Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well since someone has left me doing Post #500 I might as well do it, with all my THANKS for making that possible!!

First is a follow-up too the many posts I've done over the years that guarantees the A-10 will still be flying through and just beyond the "20's". The last jet has been "re-winged" with 173 A-10C jets fully operational. The wings were taking a beating due to the combination of age and OPTEMPO. Besides the obvious flight advantages, it's ability to maneuver with a full payload has been restored w/o restrictions.
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/a-highertech-hog-the-a10c-pe-program-03187/

What I LOVE ABOUT "DID", is that they continually update their stories and provide those refs within, end of a section etc. or at the end of the article or both. This next is so long it's everywhere in the article.

The "tagline" is in the fact the F-35 will be going to Europe to get some "exercise" in some upcoming NATO Exercises. This all well and good however, what caught my eye was within the following section of the Ref., "The F-35 Family: Controversies and Competitions" all I'll say is I feel vindicated after pointing out many of these issues over the years with the AUSA Think Tank article I posted I can't even remember how many years ago and since.

A year or two ago I posted from various sources what capabilities define a 5th GEN Fighter and I stated even before that the F-35 after one of it's last final redesigns, was not one. The F-35 is no better then on par with the F-15SE, except that the last is still with the recent upgrades done system wide in recent years a much better air superiority fighter then the F-35.

For prospective the GRIPEN NG meets the requirements more closely to being a 5th GEN Fighter/Bomber (I acknowledge it carries a smaller payload, however, the point is a Fighter/Bomber is designed to fight its way in, drop the ordnance and fight it's way home again, if necessary.)

I believe there were five points that determined what made a jet a 5th GEN capable aircraft. And their are only two known aircraft that meet ALL five and they are the F-22 and B-2 Bomber.

The F-35 misses the mark with at least two major ones as taken from the Ref. and section noted above.

"The F-35’s design is optimized for “low-observable” stealth when viewed from the front, with less stealth to radars looking at it from the sides, and less still when targeted from the rear. It also lacks the Raptor’s supercruise (sustained flight above Mach 1) and super-maneuverability thrust-vectoring options, which work with stealth to help the F-22 engage and disengage from combat at will. Lockheed Martin claims that the F-35 design is optimized for trans-sonic acceleration, but testing results question those claims, and the Raptor can cruise without afterburners at the F-35’s theoretical maximum speed. That’s important, because fuel usage skyrockets with afterburners on, limiting total supersonic time for fighters like the F-35.

The GRIPEN NG does have "supercruise" and the "super-maneuverability thrust-vectoring options" but these factors help determine and for aircraft in the game, the all important EW Level. The GRIPEN NG and possibility 1 Russian jet and some say the F-15SE (Though I'm more cautious about that.) are the only 4th GEN++{+} planes in the air.

Needless to say I'll be taking a hard look at the F-35 in EW category.
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/f-35-lightning-the-joint-strike-fighter-program-edit-037947/
https://www.ausairpower.net/research.html
https://www.ausairpower.net/raptor.html
https://www.ausairpower.net/jsf.html

It's a standard I try to live up as much as possible per Ref. 2. I still make mistakes, I just do the best I can and maintain my standards, so to the rest, "Read'em and Weep".

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well John (Imp) if your looking in it seems our discussion concerning Taiwan is going to come true at least on the air side of things. Apparently the Trump Administration has approved the sale of F-16 Fighters to Taiwan. If approved by Congress and I believe it will, this will the largest weapons acquisition deal in about 30 years with Taiwan.

I've been reporting that I feel the version that'll be offered is the F-16V which is a "Souped Up" F-16 BLOCK 50/52.

This is not the latest version there are two newer types the F-16 Block 60 which the UAE owns and the newest platform being the F-16 Block 70 which has been ordered by Bahrain. The last will be the version the USAF is most likely to upgrade their fleet to as well in the near future.
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/taiwans-unstalled-force-modernization-04250/
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/news/a17874/f-16v-first-flight/
https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/f-16v-is-latest-viper-variant-for-fighter-market/
http://www.f-16.net/f-16-news.html

We should know sometime in Oct./Nov. about the Jets.

The ABRAMS I would think a short time after the New Year.

Interesting times are these days we're living in!?!

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

The F-16V was added to the Taiwan OOB last release.......

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Thank You! That'll make it easy with just a simple date change to the right. My timeline for a decision is simply based on the fact that Congress is in Summer recess until after Labor Day here. Looks like they'll also need the F-16C/D in the OOB, that'll be around until games end. My understanding once (If) they get the new or start getting them, their F-16C/D will be overhauled, again, to what we think will be the F-16V.

This should an interesting story to follow.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I brought this up in Post #502 above, now JANE's is reporting that Taiwan could be the second customer behind Bahrain to fly the most advanced F-16 version in the world, the F-16 BLOCK 70. These will be new airframes designed to fly until 2070. They will have onboard many of the electronic components used on the F-22.

First from JANE's....
https://www.janes.com/article/90631/taiwan-anticipates-new-f-16-block-70-boost-to-rocaf-operations

For perspective...
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/f-16.html
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/lockheed-martins-new-f-16-block-70-fighting-falcon-has-f-22-26419

More about the jet and Bahraini deal and mostly for the 5 articles at the very bottom. Also Don I haven't forgotten about you there's a couple of great shots of Bahrain's F-16 jets in the air in their camo! We like doing pictures!! :cool:
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/27151/heres-whats-in-moroccoss-deal-to-buy-25-advanced-f-16s-and-upgrade-its-existing-fleet

China has indicated these particular fighters would be a "red line" for them. Maybe theirs aren't so good after all. :rolleyes: ;);)

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Suhiir]

"The F-35’s design is optimized for “low-observable” stealth when viewed from the front, with less stealth to radars looking at it from the sides, and less still when targeted from the rear. It also lacks the Raptor’s supercruise (sustained flight above Mach 1) and super-maneuverability thrust-vectoring options, which work with stealth to help the F-22 engage and disengage from combat at will. Lockheed Martin claims that the F-35 design is optimized for trans-sonic acceleration, but testing results question those claims, and the Raptor can cruise without afterburners at the F-35’s theoretical maximum speed. That’s important, because fuel usage skyrockets with afterburners on, limiting total supersonic time for fighters like the F-35.
In theory (always love that word :cool: ) as a ground attack aircraft F-35s should be escorted my fighters to it's flanks and above so there shouldn't be much threat to it's sides. If someone's behind you that's ALWAYS a problem, and it's not like you can outrun (unless you're in an SR-71) most air-to-air missiles or SAMs in the first place. The frontal-arc stealth is exactly what's needed to "hide" from whatever is in it's target area.

I keep trying to stress the F-35 IS NOT a "fighter" (I know most here understand that, but "Joe Average" can't quite seem to figure it out). It's a replacement for the A-10 and F-15/16 in ground attack roles.

[Imp]

I would say low observability from the front only makes it a very specific plane patrolling etc with it is pointless, perhaps one to direct cheaper planes with its radar. It’s mission is simple point the nose at the enemy and attack this is a SEAD aircraft if ever there was one.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

By way of an update, the U.S./TAIWAN deal for the latest version of the F-16 fighter is still on track and as the lead article indicates the Taiwanese government is clearing the last hurdles to ensure these planes will be fully funded. This plane will be more capable then the current models as part of this deal will include the latest munitions pkg. available.

Also note under the "Contracts Section 2014-2019" that these pods will give those jets "game wise" a TI/GSR value of at least 40 minimum.
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/taiwans-unstalled-force-modernization-04250/

Unfortunately no news on the M1A2. Though Taiwan is prepared to go forward with this deal, we might be taking a more political look at the "big picture" on these deals allowing for my thought process, I can foresee that with these jets Taiwan will close the gap/or reach parody with China, also remember as already posted above, these jets are designed to operate until 2070. With that in mind, I can see the tank deal potentially, being put off a couple of years at least with supplying them with additional JAVELINS to maybe even include "older" BRADLEYS instead.

It's again just a possibility or option I can see.

Remember we've already sold them a whole "bunch" of JAVELINS already.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I was going to post some stuff before heading out of town later this week but, not sure as some things have come up.

But I just checked my papers and came across this significant article concerning the F/A-18 HORNET specifically the A-D series versions.

They are ALL retired as of 2 Oct 2019 from the USN. They will remain operational with the USN Reserves and Blue Angels (Non game issue for both.) but, more importantly for the game the USMC will still be flying them.

As normal, DID puts their links within the articles/paras etc.

From the "lead" as quoted, note where the links are in the article are shown as highlighted below...
"October 8/19: Retirement The US Navy has retired its fleet of Boeing F/A-18A-D Hornet combat aircraft from active service. The USN announced on October 2 that the final flight took place out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The retirement of the ‘classic’ Hornets brings 35 years of frontline service with the USN to an end and comes just over a year since the service performed its final carrier deployment of the type earlier in 2018. While the Hornet has been retired from the USN’s active unit inventory, it will remain operational with the Navy Reserve, the Blue Angels display team, and the US Marine Corps (USMC)."
The F/A-18 E/F and F/A-18G are still operational and will be for at least 10 or more years.
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/f18-hornet-fleets-keeping-em-flying-02816/

NAVAIR has not started reporting any stories for Oct. as of this very moment. However one of the last stories for the month of Sep. concerning the maintenance of the AV-8B indicates the "last" major maintenance cycle should be or is expected to completed by the end of 2021.

This simply means it'll be around after games end. I thought I came across an article awhile back that indicated a targeted retirement date of 2028.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

The ONLY reason I'm posting this, as I consider the matter closed on the F/A-18E/F HORNETS, is to show in the very first story listed (0ctober14/19:Rudders) what it replaced/what makes it different from the F/A-18A-D series ("Classic") and finally a fine comparison to the A-6 INTRUDER which was the USN's top SEAD/BOMBER for so many years leading up to it's retirement in the 90's. I found it to be somewhat worthwhile for only being a para long.
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/f18-hornet-fleets-keeping-em-flying-02816/

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Suhiir]

My understanding is the USMC intends to replace it's F/A-18's with F-35C's ... eventually (gotta love budgets). Thus will B's will be their primary ground support aircraft and C's their primary air superiority/SEAD aircraft.

While everyone (competent) knows the F-35 is not even in the same league as an F-22 and not as good as an F-15 or F/A-18 when it comes down to "furballs" the USMC really isn't intended or equipped to face "First Line" opponents in other then short-term engagements, long enough for the US Army/US Air Force to arrive, so top tier air superiority aircraft are something it can do without. If they're doing "beachhead" duty for the US Army the USN and USAF will be heavily supporting them.

While nothing currently in the USN/USMC inventory comes close to matching the bomb load of the A-6 these days bombs are a LOT more accurate then they were during Vietnam.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well you'll "love this"...
http://www.navair.navy.mil/product/FA-18EF-Super-Hornet

Nice picture but the USAF gives more specific data on their planes such as ordinance payload weights.

But note on the lower left corner and this is fairly new, they offer a "slick sheet" on the type. Taken from the next ref., I was close in my 10yrs. or more projected service life but NAVAIR has something different to say about it...
"...the aircraft is expected to be in service beyond 2035. Open architecture design principles enhance future development capabilities.", well close enough for "government work" and hand grenades I think!?! ;)
http://www.navair.navy.mil/sites/g/files/jejdrs536/files/2018-12/SlickSheet_FA18EF.pdf

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Suhiir]

I stand corrected !

The F/A-18E has a significantly higher Max Takeoff Gross then I'd been led to believe (probably "old" A-D data).

[WilliamB]

The website Key.Aero is reporting that Indias first two Rafales were officially handed handed over on October 8th. The current start date for the Rafale in the India OB (unit 594) is 3/2018. This site is also reporting that the U.S.A.F. is modifying the A-10 to carry the GBU-39 SDB. The modification program is said to have begun during the summer.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

From BROADSWORD:

It appears that on either Tuesday 1st/or 8th of this month that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accepted the first RAFALE fighter in Merignac, France. From Para 5 of below ref.

From Para 6 of the ref...
" Yet, despite Singh’s symbolic “acceptance” of the first Rafale fighter in Merignac, the IAF is still years away from fielding Rafales with the full capability New Delhi has paid for." This refers to the RAFALE ISE (India Specific Enhancements.)

From Para 7 of the ref...
"On Friday, the IAF boss, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Bhadauria, revealed that the first IAF Rafales, a batch of four aircraft, would only reach India next May. That means an eight-month delay from the contracted delivery date of September 2019 – or three years after the contract was signed."

That should be of no surprise here from anyone who's followed my work here with INDIA over the years.

About the first RAFALE's to be delivered from Para 8 of the ref...
"Further, these Rafales, and tens more that will follow them, will not have the enhanced capabilities – termed “India Specific Enhancements” (ISEs) – the IAF has demanded and paid Euro 1.7 billion for. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report of February 2019 reveals that, until December 2021, the IAF will receive less potent Rafales, built to the lower capability specifications of the French Air Force."

Again this should be of no surprise and I've brought this up many times that in this case, France is not going to sell to anyone military equipment that's at the current or developmental level of what their military is using. And I really hope I don't have to list ALL the reasons why this is so except to say for National Security reasons and everything associated with it.

Of the RAFALE ISE from Para 9 of the ref...
"According to the CAG report, the IAF will receive its first Rafale with ISEs installed only in December 2021 – 63 months after the contract signature. Then, over the subsequent eight months, i.e. till August 2022, Dassault (and its French avionics partner, Thales) will install and retrofit ISE capabilities on all 36 Rafale fighters contracted by the IAF."

Back to the first batch of four to arrive in May 2020 from Para 10 & 11 of the ref.
"The IAF chief has downplayed the eight-month delay in delivering the first Rafales by arguing that IAF pilots would get more time to train in France."

"On Friday he stated: “The aircraft will come at the end of May next year in Indian skies. The advantage is that our pilots will be substantially trained by then. That group of pilots will be near ‘operational’ to take on any task after landing here.”

I don't know how to can become "near operational" to fly as a sophisticated aircraft as the RAFALE. These Paras will be a key in my recommendations in the "Bottom-line" below.

BOTTOM-LINE:
1) Concerning the pre ISE versions I'm taking into account the above Paras 10 & 11 for the IAF Chief to admit this is well...not smart. But as you can also see throughout this article there have been significant delays (Remember it only took India 30 years to develop the ARJUN MBT.) and by time the "ISE" versions get fully converted as of right now, that'll put the contract 71/72 months behind schedule upon receiving the last ISE version.

A) IAF RAFALE START OCT. 2020. Finding Frances most advanced RAFALE in the OOB at a minimum there will be an EW and MAYBE (Because I believe India either ordered or developed Targeting Pods for each of these Fighters.) reduction in TI/GSR if they don't have TPods.

Also I besides any possible delivery delays (And how many times have we seen that happen out here!?!), I think we want those Pilots to have the extra training time so they don't crash those brand new jets!?!

2) The IAF RAFALE ISE I see a START date of MAY 2022 I'm simply splitting the difference here on the dates given in Para 9 of the ref. to reflect my thinking as follows...

A) If on track this will give the IAF 18 of the 36 RAFALE ISE conversion aircraft at that time.

B) Even with a delay of a handful of months, they should still have enough to justify us having them in the OOB.

C) These will at least be on par to the current French RAFALE's and possibly slightly better (Israel always had a knack for this with our jets we sold them.). Also it should be pointed and as posted in this thread, the reason INDIA dropped out of the partnership w/RUSSIA on the PAK/FA (India)/T-50 (Russia) was because of cost cutting India felt the jet had reduced capabilities that would prevent this jet from being a "true" 5TH gen Fighter. India fought hard to improve the jet and Russia refused to "take aboard" their recommendations. The T-50 if ever fielded, is as India predicted, not a 5th GEN Fighter.

So India does have the capability to improve the ISE version and the French are very happy to be doing that work!!
https://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2019/10/on-iaf-87th-anniversary-india-gets.html

I had this done yesterday morning before getting ready for work. I copied the ref. but forgot to paste the already copied post I wrote when I realized I ran out of typing time!?! :shock: :doh:

Anyway time to copy/repost and you all have a good night/morning etc.!!

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

This is hot due to the perishability of the story from the source, in this case JANE's which is notorious for removing these stories after a month or so, unless you're a paying subscriber.

You don't have to be a clairvoyant to not to be "able to read between the lines" here. The F-35 program has suffered what I see as a major setback in that the decision to go to full rate production has been pushed back until DEC 2020 or JAN 2021. That being said IOC probably won't occur until mid-2021 and FOC
to late-2021 or mid-2022 earliest.

We can no longer ignore what's happening in the "RL/or RW" and need to reconsider all the START dates for these Jets. The following from JANE's...

"Key Points
The Pentagon is pushing back its F-35 full-rate production decision by more than a year owing to issues with Joint Simulation Environment progress

The facility is required to perform high-end threats that cannot be replicated in an open-air range"

It has to fully understood that "full rate production" is the "milestone/or key stone" event that leads to IOC/OPEVAL & FOC, the termology might differ a little by country or service but, if it's in the Air, on Land or on the Surface or Under the Ocean, this is the pathway.

To be sure there are other issues DID posts on them continuously every contract event is a continuation of fixing problems and updating systems. These mean delays-period.
https://www.janes.com/article/92039/pentagon-delays-f-35-full-rate-production-decision-by-13-months
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/f-35-lightning-the-joint-strike-fighter-program-edit-037947/

So far I can find JANE's is the first to report on this from the Defense Industry side the article is from this past Friday.

All we're doing in Syria and Europe is "OPEVALING" these Jets much as I'll be showing the same thing for the SU-57 later this week.

I know I've been "very vocal" about the F-35 pretty much from the start.

Also I know that everyone who's been involved with these games in a more direct fashion has the players and the games interests in mind

So this is where I stand...

This is no better then having tanks in OOB's that aren't there yet. But to be clear, this next is representative of who I work for here doing this work. From Post #885 referring to Posts #879 & #884 concerning Indian MBT submissions for this last Patch in the MBT Thread.

"RC4
Corporal

Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Portugal
Posts: 54
Thanks: 9
Thanked 28 Times in 25 Posts


Re: MBT's

Thank you, there is a lot of work to be done in the ORBAT issues.
I dont have much time to help, if I would it would take some 3 months to give information.
Its disapointing to play a Pakistan-India scenario and lost to India with weapons they dont have.

Thanks"

And for the others that have asked me to look into equipment across the world over the years or just play the game.

This why I haven't walked away from the game or else it's likely when the "crap hit the fan" awhile back including this year and as it sometimes still does, I would've been long gone. You have to have a purpose for ANYTHING you do in life, if not. you're wasting your time!!

I just wanted to be "crystal clear" on this controversial topic for everyone to understand, where I'm coming from.

I'm going to spend sometime with the Daughters family before they leave early in the morning. And I have to replace my 70K tires with only 37K on them in the morning.

John since you couldn't get me my JANE's yearly subscription, how about paying for my new tires!?! It'd be at least $1500.00 cheaper!!! And they did give me a real good price!! ;) :D

"You Mugs" have a Good whatever it is wherever you are!

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well I can finally say I feel "vindicated" after all the years of discussing my "perceived" fate of the A-10. This latest "DID" (And The Aviationist as well.) article(s) concerning this new upgrade contract (October25/19 entry.) will now keep them in active service through the early 2030's. This particular contract will not be completed until the end of 2024.

It's nice after reading all this stuff/digesting it and come to a logical solution, that works out in the end. ;)
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/a-highertech-hog-the-a10c-pe-program-03187/
https://theaviationist.com/2019/09/10/the-a-10c-warthog-gets-new-upgrades-to-be-ready-to-fight-in-future-high-end-conflicts/

I was "moseying around" before I head off to the rack, and came across this...
https://www.airforce-technology.com/features/top-ten-light-attack-aircraft/

There is work to be done concerning plane #8 shouldn't be bad.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

There is work to be done concerning plane #8 shouldn't be bad.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

and #1

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I see it now-THANKS! On my list. Initially thought we had this already.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

It looks like they are replacing the F-5's if they haven't already and there appears to be other nations kicking the tires as well.

[RC4]

This is hot due to the perishability of the story from the source, in this case JANE's which is notorious for removing these stories after a month or so, unless you're a paying subscriber.

You don't have to be a clairvoyant to not to be "able to read between the lines" here. The F-35 program has suffered what I see as a major setback in that the decision to go to full rate production has been pushed back until DEC 2020 or JAN 2021. That being said IOC probably won't occur until mid-2021 and FOC
to late-2021 or mid-2022 earliest.

We can no longer ignore what's happening in the "RL/or RW" and need to reconsider all the START dates for these Jets. The following from JANE's...

"Key Points
The Pentagon is pushing back its F-35 full-rate production decision by more than a year owing to issues with Joint Simulation Environment progress

The facility is required to perform high-end threats that cannot be replicated in an open-air range"

It has to fully understood that "full rate production" is the "milestone/or key stone" event that leads to IOC/OPEVAL & FOC, the termology might differ a little by country or service but, if it's in the Air, on Land or on the Surface or Under the Ocean, this is the pathway.

To be sure there are other issues DID posts on them continuously every contract event is a continuation of fixing problems and updating systems. These mean delays-period.
https://www.janes.com/article/92039/pentagon-delays-f-35-full-rate-production-decision-by-13-months
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/f-35-lightning-the-joint-strike-fighter-program-edit-037947/

So far I can find JANE's is the first to report on this from the Defense Industry side the article is from this past Friday.

