CV32

You may not be terribly concerned about precise accuracy, either.

Next up on the summer reading list is Herman Melville's White Jacket, his 1850 account of naval service aboard the frigate USS United States from 1843-44.

From the July 2010 issue of Air Force Magazine Take it down! The Wild Weasels in Vietnam (PDF format)

I didn't read anything in mack's post that insulted any particular nation. Moreover, posts about sports - and the feelings or opinions they may invoke - are not generally to be taken as insults. They should be taken in stride, as it is part and parcel of the sport and the fans, imho.

The newly revamped Code One website has some great pics that I thought I would share: The ROK Air Force's Black Eagles: Royal Jordanian Air Force F-16s during Falcon Air Meet 2009: F-16 Block 52+ for Greece (under the Peace Xenia IV program): F-35C roll out: Turkish Air Force F-16 (undergoing Peace Onyx III program upgrade): C-5M Super Galaxy: C-130 Hercules taking part in MAFEX at Nellis in November 2009:

I have heard a lot of complaints about bad calls from the referees.

I'm still not convinced that this deal does not have serious potential to come back and bite someone someday ... From ARES Pakistan Fields Newest F-16s Posted by Robert Wall at 6/28/2010 4:34 AM CDT The Pakistan air force on June 27 formally took delivery of the first F-16C/D Block 52s, with a goal of having all 18 aircraft in country before year-end, the service says. The handover at the PAF Base Shahbaz represents a big jump in the service’s air-to-ground attack capability. In particular, the service stresses the new aircraft will provide a vital capability to carry out missions at night. (credit: Pakistan air force) Pakistani air force pilots carried out the ferry flights, with three aircraft arriving on June 26. The ceremony was attended by ACM Rao Qamar Suleman, the Pakistan air force chief of staff, as well as USAF Gen. Norton Schwartz, his U.S. counterpart. During the ceremony, the Pakistan air force chief noted that “these new aircraft will begin a new era of high tech environment in the PAF. This technology will not only eliminate our existing limitations of precision night operations but also enable the PAF to meet its mission more effectively.” The F-16s also come with an advanced electronic warfare suite and datalink capabilities.

From Defense Aerospace Successful Test Firings for Three PAAMS Program Partners (Source: French Ministry of Defence; issued June 28, 2010) (Issued in French only; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com) On Thursday June 17, 2010, Direction Generale de l’Armement (DGA), the French defence procurement agency, successfully carried out the test firing of two Aster 30 missiles from the Royal Navy barge Longbow. The barge was operated from the DGA Missile Test Range at Ile du Levant (Var district) on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence. Carried out as part of the French-Italian-British Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS) program, these firings were intended to validate modifications that were made to the Aster 30 missile after launch failures in 2009. With the successful launch of Aster 30s from the Italian navy frigate Andrea Doria on May 25, 2010 and from the French navy frigate Forbin on June 1, this final test consisted of a salvo launch of two Aster 30s from the barge Longbow, representative of a Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer. The success of these launches validates the modifications designed and implemented by MBDA on certain missile components that had been subject to faulty workmanship. This series of four Aster 30 missile launches confirms the operational capabilities of the French navy Horizon-class frigates Forbin and Chevalier Paul to operate their main weapon system, and to shortly assume their main mission of naval sir defense. (ends) MBDA Completes Four Successful Aster Missile Firings In Less Than a Month (Source: MBDA; issued June 28, 2010) MBDA is pleased to announce the successful completion of a programme of firings to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Aster 30 missile. Over the last month, firings have been carried out from the Italian Orizzonte frigate “Andrea Doria”, the French Horizon frigate “Forbin” and the UK trials barge “Longbow” at two different ranges in the Mediterranean. The trials were conducted over a range of scenarios of steadily increasing complexity, culminating in a final trial featuring a salvo firing against a sea skimming target performing a high-g terminal manoeuvre. All the trials were fully successful with both the PAAMS ship equipment and Aster missiles operating as expected in each case. This draws to a close the complex and high intensity investigation launched within MBDA after problems encountered in two firing trials last year. Antoine Bouvier, Chief Executive Officer, said: “These successful firing trials demonstrate that MBDA has fully mastered the technical issue with the Aster strake that was uncovered last year on recent missile manufacturing. The trials have been completed in support of making sure our domestic customers are in position to deploy the full operational capability of the PAAMS(E) system with the French and Italian navies and the Sea Viper system with the Royal Navy later this year. With industrial facilities in four European countries and within the USA, MBDA has an annual turnover of EUR 2.6 billion and an order book of EUR 12 billion. With more than 90 armed forces customers in the world, MBDA is a world leader in missiles and missile systems. MBDA is the only group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems that correspond to the full range of current and future operational needs of the three armed forces (land, sea and air). In total, the group offers a range of 45 missile systems and countermeasures products already in operational service and more than 15 others currently in development. MBDA is jointly held by BAE Systems (37.5%), EADS (37.5%) and Finmeccanica (25%).

