* New insurgent-stopper: moats
* China’s F-22?
* Video games for spooks
* Microwaves vs. roadside bombs (background here)
* Spacesuits with skills
(Big ups: Blogs of War, Engadget)
Rapid Fire 6/17/05
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Good Morning Mr. Shachtman,
China, F-22?
Get real, give me a break, was it not just last year about this same time (Congressional Budget Season) that U.S.A.F. F-15C’s in a fly off against Indian made Su-27′s lost 7 ot of 10 engagements?
The fact that no F-15 has ever been shot down in real combat was never mentioned in the story. Omission of facts is the same as there outright falsification.
The fact that the the F-15C’s were operating WITHOUT their AWACS and the Indian Su-27′s were being controled by Soviet Style ground controlers was some how let out of the story.
Like last years fabricated fly off this story is for the consumption of Congress during the “Budget Season”.
The F-22 like the Army’s Commache Atack Helicopter and Crusader Gun are legecy systems from a mostly imagineary foe driven time gone by, that we don’t need. The F-22 at $70 Million to $120 Million per copy with NO KNOWN MISSION is an extravagance that the United States can no longer aford.
The Global or on Terrorism that we are now fully engaged in doesn’t need the F-22, it does need men and women in boots on the ground going after the people who brought us 9/11. Terrorist are real, China producing any thing near the F-15C or the F-22 let alone fielding either is strickly a marketing tool of the Defense Industry lobby.
ALLONS,
Byron Skinner
“Stewart’s Platoon”
Is it really smart to stop the advancement of technology just because some people do not see an imediate application? The answer is no. If we stop producing top of the line weapon systems, then where will advancement come from? We must continue to build, modify, and engineer new and better weapon systems to keep this country ahead of all others. It is only through our technological and imaginative superiority, that we are still on top.
Good Afternoon to who ever responded to my posting,
You point is what the industry always says when confronted with this agrurment, if this is the way you feel how about aging weapons systems that are in fact playing a role in the War on Global Terrorism. The M-16 rifle has passed it’s 40th. Birthday but their is no funds for it’s replacement the M-8.
How about the M-1 Abrams and the M-2 Bradley, both systems have passed there 30th. Birthday. The M-113 has passed it’s 50th. birthday. Older them some of today’s Generals. The DoD’s asnwer is to spend $40 Million to reopen the old productions lines and crank out more of these old hunks of war iron. I could go on but I think I’ve made my point.
While at the beach this afternoon I was reading in todays WSJ that India is attempting to buy 129 F-16′s or F/A-18′s from Lockheed or Boeing. This is the same India who’s Indian made Su.-27′s kicked F-15C’s afterburners just a year ago. Did I mention this looked rigged?
Other the the gentleman/lady who responded to my first post does anyone out there seriously think the Chinese are gaining on U.S. technology to the point to justify the outrigious price tag of the F-22?
This is just the latest attempt by the munitions industry to keep in the taxpayers pocket on a mega defense project. A point in fact the U.S. has spent “Trillions” of dollars on must have defense projects that have been not need or even worked. Those with short memories, think the Sgt. York AAA Gun System.
The difference now is of course we are at war, Americans are being killed and wounded everyday because the DoD can’t afford to provide them with such nickle and dime items as Up Armor on Vehicles, Body Armor or even small arms ammunitation. In light of this we can’t afford nor needs the F-22.
ALLONS,
Byron Skinner
“Stewart’s Platoon”
technology is what it is. why are the japs building big full-size v8 powered gas hogs(most get 7mpg to our domestic 16) why is the m-14 still in our inventory as the xm-21. why did we take out so much out with both the b1b & b2′s because of technology. we have it and it is our edge. those who can’t see the future, complain. you want to read of waste witha satisfactory end just read the prep for torch in the beginning of rick atkinson’s an army at dawn. we do not know now what tech breakthrew. the f-22 will net but if we are going to waste dollars so be it. the end allways justfy’s it
Get real, give me a break, was it not just last year about this same time (Congressional Budget Season) that U.S.A.F. F-15C’s in a fly off against Indian made Su-27′s lost 7 ot of 10 engagements?