ISIS Takes Control of Mosul

#501
#501
rjd970 said:
Given current threats and conflicts it isn't needed. And future worse case conflicts it's advantages will be limited to only certain distinct tactical situations.
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True, but a very important tactical situation. Establishing air supremacy is paramount (outside of cyber/electronic supremacy).

rjd970 said:
The vast majority if not all of it's intended uses can be accomplished with well designed strike packages at cheaper overall platform life cycle costs.
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Assuming opponents stay at current levels of capability, sure. Also, there is the unmeasurable gain of deterrence.
 
#502
#502
PKT_VOL said:
True, but a very important tactical situation. Establishing air supremacy is paramount (outside of cyber/electronic supremacy).



Assuming opponents stay at current levels of capability, sure. Also, there is the unmeasurable gain of deterrence.
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The problem comes in when you are taking platforms out of service that are exceptional at their job and replacing them with aircraft that attempt to be jack of all trades. Take the A-10 for example. Pound for pound, there has never been anything East or West that can compare to that aircraft. But the plan is to use the F-35 to replace it in the CAS role. Sorry, but it's just not going to be the replacement that will work as effective. And we still don't have a viable replacement for the F-16CJ models although they think (think being operative here) the F-35 might be able to do that role as well.

So the Air Force, and Navy/Marines to a lesser extent is betting the bank that a single airframe will be able to replace the current fleet at reduced numbers as well as a significantly higher cost. As the old saying of strength in numbers applies, the deterrent factor of having a smaller, yet more high tech Air Force doesn't count for a hill of beans if you cannot realistically project power. Sure, F-22s can take down anything flying. Sure, F-35s are supposed to be the gold plated toilet with seat warmers and automatic butt wipers. But when you have far smaller numbers, it counts for less deterrence.
 
#503
#503
Mentofresh said:
I saw that earlier today. It's a scene from a much longer (about an hour) propaganda video called "Saleel Sawarim" (I think). The content is pretty horrendous.
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Don't know the title but what I saw had people being gunned down, executions, and Syrian(?) military vehicles hitting IEDs (with slow-motion replays).
 
#504
#504
Grand Vol said:
The problem comes in when you are taking platforms out of service that are exceptional at their job and replacing them with aircraft that attempt to be jack of all trades. Take the A-10 for example. Pound for pound, there has never been anything East or West that can compare to that aircraft. But the plan is to use the F-35 to replace it in the CAS role. Sorry, but it's just not going to be the replacement that will work as effective. And we still don't have a viable replacement for the F-16CJ models although they think (think being operative here) the F-35 might be able to do that role as well.

So the Air Force, and Navy/Marines to a lesser extent is betting the bank that a single airframe will be able to replace the current fleet at reduced numbers as well as a significantly higher cost. As the old saying of strength in numbers applies, the deterrent factor of having a smaller, yet more high tech Air Force doesn't count for a hill of beans if you cannot realistically project power. Sure, F-22s can take down anything flying. Sure, F-35s are supposed to be the gold plated toilet with seat warmers and automatic butt wipers. But when you have far smaller numbers, it counts for less deterrence.
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I get this and largely agree. The A-10 is one of my favorites along with the B-52.

I'm not the a fan of the F-35 program at face value. I tend to think there has to be more to it that we are not privy to.
 
#507
#507
The Ron Mexico said:
Just curious, has anyone here actually flown an airplane? Or is all this talk just from Wikipedia, Popular Mechanics magazine, and sitting around at lunch with your friends?
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I watched CNN coverage of a flight simulator a couple months ago.
 
#508
#508
PKT_VOL said:
I get this and largely agree. The A-10 is one of my favorites along with the B-52.

I'm not the a fan of the F-35 program at face value. I tend to think there has to be more to it that we are not privy to.
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You have to understand something about the USAF. The fighter pilot mafia rules no matter what. And if you put enough bells, whistles and buttons on the thing, they'll cut every other program to buy it. It's like the LA/AR Program that keeps getting pushed back. That's a requirement that was needed ten years ago, much less right now and would be a highly utilized asset in the COIN and CAS roles in the future. It can do it cheaper, with less maintenance and doesn't require a massive footprint wherever it goes.

