This little boy secretly rang 999 to invite the police to his birthday party... 😮😂 pic.twitter.com/uulTVctI7a— LADbible (@ladbible) February 27, 2019
Thursday, February 28, 2019
A little levity from down under to counterbalance another part of the world on the brink....
Just when we thought it was all dying down between India and Pakistan...
#BREAKING: It is now confirmed that #India Air Force has heavily massed its fighters at Srinagar & Adampur Air Bases tonight. Even an Il-78MKI tanker has come a long way from Agra AFS. Several Su-30MKIs & MiG-29UPGs are now flying over #Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/S5L8wbfzTz— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) February 27, 2019
They're not masking their movements. I assume some sort of deception would be at play but this info (assuming it's correct) is out in the wild. Does that mean that this is a show move? Is this part of the game? Escalate to de-escalate? Waiting for the countermove from Pakistan. At this point they have to at least match the Indians.
The risk still exists. Combat patrols. One pilot from either side hammers his fangs into the floor and decides to win one for his God and country. Things spiral. Tit for tat gets greater until a war both sides wanted to avoid is caused because some mid grade officer decided to interpret his orders in the most aggressive fashion possible.
Yeah. This still bears watching. Can't relax on this yet.
The risk still exists. Combat patrols. One pilot from either side hammers his fangs into the floor and decides to win one for his God and country. Things spiral. Tit for tat gets greater until a war both sides wanted to avoid is caused because some mid grade officer decided to interpret his orders in the most aggressive fashion possible.
Yeah. This still bears watching. Can't relax on this yet.
Trump & N. Korea. Rookie mistakes in dealing with the hermit kingdom...
By now you've heard that Trump's efforts at a deal have failed. I'm sorry to hear that but the writing was on the wall from the start despite my holding out hope for success. What do I mean?
1. Trump wanted the deal badly. When one side seems desperate for a deal, no matter how good the reasons, that side is operating from weakness.
2. He gave up too much too soon. Ending military exercises with S. Korea was also seen as a weakness. Trump gave too much too early.
3. He put the prestige of the American President front and center and the hermit king is reveling in knocking us down a peg. A leader never shows up to do the grunt work. Diplomats do the heavy lifting and then when all the i's are dotted and the t's crossed is when the leaders come together to sign the agreement. Unfortunately Trump looks like a rookie in his dealings on this one.
4. He had a weak partner in the S. Korean President. All of the above that applies to Trump applies to the S. Korean President. He wanted it too bad. Much too bad.
Where are we now?
If I was running things we'd go back to where we were but on steroids. I'd rush every available anti-ballistic missile ship to the region and maybe even roll out a couple of top secret projects for a live field test.
The next US/S. Korean exercise would be bigger than ever.
The sanctions would intensify and I'd force the Chinese to deal with millions of refugees flooding their border.
I'd set the conditions for continued negotiations from a position of strength. Oh and just for shits and giggles I'd reinforce the 2nd Infantry Division and move the 3rd MEF (Forward) to S. Korea so that they know we're serious about surging forces to the region in case of bad actions (Of course the same applies to Navy and Air Force elements).
That's my plan and analysis. What's yours?
1. Trump wanted the deal badly. When one side seems desperate for a deal, no matter how good the reasons, that side is operating from weakness.
2. He gave up too much too soon. Ending military exercises with S. Korea was also seen as a weakness. Trump gave too much too early.
3. He put the prestige of the American President front and center and the hermit king is reveling in knocking us down a peg. A leader never shows up to do the grunt work. Diplomats do the heavy lifting and then when all the i's are dotted and the t's crossed is when the leaders come together to sign the agreement. Unfortunately Trump looks like a rookie in his dealings on this one.
4. He had a weak partner in the S. Korean President. All of the above that applies to Trump applies to the S. Korean President. He wanted it too bad. Much too bad.
Where are we now?
If I was running things we'd go back to where we were but on steroids. I'd rush every available anti-ballistic missile ship to the region and maybe even roll out a couple of top secret projects for a live field test.
The next US/S. Korean exercise would be bigger than ever.
The sanctions would intensify and I'd force the Chinese to deal with millions of refugees flooding their border.
I'd set the conditions for continued negotiations from a position of strength. Oh and just for shits and giggles I'd reinforce the 2nd Infantry Division and move the 3rd MEF (Forward) to S. Korea so that they know we're serious about surging forces to the region in case of bad actions (Of course the same applies to Navy and Air Force elements).
That's my plan and analysis. What's yours?
