Bulava Fails Latest Test – Lessons for US?
“After its firing from the submarine Dmitry Donskoy, the Bulava missile self-liquidated and exploded into the air” – Russian MoD spokesman to Interfax 23 Dec 08 And thus was written the postscript on the latest test of the star-crossed Bulava SLBM. Five failures in eight attempts would seem to call into question the fast-track to…
F-35 Slated for Common Electronic Attack Platform?
 Next Generation airborne electronic attack plans revealed? After years of debate about the future of tactical, airborne electronic attack for the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps, it appears the F-35 will become the next-generation, digital warfare aircraft for both services. The platform most in demand in combat today is some kind of electronic attack…
Of Wargames, JSF and Baby Seals (III)
So we’ve been dragging our feet on this series for one of a number of reasons (some minor, some of import, one of which we hope to be able to announce in the near future) and have fallen behind. Next on the schedule was the BVR discussion (Beyond Visual Range) and it was while doing…
Is the F-35 the Next DDG-1000? – UPDATED
UPDATED 13 Oct 08 – see below the “More” line… – SJS No military service currently demonstrates that it has leaders that can create affordable procurement programs. Every service has, to some extent, mortgaged its future by failing to contain equipment costs, and by trading existing equipment and force elements for developing new system that…
Of Wargames, JSFs and Baby Seals (II)
“Be modest about what military force can accomplish, and what technology can accomplish. The advances in precision, sensor, information and satellite technology have led to extraordinary gains in what the U.S. military can do…But also never neglect the psychological, cultural, political, and human dimensions of warfare, which is inevitably tragic, inefficient, and uncertain. Be skeptical…
Tuesday’s Roll-up of Defense News
Press the edge of the technological envelope and sometimes it snaps back and bites you. Promise the moon and fail to even deliver a scintilla (and oh yes, demand more money in the process) and the customer naturally gets a little testy. These themes are at the core of a couple of today’s news items – the first, dealing…
Navy Version of F-35: “The Weakest Link”?
Could trouble (Ok. more trouble) be brewing over in JSF-land? Comes an article today from the Paris Airshow that floats "concerns" from the Air Force over progress in the CV-version of the F-35 (the F-35C). Unlike the -A or -B model, the USN will be the only customer for the -C.