I'm kinda surprised - especially given our European members and the American success thus far - that no one has mentioned the World Cup. In any event, in recognition of Sunday's UK vs Germany game, I thought I would bring up ...

Almost finished Gordon W. Prange's Miracle at Midway.

From DefenseNews N. Korea Declares 'No Sail' Zone Off West Coast AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Published: 25 Jun 2010 09:55 SEOUL - North Korea has announced a ban on shipping off part of its west coast and South Korea is watching for any signs of missile tests, the defense ministry in Seoul said June 25. "The move is seen as part of a routine exercise by North Korean troops, but we are closely monitoring their activities," a spokesman told AFP. The ministry declined to confirm a report by Yonhap news agency that the no-sail zone was declared from June 19-27 near the western port city of Nampo, north of the disputed inter-Korean sea border. It is unclear whether the declaration was in preparation for an artillery exercise or missile launches, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. "We have yet to detect any signs of preparations for missile launches," a spokesman said. The North has frequently test-launched short-range missiles in the past. But tensions are running high following the sinking of a South Korean warship near the maritime border in March with the loss of 46 lives. South Korea, citing the findings of a multinational probe, says a North Korean torpedo sank the ship and is pressing for UN Security Council condemnation of its neighbor. The North denies involvement and threatens a military response to any U.N. actions.

From Flight International DATE: 25/06/10 SOURCE: Flight International Boeing applies to export F-15SE to South Korea By Stephen Trimble Boeing has applied for an export licence to brief South Korea on sensitive details of a stealthier version of the F-15E that is within a few months of its first flight. The US government approved an export policy in the second quarter for the F-15SE Silent Eagle after Boeing submitted details of its radar cross-section about six months earlier, says Brad Jones, Boeing programme director for F-15 development programmes. The export policy allows Boeing to request an export licence for specific customers, with South Korea as the first in queue, Jones says. The F-15SE is competing against the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for a contract in South Korea. Boeing has backed down from previous statements comparing the frontal-aspect radar cross-section of the F-15SE to an international release standard for the F-35. However, Jones confirms that Boeing's original briefing chart - claiming the F-15SE provides frontal-aspect stealth offered by fifth-generation fighters - remains accurate. Boeing unveiled the F-15SE in March 2009. The redesign adds conformal weapons bays, stealth techniques, fly-by-wire and canted tails to the F-15E configuration, providing a "first-day-of-war" stealth capability. Lockheed and F-35 programme officials, however, have criticised Boeing's assertions that the F-15SE offers equivalent front-aspect stealth as the JSF, and denied that an international release standard exists for F-35 stealth characteristics. Boeing plans to conduct three flights of the F-15SE in the third quarter, including one missile shot from the newly added conformal weapons bay.

I think the author is saying that while cost cutting is probably the most obvious answer, the German authorities are instead pointing to a reduced threat. Shifting economic priorities away from a reduced threat would seem to be a 'no brainer', but I take it there is disagreement about whether the threat is actually reduced at all.

