CV32

The 24 year anniversary is fast approaching ... The Komsomolets Disaster (Studies in Intelligence, 1995 issue, CIA Library)

Report: Taiwan To Aim 50 Medium-Range Missiles at China (DefenseNews)

US Navy weighs halving LCS order (DefenseNews)

US to boost BMD (DefenseNews) U.S. To Bolster Missile Defenses To Counter N.Korea Threat: Source (Aviation Week)

Obama: Iran a year away from nuclear weapon (Army Times)

Part 10: Maintaining presence (Defense Media Network)

If the MiGs are configured for intercept, I don't want them to jettison and run. I want all of my fighter jocks on both sides itching for a fight. And, off the cuff, I don't think I want any strikers (of the multi-role variety, anyway, carrying at least some defensive AAM), jettisoning just because they come into BVR range. Agreed.

Time to start counting.

Time to change America's atomic arsenal (The Diplomat)

First European Theatre Missile Interceptor System Achieves NATO Interoperability (Defense Aerospace)

A pretty good article on a subject that probably not a lot of people are aware of. The Bermuda Triangle of Space: The High-Energy South Atlantic Anomaly Threatens Satellites (DefenseNews)

From US Institute of Peace: Gulf I: Iran's Power in the Air Gulf II: Timeline of U.S.-Iran Encounters Gulf III: Iran's Power in the Sea Lanes Iran's military doctrine

Report: Surge in N. Korea Air Force Sorties (DefenseNews)

Even if they could bring it down to $90m in the later LRIP batches, and that's a big "if", I would still be leery of operations and maintenance costs in the long term. We've seen that from previous low observable types.

F-35 Chief Considers $80M-90M Unit Cost Possible (Aviation Week)

Excerpt from abstract here: Link to full report (pdf)

India confirms Vikramaditya delivery by end-2013 (Flight Global)

First Nirbhay Cruise Missile Test Fails (Defense Update)

Latest GAO report, 11 March 2013: Current Outlook Is Improved, but Long-Term Affordability Is a Major Concern (pdf)

USAF testers prepare for F-35 operational evaluation (Flight Global)

SINKEX Live-fire Exercises Deliver Realistic Training (Defense Media Network)

Retrofits to add $1.7 billion to cost of F-35 - GAO report (Reuters)

India Unveils Ambitious BrahMos Missile Expansion Plan (Aviation Week)

A Player, but No Superpower (Foreign Policy, Argument) Once again, Andrew Erickson nails it, imho.

Jet Fighter Influence: How Lockheed’s Public Relations Efforts Keep the F-35 Sold (Offiziere)