F-35B Vertical Landing...the video!

F-35B Vertical Landing...part 2.

The second F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing jet, BF-2, prepares for its first vertical landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011.

The second F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing jet, BF-2, prepares for its first vertical landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011

2nd Battalion 9th Marines--Operation Oasis...

Marines with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, rush towards a CH-53E helicopter after successfully executing Operation Oasis in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 3. Marines with Golf, 2/9, inserted via helicopter and surrounded a local bazaar making sure no one exited. During the operation, Marines were able to enroll nearly all locals into an identification system database and discuss issues concerning locals at several shuras.

Marines with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, rush towards a CH-53E helicopter after successfully executing Operation Oasis in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 3. Marines with Golf, 2/9, inserted via helicopter and surrounded a local bazaar making sure no one exited. During the operation, Marines were able to enroll nearly all locals into an identification system database and discuss issues concerning locals at several shuras.

 A Marine CH-53E helicopter shoots flares as it approaches its landing zone during Operation Oasis in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 3. Marines with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, inserted via helicopter and surrounded a local bazaar making sure no one exited. During the operation, Marines were able to enroll nearly all locals into an identification system database and discuss issues concerning locals at several shuras.

A Marine CH-53E helicopter shoots flares as it approaches its landing zone during Operation Oasis in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 3. Marines with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, inserted via helicopter and surrounded a local bazaar making sure no one exited. During the operation Marines were able to enroll nearly all locals into an identification system database and discuss issues concerning locals at several shuras.

Lance Cpl. Arthur E. Pew, a rifleman with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, stands security at a shura during Operation Oasis, in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 3. During the operation Marines, were able to enroll nearly all locals into an identification system database and discuss issues concerning locals at several shuras.

Lance Cpl. Christopher A. Buie, a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, takes a picture to enroll a local Afghan into an identification database during Operation Oasis at a bazaar in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 3. During the operation, Marines were able to enroll nearly all locals into the system and discuss issues concerning locals at several shuras.

The Land, Air, and Sea Special Operations (LASSO) vehicle

Thanks Anonymous...whoever you are!  This vehicle reminds me of a stretched British Tomcar for some reason...

F-35B Vertical Landing

The second F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing jet, BF-2, descends to its first vertical landing on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011, at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Fred Schenk piloted the aircraft during the flight.

The second F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing jet, BF-2, descends to its first vertical landing on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011, at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Fred Schenk piloted the aircraft during the flight.

China testing Indian Border Defences.

via West-Bengal.com...

China crosses Ladakh line again; stops work

The soft talk of premier Wen Jiabao on his recent visit to India apart, Chinese dadagiri on the border in Ladakh continues.
In a revelation that threatens the warming of relations between the two South Asian majors of late, Chinese troops crossed over to the Indian side sometime during September-October and forced the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) government to suspend building of passenger sheds atDemchok in Leh district.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) personnel said the territory where the construction was taking place was “disputed”.
Fearing tension, the J&K government stopped work and reported the matter to the Indian army, which guards the line of actual control (LAC) in Ladakh.
“Chinese troops came andtold us to stop work. Our armyalso said unless clearance comes from the ministries of defence and external affairs, no work will be done,” Leh district development commissioner T Angchok said.
He said the work had just begun when it was stopped by the Chinese army.
This is the second time a developmental work has been abandoned in Ladakh under Chinese pressure. Earlier, the J&K government had stopped building a road after PLA objected.
“A portion of the road had been laid when objection came from the Chinese side.We had to abandon the project,” J&K minister for rural development Ali Mohammad Sagar said.
Of late, the Chinese army has been intruding at will. Sometime ago, the troops crossed over and threatened nomads grazing cattle near the border.
In 2009, the Chinese army had violated the international border in Ladakh and painted boulders and rocks in the area red. The troops had entered nearly 1.5 km into India on July 31 near Mount Gya.
Before this, Chinese helicopters had violated Indian air space on June 21 and heli-dropped rotten food.
While China has been preventing construction by India, its own misadventures continue. In 2009, for the first time after the 1962 standoff between the two countries, the Chinese army carried out construction along the international border across the Karakoram ranges in Ladakh.
A J&K government reporthad then claimed that the Chinese were taking “land in inches, not in yards”.
Union minister for new and renewable energy Farooq Abdullah has a word of caution.
“We want friendship with China, but at the same time we have to take steps for our security. The Chinese prime minister recently visited India and there was a lot of hope. But unfortunately, water has been poured on some of our expectations,” he said.
—With PTI inputs

I haven't paid much attention to the happenings in Asia.  My mistake.  It appears that part of our world is heating up.  

INTERESTING! Gates warns China over J-20 and ASBM.

via Los Angeles Times...

Reporting from a U.S. military aircraft —

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates warned Saturday that China's development of advanced missiles and a new stealth fighter could endanger U.S. naval and air forces, and he said the Pentagon would "respond appropriately." They clearly have the potential to put some of our capabilities at risk, and we have to pay attention to them. We have to respond appropriately with our own programs," Gates told reporters as he traveled to Beijing for three days of talks with senior Chinese leaders.

Wow.  With those few words it seems that US defense strategy is about to change.  Dirt wars are out...big dawg enemies are back in.