From Aviation Week New Israeli Recon Sat Targets Iran Jun 25, 2010 By Michael A. Taverna Israel’s newest reconnaissance satellite is seen as boosting the country’s intelligence capabilities against Iran. With the observation satellite Ofeq-9 placed in low Earth orbit June 22, Israel now has six operational remote sensing satellites in space: the Ofeq-5 and 7 military observation satellites; ImageSat’s commercial/military EROS-A and EROS-B1, and Israel Aerospace Industries’ (AIA) TechSAR day/night all-weather synthetic aperture radar satellite, now designated Ofeq-8. “From now on, no country in the region will be able to conduct clandestine activities at times when there is no Israeli satellite above it, since there will be no such times,” said Yitzhak Ben-Israel, chairman of the Israeli Space Agency. “If each satellite completes an orbit every 90 minutes and with six satellites in space, you can calculate the frequency that we can observe any given target,” Brig. Gen. Nimrod Sheffer, Israel Air Force chief of staff, told AVIATION WEEK. “Even with the other side being aware it is under observation, it will be hard to conceal activities in the course of time.” The 300-kg. (660-lb.) Ofeq-9, based on the IAI/MBT OptSat-2000 platform, represents a minor improvement over its predecessors, Ofeq-5 and 7. Equipped with Elbit El-Op’s “Neptune” High-Resolution Remote Sensing Camera, it provides resolution smaller than 50 cm. in monochromatic imagery, as well as panchromatic imaging capability. However, Sheffer says, “it represents a significant improvement in intelligence gathering, both in quantity and quality, and will dramatically enhance our target investigation capabilities.” Israel’s space program originally intended to deploy at least two optical satellites and one SAR surveillance satellite at any given moment, with each satellite expected to last five years. However, both the Ofeq-5, which was launched in 2002, and EROS-A, launched in 2000, have long exceeded their expected lifespan. The Ofeq satellites are designed for optimal solar array exposure to maximize power. “We have enjoyed moderate solar activity in recent years, which enabled the satellites to continue functioning,” said Haim Eshed, head of Space Programs at Israel’s Ministry of Defense. “However, it is impossible to predict how much longer they will endure.” The Ofeq-9 was launched on an improved version of Israel’s three-stage solid-fuel Shavit satellite launch vehicle, believed to be a derivative of Israel’s two-stage Jericho II intermediate-range ballistic missile. The Ofeq program had suffered from several setbacks in the past decades with Ofeq-2 (in 1991), 4 (in 1998) and 6 (in 2004) lost during launch due to failures in the Shavit SLV. The Ofeq satellites are launched from Palmachim Air Force Base, south of Tel Aviv. The missions are considered particularly complex since they are always conducted from the Mediterranean shore westbound — counter to the Earth’s rotation — to ensure that the initial trajectory is above the sea so that the satellite will not fall on hostile territory in case of a failure. The next Ofeq satellite will signal a major improvement in Israel’s reconnaissance capability. It will be based on the slightly larger OptSat3000 platform and will accommodate Elbit’s new Jupiter remote sensing camera, believed to have a better resolution, as well as multispectral imaging capability.

I've made the battleset author aware of your query.

Link to download page for ASPI's RAAF capability review 2010 (PDF)

