Why no B-1R experiment???

Boeing proposed it.

Supposedly the USAF wasn't interested.

Which leads to the question.  Why not?  Every scenario for combat in the Pacific shows an outnumbered allied air force being overwhelmed.  A couple dozen missile trucks would seem ideal.

Instead of a new bomber perhaps we should find new ways of using the tools that we already have.  At the very least conduct an experiment at Red Flag with one or two of them.

Raytheon SDB II

Sharkey and friends are upset about the F-35 u-turn.

120418 - Cameron 'to Change His Mind' on the One Thing He Got Right in Defence

So Sharkey and friends see RAF fingerprints all over the switch back to the B model.

Interesting.

They make a couple of points in this paper that I disagree with but they also make a couple of points I can't dispute.  I don't have good enough visibility on the UK defense complex to give a proper opinion.

One claim made that I find interesting is that they claim even Super Hornets or Rafales operating off her majesty's carriers would put the Typhoon to shame.

Like I said interesting.

The Typhoon has largely escaped a serious inspection of its capabilities.

Either way.  The UK has some serious egg on its face. My recommendation.  Sort it out and stop acting like a "CHAV".

Exercise Joint Warrior

Exercise Malabar 2012.

BAY OF BENGAL (April 14, 2012) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97) transit in formation with Indian navy ships during Exercise Malabar 2012. Carl Vinson, Bunker Hill, and Halsey are part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, and are participating in the annual bi-lateral naval field training exercise with the Indian navy to advance multinational maritime relationships and mutual security issues. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans/Released)

BAY OF BENGAL (April 14, 2012) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97) transit in formation with Indian navy ships during Exercise Malabar 2012. Carl Vinson, Bunker Hill, and Halsey are part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, and are participating in the annual bi-lateral naval field training exercise with the Indian navy to advance multinational maritime relationships and mutual security issues. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans/Released)

BAY OF BENGAL (April 14, 2012) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97) transit in formation with Indian navy ships during Exercise Malabar 2012. Carl Vinson, Bunker Hill, and Halsey are part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, and are participating in the annual bi-lateral naval field training exercise with the Indian navy to advance multinational maritime relationships and mutual security issues. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans/Released)

Kickin' Up Dust

Marines of 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Battalion Landing Team, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit wait to be extracted by helicopter during a rehearsal of the final exercise at Exercise Africa Lion 2012, April 16. AL-12 is a U.S. African Command-sponsored, Marine Forces Africa-led exercise involving various types of training including command post, live-fire and maneuvering, peace keeping operations, an intelligence capacity building seminar, aerial refueling/low-level flight training, as well as medical and dental assistance projects. The annual exercise is designed to improve interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation's military tactics, techniques and procedures.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Main)

U.K. F-35 vid

Super AV 8x8 for the Italian Amphibious Brigade.

via Defense Aerospace.

Iveco-Oto Melara will also exhibit the VBA, a combination of the SUPERAV of Iveco D.V. and the HITFIST OWS weapon station turret of Oto Melara, developed to match the requirements of the new Italian Amphibious Brigade. With outstanding mobility on land and in the water and air-transportability in a C130, the VBA provides an optimum blend of tactical, operational and strategic mobility. Its HITFIST OWS weapon station incorporates the latest technologies in the fields of electronics, signature and Man Machine Interface (MMI) with outstanding performances in terms of lethality, survivability and fightability.

Those sneaky Italians!

Not only did they leverage USMC requirements for a Marine Personnel Carrier into getting themselves a new vehicle for their Amphibious Brigade, but they will also gain a new vehicle for the export market (to compete against the Mowag Piranha, Patria AMV and Terrex).

Absolutely brilliant.