Plus, in many of these Middle Eastern countries the leaders don’t want the troops to be too good. They might get _ideas_, if you know what I mean.

Ok. Just a few observations that others may want to contradict/dispute:

Based on my past experience, they usually cover up the cockpit are after an accident for one of three reasons:

Maybe they covered the front to hide new sensors being used on the MH-60. The helicopter could be a standard airframe, but it might be using a new sensor suite.

Yeah. But those were banned in the SALT II treaty.

What everyone has failed to notice is that Russia has deployed the most destructive weapon known to man.

Come on guys. Give them a break. Kim Jong-un’s spinster aunt has been busy trying to make the Korean People’s Air Force more homey. Besides, North Korea doesn’t have a lot of money to spend on new upholstery, so they have to make do. She’s currently working hard to make slip covers for all front-line aircraft.

I heard the Korean People’s Army Ground Force is the only army in the world that has MIL-SPEC doilies in their tanks. Suck on that Abrams.

I have my doubts about this aircraft and I know we could have gotten better (and probably cheaper) with two or three separate development programs, but I believe all the negative press about the F-35 may actually be turning it into an underdog. There is so much hyperbole (not necessarily from Foxtrot Alpha) that…

Could it be an UAV monitoring the strike with targeting info data-linked from attacking aircraft overlaid onto the imagery?

I always have thought it would be a good idea for the Navy to have a fleet of small semi-autonomous subs that could be deployed via ship or submarine specifically for use as an ELINT and DEAD platform. These subs could be deployed close in to coastal areas and gather signals intelligence or in wartime could loiter in…

Is there any chance that we could see uprated (or even alternative) engines in future production blocks? It seems that a more powerful engine would help offset some of the deficiencies in sustained turn and acceleration, although the shitty aerodynamics may be hard to overcome. What aerodynamic updates or wing…

A lot of people argue that the F-35 is the modern day TFX, but it’s really looking more like a neo- M2/M3 Bradley program.

It’s called a “typo” that OS X decided to correct the way it saw fit. The spell checker is not my friend. :)

Kind of gives off a Dilophosaurus vibe.

It’s kind of ironic that the horse calvary is being overflown by helicopters named after Indian tribes: Apache, Blackhawk, and Chinook. But in a way, it’s also a sign of respect for the Native American warriors’ fighting spirit.

I was there for work, so I didn’t get to see the air show. A few aircraft came in early, so I went out and had a look. This particular F-18 was from MCAS Beaufort, about 5 miles from where I have a vacation home. I’ll be there in July, so I’m going to call some of my buddies there to get me on the base so I can see if…

Yeah. I agree that the Marines generally use older equipment, but they also tend to stick with weapons that have proved to be reliable and have given good service in harsh operational conditions. They also have to rely on the Navy to pay for their stuff, so money is always an issue. The Marines have a make do with…

I was at Seymour Johnson AFB a few weeks ago having a look at an USMC F/A-18D that had popped in and it looked like it was held together with spackle. I chatted up the pilot and he said the Marines are doing everything possible to keep the Hornets flying until they could replace them with F-35s. He said that at some…

Yeah. I thought about that, but since the Marines aren’t being used in their intended role (amphibious assault), I don’t think it should be a big concern. Heck the last amphibious assault of size was in Grenada (31 years ago) and the last full scale amphibious landings took place at Inchon in 1950. If the Marines are…