The F-35 program office gave the Germans the classified brief and they choose more Eurofighters?

via Reuters

The German Defence Ministry said on Monday that the European fighter jet was the leading candidate to replace its Tornado jets, which it wants to start phasing out in 2025.

The ministry’s position appears to contradict that of the German air force, whose chief indicated last month that he preferred Lockheed Martin’s F-35, which meets the military’s requirements of stealth and long-distance operational capabilities.

In a letter to a Greens lawmaker who had inquired about the deliberations, the ministry said the F-35 and Boeing’s F-15 and F-18 fighters were secondary options.

“The indicated view of the inspector of the air force that the F-35 Lightning II is an especially suitable successor to the Tornado system is not the position of the federal government,” Deputy Defence Minister Ralf Brauksiepe wrote in the letter.

Story here. 

This obviously isn't about the qualities of the F-35.  This has nothing to do with the Germans viewing it as superior or inferior to the Eurofighter.

This has everything to do with maintaining the defense industrial base in Europe.

Because I believe that's the play here I can't get heartburn over the decision to go with the Eurofighter.

I CAN GET HEARTBURN with the way that the Germans appeared to conduct a little friendly economic espionage by obtaining information on the F-35 for free.

They requested and got the classified briefing so even if they don't have the particulars they are pointed in the right direction on capabilities that they should incorporate into upgraded Eurofighters.  I know they're allies and most will say no big deal.  However while the Germans can't be blamed for protecting their defense industrial base, neither can we.

No more sneak peeks.  No more samples.

I'm not a fan of the F-35 but don't give away its secrets for free.

Michelin Challenge Design...Future Light Trucks.

More pics and article here. 

1st LAR battlefield circulation exercise (Steel Knight 17)....pics by Cpl. Branden J. Bourque

U.S. Marines with Jump Platoon, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, shoot a tube-launched optically-tracked wire-guided (TOW) missile from a Light-Armored Vehicle 25 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 9, 2017. The Marines used TOW missiles as part of exercise Steel Knight 2018. 

Warhammer News. China preparing refugee camps?

via Defense One.

The Chinese government may be preparing for an influx of refugees from North Korea — if, say, war breaks out on the Peninsula, according to a document obtained by Radio Free Asia.

The document, dated July 7, was produced by China Mobile, the giant state-owned telecommunications company — specifically, by the branch that serves Changbai County on the North Korean border. It says the company was conducting “pre-communications security work for North Korean refugee camps” in the region — specifically, testing signal strength at five potential “refugee settlements,” Radio Free Asia’s Huang Xiaoshan and Lin Guoli write in their Dec. 7 report.

Story here. 

Interesting.  I guess the Chinese are anticipating "leakers" getting thru their border security.  Proper planning on their part.

What I find interesting is the date of the document.  They were getting ducks in a row as far back as July?  I'm sure they do as all modern military forces and have contingency plans for everything from war to little green men landing.

So either this is some advanced planning and a dusting off/refreshing of plans...or they have penetrated our communications and know that this is much different from the standoffs of the past.

Either way it looks like chess pieces are still being moved.  My guess on when "war is declared" hasn't changed and I'm still betting that it will be this winter.  But unless its a shot out of the blue with movements of personnel that aren't noticed by the media/announced by the Pentagon, it's looking like I'm probably wrong.

Open Comment Post. Dec 12, 2017

A note from CENTCOM PAO to a blog and no one else is NOT EVEN close to good enough.

Thanks to Spudman for the link!

This is a follow up to an earlier blog post where I noted that the Pentagon had not responded to Russian claims that a F-22 was engaged while it was warning off an airplane striking a target.

Check this out via Aviationist.

There is no truth to this allegation. According to our flight logs for Nov 23, 2017, this alleged incident did not take place, nor has there been any instance where a Coalition aircraft crossed the river without first deconflicting with the Russians via the deconfliction phone line set up for this purpose. Of note, on Nov 23, 2017, there were approximately nine instances where Russian fighter aircraft crossed to the east side of the Euphrates River into Coalition airspace without first using the deconfliction phone. This random and unprofessional activity placed Coalition and Russian aircrew at risk, as well as jeopardizing Coalition ability to support partner ground forces in the area.

