Grand Logistics on Libyan Air Ops.

Grand Logistics crunches the numbers on the Libyan Air Ops.

It is definitely required reading.

Its also not pretty at all.  Again read the whole thing.  But this is his conclusion.

Thus weapon expenditure in 50 days of combat over Libya probably totals less than about 120 tonnes of ordnance and could be as little as 12 tonnes.

By way of comparison,a large aircraft carrier like the Nimitz class carries about 3,200 tonnes of ordnance,with the replenishment vessel which accompanies it carrying a similar amount.

It would be interesting to know how much ordnance is carried by the Royal Navy's Invincible class ships and also by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's replenishment vessels,unfortunately we do not know the answer to that but it is likely to be far higher than 120 tonnes.

If this doesn't scream...The Brits were wrong on the SDSR....The Brits were wrong to retire the Harriers...The Brits were wrong to gut their Navy....


Then nothing will...

The good news for the UK?  IT'S NOT TOO LATE!  SAVE THE ROYAL NAVY!

Its all about ballistics!

Massive hat tip to Neptunus Lex...who would've thought a 'fly guy' would be interested in small arms???

Marine Corps Quotes

David Cenciotti on Italian Call 2011.

I've got a soft spot for Southern Europe.  They're getting screwed by the North (Germany) yet still stay in the fight and are working their way through the drama.  Luv you guys...stay strong.  But I digress.  These photo's from David's blog are worth a look and there are plenty more.  Take a look.

Pic of the day. June 22, 2011.

Two US Marine Corps MH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crews perform an aerial refueling training exercise with a KC-130J Super Hercules tanker crew above the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5) in Mediterranean Sea on 10 June 2011. The helicopters are assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced), attached to the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, which is conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the US 6th Fleet area of responsibility. The deployed KC-130J crew is assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 (VMGR-252) at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina.

Wonder Woman to the rescue

Wonder Woman No. 601 by *AlexGarner

Ya know.  I don't know the guy that's in charge over at Aviation Week but the guy must be about ready to punch walls.


I mean seriously.


His star reporter has a hard-on for the F-35....and he can't get the boy  under control.

So what does an editor in chief do?

Do you sack the guy?

No.

A couple of other publications would be all over him.

Do you suspend him?

Naw...tried that, it didn't work.

So what do you do?

You have other reporters on your staff write corrections.

Let me introduce you to Amy Butler aka Wonder Woman.

Partners to Get Equal JSF Stealth Posted by Amy Butler at 6/22/2011 9:17 AM CDT

JSF partners and customers will be able to have the same stealth characteristics as the U.S., according to Joe Dellavedova, the F-35 program office spokesman. 

There is a caveat: "each partner will have the option to add 'unique' capabilities that may have minor LO characteristics," he tells Aviation Week. One example, he says, is the addition of a drag chute, an item Norway has eyed. 

Such "capabilities may have minor implications on LO characteristics," Dellavedova says. Dellavedova made his comments in response to follow up questions during the F-35 briefing at this week's Paris Air Show. During the briefing, deputy program manager USAF Maj. Gen. CD Moore and Lockheed Martin executive vice president Tom Burbage seemed flatfooted at a question posed by a journalist asking whether a report in the Australian media that the radar cross section capability would be degraded for the partners. 

Moore said, "All I can tell you is we have every intent on meeting the KPPs on the aircraft as designated by our partners," adding that the report was "speculative." 

After the briefing, a program source also said the discussion about RCS is largely classified.

Totally different from Sweetman's earlier post huh?

Aviation Week must be in turmoil!

I wish I could be a fly on those walls.  Watch your back Amy!  The Dark Lord might be after you!

Sweetman bashes the F-35 in 3...2...1...

I'd say that I was surprised but I'm not.

I'd say that I'm disappointed but that's not strong enough.

I guess the best description is...Par for the course.

Read it here but check out this turn of phrase.

The two program leaders broke left and right and demonstrated evasive maneuvers that would have done credit to an Su-35 formation tackling a salvo of AMRAAMs. The report was speculative with no access to program information. The partners have been fully involved in defining requirements. The F-35 will meet all its requirements. And so on and so forth. Following it was enough to cause a G-LOC episode.

Sweetman is spoiling for a fight on the JSF.  He walked into that briefing room ready to confront the program officials, not gather information.

Who was it that asked the question I wonder?  Was it one of Sweetman's sycophants?  Probably.

He wants a fight so badly that he's seeing boogey men where none exist.

Damn bro.  You're better than this.