ClearedHot

It is a tough situation, stepping back what do fire trucks do when responding to a ground emergency...they have their lights on, they have the right of way but so they blast through a red light without looking? The situation is terrible all around.

You are looking in the wrong place, Tomahawk is not the best game in town because they are old, outdated and EXPENSIVE ($2.5M-3.5M each). USAF in particular has shifted it's standoff munitions strategy and is finally putting their money where their mouth is. Multiple wargames focused on China showed the U.S> needs roughly 10X our current stocks to defeat/deter China They have three phase approach with a new class of "affordable, low-cost munitions”: the Extended Range Attack Munition, or ERAM, and two variants of the Family of Affordable Mass Munitions (FAMM). ERAM entered production just 14 months after the first contract was awarded. There are currently eight companies in flight test on the Low Cost Cruise Missile (LCCM), with Leidos (Black Arrow) and Anduril (Barracuda), leading the fight. LCCMs have a target price of $100kl-$200K thanks to 3D Printing. Lockheed Martin entered the fight late but they are making progress. The FAMM program was fully funded by the Big Beautiful Bill with $650M to acquire 3000 munitions. Audndril's approach is a family of cheap missiles. Smaller Barracuda M100 is slightly bigger than a Hellfire, can be launched by an Apache and has a range of 85NM. The M250 is about the same size as an AMRAAM and has a range of 200NM. The M500 has a range of 500NM with a 100lb warhead...basically a VERY cheap JASSM-ER. Black Arrow has entered its second year of flight test completing a CRADA with AFSOC which has successful launched multiple missiles out of an AC-130J. They can fit 90 in an MC-130J and the AFSOC commander has openly talked about launching them from the SkyRaider II. The idea is focused on China but has applications for other theaters. A flight of four Skyraiders can pop up from a dirt strip 500 miles away, launch 40 Black Arrows from an attack vector no one saw coming and disappear before the munitions even hit. A flight of four MC-130s can flood the straights with hundreds of cheap missiles to counter a threat. Finally changing dogmatic thinking, even if it was cost that forced them to do it. Aundril is well into flight test as well, this video is over a year old.

Basic air doctrine: Air supremacy is the highest level of control of the air, defined by NATO and the US Department of Defense as the degree of superiority where the opposing air force is incapable of effective interference. Drone and TBMs don't represent a threat to our ability to operate in their airspace. The Iranian Air Force is done. Iranian Air Defense is no longer integrated and is now operating at tactical/local (reactionary), control. It doesn't mean the enemy can't fight back.

Ummm I certainly understand ROE and such. I just don't see the current situation (Air Superiority bordering on Air Supremacy), calling for high risk tactics. This is not BANZAI to the merge because the Iranian hordes are going to bust through. Unless a CIA team was in extremis or a TBM with CBRNE was about to fire, it is tough to justify being at 2K doing a strafe run in country right now.

I know, all the more puzzling why they are down that low.

I was SCREAMED at on SATCOM by the JFAC himself (Moseley), for going below 10K in 2002 to get below weather and support a TIC.

Mainly because of this one issue I will never vote blue...They won't give up until they change the Constitution. Latest law soon to pass in Rhode Island bans most semi-automatic weapons with NO GRANDFATHER clause. Possession after Dec 31 means you are committing a felony subject to a ten year prison sentence. Sell out of state or surrender citizen.

I am VERY surprised folks are operating this low over Iran. Odd angle endgame, looks like a strafe run... perhaps chasing a drone? Whoever he/she is they need to play the lottery after that near miss. Ash_-_vcdgf555_vcdgf555_Here_s_a_new_video_and_it_s_super_clear_it_looks..._XCWuuk.mp4

Was always a huge concern in the Gunship, especially in our Hot Cargo area which could be very dark and isolated. I always briefed the crew, especially new folks, a plan to move away from responding firetrucks in case of an emergency. On more than one occasion a crew dog was nearly run over by an emergency vehicle.

There are defiantly positive second and third order effects from the Venezuela and Iran efforts. Interestingly the DNI 2026 report was just released and they have shifted to say they no longer think China will jump for Taiwan in 2027. If you follow this AOR you will know there are BIG factors (economic/population), that were pointing at 2027. I have only skimmed it so far but a huge change in the assessment. As an aside, INDOPACOM hosted the POST conference in Hawaii two weeks ago and their assessment does NOT align with DNI. DNI 2026 Report.pdf

One of my biggest issues with the current administration is their attacks on free press. We've all seen Trump's contempt for new organizations that attack him and while some of what they say is not true...the same goes for many things he says. There is a reason freedom of the press is in the First Amendment...the founders thought it was that important. As Edmund Burke stated, the Press is the 4th estate...a final check and balance outside the control of the government. Current efforts by this administration are horrific and I hope the courts continue to punch them in the face. For those not following the story below, Hegseth tried to limit which press organizations could freely roam the halls of the Pentagon...sounds odd but it has been going on for years and if you know anything about the Pentagon it is normal to see Barbara Star and others standing in line to get coffee or lunch down stairs. A federal Judge struct down previous restrictions so Hegseth is doubling down and moving EVERYONE outside...very ungood. The Pentagon Imposes New Restrictions on Journalists

That's unreal. From the pictures I can't believe there were not more fatalities up front.

Odd angle to see for the Firetruck but I am the only one that thinks the have some responsibility as well? I ALWAYS check final when cleared for takeoff and check both ways when cleared to cross.

Crazy and sad.

Pilot confirmed dead, looking at the front of the plane hard to believe others didn't perish. The ATC audio is very telling...Even when cleared to cross I still visually check.