Monday, November 03, 2014
F-35C lands on a carrier. So did a C-130...that's not the real test.
via Reuters.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The first of two Lockheed Martin Corp F-35C fighter jets landed successfully on the USS Nimitz off the coast of San Diego on Monday, marking the new warplane's first landing on an aircraft carrier using its tailhook system, the Pentagon said.The F-35C landing on a carrier is a landmark event? Sorry. Not even close. I'm not even an aviation guy and I know better.
Joe DellaVedova, spokesman for the Pentagon's F-35 joint program office, said the landing was part of a two-week sea-based test that runs through Nov. 17.
It marks another milestone for the Pentagon's biggest weapons project, a $399 billion program designed to replace over a dozen different types of warplanes being used by the U.S. military and its allies.
After years of delays and cost overruns, the F-35 program has generally met its schedule and cost targets since a major restructuring in 2010, although a temporary fleetwide grounding ordered after an engine failure in June has set back testing by 45 to 50 days.
The sea-based testing of the plane will give officials key data about the ship's performance on a carrier, and allow any adjustments needed to keep the program on track for initial use by the fleet in 2018.
Navy test pilot Commander Tony Wilson, who landed the CF-03 aircraft on the Nimitz flight deck just after noon, called it a "landmark event."
Its not about landing. A combat UAV did that earlier this year and did it in a precision approach. Back in the 60's a C-130 did it. I'm not sure but I think they even played with U-2's on deck.
No. The real issue will be on the dull and boring work that takes place below deck.
No one is talking about maintaining stealth at sea anymore. That's dropped off everyone's view screens but that's gonna be the deal breaker. That along with the price that they're moving heaven and earth to lower. That along with a maintenance bill that looks to swallow the Marine Corps and Navy alive.
Congrats on the landing, but don't be fooled.
This turkey is not yet finished screwing with the Naval Services. The spiral is here, they're fighting to prevent it but I just don't see a way out for them. Oh and remember. You heard it here first.
Sidenote: The Naval Services in general and the US Navy in particular are facing a huge problem. Unlike the USAF, their airplanes are useless unless they have ships to operate from. Additionally the US Navy sees future air combat in a fundamentally different way than the USAF does. This is built in friction. The USMC no longer has the main booster in chief in the Commandant's chair and adult leadership will see cuts made. The only piece left to fall in place for that eventuality is Republican control of the Senate.
Marine Aviation Plan...otherwise known as Ground Combat Element, you're screwed.
Note: USNI News had this first.
Read the plan and weep for the ground side.
They call it the Marine Aviation Plan? It should be called Ground Combat Element, you're screwed letter.
If this goes forward we won't be able to buy an AAV replacement until 2050. Everyone likes to believe the lies that the F-35 isn't responsible for the procurement trainwreck. This document proves otherwise. The Marine Corps is getting butt fucked by that abomination of an airplane.
Everything must die so that the F-35 can live.
Read the plan and weep for the ground side.
They call it the Marine Aviation Plan? It should be called Ground Combat Element, you're screwed letter.
If this goes forward we won't be able to buy an AAV replacement until 2050. Everyone likes to believe the lies that the F-35 isn't responsible for the procurement trainwreck. This document proves otherwise. The Marine Corps is getting butt fucked by that abomination of an airplane.
Everything must die so that the F-35 can live.
US Army getting 18 M109A7 self propelled howitzers...
 |
| The M109A7 program is a significant upgrade over the vehicle’s predecessor, the M109A6 Paladin Self-Propelled Howitzer, restoring space, weight, and power-cooling, while providing growth potential for emerging technologies. The design includes a Bradley-common chassis, engine, transmission, suspension, steering system, and improved survivability, while leveraging technologies developed during the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon program such as a 600 volt on-board power system. The state-of-the-art “digital-backbone” and power generation capability provides significant growth potential for future payloads as well as accommodating existing battlefield network requirements. |
Its subtle and could point to where armor is going. If a future medium tank is built using the Bradley chassis then its a huge win for the Army.
What the FUCK! Call of Duty!!! Updated.
Thanks Dima for pointing this out to me!
This shit has me high and to the right.
I don't know what the game developers over at Call of Duty are smoking but they need be throat punched, followed by a steel toed boot to the 'nads and then taken out back and having the living shit beat out of them.
