BTRZ Heavy APC.

Thanks for the link Mr. T!

Another Ukrainian project.  It really appears that when you run out of money you really do begin to think.  Tons of tank chassis lying around, what do you do?  You turn them into heavy APC's!

Canada having second thoughts about the F-35.

via Washington Post.

Many thought that by now Canada would have decided whether to buy the planes — a move that would help drive down costs in the nearly $400 billion program — or instead force the plane’s manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, to compete for its business. But it’s now unclear when that will happen.
Some fear that if nations such as Canada balk, there could be questions about the long-term affordability of the program.Meanwhile, Boeing, one of Lockheed Martin’s fiercest competitors, has pounced on what it sees as an opportunity in Canada and other countries to tout its F/A-18 Super Hornetas a proven, affordable alternative.
Facing budget constraints, Italy and the Netherlands have already curtailed the number of F-35s they said they plan to buy. Denmark is holding a competition that would pit the F-35 against other fighters. Meanwhile, the production line at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant has been limited to a little over 30 the past two years, as tightened U.S. budgets and technical problems have forced the Pentagon to significantly slow its procurement as well.

The unreported story that is the cutbacks that the F-35 has already suffered...and will continue to suffer.

This plane is already in a death spiral.  Italy and the Netherlands proves that...the only question is how many in the US order will get cut.  The Navy is already signalling that and so will the USAF once they see the performance of the X-47 aboard carriers.

This turkey is already stuffed.  It just needs to be stuck in the oven. 

Expect more Ferguson's.... I'm calling it!

"We are jobless men, and this is our job now -- getting justice," he said. "If that means violence, that's OK by me.  Anonymous Ferguson Protester

Operative words in the above quote...jobless...

I'm calling it as far as an economic collapse approaching ... and fast.  The Arab Spring?  The US State Dept would say that it was a call for freedom.  The reality was that it was all based on poor economic conditions in those nations.  You don't see the same thing in Europe and the US because we have a much criticized safety net.  But thats a misnomer.  It isn't a safety net for individuals but a safety net for governments.

How do you keep people from rebelling?  You keep them fed and somewhat comfortable.

People are hot about the issues in Ferguson but for the first time we're finally hearing the truth. Its about the economy.  Racial strife might be a part but its mostly about the economy and the police shooting is serving as a nice, pleasant substitute for the real issue.

I'm calling it now.

We're going to see alot more of this...and soon.  No one wants to protest in the winter time, especially in the Northeast corridor where they're extremely vulnerable to this type of thing.

And watch out for this Oct.  I don't know why that is the crazy month for bad things with the stock market but it is and things are slowing down.

This will get more interesting before its all over.

Expect more Ferguson's, more unrest, and much more drama before the winter snows calm everything down.

You heard it here first.

Ukrainian Heavy Wheeled APC based on T-64 chassis.

Thanks for the link Mr. T!

Interesting concept.  It makes sense but I wonder what the engineering challenges were...we saw the reverse when General Dynamics attempted to take the wheeled Stryker and make it into a tracked vehicle.  That effort was abandoned so I imagine its much more difficult than I imagine.  More info here.

Blast from the past. CH-37, the first USMC heavy lift helicopter.

X-47B Drone & Manned F-18 Takeoff & Land Together In Historic Test

"Lavi" M-346 Jet Trainer night flight ops.

I can't wait to see these weaponized.  With modern precision attack munitions & air-air missiles I wonder why more countries aren't buying pocket fighters for homeland defense?  With the enormous cost of the F-35, we probably will in the near future.