All we're doing in Syria and Europe is "OPEVALING" these Jets much as I'll be showing the same thing for the SU-57 later this week.

I know I've been "very vocal" about the F-35 pretty much from the start.

Also I know that everyone who's been involved with these games in a more direct fashion has the players and the games interests in mind

So this is where I stand...

This is no better then having tanks in OOB's that aren't there yet. But to be clear, this next is representative of who I work for here doing this work. From Post #885 referring to Posts #879 & #884 concerning Indian MBT submissions for this last Patch in the MBT Thread.

"RC4
Corporal

Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Portugal
Posts: 54
Thanks: 9
Thanked 28 Times in 25 Posts


Re: MBT's

Thank you, there is a lot of work to be done in the ORBAT issues.
I dont have much time to help, if I would it would take some 3 months to give information.
Its disapointing to play a Pakistan-India scenario and lost to India with weapons they dont have.

Thanks"

And for the others that have asked me to look into equipment across the world over the years or just play the game.

This why I haven't walked away from the game or else it's likely when the "crap hit the fan" awhile back including this year and as it sometimes still does, I would've been long gone. You have to have a purpose for ANYTHING you do in life, if not. you're wasting your time!!

I just wanted to be "crystal clear" on this controversial topic for everyone to understand, where I'm coming from.

I'm going to spend sometime with the Daughters family before they leave early in the morning. And I have to replace my 70K tires with only 37K on them in the morning.

John since you couldn't get me my JANE's yearly subscription, how about paying for my new tires!?! It'd be at least $1500.00 cheaper!!! And they did give me a real good price!! ;) :D

"You Mugs" have a Good whatever it is wherever you are!

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

Its an honor, Sir!

"perguntai ao inimigo quem somos "

[RC4]

This is hot due to the perishability of the story from the source, in this case JANE's which is notorious for removing these stories after a month or so, unless you're a paying subscriber.

You don't have to be a clairvoyant to not to be "able to read between the lines" here. The F-35 program has suffered what I see as a major setback in that the decision to go to full rate production has been pushed back until DEC 2020 or JAN 2021. That being said IOC probably won't occur until mid-2021 and FOC
to late-2021 or mid-2022 earliest.

We can no longer ignore what's happening in the "RL/or RW" and need to reconsider all the START dates for these Jets. The following from JANE's...

"Key Points
The Pentagon is pushing back its F-35 full-rate production decision by more than a year owing to issues with Joint Simulation Environment progress

The facility is required to perform high-end threats that cannot be replicated in an open-air range"

It has to fully understood that "full rate production" is the "milestone/or key stone" event that leads to IOC/OPEVAL & FOC, the termology might differ a little by country or service but, if it's in the Air, on Land or on the Surface or Under the Ocean, this is the pathway.

To be sure there are other issues DID posts on them continuously every contract event is a continuation of fixing problems and updating systems. These mean delays-period.
https://www.janes.com/article/92039/pentagon-delays-f-35-full-rate-production-decision-by-13-months
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/f-35-lightning-the-joint-strike-fighter-program-edit-037947/

So far I can find JANE's is the first to report on this from the Defense Industry side the article is from this past Friday.

All we're doing in Syria and Europe is "OPEVALING" these Jets much as I'll be showing the same thing for the SU-57 later this week.

I know I've been "very vocal" about the F-35 pretty much from the start.

Also I know that everyone who's been involved with these games in a more direct fashion has the players and the games interests in mind

So this is where I stand...

This is no better then having tanks in OOB's that aren't there yet. But to be clear, this next is representative of who I work for here doing this work. From Post #885 referring to Posts #879 & #884 concerning Indian MBT submissions for this last Patch in the MBT Thread.

"RC4
Corporal

Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Portugal
Posts: 54
Thanks: 9
Thanked 28 Times in 25 Posts


Re: MBT's

Thank you, there is a lot of work to be done in the ORBAT issues.
I dont have much time to help, if I would it would take some 3 months to give information.
Its disapointing to play a Pakistan-India scenario and lost to India with weapons they dont have.

Thanks"

And for the others that have asked me to look into equipment across the world over the years or just play the game.

This why I haven't walked away from the game or else it's likely when the "crap hit the fan" awhile back including this year and as it sometimes still does, I would've been long gone. You have to have a purpose for ANYTHING you do in life, if not. you're wasting your time!!

I just wanted to be "crystal clear" on this controversial topic for everyone to understand, where I'm coming from.

I'm going to spend sometime with the Daughters family before they leave early in the morning. And I have to replace my 70K tires with only 37K on them in the morning.

John since you couldn't get me my JANE's yearly subscription, how about paying for my new tires!?! It'd be at least $1500.00 cheaper!!! And they did give me a real good price!! ;) :D

"You Mugs" have a Good whatever it is wherever you are!

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

Its an Honor, Sir!

"perguntai ao inimigo quem somos "

[RC4]

This is hot due to the perishability of the story from the source, in this case JANE's which is notorious for removing these stories after a month or so, unless you're a paying subscriber.

You don't have to be a clairvoyant to not to be "able to read between the lines" here. The F-35 program has suffered what I see as a major setback in that the decision to go to full rate production has been pushed back until DEC 2020 or JAN 2021. That being said IOC probably won't occur until mid-2021 and FOC
to late-2021 or mid-2022 earliest.

We can no longer ignore what's happening in the "RL/or RW" and need to reconsider all the START dates for these Jets. The following from JANE's...

"Key Points
The Pentagon is pushing back its F-35 full-rate production decision by more than a year owing to issues with Joint Simulation Environment progress

The facility is required to perform high-end threats that cannot be replicated in an open-air range"

It has to fully understood that "full rate production" is the "milestone/or key stone" event that leads to IOC/OPEVAL & FOC, the termology might differ a little by country or service but, if it's in the Air, on Land or on the Surface or Under the Ocean, this is the pathway.

To be sure there are other issues DID posts on them continuously every contract event is a continuation of fixing problems and updating systems. These mean delays-period.
https://www.janes.com/article/92039/pentagon-delays-f-35-full-rate-production-decision-by-13-months
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/f-35-lightning-the-joint-strike-fighter-program-edit-037947/

So far I can find JANE's is the first to report on this from the Defense Industry side the article is from this past Friday.

All we're doing in Syria and Europe is "OPEVALING" these Jets much as I'll be showing the same thing for the SU-57 later this week.

I know I've been "very vocal" about the F-35 pretty much from the start.

Also I know that everyone who's been involved with these games in a more direct fashion has the players and the games interests in mind

So this is where I stand...

This is no better then having tanks in OOB's that aren't there yet. But to be clear, this next is representative of who I work for here doing this work. From Post #885 referring to Posts #879 & #884 concerning Indian MBT submissions for this last Patch in the MBT Thread.

"RC4
Corporal

Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Portugal
Posts: 54
Thanks: 9
Thanked 28 Times in 25 Posts


Re: MBT's

Thank you, there is a lot of work to be done in the ORBAT issues.
I dont have much time to help, if I would it would take some 3 months to give information.
Its disapointing to play a Pakistan-India scenario and lost to India with weapons they dont have.

Thanks"

And for the others that have asked me to look into equipment across the world over the years or just play the game.

This why I haven't walked away from the game or else it's likely when the "crap hit the fan" awhile back including this year and as it sometimes still does, I would've been long gone. You have to have a purpose for ANYTHING you do in life, if not. you're wasting your time!!

I just wanted to be "crystal clear" on this controversial topic for everyone to understand, where I'm coming from.

I'm going to spend sometime with the Daughters family before they leave early in the morning. And I have to replace my 70K tires with only 37K on them in the morning.

John since you couldn't get me my JANE's yearly subscription, how about paying for my new tires!?! It'd be at least $1500.00 cheaper!!! And they did give me a real good price!! ;) :D

"You Mugs" have a Good whatever it is wherever you are!

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

Its an honor. Sir!
perguntai ao inimigo quem somos

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Alright! I'm confused :shock:, how come it is that I see RC4 looks like he posted something in this thread yesterday ~5:10pm under the Community Forums/The Camo Workshop/WinSPMBT sections and when I go to TO&Es section and click on the thread, there's no post.

This is new to me, am I missing something!?!:dk: OR...

am I going to find out I'm missing something basic out here. :doh: (Just in case the situation warrants that in advance!)

THANKS!

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

How come do I see RC4 has posted something (Community Forum/The Camo Workshop and WinSPMBT sections.) in this thread but, there's no post shown in TO&Es or when I open the Thread???

Am I having a :doh: moment, as I've NEVER seen this before?

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Tim Brooks]

We are testing the forums.

[DRG]

It looks like it's working again.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

:birthday:
A nice change of pace and something you might appreciate in this crazy hectic world we live in nowadays. Something I can most certainly respect.

The neat thing is this event is only a couple of years older then me, if you can believe that!?!
https://theaviationist.com/2019/06/15/take-a-look-at-the-special-f-16-that-celebrates-the-800th-anniversary-of-denmarks-flag/

:viking: :cheers:

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Suhiir]

It's pretty!

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

This is the USAF Public Affairs Office Announcement: The person posting this knows not what they are doing with these videos. In the interest of Public Safety, we are sending "Professionals" to assist this individual to minimize the Public Risk.

Everyone knows we don't like the A-10. and the rumors that it'll still be flying up to 2040 are untrue, along with the fact that the B-52 will still be flying that long.

After all, who would in their right mind fly aircraft that long anyway!?!

Not us after all we are the USAF.

So about these videos everything you're seeing is false and made up the person(s) using modern video technics to substitute A-10 aircraft for what were really F-35A aircraft. REALLY would we kid you!?!

Again we're the USAF Public Affairs Office and who are you believe us or whoever is presenting these videos!?!

But since we couldn't intercept the posting of these videos, again, it's all just make believe. In fact we're not sure the A-10 ever really existed.

So enjoy them purely from a fantasy or Sci-Fi entertainment perspective.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=39&v=zOioP3qYKEc&feature=emb_logo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzqYvcBbXAU

Thank You for your time.

The Team at the USAF Public Affairs Office.

P.S. We disavow any association with the below emojis and don't know how it got there.

:p :capt:

[WilliamB]

Key.Aero is reporting that India has retired there last Mig-27s as of the end of December. The retirement ceremony was held at Jodhpur Air Force Station on December 27th.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Got to ready for work but, these from my files as well on India MiG-27.
They were retired on DEC 31, 2019.
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/mig-27-aircraft-to-fly-into-sunset-on-dec-31-855013
http://www.combataircraft.com/en/News/2019/11/02/MiG-27-aircraft-to-fly-into-sunset-on-Dec-31/
(Links to same article of the first ref.)

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[WilliamB]

The March issue of Air Forces Monthly is reporting that Romania has purchased 5 F-16AMs from Portugal. They are to be upgraded to Operational Flight Program M5.2 standard before entering service.
The report also states that Romania has been operating 12 other ex. Portuguese F-16s since some time in 2017. Unfortunately no exact date is given for there entry into service. The F-16 is not currently included in the Romanian OB file. The report states the Romania hopes to obtain a total of 28 F-16s from Portugal, 24 F-16AMs and 4 F-16BMs.

[RC4]

Yes, delivered in 30 Set 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=1Y7LiUTgkao&feature=emb_logo

""
WASHINGTON, Nov 8, 2013 – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Romania of weapons, equipment, and support for 12 F-16 MLU Block 15 for an estimated cost of $457 million.

The Government of Romania has requested a possible sale of weapons, equipment, and support for 12 F-16 MLU Block 15 aircraft that will be procured through a third party transfer from Portugal. Articles and services will include:

13 Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Inertial Navigation Systems (EGPS/INS) with GPS Security Devices, Airborne
3 AN/ALQ-131 Electronic Countermeasure Pods
30 AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM)
5 AIM-120C Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs)
60 AIM-9M Sidewinder Missiles
4 AIM-9M CATMs
48 LAU-129 Launchers
10 GBU-12 Enhanced Guided Bomb Units
18 AGM-65H/KB Maverick Missiles
4 AGM-65 CATMs
15 Multifunctional Information Distribution System/Low Volume Terminals
2 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Ground Support Systems

Also included are spare and repair parts, support equipment, tanker support, ferry services, repair and return services, software development/integration, test and equipment, supply support, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor technical services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $457 million.

The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve security of a NATO ally which continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress. The proposed sale of weapons, equipment, and support for the transferred F-16s will support Romania’s needs for its own self-defense and enhance the interoperability of these aircraft with those of the U.S. and other NATO nations.

The proposed sale will support the Romanian Air Force’s (RoAF) efforts to equip and utilize the 12 F-16 aircraft it is procuring from Portugal. These aircraft will provide the RoAF with a fleet of modernized multi-role combat aircraft. This proposed sale of weapons, equipment, and follow-on F-16 support will enable Romania to support both its own air defense needs and coalition operations. The RoAF will have no difficultly absorbing these systems into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this follow-on support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors will be:

Elbit Systems of America Fort Worth, Texas

Pratt and Whitney East Hartford, Connecticut

BAE Systems Inc. Arlington, Virginia

Lockheed Martin Corp. Fort Worth, Texas

Northrup Grumman Aerospace Systems Redondo Beach, California

ViaSat Inc. Carlsbad, California

Data Link Solutions LLC Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Snap-On Inc. Kenosha, Wisconsin

Booz Allen Hamilton Engineering Services, LLC McLean, Virginia

There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Romania.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

[DRG]

There was a post someplace on these forums I cannot find now that detailed a lot of reasons why the VIKhR should be set up differently than it is now with HEAT pen and I recall talk of nose and base fuses etc etc but that's all I remember but I do recall I was in the middle of some tests then it got forgotten about until I ran the first "errors" scan for Scenarios I do before starting to assemble the patches and it gave me a high number of "error" reports and it all lead back to that forgotten experiment that had 222 for AP and Heat pen ratings for a missile loaded on an aicraft

Maybe that will shake someone elses memory but it's not critical I know who posted it but the bottom line is that cannot be done with aircraft mounted weapons ( helos yes...aircraft NO ). The only way to make HEAT pen work is give it AP ammo and AP ammo on an aircraft is CLUSTER MUNITIONS.......so the "experiment" has been reversed and VIKhR's are back to the way they need to be set up.

Just FYI.............

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well while waiting for the Patch Releases to come out, I offer some comparative and insightful reading. If you are not comfortable in reading technical material, than beyond some of the graphs this isn't for you.

I like AUSA as these guys are mostly aviation specialists and scientists.

They use open and other sources and have the capability to wind tunnel aircraft designs to come up with data concerning radar cross sections etc. that are gleamed from such testing.

The focus here is on F-35 versus many others. What is interesting in some cases, is how viable in todays world some older aircraft still are in certain categories shown in the tables.

It is further interesting to see how what was written then still holds true to what's been posted up to now on F-35.

It is absolutely important to note that the T-50/PAF-FA is and has been DOA since India dropped out of the program about 3/4 years ago.

This is significant in that the tables were using the design capabilities for that program at that time. India specifically dropped out because Russia was trying to cut costs, which felt would (And would end up doing so.) significantly compromise it's "standing" as a 5th GEN fighter. As I've already posted numerous times, most experts now consider the T-50 as a 4th GEN ++ aircraft.

Concerning the J-20 from China, the jury is still out on it as well, however more recent data is showing that it's also closer to an advanced 4th GEN or might end up also in the 4th GEN++ category.

It's important to maintain that information in "the back of your mind" when reading this.

The "bottom-line" is from the aviation "purists" is, and I'll just use our games timeline (Though it goes beyond that.), there is only one true 5TH GEN fighter in the world and that's of course the F-22 RAPTOR.

All that being said this is a very good read and still relevant today.
http://www.ausairpower.net/jsf.html

And they do an excellent job with Anti-Air Missiles as well.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

GREAT! I'm reading a review of the 1950's "War of the Worlds" re-release by Criterion on Blu-Ray dot com and followed the link contained within the review. How I missed this I don't know!?! :doh:

Now I'm left with trying to figure out how to model this craft and to what "country" to assign them to. The best I can figure is "RED" or "GREEN" and the videos are released from the USN and DOD. Though I did see the "Hey Dude" video on national news awhile back.

I'll need to figure out if they're more Air to Air, Air to Ground or Multi-Purpose craft!?!

Just not sure at this time, in the meantime here's the ref.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/28/pentagon-declassifies-ufo-videos-taken-by-navy-pilots.html

Back to my review and walk there after.

;) :p :D

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[WilliamB]

From the August issue of AirForces magazine. The U.S. Air Force has retired their last four AC-130U gunships (unit 786). A farewell fly past took place at Hurlburt AFB in Florida on June 3rd and the last AC-130U left Hurlburt for the storage facility at Davis-Monthan AFB on June 26. Nothing in the article about a replacement aircraft.

[Suhiir]

GREAT! I'm reading a review of the 1950's "War of the Worlds" re-release by Criterion on Blu-Ray dot com and followed the link contained within the review. How I missed this I don't know!?! :doh:
A book I've considered implementing into WinSPMBT or WinWWII is "Footfall". Basically the aliens have modern U.S. equipment vs 1942-1943 WWII.

The aliens show up in late 1942 and pretty much clean clock on all the combatants currently engaged in WWII but over the winter (and it's a tough one with everyone's infrastructure got hammered) various forces unite (more-or-less) to oppose the aliens and U.S., Soviet, German, etc. production is getting to 1943 levels.

The aliens while FAR superior 1-for-1 have a problem ... no manufacturing base (the didn't bring anything along because conquering primitives doesn't require it). Thus losses, even if they kill 20-to-1 cannot be made up, nor can high-tech ammunition (laser guided bombs, sabot rounds, night vision equipment, etc.) be replaced.

My idea was a fixed core modern U.S. force (the aliens) vs the (essentially) endless waves of early 1943 earth forces. VERY limited replacement points for the aliens, they're allowed to repair damaged units but not replace destroyed ones. Helos, air, and off-map artillery/rockets would be AUXILIARY units the designer can gradually reduce scenario-by-scenario to represent the lack of high-tech ammo.

[Suhiir]

From the August issue of AirForces magazine. The U.S. Air Force has retired their last four AC-130U gunships (unit 786). A farewell fly past took place at Hurlburt AFB in Florida on June 3rd and the last AC-130U left Hurlburt for the storage facility at Davis-Monthan AFB on June 26. Nothing in the article about a replacement aircraft.
The AC-130W Stinger II was introduced in Nov 2010 and is armed with even better targeting systems, a single 30mm gattling gun, and precision guided munitions (SDBs, presumably Hellfires, and such).

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I know somewhere in here I covered some of this ground already to include the retirement of the AC-130H SPECTRE.

Some of the refs below I know are "recalled" from the past/or from my files that I just never acted on for various reasons to be covered at the end, many are not.

So lets begin by ref date order...
First the overview.
http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/ac_130.htm

AC-130U SPOOKY...

First "GUNSHIP" retires...
https://www.afsoc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/620328/first-ac-130u-spooky-retires/

USAF Factsheet...
https://www.hurlburt.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Fact-Sheets/Article/1058057/ac-130u-spooky-gunship/

Final Combat Deployment...
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1907500/final-ac-130u-spooky-returns-from-combat-deployment/

Last ARMED GUNSHIP retired on 19 August 2019...
https://www.dm.af.mil/Media/News/Article/1940777/ac-130u-spooky-gunship-rolls-into-retirement/

How they served (This crew is not an exception, but represent the whole.) and part of the reason operationally for my comments below...
https://www.mildenhall.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2101758/gunship-crew-awarded-14-medals-for-joint-sof-afghanistan-mission/

Major USAF (Those that served in the USAF will understand better probably.) milestone achieved...
https://www.hurlburt.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2245757/4th-sos-amu-make-history-with-ac-130u/

CINCLANTHOME has informed me that my time is limited (Lunch/Shower/work/TGIF.

Interim AC 130 Gunship that I believe might still be in service and also to be replaced by the AC-130J GHOSTRIDER (Which might have to wait until EARLY tomorrow morning.)

AC-130W STINGER...
https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104485/ac-130w-stinger-ii/
http://www.americanspecialops.com/usaf-special-operations/aircraft/mc-130w-dragon-spear/

The above are the EARLY models the 30mm GAU would be kept, the 25mm would replaced by the 105mm due to technical issues to include gun targeting issues. Below are for current version...
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/9940/the-usaf-finally-gives-its-ac-130w-gunship-the-big-gun-it-desperately-needs
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a25922079/ac-130-gunship-howitzer-video/
https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-u-s-air-forces-new-ac-130-gunships-are-really-bomb-1584518199
https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/ac-130w-stinger-ii-gunship/

Just got informed of the time-GOTTA RUN!! :eek:

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

The problem is two fold
1/ there are few slots left in the US OOB
2/ the "new" generation of gunships deploy weapons that are not compatable with that unitclass in the game and making that happen for what amounts to a very minor niche weapon system is just not likely to happen so you might get one with added GAU and higher EW and FC but that's all

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I thought I made a comment that I was going to end this process with some final thoughts concerning the "GUNSHIPS" in general in my last post but, my brain got ahead of my :typing: which isn't unusual as some know from past posts. But to get a sense of where I might be going with this, you might want to ask yourself (If you keep up on these things.), Why hasn't he ever summitted the ORBITAL AC-235/AC-295 Light (Pocket) Gunships that we and several foreign countries are using now?
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/jordans-pocket-gunships-cn-235s-converting-06778/

But first I'm not finished addressing the full line of the AC-130 gunships and I pickup with the newest most current version and deadliest by far the AC-130J GHOSTRIDER...
https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/467756/ac-130j-ghostrider/
(Along with the AC-130W, they can carry in 2 wing mounted launchers 6 to 8 HELLFIRE II missiles.)

