Clark Griswold

They left a gun off for concerns about getting it cleared for FMS - that was direct Textron Corporate Leadership when I saw the jet and had a chance to talk to their sales team before the GOs showed up and the real sales pitches were made. Got to speak with Andy Vaughan, company pilot and A-10 driver, good dude and pulled no punches when I wasted 15 minutes of his time asking him about the jet. He was not expecting it to be selected for an advanced trainer as it doesn't have the power for a multiple high g turn thrust to weight ratio. I don't see the reason why the State Dept would clear a jet for FMS if it can fire missiles and drop bombs but has no internal gun vs. not clearing the same jet if it has one but that is what the retired GO working for Textron AirLand said. I should clarify that ultimately I am agnostic about a LAAR in terms of supplier, as long as it meets specs, is a affordable and available relatively quickly by being in production in an operational configuration. Scorpion is not in an operational configuration yet as far as I know so that doesn't meet one of my criteria but it is way more aircraft for not that much more acquisition cost, good bit more though in operational cost vs. AT-6B or A-29. I don't think it is sufficient for all CAS needs, really a LAAR is a compliment to the total CAS capability of the USAF over multiple platforms. We need small, medium and large for just the right size so we don't spend ourselves into oblivion to deliver Freedom & Democracy to some fanatics that need to be turned into red mist. Yup - it is a cool little known history of the USAF. Interesting historical video on the A-37 and the BPC mission we were facing then with "Vietnamzation" - small jets just can't catch a break...

No hate for the 5th gen just hate for the myopic preoccupation with it to the detriment of everything else either in available resources or institutional will / imagination to think outside the container. The cost of the Irregular War Air Force is not so great that we can't have both in the USAF, the majority of assets geared towards fighting a major conflict and some right sized portion to fight the smaller, long lasting, low threat conflicts that have to be fought to keep the barbarians at bay. The argument that I make and I think others is not for a LAAR at the expense of 5th gen but for the necessity of having a LAAR. Whether you have to make an offset in the AF budget to afford it or you request an increase to the AF budget to acquire that capability is a separate issue to the requirement (IMO) of a LAAR. The Big War may happen and we need to be scary as hell to the Russian, Chinese, Iranians, North Koreans, etc... to try to prevent it and win it unequivocally if we have to fight it but we can't keep swatting flies with a hammer. No disagreement on nukes, they are more important that every other weapons system in the inventory as they keep the peace in the largest way, not to crowd out others but they are the first bill to pay, really the Strategic Enterprise in whole (early warning, nuclear weapons, BMD, etc...). I'm sorry but I refuse to believe that in a 140+ billion dollar AF, that it cannot find the money, time and resources to acquire an MDS that will not need AR during its missions, costs about 1/5 the per flight hour cost of a 4th gen fighter and probably 1/10 the cost of a heavy bomber to deliver the same PGM as aforementioned fighters & bombers at probably 1/20th the cost per mission figuring in the wagon train of logistics and operational support to accomplish the same mission. 1 hypothetical Scorpion Mission to deliver 1 PGM at 6 flight hours at $3k per hour, 1 JDAM at $25k and probably 10 personnel at $400 per day deployed cost = $47,000 per mission if they go kinetic (hopefully). 6 flight hours of a two ship of Vipers at $15k per jet, with 2 AR events requiring a 6 hour tanker mission at $15k per flight hour, 1 JDAM at $25k and probably for the whole personnel bill for this mission at 40 at $400 per day = $311,000 Delta of $264,000 per mission. Figure you fly 15 CAP lines a day and that now comes to $3.96 million per day. All very conservative figures for operational costs. Use a per flight hour cost of $50k for a bomber, 1 AR event at 4 tanker flight hours and probably 40 personnel and you really save money by flying that same mission with a LAAR. $354,000 and assuming you fly 4 bomber lines a day, that comes up to $1.4 million, still serious money. Real money even for the DoD. Not to mention the savings in Base Operational Support as you have a lower footprint requiring lower BOS in the AOR. Then you get another bonus from the cost of tail rotation of more expensive fighter/bombers, another bonus for not flying hours and hours on those jets in missions now flown by other less expensive assets and you have fewer PDM events for those fighters/bombers, now you have the money and time to train them in realistic Large Force Exercise against good simulations of high end threats, near peer forces and you have the money you want/need for upgrades to said fighter/bombers, etc... We can afford this plane

