søndag 15. september 2024
Ukraina - Vesten må våge å være tøffere mot Putin - The Economist
Denne artikkelen støtter det jeg skrev i går om denne saken. (Red.)
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Ukraina - Branndroner i bruk på begge sider - X
Tungt artilleri og panser skjuler seg i skogholt. Å brenne ned disse skjulestedene kan vanskeliggjøre utplassering av taktisk skyts. (Red.)
Sjekk video her: https://tinyurl.com/bdhyrmnp
OBS! - Kjempegod lesning på sengekanten nå - The Aviationist
The Incredible Armada of Aircraft Behind 1969’s Battle of Britain Film
On Sept. 15, 1969, cinema audiences were treated to a dramatic portrayal of the famed Battle of Britain of 1940. Made long before CGI was possible, the production of the film was an incredible feat involving around one hundred real aircraft.
Released twenty nine years after the real events of the Battle of Britain took place, the movie production, directed by Guy Hamilton, could spare no effort or expense in their attempt to recreate scenes from the summer months of 1940. Many of those who would watch the film had experienced the battle themselves from various perspectives. Indeed, several of the actors starring in the production had themselves been called into military service during the Second World War.
Complicated computer graphics were still decades away, and while scale models could be constructed and made to look very convincing, nothing but the real thing could truly replicate the sights and sounds of Second World War era aerial combat.
In total, around a hundred airframes were requisitioned for use during filming, with a large number of them being airworthy. This sizable fleet led to the film’s production garnering the tongue in cheek accolade of being the world’s 35th largest air force at the time.
Efforts to assemble the massive collection of aircraft needed for filming began in 1965. The star of the film, at least as far as aircraft are concerned, is undoubtedly the Supermarine Spitfire. An oft quoted scene even depicts the Luftwaffe Major Falke, upon being asked by Hermann Göring what he needs to win the battle, requesting “a squadron of Spitfires”. Falke was a fictional character, though inspired by real life ace Adolf Galland. Galland recalled a similar encounter with Göring in his autobiography, and also served as a consultant for the film.
No fewer than twenty seven Spitfires were used, with twelve examples being airworthy. Only two of these were strictly period accurate versions of the aircraft, so the others underwent temporary modification to make them resemble the Battle of Britain era Mark I and Mark II Spitfires. One of these two, a Mark IIa, was P7350, which actually served in the Battle of Britain, and would later fly with the Royal Air Force’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. It is the only airworthy Spitfire in the world today to have such a history, and its current markings pay tribute to two Battle of Britain pilots – Ken Wilkinson and Geoffrey Wellum.
Among the later variant Spitfires to appear in the film was PS853, a Spitfire PR19 delivered in 1945, now flown as G-RRGN by the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust, as well as PS915 and PM631, both currently with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Mulig salg av tankfly til Japan - The Aviationist
US Approves Possible Sale of Nine KC-46A Pegasus Tankers for Japan
The latest deal would take the number of KC-46As in Japan’s inventory to 15 aircraft, expanding the country’s reach and presence in the Western Pacific area.
The US State Department on Sep. 13, 2024 approved a possible sale of nine KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tankers, worth $4.1 billion, to Japan under a FMS (Foreign Military Sales) program, according to the U.S. DSCA (Defense Security Cooperation Agency)Cooperation Agency). This adds to six refuellers already on contract with Tokyo, four of which have been delivered to the JASDF (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) in Nov. 2021.
Therefore the latest proposal, if approved, would take the number of KC-46As in Japan’s inventory to 15 aircraft. Tokyo is the second international operator of Boeing’s KC-46A, the first being the U.S. Air Force. The KC-46As greatly enhance the JSDF’s (Japan Self-Defense Forces) reach and presence in the western Pacific before China, characterized by vast distances over the sea between the operational zones and Allied island bases.
The DSCA’s delivery of the required certification that notifies the Congress of the sale is however not final and requires approval from lawmakers. It is also subject to the final quantity/units and contract price, which are subject to negotiations, and the DSCA certification serves as a go-ahead from the political executive, before legislative approval.
Romania kjøper F-35 - The Aviationist
U.S. State Department Approves $7.2B Sale Of F-35 Jets To Romania
The Foreign Military Sale’s approval comes after Romania announced the plan to acquire 32 F-35s to replace the F-16 fleet in the 2030s.
The U.S. State Department has approved the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) requested by Romania for the acquisition of the F-35 Lightning II. Romania will get 32 aircraft, a spare engine and related equipment for $ 7.2 billion (€ 6.5 billion) as part of a government-to-government deal which has been defined as the most expensive in Romania’s history.
The FMS notification includes a list of non-MDE (Major Defense Equipment) items which will be included, such as secure communications, spare part, test devices and various support equipment. Interestingly, no weapons were mentioned in the notification, although in the last few months Foreign Military Sales were approved for the AIM-9X and AIM-120C-8.
In September, Romania announced plans to buy 32 F-35s from Lockheed Martin in a deal which includes logistics, training services, flight simulators, and weapons. Defence Minister Angel Tilvar stated that the first planes would not be delivered before 2030.
The FMS notification did not provide details about the start of the deliveries. Also, it is currently unknown if the aircraft will be produced in Fort Worth, Texas, in Cameri, Italy, or a mix of both.