Another OVERVIEW...
https://www.afsoc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/990684/cradle-to-grave-ac-130j-ghostrider-fleet-growing/

The BLK 20 Gunships have been in operation for about 2-3 years now as flown by the 73rd Spec Op SDRN, this next addresses the BLK 30 as the 4th Spec Op SDRN receives it's first one.
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1783946/4th-special-operations-squadron-receives-first-ac-130j-ghostrider/

And I end this part with a "niche" article, the first all reserve crew to fly a Gunship since 1995.
https://www.919sow.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2233432/first-ac-130j-all-reserve-crew/

There you have for for the AC-130 Gunships in the last 2 posts of mine-done.

So where does this leave us?

At this point we're 2 aircraft behind the AC-130W and AC-130J BLK 30, I do not include the AC-130J BLK 20 because it's an interim aircraft only until the technologies had "matured" to improve the avionics and electronics onboard the aircraft intended for the BLK 30 models which all will be made into.

My "Deep Process" over these handful of years and I mean from all aspects to include my "emotional" if you will feelings on the subject by the numbers.

1. I truly love these planes from a technical aspect right down to the crews that serve on them to put all the aspects of these complicated machine together in a very unique and deadly weapon. Most importantly the bravery of these crews to ensure the protection of the ground forces they support. Please look up the "Sprit '03".
https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/last-ac-130-lost-combat?rebelltitem=2#rebelltitem2
https://www.afsoc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/162638/spirit-03-remembered/
https://www.shadowspear.com/vb/threads/in-memory-of-spirit-03-jan-31-1991.19898/
Alright so I helped!

2. They were amongst the first items I looked into for my first "modern" submission format in my Patch/Submission Thread on Pg.5 and more being discussed in the same on Pg. 7 back 2011. And of course prior to and since in the Jets/Plane Thread.

3. What I know and more encapsulated in this one indisputable fact going back to "Puff The Magic Dragon" which at first was just armed with (3) 7.62mm GAU guns. I have verified this information I don't know how many times over the years to include the newer gunships as well.

"The armament chosen for the gunships was the General Electric rotary-barreled M-134 machine gun, known as the “minigun,” which could fire either fifty or a hundred rounds of 7.62-mm ammunition per second. Initially three miniguns per ship would be fixed-mounted in a side-firing configuration. Positioning the aircraft at the proper altitude and angle was the only means of aiming the weapons.

Using this armament, a C-47 flying at three thousand feet in a tight circle could place a bullet in every square yard of a football-field-sized area (five thousand square yards) in approximately 17 seconds.
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/2015/08/06/the-ac-130-gunship-and-the-vietnam-war/
That's over 50 years ago!!!

4.And while considering the above information, consider this also, to save me time in discussing attack capabilities of these aircraft.

An AC-130U SPOOKY in 2011 as posted in my first submission noted above could at that time, track and simultaneously attack 3 targets stationary or moving. That would increase over time. The AC-130W/J can do the same with at least 10-12
targets.

5. We cannot match the up to 10hr+/- loiter time on station or the exponential increase in ground target combat coverage since "Puff"

6. I have asked over the years about adjusting the flight path to a straight-line or semi-circle (Thinking map, North on top entering from the SE corner to middle of the map and exiting off the SW corner.) to allow it to engage targets of opportunity on it's flight path. I was just trying to think outside the box.

7. LUCKY 7 and Reality; Both Don and Andy were patient enough to inform me of the game realities of the code. If it could be done it would be a massive undertaking, of which I'd never ask them to do.

8. Not long after this I came to the conclusion this platform is probably the most "niche" of ANY piece of equipment in the game. we have, even more so then the MP's I submitted for deletion from the USA OOB. And yes they were deleted.

9. We have always had and will only have 1 50 meter attack hex, "Puff" 50 years ago had a "kill zone" equal a box of 4 50 meter hexes any of the "newer" AC-130 (With possible exception of the AC-130A) Gunships could hit any targets on our maps.

10. We will never benefit as players with the current situation, if there's no benefit why keep it? So from above, I asked you to consider why I never asked for the AC-235/295 to be submitted though I posted on them numerous times.

The better question now, knowing how I love these aircraft and crews is with the information I provided you over the last two of my posts is...Why hasn't he submitted the AC-130W and AC-130J?

I think you have my answer now.

When I first started equipment submissions using the Threads I started for that purpose and news, Don patiently and sometimes more strongly (M-60 RISE submission) stressed the importance of added value to the game and player. I would recognize this more on my own, but the more so recently (Last 8yrs or so.) due to the ever decreasing OOB SLOT situation for many countries.

It's time, I put a lot of work into these over the years from many different angles, however, I would ask to be allowed to submit every Gunship in the USA OOB for deletion.

I have a jet in mind of which there is only one, that was the most prolific fighter bomber in the USAF for at least 12 years and we have only 1 version. To have even 1 or better 2 more would serve the game and players better. And we'd still have plenty of room to get into the game what we need for the last submission to close out 2025 in the game in 2026.

But the Gunships have to go to make that happen. I'm convinced of that now.

AC-130 Gunships "Blue Skies and Following Winds"

EDIT: Just finished my walk does wonders after a great dinner and clears your head. So...Word teched throughout for a better flow of info./#10 moderately reworked./And I present an OPTION so at my very basic level of understanding, I know equipment sometimes get embedded into scenarios and campaigns from the players thus making some equipment removal a PITA.

Understand I ask this from the perspective of any piece of equipment being removed.

Will X weapon system stay "active" once removed from any OOB if put into the "RED" or "GREEN" OOB's for the purpose of maintaining them in game submitted scenarios and campaigns?

I understand in the game I believe for generated games the player could always use them by selecting the Allies button and "RED" or "GREEN" OOB.

I'm just curious is all. I'd still like to see them removed from the USA OOB IF POSSIBLE.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Imp]

Due to restrictions in the game code gunships are for flavour only they cannot operate as they should do so are not at all dangerous.
Its basically a spotter plane that attacks the hex its plotted to circle on rather than searching for a target near the plot. Therefore if there is nothing in the hex it becomes a very expensive spotter plane.

As its the only unit that operates that way its not worth fixing because you can buy a spotter & cheap ground attack plane for less than the gunship.

[scorpio_rocks]

Would the gunship aircraft not work better if they were changed to ground attack class? especially now they are missile armed (Griffins and Hellfires, I believe)

[DRG]

Would the gunship aircraft not work better if they were changed to ground attack class? especially now they are missile armed (Griffins and Hellfires, I believe)

The gunship UC circles the target, The other air unit classes don't aside from spotter aircraft

[scorpio_rocks]

Would the gunship aircraft not work better if they were changed to ground attack class? especially now they are missile armed (Griffins and Hellfires, I believe)

The gunship UC circles the target, The other air unit classes don't aside from spotter aircraft


Yes, I understand that - but the gunship currently can only fire at the one hex not even when it sees a juicy target a couple of hexes away. Whilst converting the AC-130 to a ground attack class loses the "circle the target hex" it does mean it can strafe and/or fire missiles at stuff it "sees" nearby the assigned hex.

[Mobhack]

Circling gunships were brought in for scenario designers to do a Vietnam "spooky" mission for added flavour.

That is all they were meant to do, and nothing is going to change with them. They are a sub-niche scenario designer item.

[DRG]

Yep, that's why they were added and they could be moved to the green OOB and open up a dozen slots in the USA OOB...

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Thank You Don, you answered my question as I poised In the "EDIT" of my last post.

I guess I can within the parameters you set aside and I fully agree with, recheck my data for the improved FC, EW and right now I forgot the third item you had in that post.

Another issue came up while investigating these platforms with the "newer" source data and that's the fact these planes were armored to some degree. It bears investigation but my thinking is something similar to the A-10 comes to mind due to the close nature of their operations.

GREEN will be a fine color for them and the AC-130W and AC-130J BLK30 additions. After all "It's the Luck of the Irish" that comes to mind as in 55 years of operations only 17 aircraft have been lost to combat operations. Of those, 15 in Vietnam and 2 since the last being Sprit '03.

The planes get saved and we get 12 USA slots, sounds REAL GOOD to me as well!! That's a real good deal all-around.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[troopie]

Yep, that's why they were added and they could be moved to the green OOB and open up a dozen slots in the USA OOB...

Sounds like a good idea. Go ahead and do it.

troopie

[scorpio_rocks]

Yep, that's why they were added and they could be moved to the green OOB and open up a dozen slots in the USA OOB...

Gets my vote too :up:

[DRG]

The problem is I need to check every scenario ( there are 14 that do ) and every campaign ( checking that is a BIT more complicated ) to see if they are used and if so, make adjustments to every one of them right from repurchasing the unit and checking if it had assigned targets before being removed and replace and noting where that is and when, Just ripping things out without doing that generates "bug" reports I don't want or need and then there will be the inevitable "BUG!" reports from players who don't follow the forums or read the release notes " Why doesn't the US have gunships anymore ????"

So this *idea* is far from being a "done deal"

As well they don't have stay "green" in a game or scenario. Just buy them from the Green OOB as captured and they will use the USA EXP and MOR values and ID tag. The same thing goes for the German units in the SPWW2 Blue OOB

[Suhiir]

Yep, that's why they were added and they could be moved to the green OOB and open up a dozen slots in the USA OOB...
Has my Vote too.

[Karagin]

Sounds good

[Aeraaa]

It seems there will be finally a plane to replace these cancelled EF2000s at the Greek OOB:

https://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/group/press/press-kits/greece-and-the-rafale/

[DRG]

let me know when they are delivered......

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Quotes taken from Ref. 1 Others support Ref. 1.

I've been saying and posting for years now, that the F-35 series is not operational for a large number of reasons. I have also pointed out one of the biggest and most important reasons, it wasn't was because the "Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), which manages prognostics, maintenance, supply chain, flight operations and training" for the aircraft had very serious problems associated with it to where the F-35 series wasn't even able to carry all the weapons it was designed for due to "conductivity" issues even down to receiving the proper parts to support them.

As of January 2020..."ALIS had become notorious for problems. In January, the US Government Accountability Office said in a report that the system had 4,700 open deficiencies. Those issues included inaccurate or missing data, challenges deploying the system, a need for more personnel than anticipated, an inefficient issue resolution process, poor user experience, immature applications and ineffective training, the report said."

I have posted on the next for the last couple of years or more..."Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN) hardware, an initial step in replacing the stealth fighter’s troubled support system."

As the article points out the USMC will be the first to OPEVAL and work out the bugs that might remain in the system.

First F-35B flew with ODIN on 09 OCT. 2020.

So with quotes from the article included above I end with the BEST FOC DATE SO FAR for the F-35 which happens to be close to my predicted earliest date of mid-2023 for FOC.

I cannot emphasize how important ODIN is to the FOC of the F-35. Except to resubmit the DID status article if available.
"ODIN is to replace the F-35’s Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), which manages prognostics, maintenance, supply chain, flight operations and training for the aircraft. ODIN is not expected to reach full operational capability until December 2022."

And that realistically puts FOC for the F-35 in 2023 earliest.

Emphasis on the "not expected to" part, but it's better then what we've ever had since the initial predictions of FOC.
https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/first-lockheed-martin-f-35s-loaded-with-odin-hardware/140551.article?utm_campaign=Defence_14102020&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=defence
https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2019/10/21/Full-rate-production-of-F-35-my-be-delayed-for-13-months/8661571672219/
https://taskandpurpose.com/military-tech/f35-joint-strike-fighter-deficiencies-2020
https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-20-339#summary

The DID article is unavailable at this time I imagine it might be getting updated.

Before I forget, no word from NAVAIR on FOC for the F-35B/C. And we've already had the discussion concerning what NAVAIR is in charge of as my "Marine Buddy" can verify.
https://www.navair.navy.mil/

I forgot to add the NAVAIR site when originally posted.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Suhiir]

OK, so we won't see FOC in the US Air Force or US Navy till apx. 2023 Both of which have FAR more aircraft to manage then the USMC and for different reasons REQUIRE a fully operational logistic chain. Naval procurement has to support ships where you can't just deliver replacement parts willy-nilly. And the USAF just plain doesn't do anything "on a shoestring".

The USMC on the other hand is rather use to operating with limited logistic support, already has, and has used on combat, F-35Bs.

So I'll propose the following:
Unit# 583 F-35C Ltng II - Dates 1/123-12/125
Unit# 584 F-35C Ltng II - Dates 1/123-12/125
Unit# 585 F-35B Ltng II - Dates 1/123-12/125
Unit# 587 EF-35C Ferret - Dates 1/123-12/125
Unit# 940 E/A-18G Growler - Dates 7/109-12/122

The rest stays as is (with 7/118-12/125 dates). This eliminates all F-35Cs from the OOB till 2023 as well as the most "high tech" F-35 variant (which is based on the F-35C).

Sound good Don?

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Suhiir,
With all due respect, I would ask you to maintain UNIT #940 until DEC 2025. I base this on the following article from DID concerning the EA-18G "GROWLER" for another upgrade to that jet by adding a "NEXT GEN JAMMER" with an estimated completion date of SEP 2021. It's not going anywhere soon by my best guess.
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/ea18g-program-the-usas-electronic-growler-02427/
https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2357052/
(See "NAVY" section Para 6, I believe.)

Also the F/A-18EF also lookS to be safe as well past 2025. We've been ramping up production of them to meet domestic (New birds.) and foreign evaluations and possible sales as the lead article is showing concerning Finland.
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/super-hornet-fighter-family-myp-iii-2010-2013-contracts-06392/

As you can see both articles are "locked" due to them having been updated first for subscribers. Should be available in a few days or less to us mortals.

What the USN/USMC is doing for HORNET, the USAF is doing for the F-15. From the 15 OCT edition (Just click on that date on the calendar.)...

"The US Air Force’s Air Combat Command has approved external link the GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II for F-15E operational flights. The press release from Eglin Air Force Base says the weapon is expected to be field on the F/A-18E/F later this year. The GBU-53B StormBreaker, which entered operational testing in 2018, is a small diameter bomb that features a multimode seeker to guide the weapon with infrared, millimeter-wave radar and semi-active lasers in addition to or with GPS and inertial system guide. The Air Force’s fielding decision means F-15E squadrons can now be equipped with the weapon. The Navy and Marines intend to use it on their versions of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter."
Also...
https://www.eglin.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2380292/small-diameter-bomb-ii-approved-for-operational-use/
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/raytheon-wins-usas-gbu-53-small-diameter-bomb-competition-06510/ As linked from the above.

As the name "implies" a "bad day" for the intended target. :p

Also for further backing...
I turn to SWITZERLAND and "to be clear" these are just offerings to fulfill their Air2030 Program.
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-approves-fighter-gbad-sales-to-switzerland

You gotta move fast out here but, at times I feel like a "one armed juggler" I'm monitoring as much as I can. If only some of you can see my folders, you'd understand.

But for I'll grade myself with an E-M-G-MOE Mood Meter as...:D.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Suhiir]

Fastboat,

My current understanding is the USMC wants to completely transition to the F-35 ASAP for the sake of simplifying their logistic requirements. The F-35B will replace all Harrier squadrons and some F/A-18 ones. They'll acquire a limited number of F-35Cs mostly due to their larger internal ordnance capacity and the fact that the USN plans to use more F-35Cs then Bs for the same reason (internal "stealth" ordnance capacity) and the pilot exchange between USN/USMC means many USN squadrons have a USMC pilot and most USMC one have a USN one so the USMC needs pilots familiar with the F-35C. Additionally one of the squadrons aboard one of the currently deployed carriers is frequently a USMC squadron.

The USN plans to keep, and upgrade, some of their F/A-18Es/Fs as they're a better air superiority platform then the F-35, and having an intact carrier to land on is kind of important. The USMC isn't really concerned with seizing air superiority only maintaining it (it's expected the USAF/USN will achieve it before they go ashore, because without it they can't). The USMC Air Wings exist solely to provide ground support and necessary escort/EW/refueling/ect. functions.

As to the E/A-18G Growler and EF-35C Ferret it doesn't make sense for the USMC to maintain 3x F-18 squadrons when the rest have transitioned to F-35s. And it wouldn't be the first time the USN "allowed" the USMC to work the bugs out of an aircraft before the USN adopts it. So while it may (or may not) take longer to get the F-35G operational then the F-35C they'll be USN/USMC only as far as I know because the USAF plans to use only the F-35A.

OF COURSE all this is plans and programs until NAVAIR speaks, and plans may change for any number of reasons (practical and political).

You'll note from your references there are no plans to certify the USMCs F/A-18Cs/Ds with the SDB, no real reason to as they'll be replaced ASAP. Also the USMC has not budgeted any $ for upgrading their current F/A-18Cs/Ds.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I would reread Para. 5 of Post #560 again. Also taken from the Elgin AB (The USAF Weapons Test Center and Range. Where we launched our TLAM-C's to targets at that range to validate the operational use of the VLS onboard.) USAF press release dated 13 Oct. 2020 with the following quote...

"The program plans to begin fielding on the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet later this year followed by integration on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
(And as you know, by extension (NAVAIR) means the USMC as well.)

SBD II is a joint-interest Air Force and Navy major acquisition program. The Armament Directorate’s Miniature Munitions Division here serves as the acquisition lead in partnership with Raytheon Missiles and Defense."
https://www.eglin.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2380292/small-diameter-bomb-ii-approved-for-operational-use/

Also at the very top of the below ref. under topic "Latest Update from 15 Oct 2020 I again quote...

"October 15/20: F-15E Operational Flights The US Air Force’s Air Combat Command has approved external link the GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II for F-15E operational flights. The press release from Eglin Air Force Base says the weapon is expected to be field on the F/A-18E/F later this year. The GBU-53B StormBreaker, which entered operational testing in 2018, is a small diameter bomb that features a multimode seeker to guide the weapon with infrared, millimeter-wave radar and semi-active lasers in addition to or with GPS and inertial system guide. The Air Force’s fielding decision means F-15E squadrons can now be equipped with the weapon. The Navy and Marines intend to use it on their versions of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter."

So fielded on the F/A-18E/F by the end of this year.

And the USN/USMC also intends to use it on their respective F-35's (Which as already posted are not ready.)
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/raytheon-wins-usas-gbu-53-small-diameter-bomb-competition-06510/

This should've not been this hard.

Mountains were great!! Had fun and decent weather!! Back at it today to start a very tough 2 day work week!?! :cool:

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

I'm not going to touch anything ATM... come the end of Febuary you two can thrash out your best guess and I'll decide what I'm going to do....but right now that is nada

[Suhiir]

I would reread Para. 5 of Post #560 again.
I did, why I pointed out the F/A-18C/D was not on the list the SDB is to be certified for. As to the existing use on the EF-35C Ferret (starting in 2018) it's not worth creating a new unit for a 2-year time period and YES the E/A-18G Growler could be extended till the end of 2020 and the the EF-35C Ferret incorporated, I may consider that.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Suhiir,
I will first start with an apology to concerning your last post. I misinterpreted the point you were making.

But know me better than most, so you know once a topic has got my attention, I just keep on digging. Most of the information is very current or better. Most of it also comes from the USMC. And the rest from the USN and USAF. The rest is from closely related sources.

Right now I'll simply address the EA-18G "GROWLER". But we have to go back a couple of years first.

The last Combat Aerial EW platform the USMC operated was the EA-6B "PROWLER". Even as the USMC decided to "Sundown" the plane, it was still considered one of the best "EW" platforms in the world.

Sundown occurred on 08 March 2019 for the last SQD. to operate the EA-6B. I believe we discussed this at the time.
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2018/11/04/the-sun-is-setting-on-the-corps-last-ea-6b-prowler-squadron-with-conclusion-of-final-deployment/
https://news.usni.org/2019/03/08/marines-sundown-last-ea-6b-prowler-squadron

So that leaves the question, what did the USMC replace it with?

Well I can tell you, the USMC didn't replace it with the EA-18G "GROWLER".

So if you have a Marine version in the OOB you can safely DELETE it.

There is ONLY one operator of that plane in the U.S. Armed Forces, and that service is the USN. And the USN is keeping that plane, as I've already posted recently, well past 2025.

My Marine friend, will know well the who, what and where the following ref. is. Also this is to be considered under the "current or better" as noted above.

Also before I post it, I will quote from the last sentence...
"The F-35C is expected to declare IOC in August 2018 (Actually that happened a little later, IOC was declared on 28 Feb 2019 notice the trend here!?!).
https://news.usni.org/2019/02/28/navy-declares-initial-operational-capability-for-f-35c-joint-strike-fighter

Now for the rest of the sentence as follows...
FOC is expected for both variants (F-35B/C as I realize not everyone will read the full para.) in the late 2020’s."
https://www.candp.marines.mil/Programs/Focus-Area-4-Modernization-Technology/Part-5-Aviation/F-35B-and-F-35C-Lightning-II/

I know the standard I try hard to hold myself to, and am expected by many out here to do the same, for equipment, Full Operating Capability (FOC), Fielded, Inducted and similar descriptions, depending on what part of the world we're talking about.

