The Warthog
The Air Force Material Command (AFMC) is bringing the A-10 depot line responsible for A-10 maintenance and repair back to full capacity. Despite announcements that the Air Force would being retiring the A-10 in 2018 AFMC chief Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski recently told Aviation Week that they plan to keep the A-10 in the air “indefinitely.”
The Warthog is currently the only Air Force plane being used for the sole purpose of close-air support (CAS). The U.S. military relies heavily on (CAS) in the battle against ISIS in both Iraq and Syria. The iconic GAU-8 Avenger 30-millimeter gatling gun found at the nose of the aircraft and its “low and slow” flying capabilities have made it an invaluable resource for missions against ISIS.
I don’t know why I have a soft spot in my heart for this aircraft. I just do.
There’s A Laser Guided Missile Pointed Right At Your Tits
This Navy fighter jet is all decked out in pink to join the fight against breast cancer https://t.co/1wAnWn3AMh pic.twitter.com/tkgRbCYUlq
— CNN (@CNN) October 18, 2016
So, Hillary, about that Iran Deal.
USS Mason Fired 3 Missiles to Defend From Yemen Cruise Missiles Attack.
The Decline And Fall Of The American Empire
USS Surrender: Navy ship to be named for late gay rights leader Harvey Milk …
The Decline And Fall Of The American Empire
The modern multicultural super-tolerant western state of this century takes stock of its strongest point, and decides that it’s not the old industrial machine, which destroys the environment, its traditional heritage, which is problematic, or its problem solving skills, which are too technical, but its values of super-tolerant multiculturalism. And so it wages war on those insane terms.
h/t Larry
What’s going on in Turkey?
BREAKING: Reports military has blocked the Bosporus Bridge in #Istanbul for an unknown reason. – @WashingtonPoint pic.twitter.com/7zacpE4Zx4
— Conflict News (@Conflicts) July 15, 2016
Social media surfing updates (by Kate)
BREAKING According to our source, Turkish president Ardogan left the country in his private presidential jet https://t.co/nH2AYhT6c3
— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) July 15, 2016
Evening update: The coup appears to have failed, with both sides claiming control.
Oh, Shiny Prime Minister!
The best social program is military procurement.
Reader Tips
Your tip for this evening: Don’t bring a MiG to an F-14 Tomcat dogfight.
Thread open.
Of Course….
“They have made up their minds and are working on the right narrative to support it.”
I’m not tied to the F-35 by any stretch, but come on, can’t any gov’t just give the real reasons for buying the jets instead of making up narratives?
Another set of dupes
I’m betting these guys didn’t see this coming from their ‘ABC’ campaign.
To do that, the government will essentially demote some veterans to a rank below the one they held when they left the military – something that the veterans say is not only unfair but humiliating.
Anything to save a buck for ‘office renovations’, refugees and PM Selfie’s vacations, eh.
“I’m hit”
h/t Jean
USS Prudent
What do they know that we don’t know? “… the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, has just resumed training officers in the lost art of celestial navigation.”
On a related note – despite the thousands of miles I drive each year, I refuse to use a GPS. I don’t like the way the device undermines situational awareness.
“You can run, but you’ll die tired”
“Hands down, the scariest/most intimidating message for the Taliban, at any level, from fighter to Taliban senior leadership, is anything to do with drones or aerial bombings,” the briefing explained, quoting a Taliban leader American troops had detained in Nuristan. “The Taliban has no way to defend against them and they are certain to end in absolute destruction of whatever their target is.
Honey, I Finished The Internet
Reader Tips
The last fighter pilot of WWII. h/t Wayne
Tips thread open.
Oh, Shiny Prime Minister!
During a 90-minute grilling by Tuesday morning MPs, including Liberals, on the House of Commons defence committee, asked Sajjan questions about Canada’s defence policy. He hemmed, hawwed, and stumbled through his testimony, declining to provide any details on the CF-18 replacement process; the use of armed drones, Canada’s cyberwarfare abilities; how Canada help defend North America against Russian aggression or any other topics he was asked about.
Sajjan’s excuse? Canada’s defence policy is under review, a review that will not be complete until the end of the year.
The Decline And Fall Of The American Empire
“…it now takes an average of 22½ years from the start of a weapons program to first deployment”
The U.S. currently spends $598 billion on defense, slightly more in inflation-adjusted dollars than in the Reagan administration in 1987, when its defense budget peaked. Reagan-era spending produced a fleet of 594 ships, 15 carriers, 35 Air Force fighter wings, 220 strategic bombers and 20 Army divisions, all with full stocks of missiles and weapons, along with adequate maintenance. Today’s spending has produced a force from a third to half the size, with depleted weapons and low readiness.
Let’s be Honest
Canada’s military procurement, sole-source or not, has always been ridiculous and inherently political.
99 Luftballons
Let's see first https://t.co/vYWuqFcpA7 Ujjal, now https://t.co/ls6GIoIn94 Rae. Anyone else see balloons around? #Cdnpoli
— Lance Levsen (@LLevsen) November 14, 2015
And now https://t.co/DdQYPEVTig Terry Milewski…..
— Lance Levsen (@LLevsen) November 15, 2015
And let’s not forget the magic-wand of Liberal ideals, an evidenced based policy.
Either feathering the bed for as gentle a let down as can be for Trudeau’s supporters or a not-so-subtle smack up the head for the Liberal leadership.
Add in Rona Ambrose today telling Justin to grow up and play ball…yeah, Ottawa is going to be interesting in the next few weeks.