F-35 critics meet the 'Hot Gates'

Seems that the critics of the F-35 are turning rabid.  I guess I touched a tender spot...check these comments out from a guy on Ares to some of my comments (follow the link to get the full context...these are just snippets)...

DamaclesIam wrote:

....Been a long time since posting here due CofI's but have been watching. Now that Capability Surprise is on the streets am now free to pursue other more banal interests albeit under a different guise.

See you still have the same old-same old wannabes and self promoting BS artists, plus a few new ones.

One in particular stands out so had some research done. The following lifted off this one's Blog says it all -.....

and then he stated on another post...

To the poster known as Solomon,

Take a look at what was provided over on Bill's -"What, Me Worry? - USAF on PAK-FA" and get a grip.

Bullshit and bullshitters are insidious things that should be eradicated, with prejudice, from society.

If you are not careful ahd keep glugging their bovine excrement down in the quantities you apparantly already have, the cognitive bias and resulting dissonance you are trying to deal with (and not very well) will end up frying your brain.

You have already had a pretty bad bout of this, before, haven't you? Maybe contributed to why you and the Corp went separate ways.

Anyway, be careful - very, very careful.

Wow.  I said I must have touched a tender spot...nope...I must have touched an open festering sore that when poked causes extreme, unbearable pain.  I'm loving it.

This blog is where I hold them.  This blog is where their ideas die! 

Marines learn the Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP)

Marines with Company B, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, race to set up security around downed aircraft personnel during a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 18. During a TRAP mission, Marines are expected to enter a crash site, apply immediate medical attention to injured personnel and extract as quickly as possible. Cpl. R. Logan Kyle

Marines with Company B, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, transport a casualty to their Light Armored Vehicle during a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 18. Cpl. R. Logan Kyle

Marines learn to recover downed aircraft personnel 

 

Marine pilots and their crew provide ground units tactical leverage over today’s enemies with superior firepower, maneuverability and other key elements crucial to winning a war. When an aircraft goes down, those ground units are expected to return the favor by quickly and efficiently recovering their comrades.

Marines with Company B, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and Weapons Co., 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, participated in a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel exercise here March 18, in preparation for an upcoming deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Okinawa, Japan, later this year.

Staff Sgt. Justin Timbs, the chief instructor of the course and an Elizabethton, Tenn., native, said the Marines are simply applying the knowledge they learned aboard the Combat Center.
“We were in Twentynine Palms a couple weeks ago teaching the Marines some classes about the course, and now they’re applying the knowledge they gained through [practical application] exercises,” Timbs said.
During a TRAP mission, Marines are expected to enter a crash site, apply immediate medical attention to injured personnel and extract as quickly as possible. They are also taught to search for any classified or other security-sensitive materials the enemy could use to their advantage. Once Marines locate the downed pilots, they split into two teams, a recovery element and a security element.
Lance Cpl. Robert Arbelaez, an LAV crewman with Co. B., 3rd LAR, said the training is making him and fellow crewmen a more efficient team.
“It’s going really well so far,” said Arbelaez, a Dayton, Ohio, native. “We’ve been the main security element, and we got to do some pretty cool stuff out here.
“They said we’d be using the ‘crawl, walk, run’ approach to this training, but I feel like we skipped the walking part and took off on a dead sprint,” he said with a laugh.
For some Marines, the MEU will be their first deployment, and they are witnessing firsthand how quickly a situation can escalate. Each scenario in the TRAP course is designed to test the Marines’ decision-making skills and communication.
When the Marines feel they’ve got everything under control, I’ll toss in a few more enemy combatants, said Timbs about making each scenario more challenging.
 “We got a little disoriented out there, but we still knew what needed to be done,” said Pfc. Colin Barnett, a machine gunner with Weapons Co., 1st Bn., 7th Marines, and Easton, Md., native. “This whole company is full of new guys, and it’s good for us to come out here and learn a hell of a lot each day.
“I’m pretty Excited for the MEU. I can’t wait to travel and see the world,” he added.
The Marines are scheduled to complete the training evolution next week and continue to prepare for their upcoming deployment this summer.

This is another indication that the Marine Corps is getting back into the water in a big way.  This is a core mission of a Marine Expeditionary Unit.  Its good to see and is an indication that at least one of the services is looking past the current wars and into the future.

S. Korean ship sinking update....

War News Updates is doing the heavy lifting of keeping us all updated on the happenings surrounding this incident.  I recommend you scan his site to stay informed.  This incident is being spun and the more that time goes on the less we seem to know.

What we do know now...
1.  S. Korean Police are on alert
2.  2nd Infantry Division is on alert (although its being kept low key)
3.  No US ship movements have been reported.
4.  No US aircraft movements have been reported.

You can't handle the truth!

The F-35 is the air system that will stand on that wall!  Ares and ELP have some pretty interesting conversations on the aircraft.