And NOT for the following, Entered Mass Production, Contract signed, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed, Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL), Initial Operating/Operational Capability (IOC) and my all-time favorite, I read it somewhere.

My perspective only, how much more legitimate pieces of equipment that's out there could Don and I have gotten into the game over these "how many years" if it wasn't for ALL the equipment we've had to fix in the OOB's because of that last para above?

And again you don't have to look any further then last years submissions.

It is sad as I posted a couple of weeks back when I checked my old FIREFOX file, cleaned it up, got down to simple equipment issues thinking I'd be pretty much just cleaning out that file and deleting it, until, I opened the first 2 that were from 2014/2015, checked the OOB's, and can you guess what I found?

They weren't even in them. That to me was both frustrating but even more just plain sad.

I'll be glad when 2026 arrives and I submit my last submission(s) but, until then I just want to do it right and walk away with head up and my integrity intact that's for here and when I leave my job shortly after that.

We have the best wargames of the type out here and speaking for myself, I want to keep it that way.

Nothing in life comes easy, I don't think we were born with a "silver spoon" in our mouths, anywhere else, well it'd just be painful. All we can do is "shift around" be diligent, patient and work hard. And if you're lucky, you just might find that "silver spoon" made it to your mouth after all!?!

On second thought, I'll just pass on that last part. ;)

I'll post the rest later today or tomorrow and I insist as I spent a lot of time with this in regards to staying/getting with military sources on this issue(s).

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Suhiir]

ACK!

I knew the EA-6B was stood down (more due to airframe fatigue then any desire to replace it I believe) in 3/2019, I also knew the USN replaced it with the EA-18G. I ASSUMED the USMC had done the same.

Since the USMC OOB already includes several USN only aircraft the fact that they're not flown by USMC pilots is irrelevant for OOB purposes.

But as one article pointed out, this does leave the USA in a pickle as far as SEAD aircraft goes. You may want to look into the F-4G Advanced Wild Weasel and F-16CJ/DJ.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Do not feel bad about the USMC F/A-18G situation. I thought they had them as well, it would've been a "natural" extension or "route" to replace the venerable EA-6B "PROWLER". The date I gave in my last post was for when the USMC retired the EA-6B planes they flew.

They USN retired theirs roughly two years prior when fleet levels for the F/A-18G "GROWLERS" was achieved to allow for the "sundown" of the USN versions.

Ironically that's also about the time when the USMC "sunset" their first SQD. of EA-6B planes.

So what replaced the USMC the EA-6B? What is considered to this day a somewhat "controversial" program called MAGTF EW. I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this matter except to quote the following ref. (And yes I read this.) so this is the "big picture"...

Won't let me copy, so just scroll down to just below the 4th picture showing the EA-6B refueling, it's only 2 sentences and you're done.
https://aviationphotodigest.com/wti-1-18/

Let's now continue where I left off with the USMC...

First a refresher from my last post...
1) These next 2 articles are from the USMC.mil website.

2) Program Status (Real time) of the F35B/C from the same named section of the next ref.
"FOC is expected for both variants in the late 2020’s."
https://www.candp.marines.mil/Programs/Focus-Area-4-Modernization-Technology/Part-5-Aviation/F-35B-and-F-35C-Lightning-II/

Now what's to be done...Well again from the same official USMC.mil site they provided the answer concerning USMC aviation into the future.

But again background is required concerning everyone's F-35 version as already posted
1) The "key operational/logistics software "ODIN" will not reach FOC until DEC 2022.

2) Also posted an article discussing a 13 month production delay for the whole F-35 program from late 2018. This might cause some of the below to actually, shift to the right 1-2 years.

Also a factor which I posted in the MBT Thread will be the USMC PLAN 2030 which will reduce the of Squadrons along some plane types to include the F-35B/C.

I do believe that Suhiir will be surprised by what will survive and for how long they'll be around. Most will still be operational through 2030 and maybe slightly beyond.

So having done the daily ops brief for 5 different Admirals in 2 separate tours at COMSUBGRU TEN, I can say this started out as a "top brass" review before being filtered down to the local area Commanders.

This "Power Point" presentation is from NOV 2019, therefore was meant to address current issues from 2020 forward.
This covers all aspects of aviation to include ongoing and future upgrades already planned for. It addresses MAGTF and MAGTF EW which are similar but, different in their overall scope and Weapons.

There is a lot to this, however, I'm primarily limiting myself to the air assets under Section 3 Marine Aviation Platforms and Programs I'm keeping this at KISS. I'm concerned only with the type and operational service aspect.

It is incumbent upon the reader for the rest. And I've read this fully where it touches on game issues and not so much on subsystems beyond service upgrades for said aircraft and helicopters.

I will add 1 year to those end dates (As noted.) based on the current delays to the F-35 Program that affects the whole series i.e. ODIN etc.

Even though I'll add that year (Again maybe.), the F/A 18A might stay as projected. This possibly could affect the F/A 18B as well, due to USMC PLAN 2030 as these plans just don't "pop up" out of nowhere, based on the scope of the Plan normally it takes months or longer to prepare them, so it might be already considered in this brief based on that NOV 2019 release date.

So the...2019 MARINE CORPS AVIATION PLAN
FOCUS...Section 3 Marine Aviation Platforms and Programs

F-35B/C I see no change due to recent Program events and from the USMC "newer" (Compared to this one.) ref that projects FOC in the late 2020's. I'll be a little more optimistic in regards to the USMC because they are further along in the development process then the USN and USAF. From all I can gather to this point...

I see F-35B FOC between JUN 2023+ - DEC 2025.
Again from the earlier posted same source ref.
"FOC is expected for both variants in the late 2020’s."
https://www.candp.marines.mil/Programs/Focus-Area-4-Modernization-Technology/Part-5-Aviation/F-35B-and-F-35C-Lightning-II/

From the "Transition Chart (TC)" Note Block 10B with the following caveat "Right side depicts planned FOC and PAA, but remains event driven." and we are...
EVENT DRIVEN as neither NAVAIR or USMC have announced FOC.

F/A-18 A-D...

From the below ref...
"F/A-18s are, and will remain, the primary bridging platform to F35B/C, with a planned sunset of 2030."

Upgrades contracted through 2023 currently.

Increase TI/GSR w/4th GEN LITENING Pods.

Suhiir you've got some work here that will at least include a small EW increase and maybe weapons changes for you're (USMC) HORNETS.

F/A-18A-END OCT 2023 leaving it as is.

F/A-18A++ (Improved-Mine)-END OCT 2027 possibly could be longer.

F/A-18C/D-END DEC 2030 possibly could be longer.

Next...

AV-8B "HARRIER"...

Upgrades contracted through 2025 currently.

Increase TI/GSR w/4th GEN LITENING Pods.

You have many NEW weapons to use on this platform as noted in here.

END OCT 2027 + 1yr = OCT 2028. This aircraft will benefit from the F-35 delays. There is still plenty of information on the web that due to generous UK offering I posted on several years back, that they'll be around until 2030. This due to the newer airframes the Brits had on their GR9 aircraft.

Skipping down to Helos...

AH-1W...

END OCT 2021.

CH-53E...

Upgrades/Maintenance through end of 2021.

END MAR 2028.

CH-53K...

START FOC... Looking like Mid-2022 at this time from my files and other.

As you scroll up/down USMC other craft are covered KC-130J/UAV's etc. that's on you.

This F-35 sequence of events over the last week has given me work to do on the USN and USAF side of things, hopefully just "tweaking" some aspects such TI/GSR and EW.

Make your USMC planes better. You're selling the CORPS "legacy" aircraft a little "short" I feel.
https://www.aviation.marines.mil/Portals/11/2019%20AvPlan.pdf

I'm surprised they stayed up on my PC for about the last 30hrs. :shock:

But I did backup what I had up to 0200 this morning.

Now I have to respond to a guy in Germany who I think wants to buy a book on LEOPARDS from Tankograd in Germany. All I wanted was 2 pieces of information, nothing comes easy or in this case cheap!?!. :p

I'm ready for my walk! :vroom:

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I did mention in my last post that the USMC PLAN 2030 could effect some of what I posted, and now, it has. The reason I left the F/A-18A END date unchanged was in anticipation that PLAN 2030 might cause it to maybe have that date shifted to the left. I figured it would go "sooner than later" and be the first aviation asset to be cut.

It appears I was wrong.

I left also the AH-1W END date untouched as well, per the USMC AVIATION PLAN 2019 not for reason connected to PLAN 2030 but, because that date made sense from a "transition" point of view.

The USMC retired the AH-1W yesterday 19 OCT. 2020 AND FROM REF.2 the final Sortie was flown on...
"The last AH-1W sortie was flown on Oct. 14 by HMLA-773 Detachment A at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana."

So there you have it.
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/usmc-retires-supercobra-helo
https://seapowermagazine.org/marine-corps-retires-its-last-ah-1w-super-cobra-helicopters/

There's plenty more where they came on the web now but, these should be enough.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

Well isn't that interesting.. yesterday... the OOB has them all retired by 2012.....who'd have thunk it?

[Suhiir]

I tend to ignore reserve units and legacy units ... also FOC, and look at probable deployments.

Example: At the start of the first Gulf War the USMC had a handful of M1's but acquired enough (regular and HA) that 50% of their fielded tank force (all of 2 battalions) was M1s. So I consider both the M60 ans M1 to be equally available from 1991 thru 1994.

In 1975-6 I was with an active duty unit that still used M14s as their primary (and only) rifle, yet the OOB doesn't show the M14 as being available as an option at that time.

So yes, there are "inaccuracies", but what's "probable" is what the OOB represents not what's "possible" (generally).

[DRG]

as with them all but in this case, I was surprised by the 8-year discrepancy

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I can't agree with your logic concerning Reserve Units once called up they are normally attached to Active Units to supplement "manpower" or "equipment" shortages or in the case of the AH-1W earlier this year...

"The last detachment of AH-1Ws to complete a deployment returned earlier this year with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The detachment, temporarily assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 365 (Reinforced), was part of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 (HMLA-167), based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina."
https://seapowermagazine.org/marine-corps-retires-its-last-ah-1w-super-cobra-helicopters/

By your reasoning then, since they don't count, I guess we can get rid all the National Guardsman Units in the USA OOB and free up all those slots.

I can speak of the Army at this point...
"The major differences between the Guard and Reserve have to do with the nature of duty–Reserve members operate under the jurisdiction of the DoD and may be called up to serve in times of war, in expeditionary campaigns, for humanitarian relief, and any other mission-essential function.

National Guard troops can be activated by the Governor of your state, and they may also be called up by the President of the United States."

So those Reserve Units regardless of service branch, will get called up first to respond to a National Emergency.
https://militarybenefits.info/active-duty-reserve-or-guard/

Legacy Units are the "bridge" until whatever replaces them, replaces them. And that can take a decade or longer to happen. Therefore they get upgraded to sustain their combat readiness as has been clearly demonstrated.

FOC I don't see how this doesn't matter. I tried to find the response from one of our people out here who shortly after I posted the changes for INDIA's tanks (I remember it was the T-90MS.) for the last patch, he was grateful that those tanks and in particular, the T-90MS dates got changed to reflect RL.

I believe those got entered on receipt of the test beds for evaluation of them.

He frustration dealt with the fact that he plays Pakistan vs India and the AI kept picking those and other tanks NOT yet in service.

As I see it from all my years in Board gaming to early PC (Steel Panthers) games to now was to maintain the equipment as close to RL as possible and then leave to the players to fight them as they desire under historical, current news or any option their imagination can come up with.

And besides concerning FOC, this is...
1) What Don expects of me as the "gold standard" and has been his mantra out here in I don't know how many posts over the years.

2) It goes against my own personal integrity to do otherwise. I will not compromise on that for the sake of expediency or any other reason. You do the job right or you don't do it at all. that's from my up bringing, mentors and my work and military career. Otherwise I wasted my time during the 2019/2020 Campaign as FOC was a big part of that work along with many other factors.

3) In our game reviews we have been "touted" by most of those reviewers for our diligence in updating the game and maintaining the accuracy of our "equipment".

4) Most importantly, it's about the players, that response I got had the whole thing worth while. I've NEVER felt it was about us, but ONLY about the players. That's why I do this and hopefully will be able to continue to do so until JAN/FEB 2026 when I can be a player again.

At least later today is my "HUMP DAY" might be a "double" retirement in 2026, that's an awesome thought!?!

It's very late and I'm tired, so Good Night!

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Suhiir]

More often then not when USMC Reserve units are called up it's JUST the warm bodies, their equipment stays at home, So the vehicles and such used are the same as those used by active duty forces not the odds-n-sods they normally use at home.

I have no clue about the National Guard/US Army. But strongly suspect they're handled very differently to a US Army Reserve unit. And I know in some cases Reserve/NG units exist to provide capabilities that active duty forces lack (example railroad support).

[whdonnelly]

Many of our escort units in Afghanistan were US Army Reserve units activated for 6 months at a time. Some of these guys identified as Guard also, not sure if there is some sort of dual membership option for the ones that want to deploy. They did the training as a unit before leaving the US.
In this case they had their personal equipment but fell in on things like MRAPs or up-armored SUVs that never left theater.

[Suhiir]

In this case they had their personal equipment but fell in on things like MRAPs or up-armored SUVs that never left theater.

The USMC Reserve operates the same way.
Your personal equipment you bring with you but ALL weapons and vehicles are issued once you arrive wherever you're going. No real point shipping stuff across country then half way around the world. Just pull it out of the depots, that's what they're there for after all.

I suspect (yes this is a guess) those that were National Guard were transferred to the Reserve for the duration of their deployment because it simplified administration (i.e. no need to send their pay back to their home state/unit in order for it to be in turn sent to the regular army unit handling financial matters in the theater of operation where they're deployed).

[Imp]

Its sort of drifted off topic but the fact the US probably has more equipment stored around the world than most countries could field takes a bit of processing.

[MarkSheppard]

Japan has retired the F-4 Phantom from active service as of a day or so ago. There are about maybe 3 or 4 more still in service with the JASDF, but in a test and evaluation role.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Marks on it. And as he reported 4 will be "test beds" for some aspects of their "future fighter" program and other things. Picked the the following ref. as it's accompanied by a video of the final flight of one of or the first one to be retired back in April 2018.
https://theaviationist.com/2018/04/27/this-outstanding-footage-celebrates-retirement-of-f-4ej-kai-phantom-ii-47-8333-tora-san-after-44-years/
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37742/so-long-samurai-japan-bids-farewell-to-its-final-frontline-phantoms

What's to come?
They're making room for the F-35A, while still flying the F-16J and the F-15J which has just started or will very soon start, a major modernization program. This all is ahead of the FX-6th GEN fighter of which the first prototypes will be in the air around 2028. Production of the type barring w/o any delays, should start in the early 2030's to start the IOC process.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a34553363/japan-new-fighter-jet/

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Karagin]

I suspect (yes this is a guess) those that were National Guard were transferred to the Reserve for the duration of their deployment because it simplified administration (i.e. no need to send their pay back to their home state/unit in order for it to be in turn sent to the regular army unit handling financial matters in the theater of operation where they're deployed).

National Guard and Army Reserves don't mix together. They are not transferred to the other. This was tried back in 2003, they mixed units from different branches of the Army and that didn't work out as well as they hoped. Mainly because the BS of one branch is better than the other came into play far too often.

Guard also has a shorter rotation than reserves as far as deployment time goes.

[MarkSheppard]

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2020/12/06/the-marine-corps-first-f-35c-squadron-is-ready-to-deploy-on-carriers/

The Marine Corps’ first squadron of F-35C Lightning II stealth fighter jets is now fully capable of deploying on board aircraft carriers.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, also known as the Black Knights, announced initial operational capability for the F-35C variant of the joint strike fighter in a press release on Tuesday, calling the platform “the most advanced stealth fighter jets the world has ever seen.”

[Karagin]

Many of our escort units in Afghanistan were US Army Reserve units activated for 6 months at a time. Some of these guys identified as Guard also, not sure if there is some sort of dual membership option for the ones that want to deploy. They did the training as a unit before leaving the US.
In this case they had their personal equipment but fell in on things like MRAPs or up-armored SUVs that never left theater.

6 months for reserves? Yeah, haven't seen that 9 to 12 months for the Reserves, less for the Guard.

After 2007 units fell in on in-theater equipment, the only things they brought were weapons, gear, and special need items for the mission. Then again unless the fighting is initial day one, units will fall in on equipment already there, unless they need to bring forward new items like Strykers or whatever the new wonder toy of the day is.

National Guard and US Army Reserve units deploy as complete units unless they are split up to fill out other units of the same component and after the mess of the let's mix units in 2003, they don't mingle them together beyond a company working with another company.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Many Squadrons have achieved IOC with the F-35 we currently have them in to soon. And the "Gorilla in the room" is simply that for land based equipment FOC has been always the standard and we've corrected many units from many countries to achieve that standard.

All you have to do is look at the last 2 years of submissions. They were mostly about fixing those same issues.

This has been done in the past as well as was submitted for all other equipment "classes" including this thread.

Every time we rush to get something in due to external or other reasons, we pay a steep price, more so for Don and I would think to an unknown degree Andy.

For one, and to be nice, this "stuff" overclocks my ram!

The clock is running and these type of issues take away from all the equipment that is actually at FOC but ARE NOT in the game because we're chasing these issues.

I mentioned earlier I have such equipment dating back to 2015, I recently found from files kept from a different browser.

ONLY Israel has declared their F-35i at FOC on DEC. 06, 2017 after a year of training and evaluation.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/12/06/israeli-air-force-declares-first-fleet-of-f-35-stealth-fighter-jets-fully-operational/

Second Squadron comes on line operationally on 10 Aug. 2020.
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/idf/iafs-second-f-35-squadron-declared-operational/2020/08/10/

And Israel does what it has always with any foreign piece of equipment they but after "playing with it" awhile, they improve upon it. In this case it took just 4 years to do so in NOV 2020.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israels-unique-experimental-f-35i-lands-at-tel-nof-648867
https://theaviationist.com/2020/11/13/lets-talk-about-the-one-of-a-kind-f-35i-adir-test-aircraft-the-israeli-air-force-has-just-received/

Remember Israel's Strategic and Tactical situation has never allowed for such things as budget delays, logistical supply issues (ODIN for us as already posted.) but, the most important item of all is their not flying our F-35's and therefore NOT dealing with our issues .

Like INDIA, VIETNAM etc. from one of those above last last patches can only buy the T-90S and NOT the better T-90A or if you wish substitute foreign operated ABRAMS with NO DU armor as a "starter" on that topic.

I hope on this equipment we're not "drifting away from our core values", some won't like what I just wrote, and that's OK with me. But it doesn't change nor should it from how we've operated out here for so many years now.

Well this post has now gotten me in the right frame of mind to fight the "Redman" tomorrow. I feel bad for the person in the suit as our training Lt. likes it when I train the way we're expected to fight. And we got a "new hire" class, should be fun! :D :p

Have a good night/morning all!

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Suhiir]

[QUOTE=whdonnelly;848799]
National Guard and US Army Reserve units deploy as complete units unless they are split up to fill out other units of the same component and after the mess of the let's mix units in 2003, they don't mingle them together beyond a company working with another company.
Typically USMC Reserve units will "fill in" at about company level. So an active duty battalion that's undermanned will fold it's three companies into two then add a reserve company. The same applies to artillery (at battery level) and air (at squadron level).

This OF COURSE doesn't apply to "technical" (electronic maintenance, crypto, intel, and such) jobs where the reserve personnel will be doled out as needed.

Then there are a handful of units unique to the USMC Reserve, like a field hospital (i.e. the USMC version of MASH) and Civil Affairs.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Another thing Israel could careless about, "Intellectual Property", delaying the F-35 from going into full production.
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/pentagon-lockheed-martin-continue-dispute-over-f-35-intellectual-property-rights
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/key-us-lawmaker-wants-f-35-programme-structure-changes

Overpayments due substandard parts and more...
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/substandard-parts-poor-oversight-led-to-potential-f-35-fee-overpayments

And no news about FOC from NAVAIR yet...
https://www.navair.navy.mil/product/F-35-Lightning-II

The F/A-18 Block III under test and evaluation.
https://www.navair.navy.mil/news/Navys-test-squadrons-receive-next-gen-Super-Hornet/Tue-06022020-0713

I'm falling asleep , so good night and or morning

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Karagin]

Does Isreal still field the F4s?

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

They might still be around, however, I can only confirm that up to 2015 at this time.

I'll have to recheck later after work, which I must get ready for NOW!!

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Aeraaa]

I cannot find something more official in English, but the Greek Rafale deal has been approved with the first 6 Rafales coming in the first half of 2021.

https://apnews.com/article/turkey-coronavirus-pandemic-greece-b74a3ad08fcb09d5f045e8f259eb73a8

[DRG]

If anyone see's other charts like this for other aircraft let me know. It shows what the possible combinations can be really well.


http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16230&stc=1&d=1608130837

[Karagin]

For the Airplane Charts, a search online gave me these by using the weapon loadout chart by aircraft

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Aeraaa here you go!