True but our portfolio must be flexible, planning for a "1+2" contingency of one major conflict with two low-intensity / irregular actions rather than 2 major conflicts in different theatres would give rise for the need for appropriately scaled and affordable systems like the Scorpion Jet, C-27J, etc... I don't think the Defense establishment is there yet to make that official doctrine but the idea is percolating. http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/01/the-measure-of-superpower-a-two-major-regional-contingency-military-for-21-century On the subject of CAS, read this a couple of years ago on the not praised enough A-37B Killer Tweet, enjoy. http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/legends-of-vietnam-super-tweet-8974282/?no-ist

I can't say you don't have a point. The smaller the aircraft the greater the percentage by aircraft weight required for crew, the larger the aircraft the smaller as a percentage so optionally manned has a greater argument in LSR-B or similar aircraft in size/weight but there are capes that an optionally manned platform brings that don't displace the capes that RPAs bring but compliment them in a Tier II RPA / 25k GW aircraft range that make it worth while. - Easier access to airspace via conventional operation (manned) for missions in the vicinity of commercial or other players not comfy with RPAs. - No telecommunication downlink deconfliction or "landing" rights for links whether BLOS or LOS for the C2 link in host nations that may not want to share a portion of the EM spectrum. - In an airborne CSO you have the capability (not ideal) of not needing a link for PED, you have on board FMV exploitation. If you have limited or denied EM access for streaming your sensor feed b/c of operational restriction, jamming or concern of signal intercept by enemy or unfriendly actors (thinking Afghan ops on the Iranian / Pakistani borders, Russian forces in Syria, etc..), technically you could keep it in the jet and report only as required or prosecute independently and "silently" if necessary. - Everything is there in the jet technically and this could be very flexible for a last minute mission for a QRF or in an AOR where ops are few but when the need arises, need ISR support. Not saying this is an ideal or sustainable way to do business but it gives an organic and flexible capability without having to herd cats to get a link, a reachback architecture, a PED facility, coordinate RPA recovery procedures at a base with manned aircraft, yada yada yada... - Autonomous capability for mission continuation if the link(s) are lost and no operational effects from the air vehicle performing its lost link plan and possibly interfering with other friendly ops or being an easier target if the environment is not permissive. The crew can still fly a mission; gather intel, support a ground maneuver element, etc... rather than just squawk and stumble home. Some of those are a stretch and some are just some of the things we take for granted in the incredible functional simplicity of taking two trained and qualified aviators, put them in a jet and have them go fly a mission when we need to execute. The capability of 16+ hours on station is incredible but not the end all be all of it. We need to be good at a lot of missions not just outstanding in one, my humble opinion. Optionally manned seems to give a better mix at not too high a cost while giving great options; not that I have data to back that up as there has yet to be an operational optionally manned system but just my thoughts on it from having crewed RPAs and manned ISR, YMMV.

2 Hate to say it but it only gives more credence to more droids over X failed state we're executing Operation Whack a Mole but that's not the only way to skin this ugly cat. Just my two cents, but instead of a manned only CAS platform for mod+ threat environments, go for trying to acquire an optionally manned low to mod threat CAS & persistence capable ISR/Strike platform ( no AR 6 hrs. on station capability ). The Scorpion Jet is still in its developmental configuration and could be designed at this phase (with a sizeable check from Uncle Sam) for manned / unmanned operations. This center bay is built for up to 3,000 lbs. of whatever your mission needs to haul, put the black containers in there with BLOS antenna(s) on the back and the systems architecture and you really have a new capability that gives tactical flexibility. Optionally manned is not pie in the sky. The NG Firebird has been flying for several years now in both modes http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/Firebird/Pages/default.aspx Not a replacement for the A-10 but a CAS platform for permissive environment fights we are in and likely to be in with the unique capability to bring the manned element in for when the irreplaceable SA of being actually in the battlespace is needed / advantageous.

Yup - got the software stability issues addressed to an acceptable level and that was probably the biggest rock to IOC. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/f-35-locked-and-loaded-with-improved-block-3i-softwa-425098/

Back from commercial break... Here's one guy that legitimately can't go around...

He seems gullible, just a gut feeling based on the few articles/interviews of his I have read. I think he believes basically hook, line and sinker anything anyone writes about how the AF doesn't give a shit about the Army, USMC and how the Navy is perfect. His background professionally is all in academia with no gaps for military, government or private service and as you said, no real check from reality that would open his ideas to the tactile reality of the cultures, motives, strengths, weaknesses, obsessions and quirks of each of the services. If he had that first hand knowledge from a stint of service, particularly with anytime working jointly, I think he would be able to more readily see the competitive and somewhat cutthroat nature of the jockeying for money, power and prestige all branches of service have with each other. Just the nature of the beast and everything that any branch says about another branch should be taken with a generous dash of salt.

Not a bad idea, send a message, reduce risk and start the process of getting our people and shit out of the declining Turkish republic. Unfortunately, that is why we probably won't do it.

