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Quite a long way to say you want us to buy the gripen. Dude we're not buying gripens.

So I read this article after seeing it discussed on CW Lemoine's channel: National Guard Boss Warns of Potential ‘Critical’ Fighter Shortage (airandspaceforces.com) Air National Guard Critical Fighter Shortage (youtube.com) and got to discussing it with some buds, retired now Guard and only one still active as an O-6, just to set up context. Not sure why but it got me thinking that maybe the issue is that the world has changed (not just operationally but in terms of what is possible financially) and that we are stuck trying to keep up a model that worked 30 years ago but not really now. That is the ARC as part of the Total Force flying the same (expensive) iron as the Active Duty when we are not willing to spend that much to do that. Maybe it is that the ARC is a twofold, a strategic mass to be fully generated when the big red ballon goes up and an operational reserve to be used when a certain amount of augmentation, capability, deterrence, etc... is needed in theaters / operations not requiring the exquisite and expensive capabilities to be brandished to maintain the peace. We're running 1.7 trillion deficits and as the DoD is discretionary, if you want more bang you gotta come up with more bucks, I don't see a huge increase in DoD appropriation so why not look for less expensive ways to have the right amount of airpower but not so much you can't afford it? Light fighters, light tankers, light airlift, attritable CCAs / UCAVs, organic base defending GBAD, a huge arsenal of less expensive but effective weapons for these platforms, etc... I'm not arguing for a return to the old old days when the ARC flew iron that was 2 generations behind the AD but modern, new iron different from what AD flies but cheaper to own, probably flown / made by allies to further integrate capabilities and security relationships with them (SK, India, Sweeden, etc...) not all of it but some of this new fleet(s) Does it make sense to try to have an all gold plated force?

I've always wanted to go fly the MiG-15UTI one time... but as I get older and more risk-averse, I'm not sure I will if I get the chance. What a terrible reputation it has.

This is coming from the same administration that said we stand by Israel and her right to defend herself against Hamas…but then said there was a red line or whatever to what Israel could do. Yeah—it’s politics all the time with this administration. Not saying it would be much different with Trump or others, but this current one especially.

I read that as more directed at Trump, not Ukraine. I could be wrong though.

I'll just pile on to say that none of what is coming out right now is a revelation. All of this was knowable, was known, and was frankly obvious to neutral parties who were labelled as partisan to serve the interests of the opposing political party.

It showed where military leadership is, that’s for sure. Everything I’ve seen since the invasion of Iraq (and it only got worse and worse) to today would make me very hesitant to recommend someone join the military, unless it’s for their own personal gain reasons (so risk vs reward), and it’s very sad for me to say this. I’m so glad I’m retired.

Too soon.

Why are we shooting down Blackhawks still?

confirmed

We kept a bottle in my C-17 squadron. I actually flew at my airline with one of the F-4 pilots who was part of the Jeremiah Weed Legend. Larry Ernst.

A few months ago there was some doubling down from a number of those individuals (not sure if it was in this thread). Most of those ppl seemed to either push the narrative because their "team" was pushing it, or they hoped if they acted like a good dog and spouted obedience above all they wouldn't get passed over...again...

I’m not commenting either direction, but we’re basically at Vietnam-like in the late 50s/early 60s “before” the war. I’m sure many people had similar thoughts during that time period too. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance and all that, but the comparison to that specific time period of SEA is not invalid

what does victory look like?

Sorry, I don't see either boots on the ground or air assets employed downrange there, what are we walking down exactly?

More platitudes. serious question for you war hawks… what does victory look like in Ukraine? Can you achieve it? Will you commit the US to do it? because right now we have no strategic end state and are walking down another Vietnam/afghanistan.

Columbus 24-11 Drops: C-17 McChord AFB, WA F-16 TBD -C-17 Dover AFB, DE KC-135 RAF Mildenhall, UK C-17 Tennessee ANG F-16 Bulgaria F-22 Langley AFB, VA F-16 TBD B-52H Barksdale AFB, LA T-38 FAIP Columbus AFB, MS KC-135 MacDIII AFB, FL B-1 Dyess AFB, TX KC-135 Fairchild AFB, WA F-35 HIII AFB (AFRC) T-6 FAIP Columbus AFB, MS WC-130J Keesler AFB (AFRC) C-17 McGuire AFB (AFRC) C-130J Dyess AFB, TX KC-46 Pease ANGB, NH T-6 FAIP Columbus AFB, MS U-28 Hurlburt Field, FL C-130J Little Rock AFB, AR KC-46 McConnell AFB, KS F-15E Seymour-Johnson AFB, NC T-6 FAIP Columbus AFB, MS C-130J Ramstein AB, Germany C-146 Duke Field, FL C-146 Duke Field, FL C-130J Yokota AB, Japan KC-135 Fairchild AFB, WA T-38 FAIP Columbus AFB, F-15SG Singapore F-16 Bulgaria F-35 TBD

Keep receipts. The average American has a very short memory.

We don't want to join the SEC, B1G bound! Enjoy the Big 12. Also, wasn't a Miami player recently convicted of murdering his teammate?

Fuck yeah!

I notice all the defenders of C19 policies from a few years ago have gone silent. Anyone getting the new boosters? Anyone still think schools should’ve been closed longer & masks on airplanes “saved lives?” Anyone still glad we censored actual scientists & allowed malicious actors like Fauci to drive the narrative? I don’t want to shame fellow posters here. Moving forward I just want us to acknowledge that we shouldn’t reflexively trust the government, we should value and preserve freedom, and we must demand accountability from these people. And in the future, when an event happens and all media is synchronized that we have no time to think or debate and must immediately implement highly restrictive measures for safety, and the experts will tell us when we’re allowed freedom again… when that event inevitably happens: they’re lying. Resist.

Yeah quit quoting PravdaTASSi, don’t need to see the noise.

I've got 0.4 dual in a Ford Tri-Motor. Thanks EAA! Nice left leg workout with the p-factor 😂 IMG_6026.mov

You guys are missing out.