From my pesky files I'm just for the time being going to provide one source, concerning Greece procuring the Rafale F3-O4T most likely 6 brand new ones and 12 used ones. They will replace only the Mirage 2000 EG/BG.
https://theaviationist.com/2020/09/14/greece-officially-confirms-intention-to-buy-18-french-rafale-combat-aircraft/

So bottom-line they'll keep the Mirage 2000-5F Mk2
https://theaviationist.com/2019/12/09/photos-allegedly-show-greek-mirage-2000-targeting-a-turkish-frigate-with-exocet-missile-during-a-show-of-force/

Also not going away is the following and I think it's awesome...
https://www.milavia.net/specials/haf-117-combat-wing/

That's right, No S**T!! ;)

We're just going to have to keep an eye on this deal, as there is also the possibility Greece might get the Rafale F3-R which reached IOC this past Summer which I'll build at some point as we have time before FOC for France at a minimum.
https://theaviationist.com/2019/12/16/upgraded-rafale-f3-r-achieves-initial-operational-capability-with-the-french-air-force/

Don the next is for you "more directly", be advised I'm building ONE of these for the game in if you will, a NATO version. There was a lot more to this plane then the "dumb bomb" Vietnam or "nuke" penetrator in Europe versions. The F-105 "THUD"...

16235

F-22

16234

I'm off to bed.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Suhiir]

The current F-35 chart.
https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-675fb1f7b0e401bb3a385e758e38837e

The AGM-65 Maverick is not shown because it's being phased out. But it's replacement is not in the WinSPMBT OOBs so it's still used for game loadouts.

Also this chart is almost 3 years old and NAVAIR has certified weapons not on the chart for use on the F-35 since then.

[DRG]

The AGM-65 Maverick is not shown because it's being phased out. But it's replacement is not in the WinSPMBT OOBs so it's still used for game loadouts.



:confused::confused:

https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/raytheon-restarts-production-of-laser-maverick-missiles-05397/


Raytheon is restarting its production line to produce AGM-65E2/L laser-guided Maverick missiles, and will also upgrade existing stocks, in response to demand from the front lines.


That's dated Aug 20, 2019 and the weapon in the USA OOB is 217 (which now matches the data of W194 in the USMC OOB )

[Suhiir]

:confused::confused:
I stand corrected ... as of the time the weapons load layout was published (2018) it was due to be phased out.
Things change.

[Karagin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HjANyjFraM&feature=emb_logo

Seems SAAB wants to build the Gripen in Canada, now I am not sure if that means some of the production will go to the Canadians or not, but that is normally how these deals work out.

[DRG]

The Gripen would be nice but my guess is they will put this off and upgrade the Hornets we have or go with the Super Hornet. The one engine vs two issue has been and is an important consideration here no matter how reliable the one engine is....it's still only one engine.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

The GRIPEN E/F would be a generational step up over the SUPER HORNET E/F in regards to stealth capabilities. It also would be cheaper to operate and to logistically to support and is considered one of the most overall reliable fighters in the world.

But as Don mentioned, there is that decades old issue of 1 versus 2 engines and the HORNET can carry a larger payload.

What SAAB is offering Canada, is exactly what they offered Brazil-jobs, limited technical transfer of data and a production facility in Brazil to build their but, to also assist in production to other foreign powers that but or need their existing GRIPENs to be maintained.
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/saab-starts-gripen-production-in-brazil
https://www.key.aero/article/gripen-ef-parts-production-begins-brazil
https://www.saab.com/newsroom/stories/2020/december/sam-delivers-the-first-gripen-ef-tail-cone-to-brazil

Canada...
https://www.fliegerfaust.com/military-diet-2644025181.html

About the plane...
Brazil flew it's first GRIPEN E/Designated F-39 GRIPEN E on 24 SEP. 2020. This plane was built by SAAB and shipped in from SWEDEN.
https://theaviationist.com/2020/09/25/first-brazilian-gripen-e-flies-for-the-first-time-in-brazil/

Info...
https://airplanesdaily.com/saab-gripen-e-boxer-jet/
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/not-f-35-beast-sweedens-gripen-fighter-one-heck-fighter-jet-140727

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

But as Don mentioned, there is that decades old issue of 1 versus 2 engines and the HORNET can carry a larger payload.

It's a huge issue but the jobs that might be created given the economic downturn due to the response to Covid *might* ( maybe..) tip the balance but personally.....I still think the argument against in the political and military back rooms will be the single-engine.

We have a LOT of "middle of nowhere" to theoretically patrol ( more than most nations' entire area ) and losing one engine when you have two gets you back to base but not when you only have one to start with. What one engine gets you is a search and rescue operation and a crash investigation ( ...in a remote area ) and that attitude is deeply ingrained

[Karagin]

Seems Britain is looking to replace their Tornados and such with the new Tempest.

https://www.businessinsider.com/british-ministry-of-defense-updates-on-tempest-6th-generation-fighter-2020-12?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sf-insider-mildef

[Imp]

The GRIPEN E/F would be a generational step up over the SUPER HORNET E/F in regards to stealth capabilities. It also would be cheaper to operate and to logistically to support and is considered one of the most overall reliable fighters in the world.

But as Don mentioned, there is that decades old issue of 1 versus 2 engines and the HORNET can carry a larger payload.

For most countries I think its the best option as they don't have the budget & its cheap to buy & operate. Means they might be able to fly them & maintain operational readiness.

Regarding extra stealth capabilities (excluding F-22) are they much use unless you are attacking or the enemy is low tech?
Stealthy from the front is not much use on a patrol because your presenting other facings.
My thought in this day & age every patrol is a data gathering exercise for the enemy eventually they will have a software update to track it once it turns head on as they will know what they are looking for.

[Suhiir]

What one engine gets you is a search and rescue operation and a crash investigation ( ...in a remote area ) and that attitude is deeply ingrained
The same reason the US Navy and USMC are fond of two engine aircraft. REALLY hard to swim 500km back to your carrier.

However, modern jet engines are pretty reliable so that's not as big an issue as it use to be.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

John to your last, I would say it depends on the aircraft being flown due to the electronics onboard. One must remember "stealth" goes beyond just it's radar cross section. I'm going to it simple and use what I've read up to this point.

In an environment (Sweden) where I know the Russians are operating S-300/S-400 SAM Systems there's less than a handful of Jets in the world I would trust in potential combat environment as noted above, and the GRIPEN E/F is onE of them.

Two I'll knock out for all the "hoopla" that surrounded them and they are Chinas J-20 and Russia's T-50 (Used to be PAK-FA).

The J-20 it seems isn't as stealthy as first thought, and there are questions concerning it systems capabilities and reliability to include the powerplant.

If there was to be a foreign contender to the F-22 it would've been the PAK-FA/T-50 joint venture between India and Russia that I reported on extensively for years in here.

Basically with everything else Russia was trying to accomplish with their defensive needs, something had to give and it was the PAK-FA/T-50(And you might've heard about the T-14 as well!?!) they wanted to cut most of assets that would've truly have made this jet only the 2nd 5th GEN fighter in the world behind the F-22.

And NO the F-35 doesn't have true Super Cruise, because it has to go to "afterburner" first and it can only sustain "Super Cruise like" capability for around 150NM.
Super Cruise has been one of long standing 6-8 requirements to be met by a truly stealth jet. You might as well "Be on Broadway" with those bright LED (Neon just so not today.) lights.

So back to PAF-FA/T-50, India had warned Russia for more then a couple of years that if they didn't "reset" to the original concept of the joint venture (Stealth) they would withdraw from the the program. And so they did.

This next then should tell tell you a lot, India is now flying the latest version RAFALE and Russia with the T-50 is in "limbo" with it. An old saying comes to mind...Don't bite the hand that feeds you. India's hand healed quickly.

So I wish to leave with an article I would've rather have posted but just found today from a well industry respected source, talking about Canada, Sweden and Russia, GRIPEN E/F, Stealth and in the first para a remark about the F-35 and more.
https://skiesmag.com/features/saab-gripen-e-dark-horse/

USAF 4th GEN being around for a couple of more decades and how we're making them better...
https://www.airforcemag.com/article/Keeping-4th-Gen-Fighters-in-the-Game/

I've done enough damage for one day, take care!

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

They do make a compelling argument. What gets picked in the end will be a political decision and the coin is in mid air how that will go.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

John, because you you enjoy (As some others as well.) a good technical read once in awhile, I provide you with the the following abstract on the Chinese J-20. It was dated 04 July 2014. That's about 3 years after the J-20 Prototype made it's first appearance while then Defense Secretary Robert Gates was in Beijing China to "temp down" military tensions that were occurring at the time and are still continuing.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-stealth-idUSTRE70B11720110112
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/12/world/asia/12fighter.html

We didn't appreciate the "message" at the time.

As I noted in my last, it wasn't all it was "touted" as being which is at best and taken from Ref. 2...
"Actually the new J-20 is an advanced fourth-generation fighter, rather than a true fifth-generation fighter. Still though it easily outclasses older fourth-generation fighters, such as the US F-16 or the Russian Su-27."

I agree with that to an extent, however, we're flying much more capable F-16's now and Taiwan would be able to hold their own against the J-20 as we're updating (Now) their current F-16 fleet to the F-16V standard. And for Russia they are beyond the Su-27 with the Su-30 (Improved 27.), Su-35 and MiG-31BM.

I had to ref. the glossary a couple of times myself this is "deep reading" so it won't be for most people.

But it also demonstrates why I like this "think tank" because of the depth of their research, I can very much appreciate that! ;)
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-2011-03.html
Note it is titled "Preliminary Assessment"
http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/j20.htm

The rest as noted from above and keeping it easy for me...
http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/f16v_viper.htm
You have no idea how much an AESA capability truly means in a "stealthy" environment.
http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/su_30.htm
http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/su_35.htm
Highly capable aircraft.
http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/mig_31bm.htm
One of the fastest in the world but, sacrifices some maneuverability as a cost to speed.

Enjoy the rest of your Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Happy Holidays if you prefer!! :D

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Karagin]

They do make a compelling argument. What gets picked in the end will be a political decision and the coin is in mid air how that will go.

Read an article that one of your MPs blasted the idea of buying older Aussie F18s. Compared it a certain submarine. I will post the article if you want it.

[DRG]

Read an article that one of your MPs blasted the idea of buying older Aussie F18s. Compared it a certain submarine. I will post the article if you want it.

Not necessary. I know about that

[Karagin]

https://www.businessinsider.com/british-ministry-of-defense-updates-on-tempest-6th-generation-fighter-2020-12

The main image looks like a model mockup but it is an interesting looking aircraft.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Awhile back you were asking about weapons loadout "graphs" for Aircraft. If I would've taken a "deep breadth" I would've remembered about AUSA, I would've provided the following...

Just scroll down, you'll find them.

F-22: Yes this in one of the one's I did submit already, however, this could be a check against it or slightly more detailed which I believe will be the case here.
http://www.ausairpower.net/raptor.html

In order top to bottom Su-35+35S/Su-27SKM and Su-30MK2.
http://www.ausairpower.net/flanker.html Also:

Besides those good looking silhouettes, by clicking on them you get this "bonus" read on Asia's FLANKERS and Asia's aviation in general. It is both informative and technical in scope.

Unless I'm mistaken, something one of my first associates would find worth his while, so John enjoy!! I hope some of you will as well.
http://www.ausairpower.net/PDF-A/TE-Flankers-Aug03.pdf

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

This is another reason why the F-35 hasn't reached FOC, and this situation wasn't limited to just the USMC. They all did it because it's a "common" platform. In fact there's another modification just contracted that won't be complete until mid-2023 as DID has reported earlier this week.

The JANE's ref below just nicely encapsulates the situation. Para 3 will lead you into the problem, while Para 4/5 tell you how bad the problem is.

From Para 4 from DOD, "For example, 44% of purchased parts were incompatible with aircraft the Marine Corps took on a recent deployment."

I touched on this last when discussing ODIN situation which will be used to hopefully address these issues and the complexities of aircraft operability. You cannot maintain normal operational tempo, let alone sustained combat operations without a reliable supply chain.
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/uss-america-forward-deploys-to-japan-as-usmc-faces-f-35b-parts-issues

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

It sometimes amazes me how something "old" can be so accurate and relevant well into the future. It's a topic I've kept up with for a very, very longtime. Tonight is the first time I've read or seen this article.

I've seen over the years many times out here the question asked in many variations of the topic concerning stealth aircraft and countermeasures against it.

This is the first article I've read to date that covers the topics above with a little more clarity and sense of purpose. And as always, they leave you better informed afterwards then what you thought you knew starting it.

Of course I speak about AUSA. The topic STEALTH and COUNTERMEASURES. I'm "better informed" in particular concerning Countermeasures from a technical standpoint.

And to think, I thought I knew it all, well OK, almost all anyway!?! :shock: :p :D :doh:
http://www.ausairpower.net/PDF-A/APA-CVLO-Brief-May-2009-AE.pdf

Besides it also agrees with what I've been saying about the F-22 for I don't know how many years now. It's still true now and will be into the future for at least for another 10 years or more.

If you missed my post on this, the whole F-22 fleet is being modernized and will be more stealthy then it is as they're to be "recoated" with a new "hush/hush" paint if you will.

Another one for John!

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Karagin]

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a35728127/fa-18c-hornet-officially-retired/

Seems the F-18 has made its final flight with the US Navy/Marines as of the 25 of Feb 2021.

[Suhiir]

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a35728127/fa-18c-hornet-officially-retired/

Seems the F-18 has made its final flight with the US Navy/Marines as of the 25 of Feb 2021.
Doubtful.

Last I heard the US Navy planned to keep it's F/A-18Es and Fs for their Air Superiority role. Something the F-35 isn't terribly well suited for. Contrary to what many idiots claim the F-35 was never intended or designed as an air superiority platform.

The USMC does plan to get rid of it's F-18s as they expect the US Navy (and possibly USAF) to handle air superiority. Their aircraft are ground support assets.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

That is the plan. The USN has and will be receiving "new build" F/A-18E/F HORNETS for the air superiority role as my Marine "buddy" has pointed out.

As it currently stands, VMFA-533 Beaufort, S.C. is planned to be the first USMC air unit to reach FOC with their F-35B jets in the last quarter of FY 2025 (JUL-SEP 2025) providing there's no "hiccups" for any one.

And that's straight from the USMC.

So here's a recent "hiccup" for all three services...

"February 17/21: Engine Shortage F-35 fighter plane engines are in short supply external link, with the solution months away, causing the Defense Department to reduce its schedule of exhibition flights and to start planning for a shortage as soon as 2022. The Defense Department’s F-35 office has advised that about five to six percent of the US. F-35 fleet could be without useable engines by 2022, and up to 20 percent of the plane’s fleet could be sidelined by 2025. According to Defense News external link, the F-35 Heavy Maintenance Center, located at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, has been unable to process engines for repairs and maintenance, and catching up will take months."
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/f-35-lightning-the-joint-strike-fighter-program-edit-037947/

I couldn't make this up if I tried.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Karagin]

So do the dates change for the plane in the USMC OOB or not?

[DRG]

No. They are assumed to be USN assents supporting USMC

[Suhiir]

No. They are assumed to be USN assents supporting USMC

If you look a the USMC OOB you'll see some helos and aircraft have an "*" as part of the unit name. These are USN assets.

Example:
Unit# 106 SH-2DSeasprite*

As to the F/A-18
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/36435/the-plan-for-making-aging-marine-corps-hornets-deadlier-than-ever-for-a-final-decade-of-service

[DRG]

The blue part of the navy assisting the green part of the navy....
:evil: :angel

[troopie]

Suggestion: We are constantly hearing what this or that organisation is GOING to do. Let us wait until they actually DO it.

troopie

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

If referring to the F/A-18E/F that's already and has been ongoing.

If referring to the F-35 series, than yes that's currently "premature" but in the game. So now what do we do? That's not my final decision, all I can do is point it out.

It's not limited to this topic, as Don pointed when I found issue with the LEOPARD 2A5 (German OOB.) I believe he indicated that error (They got them to soon in in the OOB, as compared to RL. Fixed for the next patch.) was in there for a very longtime.

Again I've found legacy issues, prototypes (AJAX/F-35) and programs go by the wayside (SADF BADGER which now I don't even see actually being produced now before 2025 due to industry incompetence and corruption.

Some of the above was due to our lack of oversight or at the time all the sources we had pretty much indicated said piece of equipment "was on the way" or written "that it's there."

It took me a couple of years to learn I needed to "deep read" my information and learn to speck "industry" language as they "tout" every step in the process as a victory to getting said piece of equipment into the field.

This has lead to so much rework in the OOB's, it's getting to the point of becoming ridiculous if not just plain frustrating.

All we can do is fix the issues as we find them. Anything less leaves us with a game not as good as it could be or should be for ALL the hard work that's been done by Andy, Don and everyone else that's contributed to the game.

I would last see the following alive during the 25th Anniversary of the commissioning of the USS NEBRASKA SSBN-739 Reunion 3 years ago, knowing that CINCLANTHOME and I saved the Reunion and made it happen, CAPT. Will Porter USN/SS Ret. (My last CO on there.) told us "I'm glad to see after all these years since you transferred off the boat, that somethings haven't changed, you're still the conscious of the crew and the boat."

We miss him.

And yes, "somethings haven't changed" and there's only one way it will.

You have your name and your character anything else is "fleeting" and will not stand the test of time.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Suhiir]

Suggestion: We are constantly hearing what this or that organisation is GOING to do. Let us wait until they actually DO it.

troopie

Part of the problem has always been WinSMPBTs end date is in the future.

So we're constantly looking at what's planned then later what's actually implemented.

[DRG]

It's not limited to this topic, as Don pointed when I found issue with the LEOPARD 2A5 (German OOB.) I believe he indicated that error (They got them to soon in in the OOB, as compared to RL. Fixed for the next patch.) was in there for a very longtime.
:capt:

IDK if they are or not. I sent you the current OOB to use as a guide for any changes and I have not had any feedback.

[Karagin]

Suggestion: We are constantly hearing what this or that organisation is GOING to do. Let us wait until they actually DO it.

troopie

Part of the problem has always been WinSMPBTs end date is in the future.

So we're constantly looking at what's planned then later what's actually implemented.

Have the end date set in the future show be a good thing since it allows things to change, as we are talking about with the fighters and who is buying what etc...to me if one branch is no longer using X for something then to me that should be reflected in the OOBs. Now with USMC, sure they could still call on Navy F18s but that might not be doctrine and that is where we seem to gloss over or so to me it seems, country X stops using a doctrine and that means certain vehicles, fighters, weapons are no longer used in the same manner, so IMO, the stop date is a reflection of that. Can a LAWs rocket stop a current front-line MBT? Sure, engine hit or track/road wheels taken out or that lucky hit that just happens. Is it standard practice to use a LAWs rocket to take on a T80 or M1? No, however, it can be done, but no one is using that weapon system anymore to do it, with the very few exceptions of terrorist or low-end rebels.

Might not be the best example but the point is if doctrines change then certain things won't be available to a country after a certain date.

[DRG]

There is reality and "game reality" and in this case, the game reality is USMC has access to USN air assets because, in reality, they do. It has been that way from the beginning and is not going to change. Without the USN assets, the game USMC would be missing potential air assets which in reality they would not be. USMC doesn't have its own naval support either. It relies on the USN for that.

[Karagin]

There is reality and "game reality" and in this case, the game reality is USMC has access to USN air assets because, in reality, they do. It has been that way from the beginning and is not going to change. Without the USN assets, the game USMC would be missing potential air assets which in reality they would not be. USMC doesn't have its own naval support either. It relies on the USN for that.

I get that, however, if doctrine changes then they won't be calling on F18s for CAS, which is what changed, they would be calling on the F35s for CAS. Just like they don't have battleship-sized guns post 2000 to call on for naval gunfire either, and the game doesn't offer Tomahawk support to them which is something they would have access to as well.

[Suhiir]

There is reality and "game reality" and in this case, the game reality is USMC has access to USN air assets because, in reality, they do. It has been that way from the beginning and is not going to change. Without the USN assets, the game USMC would be missing potential air assets which in reality they would not be. USMC doesn't have its own naval support either. It relies on the USN for that.

Another "minor" asset many OOBs (not just the USMC) have access to is naval gunfire.


I get that, however, if doctrine changes then they won't be calling on F18s for CAS, which is what changed, they would be calling on the F35s for CAS. Just like they don't have battleship-sized guns post 2000 to call on for naval gunfire either, and the game doesn't offer Tomahawk support to them which is something they would have access to as well.
If US forces are in range they have access to each other's air assets.

It was "common knowledge" (i.e. maybe true, maybe not) that during Vietnam (and reportedly Afghanistan) the US Army preferred USN and particularly USMC air support because they got down in the weeds and hit their target rather then passing 20,000 feet overhead and dropping their load somewhere in the vicinity of the target.
( In all fairness USAF A-10 pilots are a much loved exception to this. )

WinSPMBT represents assets (and formations) available during a time frame. Those available for a specific scenario are up to the scenario designer. If you're playing vs the AI then you get what's in the piclists, and that can be almost anything available during the time frame.


Can a LAWs rocket stop a current front-line MBT? Sure, engine hit or track/road wheels taken out or that lucky hit that just happens. Is it standard practice to use a LAWs rocket to take on a T80 or M1? No, however, it can be done, but no one is using that weapon system anymore to do it, with the very few exceptions of terrorist or low-end rebels.
An AT-4 or RPG can't take out most front line MBTs head on either by-the-way.

It's not a matter of what's "good" or "useful", it's one of what's available. The USMC is currently getting rid of most (if not all) of it's M1's. EVERYONE (but the USMC top brass) knows this is a mistake, but it's being done anyway.

