Its true. The UK might switch back to the F-35B.

Interesting news Gents.

I stand by my statement.  The F-35B WILL be the best selling model of this airplane when it comes to foreign buyers.  It won't even be close.

Check this out from Bloomberg.

The U.K. is reconsidering its 2010 decision not to buy Lockheed (LMT) Martin Corp.’s F-35B jet, said U.S. Navy Vice Admiral David Venlet, program manager for the Joint Strike Fighter.

Asked in an interview if the U.K. is again interested in the F-35’s short-takeoff and vertical landing model, Venlet replied: “That is under consideration.”
If the U.K. decides to buy the F-35B, it would be a boost to Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed, as well as the U.S. Marine Corps, which is the major customer for the airplane. In January, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta lifted a yearlong probation on the B model, which is the most complex of the three F-35 variants. At an estimated $382 billion to produce different models for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, the F-35 is the Pentagon’s most expensive weapons program.
In October 2010, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, who is scheduled to visit the U.S. and meet with President Barack Obama March 13-14, announced that Britain wouldn’t buy the F-35B model. Instead, the U.K. expressed interest in the Navy’s aircraft carrier version, which is projected to be cheaper than the short-takeoff and vertical landing model.

The U.K.’s reconsideration of the F-35B model is a “relatively new development” driven by “national U.K. financial constraints and what it costs” to modify its two future Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers so they could carry the U.S. Navy’s F-35C, Venlet said after a presentation to a Credit Suisse conference on defense programs yesterday in Arlington, Virginia.

Read the entire article but....

I guess the old saying "steel is cheap, electronics are expensive" actually is true.  I'm having a bit of trouble believing that this entire decision is based on the costs to modify the ships though.

Supposedly that was taken into account when they decided to switch to the C version in the first place.  This strikes me as more political than industrial and books will be written about the Brits vacillating between different versions of the F-35.

A small, neat, multirole helicopter from the Polish nation.

Heat Ray?

Geez.

I remember when this was requested in Iraq and it got denied.

Still conflicted on the use of non lethal weapons in a war zone.  In my opinion it gives the lawyers another reason to second guess the guy on the ground dealing with a belligerent person.

This might or might not work.

Thanks Joe for the info!

State Dept CH-46.

Geez it looks better in State Dept colors than it ever did in the old grey.  I hope it fly's a long time.

State Department H-46 in flight near Fleet Readiness Center East, March 8.

Still not sold.

Watch this video.


Watch it carefully.


What do you see?



I saw a magnificent combined arms task force performing the most difficult of all military operations....

WHILE DELIVERY AID PACKAGES!  WHILE BEING A MILITARIZED MEALS ON WHEELS!

THIS STILL SUCKS!

DUMP THIS AD CAMPAIGN!

Fuck! The Marine Corps turns metrosexual.

I think I'm gonna be sick.

We're turning a war fighting organization into a meals on wheels, Dr. Phil and general all around wimp club instead.

Read this bullshit over at Military.com.

I'm going grab a shot of Makers Mark.  Make that two.

UPDATE:

Before all the apologist hit me with their nonsense, understand this;  if you want to help starving children, deliver medical aid in a third world country or build schools in undeveloped areas then you need to join the Peace Corps, or some other relief agency.

If you want to be a part of what was once the world's premier shock troops then you join the Marine Corps.

Poor leadership leads to poor results.

"Nuff said.

Friday Fun

Enjoy.