But the debate is breaking down.  I think it might be time to move on to other subjects.  Supporters and detractors are talking past each other now.  If it ain't news then it won't be on here in the future.  Opinion is really irrelevant.  The program won't be stopped/canceled/delayed.  Detractors of the airplane need to understand that.

JSF sizzling but not too hot for carriers...

And the good news keeps coming for the F-35! via DODBuzz

JSF Not Too Hot For Carriers

By Colin Clark Friday, March 26th, 2010 2:28 pm
Posted in Uncategorized

The STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter is not too hot and is not too loud, Marine Commandant Gen. James Conway told DoD Buzz during an editorial board session.
The most troubling operational challenge that appeared to face the F-35B, next to weight, was reports that it would not be suitable for a carrier or other ship because its exhaust would melt the flight deck. Not so, Conway told reporters from Military​.com. The plane, at 1,500 degrees, is just 18 degrees hotter than a Harrier, he said Thursday.
He also debunked persistent reports that the JSF will blow the ears off of people living near their flight paths, Conway said that noise levels for the plane are “well in range of legacy aircraft” like the F-22 and the F/A-18 E/F. Bottom line, the JSF ain’t a whisper jet, but communities familiar with existing aircraft shouldn’t have much to worry about.
On the negative side, Conway noted that “we will lose 28 aircraft over the FYDP” but said he thought the “news for us on JSF is relatively positive” given the recent test successes at Patuxent River.
On an issue dear to his heart, Conway again praised the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle. Recent blast tests give him “a high degree of confidence” that the flat-bottomed amphib can protect its crew almost as well as an MRAP.
He also said he had spoken with Reps. Gene Taylor and Roscoe Bartlett, senior members of the House Armed Services Committee who have expressed strong concerns about EFV, and believed he had convinced them that the flat-bottom design is “an absolute need” to cope with requirements for a vehicle capable of handling Category 4 sea states as it plows in to shore. The EFV must be able to plane, he said, and only a flat bottom lets it do that.
The Corps expects to take delivery of seven EFVs this summer, he said.

Corvette Sunk...

War News Updates is tracking a breaking story of the sinking of a S. Korean ship.  These points stick out to me.

1.  Small ships are vulnerable.
2.  Rescue operations will consume resources
3.  Political considerations make these ships anything but expendable
4.  Small ships with small crews are limited in controlling battle damage.
5.  The LCS will have a crew compliment similar to a corvette even though its a couple thousand tons heavier
6.  The LCS concept might be as vulnerable as this ship in an active war
7.  The LCS program is misguided and should be canceled.

But that's just my opinion.  Go to War News Updates for the latest on this potential conflict.

They want the technology...

The saga of the Russian attempt to buy Mistral BPC's is a confusing one.  Why would a nation that fields some of the worlds most advanced ballistic missile subs, is developing what some call a 'world beating' 5th generation fighter and are soon to display an advanced tank...why would they want to buy an Amphibious Assault Ship?

Well now we have at least a partial answer.  Its about technology.  This is via Ria Novosti...

Russia will only buy fully-equipped Mistral from France - Gen. Staff chief

The chief of the Russian General Staff said Thursday that Russia would only buy a fully-equipped Mistral-class amphibious assault ship from France.
Russia is negotiating the purchase of a Mistral-class ship from France, worth 400-500 million euros (around $540-$675 million). Russia could also use French technology later to build another three such vessels in Russia in partnership with the French naval shipbuilder DCNS.
"Russia's leadership and Defense Ministry have a clear position on the issue. Should a final decision be made on Mistral, we will purchase this ship only if it is fully equipped - with all control and navigation means and armaments," Army General Nikolai Makarov told the Rossiiskaya Gazeta Nedelya government weekly.
"The only exception is helicopters. They will be domestically made. Everything else is to be made to their standards completely," he said.
But the French Defense Ministry on Thursday reiterated that if the deal is struck, Mistral-class vessels would be delivered without armaments.
"The president said publicly in front of his Russian counterpart what the scope for negotiations was," spokesman Laurent Teisseire was quoted by AFP as saying.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said March 1 at a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev that Mistral is "a helicopter carrier we will create for Russia without military equipment."
A Mistral-class ship is capable of transporting and deploying 16 helicopters, four landing barges, up to 70 armored vehicles including 13 battle tanks, and 450 personnel.
Many Russian military and industry experts have questioned the financial and military sense of the purchase, and some believe that Russia simply wants to gain access to advanced naval technology that could be used in the future in potential conflicts with NATO and its allies.

MOSCOW, March 25 (RIA Novosti)

The insistence on being built to French standards is telling.  We'd be handing them the keys to NATO.  I would think that this would make the deal a non-starter for the French...but then again...they are the French.

Mobile Gun System...

40MGS41 Mobile Gun System

The 40MGS41 mobile gun system is one of the latest technologies in the US Army. Soldiers in Germany test out the vehicle system.

