beyond me).  They're also seeking to avoid prolonged economic and psychological damage to the public (although some would argue that we're well past that point and the damage will be felt for at least two generations if not longer).

We should all be able to agree that we're not gonna solve this thing till we have a vaccine or some type of prophylactic that can lessen the damage that this virus does.

So what do we do?

Continue for an undetermined period of time, or open the flood gates and take a chance that we all get bombed?

Israel will lease IAI Heron UAVs to Greece

The great security relations between Israel and Greece are expanding. First agreement between IMoD & the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense was signed: Israel will lease IAI Heron UAVs to Greece. The Israeli system will be used primarily for border defense. 🇮🇱🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/11Q27hYGjf

— Ministry of Defense (@Israel_MOD) May 6, 2020

The Electronic Attack Typhoon! via @DFI_Sancho Twitter Page...

While the other part is the EA version, that not only requires the development of dedicated jamming pods, but also the re-design of the wet stations to integrate fuel tanks in the inner wing stations.

=> pic.twitter.com/I4zjAdkawn

— Sancho (@DFI_Sancho) April 30, 2020

The Xian H-20, which is expected to double China's strike range, could make its public debut at this year's Zhuhai Airshow

Christian Thiels
@ThielsChristian

"The Xian H-20, which is expected to double #China's strike range, could make its public debut at this year's Zhuhai Airshow", writes
@TheNatlInterest https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/chinas-xian-h-20-stealth-bomber-response-f-35-151066

Hmmm.  Military Twitter is all a buzz about this but we've known they've been working on a B-2 copy for years.

From my non-aviation expert seat I'm betting it'll be a variation on a theme.  Semi-stealthy with long range and a huge weapons load.  In other words it'll be part of their carrier killing kill-chain.

Hope the US Navy is getting up to speed on its Fleet Defense and anti-missile systems cause all quadrant strikes on our carrier battle groups are being developed right before our eyes.

J-10C without tail number?!

J-10C without tail number?!!@RupprechtDeino pic.twitter.com/EJkwPJmCF2

— ResearchWing (@research_wing) May 6, 2020

CH-53K refueling pics via Chris Cavas Twitter Page...

#USMC Marine Corps #Sikorsky CH-53K test and development #helicopter practices refueling from a KC-130J aerial tanker using the boom-and-drogue method. A MH-60R helo stands by over Chesapeake Bay on 6 April. pic.twitter.com/2Ix6gSGduM

— Chris Cavas (@CavasShips) April 20, 2020

AIR WARFARE VIDEO: Progress continues with FVL (via Shepard Media)

Raider X...rapid acceleration without nose dip

Unlike traditional helicopters, RAIDER X won’t have to dip its nose to speed up. Rapid acceleration in constrained spaces will minimize exposure time to threats. Learn More: https://t.co/Y1mtAO3eyJ #FVL #FARA

— Sikorsky (@Sikorsky) May 5, 2020

I've been a little miffed at Sikorsky lately.  The CH-53K is eye wateringly expensive, and the Raider X is slow off the mark.

Having said that I hope they deliver.  The US Army and Marine Corps need both programs to work.  The CH-53K for obvious reasons for the Marines.  The Raider X as an alternative platform for those missions where the V-280 is unsuitable (thinking more of a Little Bird replacement for the Raider X with the V-280 replacing BlackHawks).

British Army establishes its 1st Aviation Brigade

Contemporary threats elicit a contemporary response, & the world of aviation is no different. The first ever Aviation Brigade in the British Army formed up on 1st Apr, bringing with it a new structure, new doctrine; in short, a brand-new way of fighting. https://t.co/dhJPordxHP pic.twitter.com/0crcp3JZGz

— British Army (@BritishArmy) May 5, 2020

Lockdown enforcement continues to spiral...

Ector County Sheriff’s SWAT team raiding a peaceful protest at Big Daddy Zane’s in West Odessa. The bar opened this afternoon despite Abbott’s latest orders, saying “all businesses are essential.”

Full coverage tonight on @KPEJFOX24News & @Big2News pic.twitter.com/WHiwhmisgs

— JuYeon Kim (@JuYeonKimTV) May 5, 2020

One commenter stated..."This is madness" and went on to say "This will not end well for my country".

Dude is spot on.

We're almost to the point of treating lockdown enforcement like we do drugs.  Luckily the Sheriff's have tremendous power.  Hopefully you work for a good one too.  That wouldn't fly for one microsecond in my part of the world.

Governor Of West Virginia "Fuckin stay at home" (at the 10 second mark!)

My jaw actually hit the floor at 10 seconds in pic.twitter.com/Bg9uJ8xndW

— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) May 5, 2020

Just plain wow.

Fuckin stay at home....

Open Comment Post. 5 May 2020.

If you heard about Russian S-300's not working then you missed the biggest part of the story...

Chinese JY-27

I've been monitoring the conversation about how the Syrians are complaining that the Russian anti-air network just isn't working against Israeli strikes.  That's been the main focus of the conversation but in my opinion it misses the big news.  Check this out...

This is not the first speculation about the effectiveness of these air defence systems, as they date back to the Soviet era and were supplied to the then USSR’s Syrian Baathist ally from the 1960s to the 1980s. They don’t bear comparison with more recent systems that Russia has manufactured, such as the S-400.

Radars which do work, however, are reportedly those manufactured and delivered by China in recent years, such as the long-range JY-27 and JYL-1 systems as well as the LLQ120 radar which detects low-altitude targets. These, the Syrian military has said, work successfully in their detection of Israeli missiles and help the success of some Russian air defence missiles. A potential solution, according to Avia.pro, could be to import more Chinese radars to work in conjunction with the Russian missiles.

Story here. 

That's the real news boys and girls.

The Chinese are building radars that are capable of detecting Israeli stealth strike missiles and they're enabling the older Russian anti-air missiles to be more effective in defeating them.

That's huge.

Think about it.  The Chinese are selling anti-air systems like hot cakes.  We've all speculated about how effective they were and many (myself included) concluded that the Russian systems were superior.

Maybe they're not (we need more details on which version of the S-300 is being used by the Syrians before I label the system trash). But we definitely need to look at the Chinese systems in a new light.