Is this the proof of the Mig-21 shoot down of the F-16....
step to confirm that its a F16 debris— Tuku (@tukupanti) February 28, 2019
1. check box no. in 1st img.
2. search it in F16 database, link below.https://t.co/gDFvtzHOmj
3. It's Jordan F16. How it's reached Pak, link below.https://t.co/MoPrm8bfWX
credit of info- @SamStein357 #Abhinandan pic.twitter.com/ICZLHKfcQf
Thanks to Gessler for this find!!!
Good God! This is why I love this community! Our core guys can flesh any issue out given enough time (assuming any of it makes it into the open). Freaking awesome!
What say the doubters now? Or do you need more proof and remain unconvinced? I'm leaning toward the side that the Indian Migs did indeed bag an F-16. If it happened like Ron is saying from his sources then why should any of us be surprised.
The commanders on both side of this thing are operating in a vacuum. They need to keep the losses low enough to prevent an escalation but make a big enough splash to satisfy their countrymen. I don't even the tight rope they're walking.
It might be false hope but I believe we'll see a DE-ESCALATION soon...unless shit turns pear shaped because someone drives his fangs into the floorboard and decides to take some scalps.
At this time in this dust up the most dangerous thing in the world is a CAPT with visions of making Major while bagging a kill for his resume and a medal.
Open Comment Post (everything BUT India vs Pakistan). 28 Feb 2019
Sorry guys. I'm on an "ancient habitation" kick.
Bonus points if you can name the structure below without a Google image search!
Open thread for discussion of the India vs Pakistan fight...
The main stream media in the US might be ignoring this fight but luckily my readers aren't. I've decided that we need to setup a designated spot to discuss this topic, to add links that we find and want to share with others and generally chew on what we're seeing and it's implications for the future.
Any and everything is on the table IF it concerns this fight, the tech, troops, equipment, regional implications, etc....
I hope you guys do as always....hit me with stuff that I missed that people in our demographic (meaning interested in military affairs, international affairs, warfare etc...) will be interested in.
Indian Mig-21 shoots down a Pakistani F-16. How did that happen?
Comment by SNAFU! reader Ron...
All indications are that the MiG-21 successfully engaged in WVR combat with an F-16A and brought it down using an R-73 missile. There were a total of 4 F-16's in the flight engaged with 2 MiG-21s on QRAIs Ron correct? Did it happen this way? I've been looking but Twitter has turned pear shaped. I get the distinct impression that the security/intel forces of both nations are trying to "tweak" public opinion.
The pair of MiG-21 were then engaged by ground based air defenses and one was hit reportedly by AAA resulting in the pilot having to bail out 3km (approx 1.2nm) inside enemy controlled territory. The wingman attempted to turn back and ascertain the downed airman's position but was re-engaged by the remaining F-16s and retreated while being pursued.
At this time the 2nd wave of QRA consisting a flight of SU-30MKI's engaged at BVR. An R-27 was reportedly fired from range of around 40km (25nm) causing the F-16 flight to scatter and retreat at supersonic speed (sonic booms were reported by ground observers). SU-30's did not engage in hot pursuit but remained in patrol orbit on the Indian side of the border
Ron's accounting of the fight is a bit puzzling although the recent actions of a Super Hornet against one of Assad's fighter planes gives us a clue.
How could 4 F-16's not at least bloody the 2 Mig-21's?
If the Super Hornet encounter is informative then we have a problem with our missiles being spoofed by Russian countermeasures. Remember the Super Hornet had to back off and fire an AMRAAM to get the kill because the Sidewinder was ineffective.
The idea that these two Mig-21 pilots could enter a 2 v 4, win that fight but lose to ground based anti-air is also instructive.
Fights over the forward edge of the battlefield is fraught with danger. I hope the Naval Air Arm and the USAF is studying this fight.
The B-52 is getting an AESA. Why not the same for our AH-1Z, UH-1Y, MV-22 and CH-53K?
via The Drive.
The addition of a modern AESA radar to the B-52's sensor suite would be a game changer. A radar like SABR offers a dramatic boost in range, fidelity, and flexibility and it would enhance the B-52's targeting, surveillance, and situational awareness capabilities. The ability to make detailed synthetic aperture radar (SAR) maps of the surface of the earth and to provide advanced ground moving target indicator (GMTI) capabilities alone would result in synergistic effects not only for the B-52 itself, but also for other platforms and weapons that can exploit that data in near real-time via data-linkStory here.