From Defense Aerospace Moscow Still Hasn't Delivered Air Defense Missiles to Iran (Source: Voice of America news; issued June 23, 2010) Iran has a deal to buy S-300 anti-aircraft missiles from Russia. But Moscow has not delivered them yet. The S-300 missile is a defensive weapon with a maximum range of about 200 kilometers. "It's sort of similar to the American Patriot missile and it's bigger," explains Ivan Oerlich, with the Federation of American Scientists. "But it's specifically designed to be a broad-range, long-range defense system. It's not for close-in defense, but it's designed for aircraft, whether traveling at very high altitude or very low altitude, and to shoot down airplanes and cruise missiles. It's mobile. They can launch them off the back of a large truck and they carry several missiles. It means that it doesn't have a fixed location, and that makes it harder to destroy on the ground before it can be used." System details Matthew Clements with Jane's Defense Group - a British research firm - says it is not the most up-to-date Russian system, but it is quite sophisticated. "Although there's been a lot of talk about the degradation of the Russian military capabilities since the end of the Soviet Union, in terms of air defense, this is one of the areas where they have held up in terms of the quality and expertise available," Clements says. "So it's a fairly advanced system." Clements says in 2007, Russia signed a deal with Iran to provide Tehran with the S-300 missile. "The actual, exact details of the deal itself have never really been released," he notes. "So it's not very clear exactly how many would be sold to Iran, although what we'd be looking at would be Iran trying to purchase enough to be able to defend its main strategic sites, such as its nuclear power station and other primary military sites." Russian pull-back But as of now, as John Parker with the National Defense University says [expressing his personal views], none have been sold to Iran. "The Russians seemed to start to pull back on prospects for transferring really early last year - 2009 - just about the time that the Obama administration was talking about a 'reset' in relations with Russia," Parker said. "And since then the Russians have not gone forward with the transfers. In the latest United Nations Security Council resolution of June 9, it appears that technically the Russians would not be prevented from transferring the S-300s to Iran." That resolution, with Russia's consent, imposed new sanctions on Iran over its attempts to build nuclear weapons. Parker says those sanctions include prohibiting the sale to Tehran of offensive weapons such as combat aircraft, battle tanks, attack helicopters and large caliber artillery systems. "In terms of missiles, it says as defined for the purpose by the United Nation's Register for Conventional Arms," Parker said. "And there, ground-to-air defense missiles, air defensive missiles are not covered." Delivery frozen After some conflicting statements, senior Russian officials - including Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy - said Moscow has decided to freeze delivery of the S-300 missiles to Tehran. David Kramer, former senior State Department official in the George W. Bush administration, says Moscow is indicating its displeasure with Tehran's nuclear weapons program. "I also hope it reflects a recognition in Moscow that should they transfer these missiles, it could lead to war," Kramer said. "Because I don't think Israel is going to stand by and let these missiles become operational in Iran without taking any military action. So I hope Russia understands that and realizes the implications of such a transfer." Analysts say Iran must feel betrayed by Russia's decision -- first to vote in favor of stronger sanctions and second not to go through with the sale of S-300 missiles. But experts also say Tehran should not seem surprised by Russia's actions because over the past several years, relations between the two countries have considerably soured.

No problem at all. Feedback and suggestions for new additions are encouraged. Use the dedicated thread so I can keep track.

From ARES Adieu Atlantic Posted by Nicholas Fiorenza at 6/23/2010 1:33 PM CDT The German navy has parted with its last Breguet Atlantic maritime patrol aircraft. Marinefliegergeschwader (MFG) 3 "Graf Zeppelin" based in Nordholz, northern Germany, held an "air day", an open house, on 20 June which ended with the last flight and touchdown of its last Atlantic, BR 1150 Atlantic (61-03), accompanied by three Sea Lynx helicopters. The commander of MFG 3, Capt. Christoph Beer, gave the last crew certificates marking the event, Andrea Bocelli's schmaltzy song, "Time to say goodbye", played on the loudspeakers and the public applauded. Photo credit: © 2010 Bundeswehr/Ann-Katrin Hoffmann The Breguet Atlantic served with the German navy for 45 years and has been replaced by P-3C Orions acquired from the Royal Netherlands Navy, one of which is currently operating out of Djibouti in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the EU's Operation Atalanta anti-piracy operation.

Take a look at: HCDB: New version release announcements and Requests for the HCDB database The Prithvi 2 and Su-50 PAK-FA are already in the DB. I haven't added the Tejas LCA just yet because room in the Loadouts annex is scarce and I am awaiting better info about potential weapons loadouts.

Welcome to HarpGamer. I have similar questions. Was this a scenario for Harpoon4? A great account, in any event. (I deleted your other, duplicate thread, btw. Thanks for clarifying it was in error).

To my knowledge there isn't such a beast for the EC2003 battlesets. (Regarding the SE, have you investigated other potential options for using it? I also run 64 bit but I use VMWare to run the SE).

The flesh is willing, but the supply clerk is telling me that we don't have that one in stock. Looks fascinating, though.

Yes, group sub behavior has been less than satisfactory for a long time now. And as Tony has said, we've encouraged folks not to use groups of submarines for the AI when writing scenarios, as they typically lead to unsatisfactory results.

Lovely news at the start of a long weekend!