A new seaplane to love. First AG600 off the line. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-07/23/c_135534988_2.htm We can not allow a seaplane gap... ************************************************** CCTV video on the AG600

Yup - Erdogan is applying what pressure he can for extradition of Gulen without causing damage, just being annoying... if he ups the ante then lets pull up stakes and throw cold water on direct military to military cooperation with Turkey. Interesting article on Erdogan's jet and what is reported on Coup F-16s trying to ID it for an intercept (seems they were more interested in forcing a landing than a shootdown)... Switched transponder to a Turkish Airlines code and cut all nav / strobe lighting, F-4s tried to provide cover for his jet but had no AAM... https://warisboring.com/pilots-flying-old-f-4-fighters-were-the-turkish-presidents-most-loyal-aerial-defenders-f05322e31146#.c10c9h3u9

3 days and still on generators at Incirlik: http://www.stripes.com/news/incirlik-relying-on-generators-to-power-operations-1.419841 The question is starting to get asked is it a good idea to keep nuclear weapons in Turkey: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/07/19/an-old-nuclear-weapons-deal-raises-new-questions-about-u-s-bombs-in-turkey/

Hadn't heard of this, just googled it and they are still unaccounted for, would have thought they would be in port by now. Kind of Hunt for Red October, assuming it is mainly the officers who were part or supporters of the coup.

Follow up to story on re-tasking of CAS to New Syrian Army for BAI against an ISIS convoy. Impressive results: 200 enemy vehicles, 300 enemy KIA. http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2016/07/15/diverting-fallujah-syrian-town-right-call-target-isis-general-says/87135774/

Almost did: At height of Turkish coup bid, rebel jets had Erdogan's plane in their sights http://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security-plot-insight-idUSKCN0ZX0Q9

This is a long time coming but Erdogan and company need to be shown the door: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stanley-weiss/its-time-to-kick-erdogans_b_9300670.html Just to put a cherry on top of it after kicking their a$$ to the curb, cozy up to Greece... The shoot down of the Su-24 should have started the process (at least pushing the other members publicly for it) but as always, the Leader from Behind just let an opportunity pass. He's supporting ISIS, he's undemocratic, an Islamist, a thug and a loose cannon; other than that he's a great guy... http://www.newsweek.com/impossible-beat-isis-erdogan-power-442767

Yup - my tin foil hat is on as this does not seem unreasonable given the historical track record of successful vs unsuccessful coups http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3693729/Did-Erdogan-STAGE-coup-based-Turkish-cleric-facing-extradition-botched-rebellion-claims-president-orchestrated-plot-justify-clampdown-civil-rights.html I hope all is well for our folks at Incirlik; shit is getting very real, they arrested the Turkish Wing Commander there: http://www.wsj.com/articles/turkey-arrests-incirlik-air-base-commander-1468760920 Turkey is important but as long as Erdogan and his cronies are in power and slowly changing it to a quasi Islamic authoritarian state, we should greatly cool our support and engagement with him. Having Turkey solidly in our camp is great for the geography, airspace and logistics to deal with the various crises out of the ME but given Erdogan, it may be something the West will have to do without.

Purging the Turkish Military is beginning with a degrading treatment on the way http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/turkey-coup-disturbing-picture-shows-8437742

CNN says Turkish F-16 just shot down a helicopter commandeered by coup plotters, not everyone is on board with the change in management...

From Wikipedia so take with some salt but seems reasonable on what aircraft Erdogan could be on, how long he could stay airborne, how far he could get if anyone offered him asylum... The government of Turkey has a VIP fleet which is managed by Turkish Airlines on behalf of the President of the Republic and Prime Minister. The fleet primarily consists of an Airbus A319 CJ(TC-ANA) and a highly modified and armed (Air Defense missiles) Airbus A330-200 PRESTIGE (TC-TUR). The fleet additionally contains 2 G550, 2 GIV and 2 Cessna Citation V. When the President of the Turkish Republic of any aircraft the call-sign is "Turkish Republic One- Heavy". If not Germany then another NATO country I guess would be his best spot to land. Just saw he landed in Iran - wants to go to Qatar

Reports of Erdogan refused landing rights - plane diverted out of country http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2016/07/15/erdogan-seeks-asylum-in-germany-report.html?via=desktop&source=copyurl Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Trying futilely to get back to CAS topics... Bring back the A-4 Skyhawk (to the AF this time...) updated & specialized for CAS or BAI...

More of an off ramp... Nah, that's the place Jabba runs across the DMZ...

Su-25 documentary and article on their deployment to Syria. http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/russias-has-its-own-10-warthog-syria-enter-the-su-25-13988

Sarlac Pit