But it doesn't have the bells and whistles fighter pilots love.

There is nothing more than face value with the F-35.
 
#509
#509
Heading out there next week. I'll try and get a selfie in my UT shirt in front of a jihadist with an AK47. Orange is EVERYWHERE.
 
#512
#512
Iraq Militants Claim Soldier Massacre; U.S., Iran Near Talks - WSJ

The radical Sunni militia that has plunged Iraq into chaos bragged on Sunday that it had executed hundreds of Shiite Iraqi soldiers, even as the Obama administration said it is preparing to open direct talks with Iran on how the two longtime foes can counter the insurgents.

The U.S.-Iran dialogue, which is expected to begin this week, will mark the latest in a rapid move toward rapprochement between Washington and Tehran over the past year. It also comes as the U.S. and other world powers try to reach an agreement with Iran by late July to curb its nuclear program.
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#514
#514
It's about time:

US evacuating Baghdad embassy staff as Islamic militants ramp up attacks | Fox News

The Obama administration said Sunday the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad will remain open amid the growing sectarian violence in Iraq but will increase security and that some embassy staff will be temporarily evacuated.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the staff will be moved to U.S. Consulate Generals posts in Basra and Erbil and to the Iraq Support Unit in Amman, Jordan.
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#515
#515
Grand Vol said:
The problem comes in when you are taking platforms out of service that are exceptional at their job and replacing them with aircraft that attempt to be jack of all trades. Take the A-10 for example. Pound for pound, there has never been anything East or West that can compare to that aircraft. But the plan is to use the F-35 to replace it in the CAS role. Sorry, but it's just not going to be the replacement that will work as effective. And we still don't have a viable replacement for the F-16CJ models although they think (think being operative here) the F-35 might be able to do that role as well.

So the Air Force, and Navy/Marines to a lesser extent is betting the bank that a single airframe will be able to replace the current fleet at reduced numbers as well as a significantly higher cost. As the old saying of strength in numbers applies, the deterrent factor of having a smaller, yet more high tech Air Force doesn't count for a hill of beans if you cannot realistically project power. Sure, F-22s can take down anything flying. Sure, F-35s are supposed to be the gold plated toilet with seat warmers and automatic butt wipers. But when you have far smaller numbers, it counts for less deterrence.
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If I were granted one wish before I die, then it would probably be to watch an A-10 perform one more strafing run. What an amazing site!

And when I say the last thing I would wish for here, I probably mean one of the last 100 things or so I would wish for, but you get my point. What an amazing aircraft! My all-time favorite. Well, the A-10 or the P-51. It's a tie.
 
#516
#516
To continue with that previous post, Grand Vol, like Forrest Gump, I don't know much about anything, but I'll wager the A-10 might just be the best aircraft ever developed for its role in the history of flight. I know that wasn't exactly part of my original question since it isn't a fighter or interceptor, but my god, what a plane!
 
#517
#517
Next thing you know we'll be sharing surveillance information with the Syrian government. The enemy of my enemy of my enemy and so forth.
 
#520
#520
volprof said:
To continue with that previous post, Grand Vol, like Forrest Gump, I don't know much about anything, but I'll wager the A-10 might just be the best aircraft ever developed for its role in the history of flight. I know that wasn't exactly part of my original question since it isn't a fighter or interceptor, but my god, what a plane!
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I honestly don't think the developers knew the monster they created when they built it. The longevity on that aircraft is amazing and could keep going. Time and time again they've tried to get rid of it, but it just keeps coming.
 
#522
#522
volprof said:
Perhaps they could fire their 1957 year model Katyushas and help us out. That provided we allow them to continue enriching uranium.
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Don't underestimate the Katyusha rockets. Those are some mean bastards.
 
#525
#525
I love the A-10. It's so damn American! It's big, loud and just farts in your face. What a bird!
 
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