Military Diplomats...

I have always questioned the utility of sending vital military machinery to distant shores to establish military to military contacts.  The US Navy is a real big proponent of the idea and has gone so far as to send an AIRCRAFT CARRIER to Peru!

A mobile training team...yes.  A riverine unit...yes.  Even a Special Forces A-Team or Air Force Combat Controllers...but an aircraft carrier?

The Navy isn't able to properly confront the piracy problem...isn't able to staunch the seaborne smuggling of weapons into the Gaza strip (want to see peace between Israel and the Palestinians...stop the Palestinians from launching rockets!) and yet they are sending their premier warship to Peru!  Amazing.  Read the pathetic attempt at making warriors diplomats...via DefPro.

Carl Vinson Partners with Peru to Promote Maritime Security
09:07 GMT, March 26, 2010 USS CARL VINSON, At Sea | USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) is conducting joint operations from March 25 to April 2 with Peruvian naval and air forces as part of Southern Seas 2010, a major component of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Partnership of the Americas.

"The eight days of joint naval exercises with Peru are a great opportunity to realize the full potential of Southern Seas 2010," said Rear Adm. Ted Branch, commander, Carrier Strike Group 1. "Together we will reinforce our commitments to the common goals of partnership, maritime security, and stability."

Carl Vinson along with USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) will conduct various joint naval and air exercises with Peruvian forces. Additionally, Carl Vinson expects to participate in a number of local community activities during an upcoming port call in Callao, Peru. The ship will also host visitors and media for tours.

"We have more than a week to engage in a meaningful, two-way flow of information," said Carl Vinson's Commanding Officer, Capt. Bruce H. Lindsey. "That's an invaluable experience for both countries as we seek to enhance our interoperability. We look forward to our joint operations as well as learning from each other culturally during the social events together."

Carl Vinson recently completed similar operations with Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile during the transit to its new home port in San Diego.

Also conducting operations with Peru is Destroyer Squadron 1 and air wing components from Carrier Air Wing 17, Strike Fighter Squadron 81, Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125, Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40, and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 15, all of which are currently assigned to the Carl Vinson Strike Group.

Terminal Lance...the latest....

This guy's humor is killer...this is his latest.  Stop by his blog and check him out.

Update on F-16's to Romania...

I did an earlier post on Romania acquiring F-16's.  Well there was a kernel of surprisingly good news buried in the story that I failed to see.  Romania is using these aircraft as a bridge to the F-35.

That's another part of the F-35 story that I failed to consider.  The US is moving toward coalition warfare in a big way.  Another consideration is that many nations would love to participate --have motivated and well trained troops but only lack hardware.  Romania is one of those countries and I can easily see them providing an aid package to Romania and 'helping' them purchase the number of F-35's that they need.  Interesting.  And quite promising.
Via DefPro.com

Romania may buy a total of 42 F-16 while hoping to become a F-35 JSF customer
09:53 GMT, March 26, 2010 defpro.com | US-built fighter aircraft may continue their successful penetration of former political antagonists’ markets, as recently Romania voiced its interest to purchase used F-16 fighters to begin to replace its ageing fleet of Russian-built aircraft. So far, the C-130B and C-130H are the only Western aircraft (besides the 10 purchased RQ-7 Shadow UAVs) in service with the former member of the Soviet Block, which since 1962 primarily relies on a significant fleet of old MiG-21 LanceR.

According to the Romanian Ministry of National Defence (MoND), the company has now decided to gradually end the era of the MiG-21 by replacing them with an initial order for 24 F-16 fighter aircraft of the US Air Force fleet. Within the framework of Romania's Multirole Aircraft Programme, an intermediate stage will involve the purchase of an additional 24 F-16 of the Block 50-52 version and is expected to be followed by the procurement of 24 F-35 Lightning II figher aircraft, replacing the first batch of older F-16s. While the first F-16s are expected to be introduced in 2013, the future fighter aircraft programme, recently detailed in a statement by National Defense Minister Gabriel Oprea, schedules the introduction of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) around 2025.

The purchase of the first batch of F-16s, which still has to be inked in an agreement between Romania and the US, has an estimated value of $1.3 billion (€1.12 billion) and will include refurbishment and full equipment of the aircraft, technical assistance and logistical support, as well as simulator training.

Comments Problem...

Ok, I tried another fix on the comments problem.  If you have any issues send me an e-mail...contact information on the right side panel...

War News Updates ...

War News Updates hit the motherload.  If this doesn't motivate you then nothing will!  I shamelessly steal this from his website, and express no apologizes.  Its so good it has to be spread!  If you're in hurry fast forward to 1:47 and you will hear a shit talking, motivating son-of-a bitch.  I love it!

Good find War News Update!! *note...after listening to this for the 6th time, I just realized that their is language that might be offensive to some.  Warning!  Real men are talking!