CV32

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

Yep, this is essentially the approach I am taking with the 'alien heat ray' common to all three alien platforms. Essentially a long range, high accuracy, destructive gun with a large magazine.

From Flight Global [excerpt]

Yeah, I am not going to worry too much about that. I'm only concerned with the alien ships' movement inside Earth's atmosphere, so I'm figuring about 1,500 knots for the drone (in pure ion fusion afterburner, heh) and a crawl for the 'hovering' mothership. Great idea about the 'walker' too. Classic. I've added that. These entries' specs will probably be provisional as we figure out what works best.

I have been thinking of adding a class of "alien invader" type platforms to the database. Intended for some outlandish alien invasion type scenarios where the world's militaries might have to band together to defeat the common threat. Thinking mainly of a "mothership" type platform (probably a mobile land unit) that would simulate a 'hover' at low altitudes, cross both sea and land, and carry a large number of drone type attackers. Thoughts for platform specs for the mothership and the drone?

Thanks, Enrique, very helpful.

Aircraft Procurement Plan, FY 2012-2041 (PDF, 25 pp)

Any idea what surface search surveillance radar is associated with the MM.40 Exocet Block 2 coastal defense system? Edit: Using the SCORE coastal surveillance set. Thanks, Enrique. How about the radar associated with the Penguin coastal defense system?

That's Hornet "love" ?

I expect they will be surprised, again.

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

Not quite the same scenario, no. Same premise, similar platforms, but the scenario in the demo is a more recent rebuild. And it plays differently.

The ALR-94 is a passive system, yes, but its no ordinary RWR. It has emitter DF and identification capabilities, supposedly able to sort up to 256 at a time. The Journal of Electronic Defense (now sadly defunct) did a pretty detailed write up on the ALR-94 back in 2002. The jammer is in the radar.

From Economic Times [excerpt]

It does make one wonder about the integrity of the Pakistani nuclear weapons storage.

From Flight Global [excerpt]

I will admit to having been able to play through this scenario once and still come away unscathed during Red's first vicious antiship missile attack. Otherwise I can usually save the carriers, albeit rarely without sustaining some damage and never without losing an escort. How have others fared? Man up!

The F-35A is arguably the least complex and least risky of the three variants. The F-35B is, at the same time, arguably the least necessary of the three and also the variant still on 'probation'.

Perhaps I should have been more specific. I meant to say an integrated air defense system that posed any significant threat in the modern sense. Beyond MANPADS, Libya had little to offer other than single digit SAMs designed 30-40 years ago. Its hardly an example of an air defense system that anything like a "fifth generation", or for that matter, even a "fourth generation" aircraft, could expect to face serious opposition. And yet, witness the sheer number of cruise missiles that were dedicated to taking apart what little air defense there was. My point is this: we don't typically send expensive warplanes and valuable pilots into harm's way in any environment where stealth is necessary to keep them alive long enough to dispense their payload. That is not to say that stealth isn't useful or that it hasn't been used. Obviously there are many examples where it has. Is it indispensable and a prerequisite across the board? I wonder.

That raises an interesting point, because weapons are getting longer and longer ranged while still getting smaller and able of being carried by just about any platform. New weapons can be developed much more quickly and much more cheaply than any new fighter or bomber. And, with all of that said, how often do we send our very expensive first line aircraft into the teeth of an air defense system? Doesn't experience show that we invariably 'soften up' an enemy with cruise missiles, anti-radar missiles, jamming, etc before even risking it? All meant to provoke discussion of course. And while we (the West) buys $150+ million aircraft, other nations can buy new Chinese aircraft at $20-25 million apiece?!

That would constitute the bulk of, if not all, their offensive naval force, constituting patrol craft and missile boats, as evidenced by the bombing video. If Qadhafi and crew did not realize that laying mines and 'maritime IEDs' (as some are calling them) would give NATO a "segway" to destroying their navy, then they're dumber than I thought.

Can't disagree with that, and I venture to say that, if current trends continue, the F-35A might be nearly as expensive as a production run F-22A.

From Reuters [excerpt]

Stealth is always a matter of degree, of course, so how much stealth does one need? And for what price?