With a radar like SABR, the B-52 could far better identify and engage ground targets in all weather and at standoff ranges. It would also allow the B-52 to be a better anti-ship weapon than it already is, being able to spot vessels and classify them from long distances so that it can employ advanced anti-ship missiles against them. You can read more about this type of scenario here.
This is probably a batshit stupid idea but I'm wondering. Why don't we give our helos, the AH-1Z, UH-1Y, MV-22 and CH-53K, AESA radars? They're supposably scalable, we're talking about operating at great distance with them and they provide the ability to "see the ground" when operating in terrible conditions.
So if they can be built to scale for our helos then why aren't we doing it! Aviation guys before you slam me explain it! This seems long overdue and an evolution that is too long in the making.
Consider this a small diversion from our focus on the India/Pakistan fighting.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
India isn't pumping the brakes...their PM just gave the military the option to go full bore!
BREAKING: According to @CNNnews18, Indian PM Modi has reportedly given the Indian military a "free hand" regarding the time, place and how they want to move forward regarding the situation with Pakistan, following a high-level security meeting.pic.twitter.com/zDQknlrGyD— Conflict News (@Conflicts) February 27, 2019
Just plain wow.
Ok. I'm becoming a bit alarmed on this one. Not for my sake or the sake of the American people but for my Indian friends. I was thinking that we'd hear about the EU, US, Russia and China along with several other countries calling a special session of the UN to try and de-escalate this thing.
I thought we'd see some type of shuttle diplomacy from all of the above either together or individually.
No one seems to be moving.
A skirmish seems to be turning into full scale combat right before our eyes. Hope I'm getting antsy for nothing but this does not look good from my seat.
What is your take away from the clash between India and Pakistan?
What is your take away from the clash between India and Pakistan?
My early view is that their air arms are facing the same difficulty that we saw in the fighting between Russia/Ukraine and the various rebel factions. In other words air power was tried early, got bloodied and now they seem to be pulling them back a bit.
Now its a ground fight. Lots of artillery, a few clashes between infantry units and maybe some Special Ops running around.
Kinda makes you wonder if all the theorists about how the future fight got it all so crooked.
Makes me wonder if aviation (even though both sides were using older aircraft...especially India) is now too valuable to risk in a shooting war.
That's telling. That should give ground commanders pause.
I've always thought that aviation promised more than it could ever deliver and at least for the time being that seems to be being proven yet again.
But back on task. What do you guys think?
IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan after his capture by Pakistani security forces (Probably gonna combine all the tweets of the Pakistan/India conflict into one thread in the AM)
IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan after his capture by Pakistani security forces following the shooting down of his fight jet in AJK today - on right is the same Abhinandan in a 2016 documentary - available on Youtube - titled 'Inside India's SU-30' pic.twitter.com/8mNdrIys0n— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) February 27, 2019
FLASH: Pakistan releases clear photos of documents/ material recovered from one of the captured Indian pilots. #IAF #PAF #Kashmir #India #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/70YoLi3rFy— Kashmir Intel (@KashmirIntel) February 27, 2019
Is India's battle plan going off the rails?
Most Indian TV channels are now taking long ad breaks shocked by the apparent downing of a IAF fighter & the deafening silence of the MoD. To win, we need to take any reversals in our stride. warfighting is not a TV reality show.— Vijainder K Thakur (@vkthakur) February 27, 2019
Forget main stream news. Twitter is the place to get what little facts we have on the fighting.
Having said that did you check out the post above? It appears that their MOD has a communication problem at the very least and are shell shocked themselves at the loss of aircraft.
This is instructive.
Putting all your eggs in the aviation basket means that you will lose personnel and material. That's just the way it is.
But has India been misled?
I almost (not quite there but getting close) get the impression that the Indian MOD thought that they would be able to conduct these strikes, claim victory and go back to the status quo.
Pakistan's response seems to have them on their back foot. I'm cheering for India in this fight but I have to wonder if Pakistan doesn't have a better grasp of the social media game. I wonder if the Pakis can somehow win even though they might lose on the battlefield due to public perception?
Parachute seen as Pakistan Air Force's F-16 was going down, condition of the pilot is unknown https://t.co/yfcHxDjlXn— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019
BREAKING: Confirmed. Pakistan has in its captivity Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, a MiG-21 Bison pilot. Statement from the Indian government shortly.— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) February 27, 2019
The Royal Marines in action at Trafalgar.
Pic via Historical Times...
Hmm. So is this where the saying "if you die first we're splitting your gear" came from?
What is that bag they're digging thru? Appears much more robust than I imagined.