You don't play with this.
You don't have the fucking right.
The CoD bastards need to get a clue. Yeah. Its a game, but this shit is fucking disrespectful....they crossed the line big time.
Update: As usual, my readers say it better than I ever could...
This shit has me high and to the right.
I don't know what the game developers over at Call of Duty are smoking but they need be throat punched, followed by a steel toed boot to the 'nads and then taken out back and having the living shit beat out of them.
You don't play with this.
You don't have the fucking right.
The CoD bastards need to get a clue. Yeah. Its a game, but this shit is fucking disrespectful....they crossed the line big time.
Update: As usual, my readers say it better than I ever could...
Movies are storytelling. Games are interaction. Having a movie or a game cutscene with military funeral is one thing. "Press F to pay respects" is basically treating a military funeral like a minigame. Like "Press F to enter the vehicle", "Press F to use the machinegun turret". You dont turn a funeral into some minigame. I myself am just an ex-IDF MP, and this just feels...wrong...It just doesn't feel wrong. It is wrong. The whole world can disagree but I don't care. This time the world needs to move, not me.
Dima, a frequent commenter on this blog
SEAL community finally tones down its act.
via Daily Beast.
Early on I was slamming the way that the SEALs all seemed to be attention seekers. I compared how working with Green Berets was a painless, enjoyable experience (well as enjoyable as an op can be) ... How Rangers were just confused Marines and how Navy SEALs always came off as too cool for school.
When the former Top SEAL and SOCOM Commander McRaven was doing his "around the world tour" and then was confronted by a retired US Army Green Beret General, who admonished him for being in the public eye so much...while a room full of reporters laughed at the weathered old snake eater, my stomach turned.
Now we have this.
The SEAL Community has turned on one of their own because he published a book on the Bin Laden raid.
I wonder what made this one book too many? I wonder why it suddenly became an organization that works in the shadows? I wonder what happened to have them finally get the message that an old, retired, two star snake eater was trying to get across to them.
I don't know what happened or why, but it really looks like the SEAL community is toning down its act.
He speaks with wistful bitterness of how in the aftermath of No Easy Day’s publication, he reached out to that SEAL Team 6 commander who fashioned the fake headstone to explain that he’d never intended to put out anything that would endanger his teammates.I find this fascinating.
The Navy captain responded to the text from Bissonnette with the words, “Delete me.”
Ahead of the publication of his latest book, the current head of all Navy SEALs, Rear Adm. Brian Losey, repeated that sentiment in a letter to the community that seemed timed for Bissonnette’s 60 Minutes appearance this weekend—and the advertised appearance of a SEAL who calls himself “The Shooter” who is slated to appear talking about the raid on Fox News later this month.
“A critical tenant of our ethos is ‘I do not advertise the nature of my work nor seek recognition for my actions,’” says the letter obtained by The Daily Beast, signed by both Losey and the SEAL Force Master Chief M.L. Magaraci.
“Violators of our ethos are neither teammates in good standing, nor teammates who represent Naval Special Warfare. We do not abide willful or selfish disregard for our core values in return for public notoriety and financial gain, which only diminishes otherwise honorable service.”
The letter goes on to say “All members exposed to classified information have a duty to protect this information, regardless of what may be reflected in the media, accurately or otherwise,” and finishes by saying the command will seek judicial consequences against those who “willfully violate the law and place our teammates, our families and potential future operations at risk.”
Early on I was slamming the way that the SEALs all seemed to be attention seekers. I compared how working with Green Berets was a painless, enjoyable experience (well as enjoyable as an op can be) ... How Rangers were just confused Marines and how Navy SEALs always came off as too cool for school.
When the former Top SEAL and SOCOM Commander McRaven was doing his "around the world tour" and then was confronted by a retired US Army Green Beret General, who admonished him for being in the public eye so much...while a room full of reporters laughed at the weathered old snake eater, my stomach turned.
Now we have this.
The SEAL Community has turned on one of their own because he published a book on the Bin Laden raid.
I wonder what made this one book too many? I wonder why it suddenly became an organization that works in the shadows? I wonder what happened to have them finally get the message that an old, retired, two star snake eater was trying to get across to them.
I don't know what happened or why, but it really looks like the SEAL community is toning down its act.
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