[WilliamB]

Key.Aero reports that the U.S.A.F. accepted their first F-15EX at Boeings St. Louis facility on March 10th.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

The reports are true, started tracking in Early/Mid 2020...
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/update-usaf-contracts-boeing-to-deliver-first-f-15ex-combat-aircraft
https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/oregon-air-national-guard-to-receive-first-boeing-f-15ex-in-2022/139799.article
https://theaviationist.com/2021/02/10/here-are-all-the-details-we-noticed-in-the-photos-of-the-new-f-15ex-during-its-first-flight/
(From Para 8 from above"...173rd Fighter Wing of the Oregon ANG, stationed at Kingsley Field, will become the first F-15EX Formal Training Unit (FTU) in 2022, and the 142nd Fighter Wing of the Oregon ANG, stationed in Portland, will become the first F-15EX operational unit in 2023.")
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/boeing-flies-first-f-15ex-for-usaf
https://theaviationist.com/2021/02/24/the-first-f-15ex-received-u-s-air-force-camouflage-and-markings/
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39718/f-15exs-future-role-as-hypersonic-missile-truck-touted-officially-by-the-air-force

Foreign Potential Sales:

India
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/boeing-unveils-indian-f-15ex-and-industry-plans_15168

Indonesia
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/indonesian-mod-reveals-aircraft-procurement-plans

Abstract
A couple of points and issues for the following based on some other data I have...
1) I believe the author is under estimating the detection range versus the F-35A. I would agree with those numbers based on the original S-400 fielded but not with the current upgraded versions since fielded by the Russians.

2) The calculus will change later this year (Early next year.) when Russia fields the S-500, which they hope will be able to deal with the F-22 (However as I've already reported and "as we speak", the F-22's are getting new "skin treatments" and advanced EW systems.)

3) The F-15EX will still be the worlds heaviest weapons platform in it's class.
https://www.airforcemag.com/article/f-15ex-vs-f-35a/
https://www.airforcemag.com/PDF/MagazineArchive/PublishingImages/2019/May%202019/F-15.F-35_Vertical.v30.pdf

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[blazejos]

Poland plan to buy 32 F-35A in years 2024-2026 pilots oficially starts training in USA.

https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=pl&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.defence24.pl%2Fpolscy-piloci-szykuja-sie-na-f-35

https://www.altair.com.pl/process/hotlink/files/special/articles/1/1138/rm_02-19-f35-bg_01.jpg

[MarkSheppard]

Egypt OBAT (01) seems to be missing Mirage 5, which was decently large type in the Egyptian air force

[DRG]

And would it be significantly different in the game than the multiple Mirage 2000 that are already there?

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

One of my "older" projected issues I've mentioned in the forum were projects going back to 2014/2015 mine concerned the same jets but a different country-BRAZIL. And I'll leave that there.

But concerning EYGPT and the MIRAGE 5SDE (Specifically.) and the MIRAGE 2000EM (Specifically), I'll try to make Marks case for him differently that maybe he might not be aware of himself :dk:, there exists at least a ten year gap between the two aircraft in their respective delivery dates to EYGPT, that in of itself should be enough reason I would think to get the MIRAGE 5SDE entered.

The next is from of course, SIPRI which I consider the "great arbitrator" for such issues as these.
20 Mirage-2000 FGA aircraft (1983) 1986-1988 (Delivered-Mine) (20) $1 b deal (incl production of components in Egypt); Mirage-2000EM version; incl 4 Mirage-2000BM trainer version

38 Mirage-5 FGA aircraft 1973 1973-1975 (Delivered-Mine) (38) Financed by Saudi Arabia; Mirage-5SDE version; incl 6 Mirage-5SB trainer version

EYGPT would order 34 total more MIRAGE-5 aircraft...
14 Mirage-5 FGA aircraft 1975 1977 14 Financed by Saudi Arabia; Mirage-5SDE version

14 Mirage-5 FGA aircraft 1977 1980 14 Financed by Saudi Arabia; Mirage-5SDE version; incl 6 Mirage-5SDR reconnaissance version

16 Mirage-5 FGA aircraft 1980 1983 (16) Mirage-5E2 version (I believe if memory serves, these are the more advanced French Air Force versions.)

And finally, just to wrap up all the Jet Fighters bought from France by EYGPT...
24 Rafale FGA aircraft 2015 2015-2019 24 Part of $5.2-6 b deal; incl 8 Rafale-EM and 16 Rafale-DM version

My search criteria Supplier France/Recipient Egypt/Aircraft/1970-2020.

Make no mistake there are differences between these types. I hate "cookie cutters" especially when it comes to tanks and combat aircraft.

Oh!, because I can F-35 FOC by 2023? Don't hold your breath, I really wish that we would make this right in the game since we do it with the tanks etc. which is our "main purpose" I believe.

Anyway...I only hope those that read the next, will read it as carefully as I have. Israel is the ONLY country to declare their F-35 jets at FOC and they're also already modifying them to suit their needs. Of course as I've already posted.
https://www.airforcemag.com/article/make-or-break-time-for-the-f-35/

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

OK. the Mirage 5 SDE is a Single-seat radar-equipped fighter-bomber version that was built for Egypt and is equivalent to Mirage IIIE and they were delivered to Egypt in 1974 and I assume it is still in service?

and Pat...... did you look in the Egyptian OOB for the Rafael ? it's there entering service 7/2015

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Don,
I already knew it was in there sometime ago, I remember posting on it's possible buy to acquisition (REFALE) though I don't know who purposed it for the game.

I thought, I commented that I added it just to close out the "combat" jets supplied by France between 1970-2020. If not, my apologies for not stating that in my last post.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

The Mirage 5 is now in the Egyptian OOB and it has its own new Icon replacing an old SSI Mirage repaint that had been sitting unused in the graphics files for years

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I feel it necessary to thank Mark for the Egyptian MIRAGE "catch", it probably goes without saying that issue has been around for a very longtime.

But it's also refreshing to see players pointing out these things, especially from countries that might not always be on the "radar screen" and quite frankly, it's good to know you're not alone in supporting the "little guys" in the game. OWOOOB!

And Don, responded as usual to these "things" and the issue is done.

So knowing the "boys" can use a break, I'll be working in the "dark" where I can promise every continent will have issues covered when "Plan B" is executed.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

F-35C UPDATE: FINALLY, the USN's F-35C will be making it's FIRST deployment (On the USS CARL VINSON.)) later this year in a consolidated air wing. They've not gone to sea since 2018 when they were tested for carrier qualification operations.

Also the new tilt rotor CMV-22 OSPREY will be going to sea on the same deployment to test it's transport capabilities (It has already flown in an "air ambulance" capacity.).

Of course again, all F-35 variants are still only IOC. The program starting around this summer through 2022 will be suffering across all military services from a severe shortage of engines, which expected to limit operations. I believe I've already posted on this issue.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/the-f-35-s-carrier-variant-is-finally-going-to-sea/ar-BB1gnSRB?ocid=msedgntp
https://news.usni.org/2021/04/29/first-f-35c-air-wing-ready-to-bring-5th-gen-fighters-to-carrier-strike-group

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[Suhiir]

F-35C UPDATE: FINALLY, the USN's F-35C will be making it's FIRST deployment (On the USS CARL VINSON.)) later this year in a consolidated air wing.
Wasn't to far off, had the F-35C becoming operational 1/2023.

[DRG]

I'm just going to leave the in service date as-is for now

[Aeraaa]

Link containing the pics of the 1st Greek Rafale during flight:

https://www.ptisidiastima.com/greek-rafale-pics/

[DRG]

Something some of you may find interesting

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/ho-chi-bear-and-the-ravens-truly-adventurous?utm_source=pocket-newtab

His Obit

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/houstonchronicle/name/fred-platt-obituary?id=8291257

.....His official statistics: USAF Log 1,716 Combat Flying hours on 745 Combat Missions in single engine prop aircraft.

Shot down 11 times

Fred received over 48 medals for his service, including the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, 26 Air Medals, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Palm, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star for service in South Viet Nam, 3 Purple Hearts, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit award with Combat V and 1 Oak Leaf Cluster.

[MarkSheppard]

China has tested a twin seat (Pilot/Guy in Back) J-20 (Unit 164 China) prototype. We're still years away from it entering service; but presumably when it enters service, it will be used for training or an EW/SEAD/Heavy Strike version of the J-20.

[MarkSheppard]

China has unveiled a variant of the J-16 (Unit 168); the J-16D, an EW/attack variant similar to the EF-18G Growler and reportedly deployed a few planes near taiwan.

https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/china-ew-j16d-unique-new

The J-16D:

Removes the 30mm cannon and IRST pod of the basic J-16 fighter in favor of 6 x Anti Radiation Missiles; but it's not known which missile will be chosen for the J-16D:

CM-103 -- 100 km range ARM
LD-10 - ARM derived from PL-12 AAM.
YJ-91 -- Apparently most widely used ARM by PLAAF.

[MarkSheppard]

The Chinese now have 20~ or more Y-20 transports.

On 6 July 2016 the first serial Y-20A (serial number 11051) was handed over to the PLAAF in a ceremony. The second aircraft numbered 11052 followed soon after - it was assigned to the 12th Regiment of the 4th Transport Division at Qionglai, Chengdu.

In May 2018; the first airborne airdrops occurred from the Y-20.

These planes use Russian supplied Soloviev D-30 turbofans.

They basically can lift up to 66 tons (2 x Type 15 light tanks or 1 x Type 99 Tank).

Not much information is known about the Y-20B; but this model will use the first indigenously produced Chinese Turbofans (WS-18 or WS-20).

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Though I hope the following will finally get these jets inline to the "real world" I remain pessimistically/optimistic this might finally happen because, there is no more guessing to disrupt that thought process.

We have finally, an FOC date, with cavoites, but none the less an FOC date from NAVAIR for one variant but also for only one service.

By now most will know I'm speaking of the F-35. Specifically, the USMC F-35C. I don't know for how many years I've been saying the CORPS would reach that milestone first.

So...
USMC/CHANGE/F-35C/UNITS 584 & 585/START/JUL 2021 vice JAN 2023//
With this OFFICIAL announcement, this now throws all other F-35 start dates "out the window" the wait period is now over with this news coming from NAVAIR and after linking to F-35 LIGHTNING II JOINT PROGRAM OFFICE.
https://www.navair.navy.mil/
(Click on Fixed Wing>F-35)
https://www.jsf.mil/news
From the ref below...
"The Marine Corps has been first to reach a number of F-35 milestones, but unlike the F-35C variant, its sibling F-35B model has yet to reach full operational capability. Each service sets its own requirements for operational capability based on a number of factors, including the level of training personnel receive and the number of squadrons flying the aircraft."
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/07/03/marine-corps-first-carrier-capable-f-35-squadron-ready-wartime-use.html
(As linked to from NAVAIR and JSF sites as above.)

This following gives some prospective from BOTH the USN and USAF from the ref below these...
"By 2025, the Navy will have solved its strike fighter shortfall in part by changing how it will field the F-35C Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter. Instead of two squadrons per air wing with 10 tails, the Navy will now field a single squadron with 14 tails, Rear Adm. Andrew Loiselle, director of the Air Warfare Division (OPNAV/N98), told the House Armed Services subcommittee on tactical air and land forces on Tuesday. testified it was reducing F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fight from two to one squadron per air wing."

USAF...
Looking at the F-35’s impact on the Air Force, Lt. Gen. David Nahom, deputy chief of staff for plans and programs, said, “we’re paying for outstanding but not getting outstanding. ” Today and in the immediate future, “we’re filling in the holes with F-16s and A-10s.”
https://news.usni.org/2021/07/14/navy-adjusts-f-35c-squadron-size-to-end-fighter-shortfall-by-2025

The article above encapsulates all the issues I've brought up about the F-35. It also admits finally that foreign competition is also delaying the F-35A, F-35C USN and F-35B.

So how did the USMC get theirs to FOC? Two factors their F/A-18C/D jets are older and PLAN 2030. They also only require 68 aircraft to fulfill their mission requirements. Because of this they ca keep them reengined (As I've posted) during the engine shortage that will continue through 2025. F-55B engines are still be tested through mid 2022 if all goes well.

My thoughts for the rest and based on current refs (And an officer I know currently assigned to a carrier.) and everything else I've posted, are F-35A & F-35C based on earliest dates AND the fact they both have contracts running through the middle of 2024+ for SYSTEM/HARDWARD upgrades and retrofits are
START OCT 2024 and based more on the contracts JAN 2025.

I feel there's a reasonable expectation that the F-35B and pending the engine testing results, I see START APR 2023 to OCT 2023.

I will either eat "humble pie" or "gloat" (Without malicious aspect to it.) more than likely however I'll just appreciate getting this as close to right after so many years of dealing with this.

If anything, if more is required I can with what I have "drop a ref bomb" but everything to date posted provides a base for what's and what I still have.

I think with the FOC reached for the USMC F-35C that we should move forward. As a player after a Patch Post said, and I paraphrase, He grew tired of playing against INDIA as the AI was using T-90MS tanks regularly against him knowing they didn't have them yet.

I believe I submitted a date that pushed the FOC out about 3-4 years.

I wonder how many feel the same with the F-35 beating them up with SAM assets which might prove ineffective against a jet that's not at FOC except as noted? Many countries have updated their SAM systems to counter this (i.e., TURKEY FOC S-400. ) " [B]future" threat. Another area to be addressed at some point.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

USMC/CHANGE/F-35C/UNITS 584 & 585/START/JUL 2021 vice JAN 2023//
With this OFFICIAL announcement, this now throws all other F-35 start dates "out the window" the wait period is now over with this news coming from NAVAIR and after linking to F-35 LIGHTNING II JOINT PROGRAM OFFICE.
[B]https://www.navair.navy.mil/
Regards,
Pat
:capt:


Pat......... 583 and 584 are the C versions not 584 and 585.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Sorry! :doh: Also, my last post has been edited for more clarification

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

I believe I submitted a date that pushed the FOC out about 3-4 years.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:


Maybe you did by I can't find it

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Don...
To answer your last on the FOC 3-4 yr. START concerning INDIA's T-90MS, it was 3yrs. to JAN 2022 vice JAN 2019.
See MBT THREAD PG. 88/POST #879

Concerning the player feedback on the above change, that came from RC4 his comment is also in the MBT THREAD PG. 89/POST #885.

I assume you made the search for a reason, as you posted in your last, so my answer will hopefully clear up any issue you might be having.

Have a good morning!

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Alright from JANE'S the following country has reached FOC with their F-35A fighters.

NORWAY

The last Norwegian F-16AM/BM fighters were also fully retired on 06 JAN 2022 to coincide with the F-35A fighters' operations for Norway.
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/air-platforms/latest/norway-retires-f-16-as-f-35-takes-on-national-air-defence

Do not for one second "assume" that these or any foreign governments F-35 versions are as fully capable as ours.

We currently have several modification contracts running through 2024+ for our F-35 versions before they reach FOC. See Contract section below in a "sparse open read/B]" in which you'll see as I had already posted [B]we're experiencing an engine shortage that'll cut into 20% of our fleet by 2025.

"February 17/21: Engine Shortage F-35 fighter plane engines are in short supply external link, with the solution months away, causing the Defense Department to reduce its schedule of exhibition flights and to start planning for a shortage as soon as 2022. The Defense Department’s F-35 office has advised that about five to six percent of the US. F-35 fleet could be without useable engines by 2022, and up to 20 percent of the plane’s fleet could be sidelined by 2025. According to Defense News external link, the F-135 Heavy Maintenance Center, located at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, has been unable to process engines for repairs and maintenance, and catching up will take months."
Thought I'd save you some time. ;)

I already addressed the NAVAIR/USMC decision (POST 643 above.) for the F-35B. It's I'm sure an honor for the USMC pilots to do some of the "real world" OPEVAL testing for the USAF and USN until theirs reach FOC.
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/f-35-lightning-the-joint-strike-fighter-program-edit-037947/

TRACKING the NETHERLANDS for FOC.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

With a war on their border (Ukraine) March 2nd was a real bad day for the Romanian Air Force.
https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/romanian-mig-21-crash-followed-by-sa330-search-and-rescue-helicopter-loss/147771.article?utm_campaign=FG-DEFENCE-FILLER-090322-FM&utm_medium=email&utm_source=email&utm_content=newsletter

This what I saw in my account:
"Romania’s air force suffered two fatal accidents on 2 March, in separate crashes which killed eight military personnel.

The pilot of a Mikoyan MiG-21 fighter from the 861st Air Combat Squadron was killed when his aircraft crashed near Cogealac in the south-eastern Constanta region.

Romanian air force MiG-21

Source: Jason Wells/Shutterstock

A Romanian air force MiG-21 crashed on 2 March, killing its pilot

Romania’s defence ministry says the aircraft “was part of a formation of two MiG-21 Lancer planes performing air patrol missions over Dobrogea” during a sortie flown from Borcea air base. Radio transmissions ceased at 20:00 local time, and radar contact was lost 3min later, it says.

Following the fighter’s disappearance, an IAR SA330 Puma transport helicopter took off from Mihail Kogalniceanu air base, to conduct a search and rescue mission.

Romanian air force SA330

Source: Mircea Moira/Shutterstock

Seven personnel died when their SA330 was lost during search and rescue mission

The rotorcraft crashed at 20:44, killing all seven personnel aboard, including two from the naval forces. The accident happened near Gura Dobrogei, around 6.8 miles (11km) from its base.

The air force has initiated a commission to investigate the accidents, and temporarily grounded operations with its MiG-21 and SA330 fleets pending its initial findings."

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

lets see, you lose contact with an aircraft and to goes off the radar then you send SAR to look for it and the same thing happens to it ?

Either Romania has a Bermuda triangle we've never heard of or the worst luck ever or something fishy is going on

[Karagin]

lets see, you lose contact with an aircraft and to goes off the radar then you send SAR to look for it and the same thing happens to it ?

Either Romania has a Bermuda triangle we've never heard of or the worst luck ever or something fishy is going on

Unless strayed over the border...fishy sounds more like it.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Having had a "minor" spare parts issue before the war, this appears to have been resolved. It's apparently understood that most of the 20 planes noted below and elsewhere were Mig-29 jets that unavailable at the start of the war. These parts are also maintaining flight ops for the rest.

I would imagine you would you need only to look West and just across the border to figure who the "key supplier" is. :D
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ukraine-s-air-force-has-added-about-20-more-operational-aircraft-after-influx-of-spare-parts-senior-us-defense-official-says/ar-AAWqtxy?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=80d16d0dcc8147819cc2e1c832f6ff7d

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I'm starting to see this "traffic" picking up on the web. Apparently, they got shipped into the Ukraine on the 26th.

Nothing new with this "concept" that's what Russia does with the Indian T-90S, they ship the components and India puts them
together. Last time I checked 80% of those parts come in from Russia.

If those Su-25 jets did come from Bulgaria, the eight that were upgraded will match or be slightly better than their Russian counterparts.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-ukraijokesian-air-force-just-got-bigger-it-seems-someone-gave-kyiv-more-mig-29s/ar-AAWo27F
https://www.novinite.com/articles/215264/Ukraine+received+a+Dozen+Soviet+Su-25s+in+Spare+Parts+%E2%80%93+Did+Bulgaria+send+the m%3F

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

A little something that was at times "beaten into our heads" lest we forget that we "Train as you fight, fight as you train" a little diversion and something you don't really hear about. This is why we built the Interstate Road System back in the 1950's it wasn't just to move the Army or us.

Next you find yourself moving slowly through an Interstate construction area note how deep that rebar and concrete layer is.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/summer-military-training-near-munising-involves-aircraft-landing-on-m-28/ar-AAXU5Br?ocid=mailsignout&li=BBnbfcL
(Put the "hand" over MSgt. Scott Thompsons "banner" in the lower right to see how far that A-10 came the exercise last year.)
https://americanmilitarynews.com/2021/08/videos-air-force-a-10s-land-on-take-off-from-highway-in-michigan/
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41852/a-10-warthogs-fly-from-an-american-highway

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

Gotta love the A-10.........

https://forum.shrapnelgames.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16738&stc=1&d=1653993421

...how could I resist.......

https://forum.shrapnelgames.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16740&stc=1&d=1653993588

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Let's see now, yes, a squadron of A-10's is touring in Europe to commemorate D-Day celebrations throughout. When unexpectantly a war breaks out.

It's our only A-10 SQD. in Europe and we need them at the front ASAP!

No time to repaint them, only to load them out to blunt an armored assault.

For PR and Psy. Op purposes DOD decides to keep them in their D-Day paint scheme until the end of hostilities.

That's my "cover story" and I'm sticking to it!?! :cool:

Looks really good!! Good to know our ground troops will have their support as it looks now until 2035.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I must say that I found the following a very interesting read. Though some of what is discussed was underway, thanks to Russia, they've increased GDP spending on defense (Doubled it.) to meet the potential current threat.

If you read this fully, you'll discover "the straw that broke the camel's back" that caused Sweden to join NATO.

I'll need to re-access the GRIPEN E, I knew it was a completely new airframe so it could accommodate the AESA air/ground radar systems along with a new EW suite as well.

What I just found out was the EW suite was more robust than I thought and also it can carry a much heavier weapons payload as well.

So that's what I got from it and more.

