Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

All right a little news and as always if I'm posting it that normally means I'm tracking it where it might apply to the game.

1. A favorite of mine the USAF A-10 how about that CAS by the F-35A vs the A-10...
http://www.janes.com/article/48957/a...a-10-follow-on
http://www.janes.com/article/48878/u...-10s-to-europe

2. Covered this with the USMC ref. I provided earlier dealing with the F-35B/C jets this probably was taken from the same with further conformation(s) that confirms the AV-8 HARRIER and HORNET retirement dates...
http://www.janes.com/article/45885/u...e-usd1-billion

3. UGANDA (The Su-30 might be an add.) sending air assets to SUDAN...
http://www.janes.com/article/46364/s...su-30s-to-juba

4. Been tracking this from the beginning the MMRCA Program from INDIA we'll know something next month (And end my misery hopefully! .)it appears but Daussault can't be feeling very hopeful about closing the deal for the RAFALE...
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...changes-01989/
http://www.janes.com/article/49098/a...rly-next-month

5. The reason Daussault is concerned for their RAFALE is the cost, so here's INDIA's solution and let's not forget their project with Russia and if I have to tell what that is well, you haven't been paying attention for the last four years or so. Anyway...
http://www.janes.com/article/47805/h...dian-air-force
http://www.janes.com/article/49142/a...ghter-progress

6. ARGENTINA shopping around and there's "news within the news" of the second ref if you read it carefully also the UK is not going to like the following concerning ARGENTINA and CHINA coming together on a very likely deal for advanced fighters...
http://www.janes.com/article/48726/a...-working-group
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...planes-022821/

7. IRAN puts an old/new fighter into the mass production the SAEGHE...
http://www.janes.com/article/47766/i...saeghe-fighter

8. UK reconstitutes 3rd TORNADO SQD...
http://www.janes.com/article/47823/u...d-tornado-unit

9. UK about to equipment it's TYPHOONS with the PAVEWAY IV as already equipped on the TORNADO the TYPHOON will carry six and can launch these simultaneously imagine seeing that in the game!?!
http://www.janes.com/article/46434/r...s-from-typhoon

10. IRAQ getting help from the UAE in the form of the SUPER TUCANO and the MIRAGE 2000-9...
http://www.janes.com/article/48114/u...ucanos-to-iraq
http://www.airforce-technology.com/n...-force-4493293

11. Will EGYPT beat INDIA to became the first export customer for the RAFALE!?! As I've said before this INDIA we're talking about, congratulations EGYPT!!!
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/art...4-rafales.html
http://www.janes.com/article/48964/e...ghter-aircraft
http://www.janes.com/article/49025/e...e-and-missiles

12. An update on KOREA's KF-X fighter program...
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/art...r-project.html

13. FRANCE offers MIRAGE-5F fighters to COLUMBIA...
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi...d=160660&cat=3

14. You lucky Europeans how's it feel to have Russian Bombers flying over and near your airspace again? I'd be a little concerned myself given the current situation in the Russian border zone and within the last rew days Russia itself...
http://barentsobserver.com/en/securi...-warhead-01-02
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/555...er-the-Channel
http://www.janes.com/article/49064/r...lose-to-europe
The first two above as reported by DID.

15. F-35 news...
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...itment-023629/
http://www.janes.com/article/49141/l...y-improvements

16. CHINA introduces next H-6 series bomber the H-6K not much out there on these planes but with what we have should be enough to verify there isn't more of these in the OOB than there should be based on the data we have. Besides what was used to get them in the OOB in the first place? But then I don't know if they're in there in the first place!!
So I'll just have to CHECK, VERIFY and make recommendations.
http://www.janes.com/article/49127/x...bomber-details
http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/h6.htm
http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/h6k.htm
M-T always seems to be the first to get equipment data out there most of the time.

Well the taxman has come and gone. It's nice to know he'll be making deposits vice withdrawals, now I can put 2014 behind us-TG!?!

Regards,
Pat

[PvtJoker]

Originally Posted by FASTBOAT TOUGH

13. FRANCE offers MIRAGE-5F fighters to COLUMBIA...
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi...d=160660&cat=3

Mirage 2000-5F, not Mirage 5F... The former is roughly the French equivalent of the F-16C, the latter an obsolescent 1960s attack aircraft based on the Mirage IIIE.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

This is why Don loves my late night forays as well but, since I just got home a short time ago unfortunately this will happen at times. Thanks for the catch! Does make a world difference though, also they are saying those MIRAGES did perform better then their F-16C/D fighters.