This all brings me back to the Marine/Soldier load. How much of it is snivel gear? Is the increase in weight due to how our operations are conducted? If you're not rucking all day and operating out FOBS, mechanized vehicles or being flown in for a day or two operations then that would make you go heavier than REAL light fighters would deem acceptable.
Just wondering out loud.
Hmm. So is this where the saying "if you die first we're splitting your gear" came from?
What is that bag they're digging thru? Appears much more robust than I imagined.
This all brings me back to the Marine/Soldier load. How much of it is snivel gear? Is the increase in weight due to how our operations are conducted? If you're not rucking all day and operating out FOBS, mechanized vehicles or being flown in for a day or two operations then that would make you go heavier than REAL light fighters would deem acceptable.
Just wondering out loud.
Things in Iran just got goofy!
#BREAKING Iran president rejects FM Zarif's resignation: official pic.twitter.com/chvG0hXuiU— AFP news agency (@AFP) February 27, 2019
WTF! Never seen that before. Dude wants to resign and you say NOPE! Ain't happening! Stick around?
Either he is much loved or they're lining him up to be hanged on national TV. I'm not guessing there is much love in Iran for him right now...Quite honestly this sounds like some type of internal power struggle and someone wants the sides more or less balanced.
Just a guess but I can't come up with anything better...
Things are getting a bit interesting in the fight between India and Pakistan...
#UPDATE Pakistan military says it has shot down two Indian Air Force planes in its airspace in Kashmir, adding one Indian pilot has been arrested pic.twitter.com/dWGT7ikWgB— AFP news agency (@AFP) February 27, 2019
A couple of things...
1. The fact that US mainstream news is barely covering this is telling. It's all Trump all the time despite important, life altering events are happening all over the world. The mainstream news is no longer valid.
2. Did you catch the wording? Pakistan ARRESTED instead of captured the Indian pilot? I'm not a War Lawyer but that jumps out at me. Does that have any implications on how he will be treated?
3. Are there any systems to put the brakes on this thing? Are we headed toward a cycle of increased escalation?
Just a few thoughts. This thing bears watching. I'll be posting additional Tweets of interest below...
Pakistani fighter jets struck at targets inside Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday from their own airspace https://t.co/ufSLvPSndF— Bloomberg (@business) February 27, 2019
Can confirm. Exact location and further details awaited. https://t.co/xCUIiYCAh2— Angad Singh (@zone5aviation) February 27, 2019
Boeing Airpower Teaming Mockup Looks Like a BEAST! Touted specs are impressive too...
From the Boeing Website...
The Boeing Airpower Teaming System will:Wow. This thing sounds like a hybrid between the "quarterback" role and doing independent deep strike missions.
-- Provide fighter-like performance, measuring 38 feet long (11.7 metres) and able to fly more than 2,000 nautical miles
-- Integrate sensor packages onboard to support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions and electronic warfare
-- Use artificial intelligence to fly independently or in support of manned aircraft while maintaining safe distance between other aircraft.
In short it sounds like it does 75% of the F-35's missions without needing a pilot!
Website with info here.
Bandria Auto displays armored R2F buggy....SOCOM just found their next test vehicle...
via Army Recognition.
Among the uncommon vehicles displayed at IDEX 2019, the Saudi company Bandria Auto drew a significant attention thanks to the two version of its R2F, a 4x2 buggy (also available in 4x4 version) in armored and unarmored version.Wow. The need for speed is really catching fire when it comes to small vehicles.
Bandria Auto is an engineering and consulting company specialized in designing and manufacturing advanced off-road vehicles. Its R&D team has an extensive expertise in providing solutions to complicated engineering issues for off-road vehicles, such as altering system designs and upgrading parts. It reinvented the functioning of suspension systems in a unique way for better dynamics. The use of light and strong aerospace materials to overcome off-road abuse and rough terrain. The company has offered solutions to many well reputed companies around the world, including the NASA.
The armored version of the R2F is motorized with a V8 LS developing 400 hp that can be upgraded to 1,200 hp on customer’s request. The torque range can be set between 500 and 1,000. The buggy can reach 240 km/h. The tank capacity is 180 liters. While the unarmored version (designated “race”) of the R2F weighs 2.3 tons, the armored one is naturally heavier: 2.8 tons with composite armor BR6 level, or 3.1 tons with Nasser advanced steel BR6 level. Various armoring solutions are available.
The armored version can be configured in fast attack, patrol or ambulance variant.
I'm sure SOCOM will buy a few or maybe even a few dozen to play with. As far as actually seeing combat, I kinda doubt it.
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