What anyone else gets from it, well that's kind've like " Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" I guess it could come down to your eyesight. :rolleyes:
https://www.edrmagazine.eu/swedish-air-force-the-way-ahead

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Why we love it, why it's so lethal, understanding it's 30mm DU round and what makes it so deadly and how it uses the tank armor against itself and what it does inside the tank (This "principal" would pretty much give you fair idea how much worse the affects would with a DU tank round. ).

I also found the video rounds things out nicely.

Finally, I found this very useful in game terms as well as quoted from the ref.

"The Air Force's Air Combat Command said that it is still using armor-piercing incendiary rounds, albeit in smaller quantities than it used to. Alexi Worley, a spokesperson for Air Combat Command, said the service is beginning to field belts of 30mm ammunition that feature a mix of two armor-piercing incendiary rounds for every one high-explosive incendiary round. That ratio is a little lower than the old ratio of five API to everyone HEI, "which has expired and was removed from the Air Force active inventory," Worley explained. But the new rounds will not be used in training, she said, as they are primarily for combat as part of the military's war reserve materiel."

This article was written yesterday which tells me if the USAF is just beginning to field the 2:1 ratio belts of ammo that the previous 5:1 ratio belts of ammo are most likely in the last year "of service" so DEC 2022.

We might need to reconsider how our in-game A-10 are setup based on the above from the USAF the ammo ratio issue if there's a discrepancy between the two.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-10-pilot-explains-how-the-warthog-s-depleted-uranium-rounds-turn-tank-armor-against-itself/ar-AA101XG2?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=12a369f2b94943c885c140200524feab

I feel also especially as compared to the Russian OOB with their Su-25SM UNIT 957/Su-30/34/35 ground attack units (Most or all.) at TI/GSR 40 that we can do better than 1 A-10 UNIT 871 @ TI/GSR 40.

This had been a very old "*****" of mine since the first LITENING ER was fielded in 2001 followed by the LITENING AT in 2003 not long before I showed up here. It doesn't use up a weapons hard point as it's normally mounted to the fuselage in more recent times. The last ref discusses it use on the A-10 back in 2003.
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2002/09/16/290430/189/en/Northrop-Grumman-LITENING-Extended-Range-Pod-Integrated-on-A-10-Thunderbolt-II-Aircraft.html
https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104571/litening-advance-targeting/
http://www.sponauer.com/a-10litening/
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=A-10+litening+target+pod+videos&&view=detail&mid=A6ECD9B1D6CDF2C6BDC4A6ECD9B1D6CDF2C6BDC4&&FORM=VDRVRV
(NOTE: 1. TEST EVALUATION DATES OF EACH SEGMENT (2000+) 2. ALTITUDE and RANGES "FLASH" at the BOTTOM of the SCREEN.)

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

The A-10 will not be replaced by any prop driven aircraft now. The USAF since the early 2000's had been seeking a lighter prop driven light attack aircraft to provide CAS, Recon and other support and now it looks like the current program is dead in trying to take over the roles that the A-10 was responsible for.

As the article clearly states, NONE of these aircraft were operational in the USAF or SOCOM.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/air-force-wants-to-liquidate-its-tiny-light-attack-plane-fleet/ar-AA10zAwR?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=fbb7deff88a74037963f0baca8ce58a3#image=4

That'd be like having a paper airplane replace an expensive RC one! :eek:

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

Always like the look and capability of the A-10 for the same reason I like the look and capability of the Heinkel He 219

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Then you would've liked the following even better of the type, unfortunately it never went into production. From the ref.
"The He 219 A-7, the next major production version, carried a powerful armament of eight cannon - two 30 mm Rheinmetall MK-108s in the wing roots, two 30 mm Rheinmetall MK-103s and two 20 mm Mauser MK-151/20s in a ventral tray, and two MK-108s in a "Schräge Musik" installation. The A-7/R6, with Junkers Jumo 222A/B engines (2500 hp), was the fastest of the type, attaining 700 kph (435 mph). Despite the aircraft's successes, Erhard Milch, another Heinkel opponent who was chief of aircraft procurement and supply, persuaded the RLM in May 1944 to cancel the whole program. He favored standardization on the multipurpose Junkers Ju 388 and the Focke-Wulf Ta 154 night fighter, which he thought were easier to manufacture but which in fact never saw combat."
https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/heinkel-he-219-a-2-r4-uhu-eagle-owl/nasm_A19600322000
(Definitely I agree the "A-10" of its time.

Herr Milch obviously based on his biased attitude towards Heinkel made the wrong choice above. For those that don't know he was the architect of what would be the Luftwaffe prior to WWII to about 1944.
https://www.nytimes.com/1972/01/29/archives/erhaltd-milch-9-luftwrffe-chief-goering-protege-convicted-of-war.html

The above article does mention the Me 262 jet. ;)

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

Just for giggles............:D

https://forum.shrapnelgames.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16782&stc=1&d=1660422470

Final version 300%

https://forum.shrapnelgames.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16788&stc=1&d=1661720455

[blazejos]

Ukrainian sugests that HARM antiradar missiles were integrated not only with Mig-29 but also with Su-24. Quite impressive to install necessary equipment in aircraft which were never intended to use western rockets.

https://en.defence-ua.com/weapon_and_tech/ukrainian_air_force_hints_that_not_only_mig_29s_us ed_to_launch_harm_missiles-3979.html

[WilliamB]

There is a report in the September issue of AirForces Monthly that France retired their last Mirage 2000s at the end of June. The current end date for the 2000s is 12/25. Units are 213-216, 773, 902, 903, 969 and 980.

[DRG]

A link would have been nice as the info actually is.......


The French Air Force has retired the Dassault Mirage 2000C from operational service, leaving just three variants of the delta-winged fighter in French service. Although the 2000C—the single-seat air defense model—was formally withdrawn at the end of June, the French Air Force has kept a handful...Jul 11, 2022

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/france-retiring-mirage-2000c-after-bastille-day-flypast#:~:text=The%20French%20Air%20Force%20has,h as%20kept%20a%20handful...


So C versions only.......which we do not have in the game so there is no change

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I'm posting this here because it's showing one of my favorite jets and that like "TR" we're still not afraid to carry a "big stick" with our naval forces. This is the first deployment of an Amphibious Combat Assault ship into the Baltic in over 20 years. The ship is the USS KEARSAGE LHD-3. For this story released yesterday she was working with our NATO partners in an exercise.

I was happy to see that the AV-8B is still active and currently projected to be until sometime between 2030-2035. There are still issues with the F-35 and orders from them are being scaled back to support other service projects from all branches.

In the meantime, enjoy the article and great photos.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-navy-assault-ship-takes-part-in-baltic-sea-training/ar-AA11s4hi

I must say I missed the article that said sailors have been redesignated as "soldiers", how'd that happen!?! Then also the media still thinks we have Battleships too!! :doh:

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[blazejos]

hint that also Su-27 is a carrier for HARM missiles

https://en.defence-ua.com/news/ukrainian_su_27_got_new_weapons_now_it_will_cause_ trouble_to_the_russians_on_par_with_mig_29-4167.html

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well, I found this next sort of a "refreshing" story. Especially since there hasn't been much news concerning the Ukrainian Air Force for a couple of weeks or so after their ace pilot was shot down and killed.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/a-ukrainian-bomber-makes-a-surprise-appearance-streaking-low-over-the-front-line/ar-AA11XHWP?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=70655836359245368063833c0c6996eb

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well, nothing surprises me anymore concerning the F-35 series. We've over the last 4 months had two jets crash the latest was a USMC F-35B were the pilot ejected just in time while trying to land it. Boths caused groundings totaling to roughly a month. The problem here honestly is that the electronics especially wasn't "future proofed" as much as might've been possible i.e., everyone knew for instance that the S-400/500 (Was just fielded very recently.) were coming but the technology wasn't all there at the time the program was started. I really hope if you call up the systems below you take a careful look at the header and note the dates when submitted and updated. Also, these guys are much smarter about these things than any of us can hope to be. They were one of the better "think tanks" in the world on these matters and though I agree with this assessment, those words didn't come from me.

Again, these guys somewhat did "future proof" their website as it's still considered as a "Gold Standard" for a nongovernmental organization on most of the systems covered including the likes of what's below. How did they get those pictures? Very JANEISH if you ask me!?! Site was last updated on JAN 27, 2014.
http://www.ausairpower.net/sams-iads.html
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-S-400-Triumf.html
(This was my primary site for this system when submitted.)
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-S-500-Triumfator-M.html

BACK TO THE F-35...
Other issues cited was the "battle of the engines" and replacement process and ODIN both previously mentioned along with many others.

So now we have another, and I really hope you read this article a part of Radar fix is to upgrade two systems needed for this jet to carry our latest weapons which apparently it can't do now.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/f-35-will-get-new-radar-under-massive-upgrade-initiative/ar-AA15WoyC?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=2a742829807347948afe82a02074b48d

Where's the USN with the F-35C? Nowhere. And USAF well, they're in the same spot.
https://www.navair.navy.mil/product/F-35-Lightning-II
(We really don't need this jet anyway, afterall we have MAVERICK!! :p)
https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/478441/f-35a-lightning-ii/
(But we do have the F-15EX.)

More to follow later from the Congressional GAO Reports from earlier this year.

On another Project the news is better, it appears I have only 4 more tanks to address though this has somewhat turned into a "mini" version of the foreign T-72 tank issues we addressed I believe in my last Patch Submission. Thankfully only a couple of more name and date changes.
Had an eye issue the last couple of days after seeing my specialist today, I'll be off another day from work so there's a fair chance maybe by tomorrow night with luck it'll be done.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[blazejos]

Graphic how Ukrainian F-16 may look like when will be delivered:

https://en.defence-ua.com/media/illustration/articles/38063ed2647c52ff.jpg

https://en.defence-ua.com/industries/the_us_announced_prices_and_delivery_dates_for_the _f_16_block_3032_and_block_7072-5914.html

And also some info about T-22M3 which were in their army until 2006 and decommissioned destroyed from lack of funds and because they believe in that times that world will be a better place :(

https://en.defence-ua.com/industries/ukraine_didnt_give_tu_22m3_bombers_and_kh_22_missi les_to_the_kremlin_ukrainian_long_range_missile_pe rspective_can_be_implemented-5683.html

https://en.defence-ua.com/media/illustration/articles/fb063e30af680e38.jpg

F-18 second hand from Finland is also on table
https://mil.in.ua/en/news/finland-will-consider-the-transfer-of-f-a-18-fighters-to-ukraine/

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

What we know is that with help the Ukrainians have modified their MiG-29's and Ground Attack aircraft to be able to use Western/Their Air to Air and Air to Ground weapons with the JDAM Kits.

And so, we have reports that early last month they successfully made an attack on targets using the JDAM with an effective range of at least 15+ miles which would give this a "standoff attack" capability.

But the rub is what we really gave them is the JDAM-ER (Extended Range VERSION.)
https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_april_2023_global_security_army_indus try/ukrainian_armed_forces_use_now_us_jdam_gps_precisi on_guided_bombs_to_strike_russian_army.html
https://www.armyrecognition.com/united_states_american_missile_system_vehicle_uk/jdam_joint_direct_attack_munition_gps_inertial_pre cision_strike_munition_data.html

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[blazejos]

Article's with Mig-29 photos in Luftwaffe camo after Germany reunification
https://mil.in.ua/en/news/germany-approves-poland-s-mig-29-export-bid/
https://en.defence-ua.com/news/why_nato_wasnt_even_trying_to_adapt_mig_29_for_wes tern_missiles-6419.html
https://mil.in.ua/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot_4-6-2.jpg

Aero L-39 in Ukrainian camo with their usage in post-soviet small wars described
https://en.defence-ua.com/analysis/are_the_l_39_combat_training_jets_worth_trying_to_ shoot_down_a_uav_and_why_it_is_a_bad_idea-6336.html

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

We've been training Ukrainian Pilots now for a handful of months and so have about 3 other NATO countries. Some have pledged F-16 jets but couldn't until now supply them.

Estimates based on current training would indicate this will take several months or longer to accomplish.

The U.S. could be a winner in this as we'll at some point I'm sure we'll find out how good the F-16 is in air-to-air combat.

Not a game issue but, you'd have to "live under a rock" to not understand the RL IMPLICATIONS.

It's already in the past decades proven it's a very capable ground attack system especially as weapons technology has improved.

So see if this sounds familiar from a certain show as modified "F-16s are a GO!!" well in about a year and probably slightly more.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/white-house-will-allow-partners-to-transfer-f-16s-to-ukraine-cnn/ar-AA1bodcp?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=6409c339535040889c044a8e52239272&ei=22
(Article first appeared on CNN.) .

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

First to my last post concerning the F-16C/Ds for the Ukraine it'll be late Summer 2024 more likely the Fall of 2024 before we might see them operationally.

Pilot training alone is a year or slightly more in length. Had a USN F-18C/D engine mechanic who told me his school was about a yearlong as well (I can vouch for this based on my ASVAB score it qualified me for aircraft engine or EW/or Avionics training then in Millington TN. now at Pensacola FL.)

Concerning the next I would've thought the Eurofighter was already flying in the SEAD role, however, it isn't and won't be until 2030 or so.

For Germany the focus of this article means the very capable Panavia Tornado electronic combat and reconnaissance (ECR) jets will continue in that role. Reason for replacement airframe age averaging around 30 years currently.

UK faces the same issue and will modifying their TRANCHE 3 versions to be completed also by 2030 or so.

They were also using the ECR as well up to FEB 2019 and replaced by the TYPHOON in the SEAD role during the transition of the ECR retirement.

The weapon the UK carried was the ALARM retired in DEC. 2013.
https://weaponsystems.net/system/106-ALARM.

It was replaced by the STORM SHADOW for SEAD providing a "standoff" capability.
https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/berlin-approves-funding-for-eurofighter-sead-variant-development/156047.article?utm_campaign=FG-DEFENCE-FSI%20FILLER-061223-JM&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=FG-DEFENCE-FSI%20FILLER-061223-JM

NOTE: MILTARY-TODAY website is not available. I'm assuming due to the war in Ukraine where they were based out of. It is my hope they will come back online as they covered such a wide variety of weapons systems and platforms.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well, the game I'm watching is going into overtime.

So basic flight training has just completed.

Advanced flight training will probably begin later this month. This should be completed sometime between Aug. - Oct. of this year.

All this training included Logistical and Maintenace personnel and like the pilots, they are also entering the advanced part of their training.

The F-16 they are operating are of a more advanced type than I thought they would receive.

Specifically, I speak of the F-16 well now I can't as I "stepped on it" to get here. I can tell you from reading the article the Dutch are updating the ones the Ukraine will receive. There originally was thinking it would be the "VIPER" I believe and am sure that's changed as that's our most advanced version and the Dutch don't fly them.

That being said, it'll be more than capable in both the air and ground attack modes. One of the Dutch upgrades will include a new attack radar and subsystems.

I would fully expect it to have TI/GSR 40. It'll also be able to carry all the latest weapons air and ground the F-16 IS CURRENTLY CERTIFIED TO USE.
https://www.flyingmag.com/first-batch-of-ukrainian-f-16-pilots-finish-training-in-uk/

I will post the article when it next "pops up" on my screen for the specific type.

Regards,

And Happy New Year to all!

Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

The Dutch fly the F-16AM (Fighter-bomber)/BM (Trainer) the Danish fighters will be brought up to the same spec if needed to maintain aircraft compatibility/parity of the type.

Time for me to "fly" have a good day!

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

I noticed that the MiG-31 was using the MiG-25 Icon

So I built a new-31 then got carried away........
https://i.imgur.com/wupJW8c.png

Eventually I'll decide which ones I will use

[DRG]

For giggles I was going to build one with markings of the Kazakh Air Defense Forces as they are the only other nation that uses the -31

but reported Nov 17/2023

https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/kazakhstan-soviet-fighter-mig31/

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Former Soviet Union member state, Kazakhstan, has put more than 100 fighter jets and bombers built during the Soviet era up for sale to interested parties.

The former Soviet-era fighter aircraft, along with their engines, being offered for sale by the Central Asian nation include MiG-31, MiG-27, MiG-29, and Su-24, which were built during the Cold War tensions of the 1970s and 1980s.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

According to the following it appears that the following are potential buyers for different reasons as reported in the last two paras. This little more in depth and reporting Kazakhstan canceled the first sale and has reduced the asking price in half. Supposedly the relaunch of the sale was to last Nov.

ICONs look great!
https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/kazakhstan-to-auction-off-more-than-100-soviet-combat-aircraft
https://www.globaldefensecorp.com/2023/10/29/csto-member-kazakhstan-auctions-117-soviet-era-and-russian-origin-fighter-jets-including-su-30sm-mig-31-mig-29/

This last will serve a "dual purpose" I'm sure the more astute will figure out why it's here and makes sense for that piece of equipment which has of late being reported it never really was even in Crimea.
https://www.globaldefensecorp.com/2022/12/11/ukraine-war-kremlin-suspends-major-defense-projects-including-su-57-su-75-pak-da-t-14-ak-12-rifles/

It looks like you might get one free article a day.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[MarkSheppard]

Spanish (033) OBAT

Unit 577: JSF

Spain keeps going hot/cold/hot/cold on actually acquiring the F-35B; so I'm not sure whether to keep Unit 577 in; given that any future F-35B buy will now only arrive after 2025/2026...

[MarkSheppard]

Some F-35 information:

Belgium -- They got presented with their first F-35 in December 2023; but it will be 2025 before a F-35 lands at Florennes Air Base (2nd Tactical Wing) and 2027 for Kleine-Brogel Air Base (10th Tactical Wing); as the first eight Belgian F-35s built will go to Luke AFB in the US to train Belgian pilots in the US.

Finland: F-35A deliveries to begin 2026.

Germany: F-35A deliveries to begin 2026; IOC 2028.

Canada: F-35A deliveries to begin 2026, first squadron IOC 2029.

Norway: Unit 279; has a start date of 1/122 -- Norway reached IOC in November 2019 and scrambled their first F-35s to intercept Russian aircraft in March 2020. Also is still labeled "F-35 JSF"

Poland: F-35A deliveries to begin 2024 to Luke AFB for training of Polish pilots in USA. Actual deliveries to Polish airbases won't occur until 2026.

Switzerland: F-35A deliveries to begin in 2027.

Czech Republic: F-35A deliveries to begin 2031, FOC in 2035.

Greece: F-35A deliveries to begin 2028; IOC around 2030 or later.

Romania -- they sent a letter in November 2023 to the USA saying they want 48 x F-35A for three squadrons, but no contract has been signed as yet; the aim is for them to replace the F-16s in Romanian service from 2030 onwards.

[MarkSheppard]

First flight of Turkish Kaan fighter.

https://twitter.com/Fighterman_FFRC/status/1760240414035206331

Program started 2010; maiden flight Feb 2024, planned for production to about 2029/2030...ish for Block 10; with future mass production of Block 20 onwards from 2034 or whatever.

[DRG]

https://mil.in.ua/en/news/ukraine-plans-to-buy-turkish-kaan-fighters/



I am not going to rush these into the game........aside from having 2 engines it's a near dead ringer for the -35

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Well, the next comes from the realm of from some of us as "We told you so." concerning the F-35 versus A-10C in the much-publicized competition back in 2018.

The funny thing was we only got "cryptic" reports of the results.

Well, the following is indicating the USAF kept them for the most part quiet and didn't even write up the full results until 2022.

During this period attempts to get the results, several petitions filed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) were filed.

The conclusions from the below were drawn from those documents though heavily redacted for National Security reasons.

What this does is just verify what a small handful here said in the beginning concerning these aircraft in the CAS role from what little there was on the web at the time.

The video shows the F-35 Fleet have just been cleared (Again) to resume normal operations (F-35B) and IOC/OP Testing (F-35A/C).
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/2018-pentagon-fly-off-f-35-and-a-10-show-no-clear-winner-suggesting-combined-strengths-in-combat-roles/ar-BB1j6rvf?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=ab51d772ab064e2e95fa570949539813&ei=108

The number have been cut again for this year to only 25-35 aircraft.

We've re-engine them 3 times. The biggest and still ongoing issue being the onboard logistics issues though that is slowly getting better and so many other issues to count.

We are stuck in a "LOOP" that sees the few new jets coming off the line with the latest fixes and in some cases having to "ground stop" the fleet to install the critical fixes on the existing jets.

Not a good way to run any program.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I know I brought this up awhile back but are we going to see the Ukrainian jets armed with the "standoff" weapons they've gotten since last Fall?

Also, tracking down "bits" saying their HINDS have been modified for HELLFIRE. I'm not seeing what I want to at this moment to ask for them.

I know your clock is fast running out.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

I know I brought this up awhile back but are we going to see the Ukrainian jets armed with the "standoff" weapons they've gotten since last Fall?

Also, tracking down "bits" saying their HINDS have been modified for HELLFIRE. I'm not seeing what I want to at this moment to ask for them.

I know your clock is fast running out.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:


It would be helpful to know which "standoff weapons" you are specifically referring to.

There are no hellfires in the UKR OOB yet although...

https://dsm.forecastinternational.com/2023/06/19/hellfire-production-fades/

Suggests I should add it but that link also suggests it's production is coming to an end

the HELLFIRE is operational in Ukraine, engaging targets it was originally designed to defeat instead of destroying pickup trucks full of wannabe terrorists. Yet, history is unlikely to repeat itself (at least this time). Any spectacular combat success gained by HELLFIRE in Ukraine will not stop its eventual production conclusion.