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well this next article is the most update and comprehensive one out there on the F-35 on all types, timelines, issues, capabilities, weapons by types/loads etc. etc. and even comparisons to existing craft and they were eye opening in a couple of instances not from what I already knew but how big the gap truly is and admitted too. We're in such a hurry now with this plane that even with the current software issues widely reported in the main stream media here, that the CORPS is going to push on to IOC with limited and restricted operational capabilities. Makes AUSA look real good from the articles posted in here about three or more years ago on the F-35. If you really read this carefully it's just a sad situation.
Again DID is a multi-sourced publication.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...ersies-021922/

Regards,
Pat

[Suhiir]

I'll be curious to see if the USMC manages their intended July 2015 date for an operation F-35B squadron.
BUT ... until one is actually operational I'll stick to my current January 2017 date. Don's been bit in the butt too many times in the past buy "intended" vice "actual".
Besides, there's always 2016's WinSPMBT patch.

[Suhiir]

I always love the folks that say the F-35 is a "Fighter", and not a very good one. It's a "Ground Attack" aircraft, and should be a significant improvement over most currently in use.

I'll stick to my current 01/2017 deployment time, but I did suggest a few weapon loadout changes based on your find.
Thanks again Fastboat!

I also love the A-10 as a ground attack aircraft, if only they could figure out how to put tail hooks on them and get them off a runway less then 1,200m ...

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I've been waiting for the "GHOSTRIDER" for ~3yrs. now. The only minor surprise for me is that AFSOC decided to stay with the 105mm, but it proved it's value again in Iraq and in the mountains of Afghanistan so I'm glad it's there. And with VIPER STRIKE anti armor and other precision strike weapons, new electronics offensive and defensive suite onboard it'll be someones nightmare on the ground. The SPECTRE is already on my list as well. If all goes well operational testing should be complete by Spring of 2016 so that puts it out two patches anyway.
http://www.janes.com/article/53354/a...trider-gunship
http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets...hostrider.aspx
http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDispla...t-ac-130j.aspx

TRACKING

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

As I'm sure Don is well aware of, there have been many stories on what the Liberal Party in Canada under now Prime Minister Trudeau promised it would do if elected. One that had possible ramifications to our defense industry and beyond was, the promise to end Canada's participation in the F-35 program. No formal decision has been made thus far from the Trudeau government but, the French are feeling confident enough to offer the RAFALE to the Canadian government now.
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com...in-time-05991/
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/rafale/
http://www.military-today.com/aircra...ult_rafale.htm

The consequences of a decision by Canada to drop the F-35 will be huge for some countries as the per unit cost before maintenance/support considerations are taken into account, will mean a million dollar increase regardless of who's buying them.
Hit the highlighted portions of the top/first para for those details.

This article will also have me take a look at the RAFALE in the French OOB, since this a multi-sourced document, it's enough to do a quick check, the issue here is the first version(s) weren't a ground attack capable platform. I'll see.

Also this is as good a place as any for the next article as it pertains to Canada and Russia. The Northwest Passage opening up is causing a "can of worms" between those two countries and others. Russia is wasting no time in establishing bases/or reopening in some cases Cold War era bases long shut down in the Arctic. At stake besides territorial issues are the vast resources and who'll control them in that region (Is someone thinking about a scenario/or campaign here!?!) both Navies are there and we've visited as well.
http://www.armyrecognition.com/march...equipment.html
http://www.newsweek.com/2015/07/17/u...ic-349973.html

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Before our two year budget gets approved the DOD will have to cut a further 5 Billion dollars from the defense budget. So for the USAF a further delay for the F-35 was already mentioned. The USA is supposed to draw down another 40,000 troops and around 19,000 civilian personnel. And we'll the effects of that here after Thanksgiving. With all this "doom and gloom" it appears you can't keep and "old bird" down face it, it's still our best CAS asset we have. Here's the latest.
http://www.janes.com/article/49836/p...ic-replacement
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...utm_medium=RSS
http://www.janes.com/article/54629/u...10a-re-winging
http://www.janes.com/article/55459/u...-syria-strikes
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com...program-03187/
http://www.janes.com/article/55895/u...tirement-delay

What's this all mean?
1) Improved birds (2 I think.) will need to be added.
2) Current plans take the A-10 out to at least 2021. Though ongoing life cycle issues will keep the A-10 flying/viable through 2028.

And since Don can reasonably understand "Conklinese" something I've very recently touched on, has left me with a "loss of appetite" and you might be "serving dinner without me" but I'll let you know via PM as the situation has been developing for sometime and is ongoing into the foreseeable near term future.

Regards,
Pat

[Suhiir]

Not directly game relevant but never-the-less interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtZN...6m1GAg&index=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyHl...6m1GAg&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkrR...6m1GAg&index=3