Vpanoptes

True, but the rationale for the Harrier (and the F-35B) is not just tied to rough-field/primitive conditions capability. It is also to be able to operate from the decks of the assault carriers (11 IIRC) operated for the USMC by the USN. The F-35B will be produced because these ships are not capable of operating F-18's or any other assault/fighter aircraft other than a STOVL. And neither the USN nor the USMC would be willing to sacrifice that combat capability (even if the -35B has relatively short legs) and have said so a number of times. Recent article in AW & ST re-emphasizes this, a

Well, we know what will happen to the cost if the Brits do back out - there probably isn't enough of a potential order from the Italians or Spanish for their small carriers to make much of a difference. The Marines (after sucking hind *** for many years and having no desire to repeat that particular part of their history) will make it work because that's they way they traditionally do things and because they have no other choice, having bet the farm on this bird as part of a larger OTH strategy. No F-35B, no rationale for as many assault carriers, which means not as many MV-22's, not as many

Interesting points, well made. Hoopla about the PAK-FA going into production in 5 years? Really? When was the first flight of the (Y)F-22 and when did it enter operational service? Not to denigrate the Russian aviation manufacturers - they make some very capable aircraft - but the hype about the PAK-FA is just like the hype about the F-35 - noise and fury signifying nothing (or not very much). Apparently even the very capable and near-production Su-35 is having a difficult time finding buyers - the Russian AF will get a few and (maybe) Libya as well. The Su-30 will probably be in a F-15/F

Hello all - Just wanted to say thank you very much to all of you who bought kits & decals (sometimes a lot of them!) over the last few months. Your business was and is greatly appreciated. Now get busy and build some of them! :D - Dan

Hello all - Just wanted to say thank you very much to all of you who bought kits & decals (sometimes a lot of them!) over the last few months. Your business was and is greatly appreciated. Now get busy and build some of them! :D - Dan

Not being really current on the economic/defense (defence?) situation in the UK, questions abound and I wonder if any of these are relevant or just naive. 1) Why does the UK need a nuclear deterrent? Questions of stature/history aside - do they seriously foresee the possiblity of a (nuclear) conflict with a resurgent Russia? What is the probability that a nuclear exchange could occur with China - are their SSBN's even capable of targeting China? Or have nuclear Iran scenarios been seriously discussed? 2) In a similar vein, what air threat does the UK foresee that a Gen 4/4.5 fighter could

Last bump

Wasn't the B-1 conceived in the late 60's, flown as the B-1A in the 70's, killed by the Carter Administration in that same time period and then resurrected by Reagan in the 80's? Seems like a (at least in some sense) a replacement to me (by the late 80's). Also, at least according to my understanding, the F-18 (either A-D or E-G) is a 4th gen fighter, advertising hype about Gen 4.5, 4.4273 or whatever aside. What "options" are we making at this point ?- there is the F-35 (5th Generation) and AFAIK there is no proposal nor development of a "fighter" UCAV in the same sense that the F-35 is a "

I understand your point, but I would bet that people made the same type of argument about the B-52 in the late 1980's, and the U-2 in the same time period. If I had to bet real money on the composition of strike aircraft squadrons on carrier decks (all 7 or 8 of them) in 2025 I suspect it will be about 60% UCAV, 20-25% F-35C and 15-20% F-18E/F/Sooper-Dooper Hornet. Time will tell.

one, maybe two more bumps

Interesting news, IF (as previously noted) true and not just another P-word bargaining tool. Question: Is the pullout/cancellation supposedly from the whole Lightning II program or JUST the F-35B? In other words is the F-35C still a possibility or are our British cousins sharing/feeling some of the apparent nervousness the USN is having and hedging their bets with the Super Hornet, figuring they can always go to the -35C at some point in the future? Anybody have any real news, ideas or comments? - Dan

next to last bump for 7/31

Well, now that you mention it.... Many years ago I was working on a project where I used white fingernail polish to visually mark aquatic turtles so I could identify them as individuals at a distance (each one got its own number). When I went to the checkout line with a dozen bottles of cheap gloss white nail polish the female clerk looks at me and in her best southern accent says "Honey, it's really not your color". I replied, "Lady, you have no idea what I use this for" to which she replied "Honey, I really don't want to know". - Dan

Bump for July 28

bump for July 27