“The proposed sale will improve Romania’s capability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions while enhancing interoperability with the United States and other NATO members,” said the State Department, later adding that it will improve “the security of a NATO Ally that is an important force for political and economic stability in Europe.”
Initially, when the plan was submitted to the government, the deal was expected to be worth $6.5 billion. The deal is one of the consequences of the increase of the defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product this year in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (with whom Romania shares a 650km border).
Check this man`s IQ please.... CNN
Of course, he cannot be smarter than his boss by denying his blatant lie... (Red.)
JD Vance repeats
false pet-eating claims
flightradar24
Merkelig track på senns som kom helt fra Moskva. Fikk han ikke lande i Tel Aviv?
GPS problemer kan avhjelpes med PNT service - Spacenews
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VideoOpen
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Posted inCommercial
OneWeb launches
alternative navigation service amid GPS vulnerability concerns
The new
service is available from OneWeb Technologies, the company’s U.S. proxy. OneWeb
Technologies is in the process of merging with Eutelsat America Corp.
Sandra ErwinSeptember
10, 2024
Astra PNT receiver. Credit: OneWeb Technologies
WASHINGTON — Satellite
communications company OneWeb unveiled a new positioning, navigation, and
timing (PNT) service amid global concerns about GPS vulnerability to jamming
and interference in critical sectors such as defense, aviation and emergency
services.
The service, called Astra,
is available from OneWeb Technologies, the company’s U.S. proxy. It seeks to
ensure uninterrupted communications for OneWeb’s satellite
broadband customers, even when
GPS or other global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals are unavailable
or compromised.
The system utilizes a
software-defined outdoor receiver capable of accessing PNT signals from both
GNSS and alternative PNT broadcast services such as Iridium satellites.
Upon identifying an
alternative PNT source, Astra generates an output signal compatible with the
standard GPS L1 interface, the company said. The service offers different
versions for the U.S. government and for allied governments.
Kevin Steen, President and
CEO of Eutelsat America Corp. and OneWeb Technologies, said Astra is a
“game-changer for defense users operating in difficult environments.”
Satellite operator
Eutelsat merged with OneWeb in 2023.
OneWeb
has been pursuing PNT capabilities for several years. In
2023, the
company collaborated with the UK National Physical Laboratory
(NPL) to develop PNT technologies as part of its second-generation satellite
constellation. The UK government has shown particular interest in this initiative
as a potential alternative to the European Union’s Galileo navigation system,
access to which was restricted following Brexit.
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USAF Test Pilot School utvikler ny doktirne for luftkrig - Air Force
Air Force
On the cusp of its 80th anniversary, the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, is undergoing a major transformation to better prepare Airmen and Guardians for the complex and rapidly evolving challenges of modern warfare. Highlighting the need to adapt to an era of Great Power Competition, TPS has introduced a new strategic plan to modernize its curriculum, enhance staff development and expand research capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Harley Huntington)
Air Force Test Pilot School begins transformation for Great Power Competition
On the cusp of its 80th anniversary, the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, is undergoing a major transformation to better prepare Airmen and Guardians for the complex and rapidly evolving challenges of modern warfare. Highlighting the need to adapt to an era of Great Power Competition, TPS has introduced a new strategic plan to modernize its curriculum, enhance staff development, and expand research capabilities.
The plan outlines a comprehensive roadmap that aligns the school’s mission with the broader goals of the Air Force Test Center. It emphasizes developing test leaders who are not only experts in their fields but also critical thinkers and innovators.
"Our mission is to create leaders who can navigate the increasingly complex landscape of military testing and evaluation," said Col. James Valpiani, commandant of the Air Force Test Pilot School. "We are committed to equipping our graduates with the mindset, knowledge, and skills necessary to lead in an era defined by rapid technological change and great power competition."
A sweeping modernization of the curriculum has already begun. As the military increasingly relies on big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning, TPS is updating its programs to ensure graduates are proficient in these areas. This includes adding courses in machine learning and test of data-driven control systems. TPS is working alongside leading industry and academic partners to familiarize students with the latest advances in technology and the challenges associated with testing at the technology frontier. This year also marks the first year-long student cohort dedicated specifically to space testing.
Staff development is also being refined. The school has established a formal Test Instructor Course to leverage nearly 80 years of flight test knowledge, ensuring that faculty development remains top-notch. It has also implemented TPS Fellowships for instructors to immerse with teams such as NASA’s Johnson Space Center and DARPA to broaden their understanding of the test profession. "Our instructors are the backbone of the school, and we are investing in their continuous development to maintain the highest standards of educational excellence," Cain added.
The strategic plan also underscores the importance of advancing test research, particularly in data-driven test applications. TPS is committed to expanding its research capabilities, focusing on developing novel test techniques, frameworks, and tools to address pressing challenges in the test community. Interagency partnerships, academic research, and private industry collaborations continue to grow as TPS advances the state-of-the-art in critical areas such as combat autonomy.
By modernizing its curriculum for data-driven test, investing in formal faculty development, and advancing test research, TPS is ensuring its graduates are prepared to deliver the multidomain capabilities that warfighters need. "This strategic plan is our roadmap to the future," Valpiani said. "It reflects our commitment to preparing our graduates to effectively lead test teams in an era of unprecedented technological and strategic change.""
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