They are also using the Swedish RBS-17 which is a Hellfire derivative which is also not in the UKR OOB BUT ..........surprise, surprise, surprise. The Dumping ground OOB for the worlds weapons is running out of free weapons slots so for the RBS-17/Hellfire we may need to amalgamate them into one to conserve space and that won't make anyone happy as Hellfires have two weapons classes as they have different uses some are ATGM and some are air to surface missiles and the RBS-17 was designed to be an anti-ship missile:doh:\

And to give all the error ferrets something to chew on in the Swedish OOB the "Hellfire Team" fires a "RBS-17 AntiShip" WC 13 ( ATGM ) and that may very well be what ends up in the Ukraine OOB ONCE I FIX THE DAMNED THING as it has no HEAT pen so it's useless as an ATGM and it's been like that FOR TWENTY YEARS. There may be a reason lost in the mists of time that explains why a WC13 ATGM was given 0 HEAT pen but I don't recall what it might be

I SUSPECT it was set up this way as it was not intended for AT work. What they are good for in a ground role in Ukraine is unknown to me at this time

And yeah Pat.....it's all getting ( really, really ) old

[MarkSheppard]

https://twitter.com/Korea_Defense/status/1765988577479946710

The Republic of Korea Air Force paid tribute to its remaining F-4E Phantoms at Suwon Air Base on 08 March 2024.

As of March 2024, only 10 F-4E Phantoms remain, having been mostly replaced by F-35A. The remaining aircraft are scheduled to be fully retired in June 2024.

Going from F-4E to F-35A must be a huge :angel for the pilots

[MarkSheppard]

And to give all the error ferrets something to chew on in the Swedish OOB the "Hellfire Team" fires a "RBS-17 AntiShip" WC 13 ( ATGM ) and that may very well be what ends up in the Ukraine OOB ONCE I FIX THE DAMNED THING as it has no HEAT pen so it's useless as an ATGM and it's been like that FOR TWENTY YEARS. There may be a reason lost in the mists of time that explains why a WC13 ATGM was given 0 HEAT pen but I don't recall what it might be

I think it comes down to what the RBS-17 was intended for use against -- Sweden bought it for their Amphibious Corps (Amfibiekåren).

Seems that the idea was that helicopters or fast boats would drop off Amfibiekåren units who would quickly set up defenses on otherwise uninhabited or sparsely inhabited areas.

https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.php?smallarms_id=1341
https://web.archive.org/web/20070101003209/http://soldf.com/rb17.html

The robot platoon in the AMF consists of 3 fire units which in turn are divided into robot and illuminator groups.

An illuminator group consists of 4-5 men who move with a G-boat.

The robot group consists of 9-10 men and moves with Stridsbåt 90H.

The entire robot platoon groups the advance along the enemy's likely path of advance, that way you can quickly open fire when/if the enemy shows up.

As part of the development of the HSDS (HELLFIRE Shore Defense System), the HEAT warhead of the normal Hellfire was replaced with a blast-fragmentation warhead to be more effective against small boats and landing craft. (it's why it has HEAT=0 in the OOB)

Additionally, the control logic of the missile guidance computer was changed to better work against surface (ship) targets.

This isn't the only specialized anti-landing craft ATGM made -- the South Koreans, Taiwanese or Japanese (I forget who) had a special TOW made with a different guidance wire section in order to use the missile at longer ranges over open water against incoming landing craft -- normal TOW can't operate over water over 'x' meters, because the guidance wires eventually touch the ground.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

This has been in the works since Oct. 11, 2023, when the State Department approved the foreign sales request from Denmark to Argentina of their F-16 fighters the same one the Ukraine will be receiving.

What strikes me was Britian did not block this sale as they have done in the past since the Falklands War of any Fighter aircraft foreign sales to Argentina.

Also, these fighters are much more modern with an arms package we're also selling them being more "modern" then expected.

I already knew that since 2015 when the MIRAGE III fighters where retired from service that the ONLY fighter they were flying was the A4 SKYHAWKS.

What I didn't know however was that in 1994 they bought 36 UPDATED A4's from us that were flown by the USMC. They've had some updates along the way but, from the time of purchase those jets would be known as the A-4AR Fightinghawk.

The A-4AR will be replaced on a "one-to-one" which for RL & Game will keep them operational until DEC 2025.

What drove this? See the "breaking news" Argentina wants to join NATO and the talks have been ongoing. We have also sold them our latest version of the P-3 ORION Anti-Submarine and Surface Maritine platform.

There also up until a little over a year ago was the Chinese effort to sell them the JF-17 Fighter as flown for some time now by Pakistan.

Some "Cut and Paste" to make things easier for "The Boss"...

"After the signing of the deal, the first F-16 with the insignias of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina was unveil unveiled. The aircraft, the F-16BM 86-0199/ET-199, is painted in dark grey “Have Glass” color scheme, with full color Argentine flag and roundel. Interestingly, the F-16 was also armed with an inert GBU-31 JDAM and BRU-61 rack with four GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs. " (They are getting these. )

"According to Argentine newspapers, the package also includes AIM-120 and AIM-9 missiles (Non-starters for us.), while other weapons will be acquired directly from the United States. The whole deal is worth about $ 300 million which, according to a government spokesperson, is below the market cost of the aircraft."

"In their current configuration, the F-16s sold to Argentina were initially delivered in the Block 1, Block 5 and Block 15 configuration and later upgraded up to the Block 20 Mid Life Update configuration, with capabilities considered comparable to the F-16C Block 50/52 configuration.
https://theaviationist.com/2021/02/01/the-u-s-air-force-is-considering-buying-new-f-16-aircraft/"

By the way we are currently building those new F-16's.

From some other sources they should have the first six by the Fall also it is my understanding their Pilots are in Denmark training already.

I would expect it more than "reasonable" for FOC START Argentina in OCT 2024.
https://theaviationist.com/2024/04/16/argentinas-first-f-16-breaks-cover/

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[MarkSheppard]

F-4E retirement moving forward:

https://theaviationist.com/2024/05/13/rokafs-last-f-4es-carry-out-formation-flight-over-south-korea/

On May 9, 2024, the Republic of Korea Air Force’s (ROKAF) F-4Es flew in formation with KF-21s to mark the type’s upcoming retirement. A sole F-15K served as chase plane and took photos of the flight. The formation, consisting of four F-4Es and two KF-21s flew around the Korean peninsula, covering all major cities outside of Seoul. The three-hour flight covered the following regions of Gyeonggi-province (Suwon, Pyeongtaek), Chungcheong-province (Seonghwan, Cheonan, Cheongju, Chungju), Gyeongsang-province (Uljin, Pohang, Ulsan, Busan, Geoje, Daegu, Sacheon), and Jeolla-province (Yeosu, Goheung, Gageodo, Gunsan).

...

During part of the flight, two KF-21s joined the formation over the skies of Sacheon, home to Korean Aerospace Industries’ manufacturing plant and headquarters. The formation symbolised the KF-21 taking over the F-4E’s role of protecting the nation’s sky. The first batch of KF-21s are expected to be come out later this year 2024 and achieve Initial Operating Capability (IOC) by 2026. Current F-4 and F-5 squadrons are scheduled to be the first ones to receive the new KF-21s.

...

A Korean Spook wearing a red scarf has and a Spook holding an AGM-142 Popeye missile were specially created for this occasion. Specifically, the Spook holding the Popeye missile is wearing the traditional battle gear of a Chosun dynasty military officer. The F-4Es were the sole operators of the AGM-142s and the remaining stockpile of munitions were all fired prior to the aircraft’s retirement

...

With the official retirement ceremony of the F-4E scheduled for June 7, 2024 at Suwon Airbase, the remaining 19 ROKAF Phantoms are still scheduled to fly around until the last few days.

[MarkSheppard]

Another OOB slot going *poof* in Ukraine.

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240606-%F0%9F%94%B4-macron-to-supply-ukraine-with-mirage-2000-5-warplanes-and-train-fighter-pilots-in-france

“Tomorrow we will launch a new cooperation and announce the transfer of Mirage 2000-5” fighter jets to Ukraine made by French manufacturer Dassault and train their Ukrainian pilots in France, Macron told French TV.

Macron said he would offer Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when the two meet for talks at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Friday that the pilots be trained from this summer.

“You need normally between five-six months. So by the end of the year there will be pilots. The pilots will be trained in France,” he said.

[DRG]

......and potentially a weapons slot or two

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

A little "myth busting" and Argentina still trying to project a positive pro-western attitude, they as I posted awhile back are trying to join NATO that would potentially be a very good thing for us to enhance our naval presence in the South Atlantic especially as they are so close to a place called the Antartica.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-s-su-25-flying-tanks-are-falling-out-of-the-sky-in-ukraine/ar-BB1o6msL?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=2ce504b6fa36477e936bdb56ad4d20c0&ei=14
and
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/argentina-looking-to-send-fighter-jets-to-help-ukraine-s-war-effort/ar-BB1o5ZfZ?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=e26bfc3d0a0f45f7a5bff692dfb02b5e&ei=66

Now back to "dreamland".

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

The cleanup begins here...
I'll be keeping these items "brief" even by my definition of the word!?! :rolleyes: :eek: :re: Alright I'll do the best I can then!

First up and I've already started on this in the very early stages
of development. I speck of the F-15EX and the USAF is already starting the pilot transition away from the F-15C/D jets.
https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104501/f-15-eagle/

As I've discussed in the past the GRIPEN C/D are 4th GEN +++ and owns the Class though many are now thinking the Chinese J-20 belongs there now as well.

By comparison the GRIPEN NG (Which I need to review.) and the F-15EX will be/are 4th GEN ++++++ and I don't exaggerate these things. Both already meet some of the criteria required to be truly a 5th GEN fighter of which there is only one as the others have dropped off the podium in the last year or two. I'll leave it to your imagination about which I refer to.

F-15EX also have internal bomb bays, confirming "cruise" after burner and for weapons comparison I leave you with this comparison; the F-35 can hold 4 of our best "over the horizon" AAMissiles and the F-15EX can hold 12 to 16 of the same based on configuration and source.

I can't wait!! The F-35 has been determined based on the "shootout" against the A-10 and since looking to be used as escorts for the both the A-10 & F-15 existing fleets of which each will still be around in 2030+.
https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/with-deliveries-underway-us-pilots-begin-transitioning-to-f-15ex/158956.article?utm_campaign=FG-DEFENCE-Farnborough_FILLER-030724-JM&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=FG-DEFENCE-Farnborough_FILLER-030724-JM

The next is really an interesting piece on the A-4 during the Falklands War. I would REALLY invite you to pay particular attention to what the "posters" did or do for a living before you "judge" this piece.
https://www.quora.com/How-effective-was-the-A-4-Skyhawk-during-the-Falklands-War

I would like to take the opportunity to recommend the following of which possibly Andy might be familiar with this unit as it served in N. Ireland before deploying to the Falklands. This book is titled "3 DAYS IN JUNE 3 PARA'S BATTLE FOR MT. LONGDON" by James O'Connell
Forward by Major General Jonathan Shaw CB CBE & Lt. General Sir Hew Pike KCB DSO MBE.
The author was enlisted and severely wounded during the battle. This is told from the members that fought there to include the Argentians as well. The perspective is from each companies' platoons on the same timeline told separately (Think Claude Nolons "DUNKIRK").

B Company CSM Johnny Weeks reminded me very much of CSM Frank Bourne as portrayed in the movie "ZULU" (Though in real life he was only 24 at the Battle of Rorke’s Drift) he would live to 91 as the last survivor from the battle and ironically passed on 8 May 1945.

Anyway, I digress but the best I've read on the land side about the Falklands War.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[MarkSheppard]

Footage of F-16s in AFU service; seems like Zelensky did a speech introducing the type to service.

https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1820095228210303371

Looks like they're in the "standard" USAF/NATO F-16 cobra grey scheme, with only roundels being the difference.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Sunday the 4th the Ukraine received 4 of the promised 60 which is likely to be increased. The reports of them already flying combat missions are like saying "Ceasar lives!"
https://www.armyrecognition.com/focus-analysis-conflicts/army/analysis-defense-and-security-industry/debunk-rumors-tells-f-16-conducts-strikes-in-ukraine-agains-russian-troops

I would agree that maybe they might use them soonest, however 18 jets make up a full Squadron in the Ukraine which I believe might be the NATO standard. That would a requirement to get a "limited" membership minus Article 5 and more.
https://hosted.ap.org/thetimes-tribune/article/3cd2cd27af1a135bb8179fe6776446f6/ukraines-zelenskyy-displays-newly-arrived-f-16-fighter
https://www.csis.org/analysis/f-16s-unleashed-how-they-will-impact-ukraines-war#:~:text=Some%20estimates%20suggest%20that%20th e%20size%20of%20Ukraine%E2%80%99s,three%20fighter% 20squadrons%20%28with%2018%20aircraft%20per%20squa dron%29.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[DRG]

interesting vid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VNu9vbDlvM

[MarkSheppard]

Netherlands just did the closeout on 45 years of F-16 service with ceremonies. From today onwards, they're an all F-35 force, which achieved Full Operational Capability.

https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/netherlands-declares-foc-for-f-35-retires-f-16

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) has declared its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) to be fully operational, at the same time as retiring from service the last of its Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons.

The two events happened simultaneously on 26 September, with the RNLAF announcing that the F-35A had now taken over all of the roles of the F-16AM/BM Block 15 Mid-Life Update (MLU) jets.

“Whether it is surveillance of the [Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg] Benelux airspace, carrying out operations to contain terrorism, for example, or to contribute to NATO's nuclear deterrent, the F-35 can do it all. As of today, this type of fighter aircraft is officially fully operational under all circumstances. In jargon, it has full operational capability (FOC) status,” the RNLAF said.

The day prior, Commander 312 Squadron (F-16) at Volkel Air Base Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Vreeburg announced, “Tomorrow [26 September] will be the last operational F-16 flight of the RNLAF. We plan to fly around the country to say goodbye.”

The first F-35A arrived in the Netherlands on 31 October 2019, with the type flown across two squadrons based at Leeuwarden Air Base (322 Squadron) and Volkel Air Base (313 Squadron). The RNLAF now has 40 of the 52 already ordered, with a further six to be contracted in the coming months.

Having begun the drawdown of its F-16 fleet some months prior, the Netherlands has already donated 18 jets to the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania and has pledged a further 24 to the Ukrainian Air Force.

[DRG]

Netherlands just did the closeout on 45 years of F-16 service with ceremonies. From today onwards, they're an all F-35 force, which achieved Full Operational Capability.

......and the Netherlands OOB now reflects that
Thanks

[DRG]

Some of you may find this interesting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5UybRJNe0Q
Sonic Booms from the Israeli Air Force used to locate Hassan Nasrallah

[MarkSheppard]

French have quantified more on Mirage 2000-5 for Ukraine; they expect it to enter service in 1Q 2025.

https://kyivindependent.com/france-jets-ukraine/

Ukraine should receive the first Mirage 2000 fighter jets from France in the first quarter of 2025, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Oct. 8.

French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled in June that Paris would provide Kyiv with an unspecified number of Mirage 2000-5 planes to boost its airpower.

The planes "will be equipped with new equipment: air-to-ground combat capabilities and anti-electronic warfare defense," Lecornu noted.

"The training of Ukrainian pilots and mechanics continues."

The first cohort of Ukrainian pilots have completed Alpha Jet training in France, the French Armed Forces announced on Sept. 20.

The Mirage 2000 is a multirole aircraft designed in the late 1970s and introduced in 1984.

The 2000-5 version has upgraded radar systems and can carry fuel drop tanks, greatly increasing its range. The French media previously reported that the version delivered to Ukraine would be equipped to hit ground targets.

[MarkSheppard]

Israel just bombed just about every airfield left with planes in Syria as part of 300+ airstrikes against various targets in Syria.

It's a very good guess that the old Syrian Arab Air Force is now extinct; whatever replaces them won't have the same planes as the old Syrian AF.

[MarkSheppard]

Ukrainians have integrated French AASM-250 Hammer rocket-boosted guided bombs onto their Su-25s (following integration onto Su-27s and MiG-29s), giving their Su-25s a standoff strike capability.

[DRG]

The Ukrainian OOB already had a plethora of LGM to choose from and it's getting tight for space AND unit 159 has 8 of them with a 200 hex range though admittedly they aren't the biggest bang LGBs but unit 157 does

We never, ever expected the Ukrainian OOB to be filled up but it's getting close but I think the end to this conflict will be sooner rather than later

[MarkSheppard]

China just unveiled a possible three engine very long range heavy strike fighter flyable demonstrator similar to the FB-22/FB-23 concepts from 20 years ago.

https://www.twz.com/air/china-stuns-with-heavy-stealth-tactical-jets-sudden-appearance

tons of pictures there.

[Pibwl]

Small tweak:
Oob74 Malaysia

272 MB-339AM - according to Polish nTW 1/2024 article, grounded in 2018 and withdrawn in 2021 (now ends in 110)

[MarkSheppard]

https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1887439220995764683?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

BREAKING: Minister of the French Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu announced that the first Mirage 2000-5F fighters have been delivered to Ukraine.

"With Ukrainian pilots trained for several months in France on board, they will now participate in defending Ukraine's sky," he added.

[DRG]

https://x.com/NOELreports/status/1887439220995764683?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

BREAKING: Minister of the French Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu announced that the first Mirage 2000-5F fighters have been delivered to Ukraine.

"With Ukrainian pilots trained for several months in France on board, they will now participate in defending Ukraine's sky," he added.


I had it in the working copy of the Ukraine OOB already and was only 1 month off in my guesstimate start date :banana:

OTOH the report from Feb 6 says "they have been" so they may have been there in Jan as I had them but I will leave it as Feb 2025 start

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Bulgaria and Slovakia have both received NEW build versions of the F-16 BLK70 single seat versions. Bulgaria also on 31 JAN just got their FIRST F-16 BLK70 twin seat version. I do not know if it is equipped with any enhanced ground attack capability like ours have. They should have TI/GSR 40.

BULGERIA/ADD/F-16 BLK70/START/JAN 2025/PLUS/SLOVAKIA/ADD/F-16 BLK70/START/APR 2024/VISION/TI/GSR 40. // Allowing 3 months Acceptance Inspections/ Training/Maintenace/Paint :p. Both versions can carry all NATO compatible weapons with full ground attack systems installed.

Can provide further refs if needed but it was a bit of a F-ing Day and I'm tired.
https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/bulgaria-accepts-its-first-f-16-block-70-fighter/161647.article?CMID=A05767353-CMP20515CON2526-RCP2I309955O32&utm_campaign=FG-DEFENCE-WDS-040225-DE&utm_medium=email&utm_source=FGeditorial&utm_content=newsletter
https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/lockheed-delivers-first-block-70-f-16s-to-slovakia/156428.article

[Pibwl]

Romania

Acquired C-27 Spartan, delivered from 4/10, I don't known when operational. Might be copied from Italian 599 C-27J Spartan - but the icon in the Italian unit should be changed to 2774 (now it is rather An-26).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alenia_C-27J_Spartan

591 Antonov-24 - proper name An-24 - according to Polish article, withdrawn in 7/07 (now 12/98)

592 Antonov-26 - proper name An-26, icon should be 2170, like Antonov-24 (especially that they are grey https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RoAF_Antonov_An-26_at_RAF_Fairford_2023_(cropped).jpg )
Still used in 2010, reportedly one in service in 2023
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_An-26

(595 Lockheed C-130 - first two were delivered in late 10/96 (now from 1/96), so 11/96 is more realistic date.)

[MarkSheppard]

Portugal has apparently backed out from a potential F-35 buy per news on Twitter -- breaking in the last hour -- nothing had been officially signed up to this point, so there are no cancellation costs.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

They are NOT likely to be the only ones.

Portugal's dropping out will now mean everyone else's cost for their F-35 fighters for a single fighter has just increased by millions of dollars more considering the cost of each is in the 90 million dollars per unit price point.

The GAO and DOGE "Boss" Elon Musk have been pointing out that with all the groundings (+Crashes), production delays, technical delays, at least three different engine replacements etc. etc. have made not so much a "rabbit hole" as to be instead several "rabbit holes" all at the same time.

Our Maintenace costs alone for the "fleet" we have now will be at least 2 TRILLION Dollars.

With Musks feelings about F-35 (Google it.) and with further countries possibly still to drop out it won't take long for DOGE too go HMmm!?!. They are already looking at the DOD.

We await the outcome.

This is a good article that's up to date thus far on the situation. The video is worth a look as well on the differences of each F-35.
https://reason.com/2025/03/17/allies-cancel-orders-of-f-35s-the-fighter-jets-that-will-cost-2-trillion/

And who won the "Battle in the West"? Though redacted there's enough there to surmise it was the A-10 even though no Forward Observers from the USA, USAF or USMC were allowed to be there for the full competition or not at all. That for another time.

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

The following is a very difficult maneuver at best given the size of the plane and that it is propeller driven as well.

The maneuver is called a "120-Degree Wingover" also the "stroboscopic effect" (Wagon Wheel) of the props are fairly interesting as well.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/a400m-clears-runway-quick-before-a380-lands-then-does-120-degree-wingover/vi-AA1Bag9S?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=0a8c711896b54da09115b8e97371478d&ei=34

Pump up the volume!!

Something a little different for a change. Enjoy!

Regards,
Pat
:capt: