Kill or Be Killed.

Update:  I originally had a little commentary with this film.  It didn't do this film justice.  Just watch it.

Sharkeys World Blog..

Did you think that the fight to get the Harrier back into service was over?  If so then you haven't read Sharkeys World Blog.

I don't know how wide spread the movement is, but British Forces will suffer a power projection nightmare for at least 5-10 years if this decision isn't reversed.  The Royal Air Force is professional but a Naval Air Arm is essential.

Update:
The Ark Royal is finally being paraded to the scrap yard  ...  this quote best states my opinion  ...

What will be the next strategic shock? I cannot predict it - nor can the Government. To lose our maritime strike capability in such dangerous times is short-sighted.

Lord West of Spithead

China Defense Blog on the new trainer.

China has a new trainer according to the China Defense Blog.

Aircraft retired too soon...Part 2!

In my previous post, I listed a few aircraft that were retired too soon.  But in light of technological advances this must be modified...my new roster....

F-14

Think about the capabilities of this beast with modern engines, AESA radar in that huge nose, it already had FLIR but add to it a modern derivative...and then add the possibilities with small diameter bombs and you have an early 4th gen that could compete with anything flying...they gave up on it way too soon.

S-3 Viking

The Viking.  Hoover.  First real deal multi-role platform in Navy service.  Name one airplane that served in the Anti-Sub, Anti-Surface, Refueling, Attack, and Electronic warfare roles besides the S-3.  You can't.  It was an original, its still available and should be put back into service.  Especially with the threat of Chinese subs.

C-141

Criticized by many but only because they never understood its role.  Strategic long range airlift.  Fast, and long ranged, it could carry tons of paratroopers to far off lands so they could do their LGOPs thing (Little Groups of Paratroopers rampaging across the country side).  The C-141 filled the role between the C-5 and the C-130...the C-17 is adequate but geared more toward moving gear.  The C-141 has longer legs, is a better people mover and with modern engines would be even more effective.


I'm sure their are many more.  You'll notice that airplanes from our allies aren't included.  If you have good candidates, then send them my way.

Pic of the day. Jan 22, 2011.

Another Joe Copalman special!  A Tucano in the desert of Arizona?  Interesting!

J-20...just a demonstrator?

If the J-20 is just a demonstrator then someone had better tell the Chinese people...and quick!  I love anime' and sci-fi wall papers.  While searching one of my favorite sites for the latest offerings, what did I run across?  I ran across a little bit of Chinese nationalism in the form of the J-20.  Nothing wrong with nationalism, nothing wrong with touting your latest and greatest.

But there is something wrong with our companies helping the enemy all in the name of profits.

There is something wrong with our President bowing to a foreign head of state as if he were subservient (with the implication that the US was subservient to that nation).

Consider this a rant but I'm not pleased with many aspects of our domestic and foreign policy.

Kicking Pirates since the N. Koreans aren't available.

Numerous people have hit me with articles about the S. Korean Navy/Marine Corps retaking a hijacked ship off the coast of Africa.

My take on this?

The N. Koreans weren't available so the Pirates were a poor second choice.

If you believe anything believe this.  The S. Korean Marine Corps, Navy, Army, Air Force, their Leadership and its people all want to taste N. Korean blood after the atrocities of a few weeks ago.

The pirates just nutted up and attacked the wrong ship.

This got beyond interesting.  It got deadly for some misguided idiotic little boys that picked the wrong target because they didn't have a clue when it came to the political power of the people when they're sufficiently enraged. 

The S. Korean government had no choice but to act forcefully.  Another black eye and they would have been forced out of power.

Russian uproar over AK-47 replacement talk.

via FoxNews...

"The AK-47 is outdated because of it’s not an accurate weapon,” Scales said. “What I suspect is the Russian are looking for something that's a little bit more refined, a little bit more versatile, more accurate -- and their willing to sacrifice what the AK-47 brought in 1947."
Scales says an accuracy target of 400 meters is not good enough for modern day warfare. The gold standard for weapons in the West is the American M-4, which is accurate to 600 meters and beyond.

Interesting.  The Russians have done good work with the AK-74 and its many derivatives so the call to possibly buy a foreign weapon is curious to me.

I don't know whats going on inside Russia but something appears to be brewing.

First the buy of the Mistral...

Second the attempt to buy Israeli UAVs...

Third the idea of buying IVECO armored vehicles...

and now the idea is being floated of buying Western small arms!

What is going on inside there?