Any claims that the Coalition would protect Daesh, or hinder, a strike against Daesh are completely false. We strike them hard wherever they are found. What we can tell you is that we actively deconflict the airspace in Syria with the Russians to ensure the enduring defeat of Daesh in the region. We will continue to work with our SDF partners, just as we will continue to deconflict with the Russians for future Coalition strikes against Daesh targets in Syria.

Story here. 

I don't follow the Aviationist Blog but understand it to be widely read.  That's awesome.

But it doesn't change the facts.

CENTCOM has yet to issue a public denial, their version of events or admitted that it happened.

I went to their website to see what was hot.  The CENTCOM website (here) was filled with the latest happenings but nothing on this incident.  Same with their Twitter or Facebook pages.

The Aviationist plays it straight and doesn't accept the story .... either story at face value. 

I can't say I can do the same.

The Russians wouldn't dare make an accusation like this UNLESS SOMETHING DID HAPPEN!  It might not be as they characterize it but something occurred in the air!

If not then a simple press release stating that would be a helluva lot better than a note from a freaking PAO that's obviously dazed, confused and need to be fucking fired.

Pentagon still hasn't commented on the SU-35 vs F-22 encounter

This blog post isn't for everyone.  This one is for those that are watching events in Syria with an eye toward truth and not propaganda.  Those that can get past nationalism in the search for the truth of events there.

Having said that I still haven't seen any official (or unofficial) Pentagon comment on the SU-35 vs F-22 encounter.

The Russians put out 1 (ONE!) statement and then everything went silent. The Russians haven't said anymore, the Pentagon has neither confirmed or denied the encounter and damn sure haven't put out a counter narrative either.

So what actually happened?

Who was being protected by US airpower?

Why haven't the Russians said more.

It's all very curious.

Raging fires in California. Did NorthCom fail again?

U.S. Army Sgt. Anthony Orduno, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew chief with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment, California Army National Guard looks out while flying over the Thomas Fire, Dec. 9, 2017, in Ventura County, California. Orduno and the helicopter crew spent the day dropping water on the fire in coordination with CAL FIRE. By that night, the Thomas Fire had burned 173,000 acres and destroyed more than 500 structures since it started Dec. 4.

I've watched the fires in California with a bit of amazement.  It looks like Dante's inferno on earth.

But what has me puzzled is the response to the disaster.  Not from the first responders but once again from NorthCom.

I said that the CO of that organization looked like she was in over her head with the hurricanes and I get the same impression with these fires.

And that's a shame.

What good is it to have a lavishly equipped military if they are slow to react to disaster in the homeland?  

I don't know if it's State Govts trying to "protect their turf", a lack of aggressiveness when it comes to leaning into problems at home...I really don't know, and don't know if I care.

They must do better.  The Pentagon is all about partnerships?  Then setup a 50 seat disaster relief council or some group that will determine independently of the states when an emergency is beyond their control. 

Whatever the answer is I do know this.  After this fire is put out we're gonna hear all kinds of platitudes about how brave and courageous the first responders were.  I have no doubt that it will all be true.  But I know this too. There will be many people with lost property and homes they can't replace that will be wondering what to do next.  I do know that instead of mobilizing the full power of the US military to assist in whatever way it could they instead continued business as usual.  That my friends is wrong.

NYPD Identifies 27-Year-Old Akayed Ullah, from Bangladesh as attempted NYC Subway Bomber.

 NYPD Identifies 27-Year-Old Akayed Ullah, from Bangladesh as attempted NYC Subway Bomber.
The explosive device apparently went off prematurely and Ullah was rushed to Bellevue Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He suffered burns to his hands and other lacerations, reported CBS News in New York.
According to Police Commissioner James O’Neill, Ullah had two explosive devices, one of which was “affixed to his body with velcro and zip ties.”

Interesting isn't it.  Wonder why this guy from Bangladesh would want to harm a country that welcomed him with open arms?  Could it be that we live in a dangerous world and that it's incredibly naive not to take steps to protect yourself from danger...both on a personal and national level?

Isn't that the most basic, most important function of govt?

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