Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

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

TRACKING

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

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

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

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

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

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

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

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

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

Regards,
Pat