At the outset the Netherlands was expected to buy 85 of Lockheed’s light attack stealth bomber, the F-35. For a nation not much larger in area than Vancouver Island that seemed like a hefty purchase. Now the Dutch have announced they’ll settle for just 37 of the overpriced, overdue and
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The Disaffected Lib: Oopsie, Not So Invisible After All. A Laser Jammer for the F-35.
This is the directed laser jammer being developed by Northrop for retrofitting to the F-35 stealth light attack bomber. These jammers operate by firing laser beams at the sensors of incoming, heat-seeking missiles to break lock. Presumably this is going to have some sort of pop-up capability so that it
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: F-35 Could Cost Canada 71-Billion Dollars
It’s only 25-billion more than the current estimates of the Department of National Defence but, hey, it’s only money. A worst-case scenario of cost risks in a Department of National Defence report on a possible acquisition of 65 Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter jets estimates the airplanes could cost Canada
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Cash Crunch Offers New Insights Into the F-35.
The United States Air Force is scrambling to protect the F-35 light attack bomber from the threat of cancellation. There has been talk over the past week that the F-35, in the era of budget sequestration, could be a goner. It’s funny how a cash crunch can shake out straight
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Maybe We Shouldn’t Put All our Eggs in One Aerial Basket
Britain did something profoundly stupid in the early 30s. It invested a huge amount of its air force budget in twin-engine, light bombers. These designs were easily capable of out-running fighter aircraft like the Hawker Fury and the Gloster Gladiator of the day. That meant bombers could range independently, in
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Canada’s F-35 Blueprints Stolen By China
Among the weapons listed in the report were the advanced Patriot missile system, the Navy’s Aegis ballistic missile defense systems, the F/A-18 fighter jet, the V-22 Osprey, the Black Hawk helicopter and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The post Canada’s F-35 Blueprints Stolen By China appeared first on The Canadian
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Why Not Buy the Chinese Version Just Like Wal-Mart Does?
A confidential Pentagon report leaked to the Washington Post accuses hackers of stealing the designs of many of America’s most advanced weapons systems. Experts warn that the electronic intrusions gave China access to advanced technology that could accelerate the development of its weapons systems and weaken the U.S. military advantage
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Why Does the F-35 Have Just One Engine? Blame It On Those Damned JarHeads.
A huge limiting factor of the F-35 is that it has just one engine. In a vast, sparsely populated country with extreme weather (yes, that would be Canada), twin-engine reliability is a huge bonus. One engine goes out – from a bird strike or mechanical failure, whatever – and you’ve
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Crunching the F-35 Numbers. It’s Anything You Want.
There’s one thing F-35 pilots won’t be seeing as much as they’d like – the inside of an F-35. Instead they’ll be spending a good deal more time pretending to be inside an F-35, in a simulator inside some cavernous hangar. Now how the balance between actual stick and rudder
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: The Need for Speed, Why Go Anywhere Without It?
When you’re going “state of the art” you always run the risk that the adversaries you have in mind will quickly find the Achilles’ Heel(s) in your latest & greatest technology. It can be a lot easier and infinitely cheaper to find ways to counter a dramatic new technology than
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Nuclear Fangs for the F-35 – Obama’s Light Bomber
Don’t Worry, This Will Only Hurt for a Second The United States is refurbishing 200 nuclear bombs for use aboard the F-35 light attack bomber. The old B-61 gravity bombs are being converted with new tail fin assemblies that will transform them into guided weapons. They’ll be kept at various
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Today’s weather: blue skies, seasonally adjusted temperature of Fahrenheit 78, not 451
You can’t trust anything you read on a website that is not coloured blue. This is important to remember. If you accidentally open a website that is not blue, turn your computer off immediately and dial 1-800-TORYBLU. Technicians like these will come to your house and help you reset it.
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: The Netherlands Parks the F-35
The Dutch already have one F-35 and they’re due to get another in just a few months. They’re the first of what was supposed to be an 85 aircraft purchase. But the Netherlands government and military are getting cold feet for the over-expensive, overdue and under-performing, partially stealthy light attack
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Minuscule Canadian Taxpayers Federation in running for ‘Turfy Award’
Former Canadian Taxpayers Federation Alberta Director Scott Hennig, now the group’s Communications VP, in a nice AstroTurf-coloured sweater at last weekend’s Ottawa conference of the Manning Centre for Undermining Democracy. Below: CTF President Troy Lanigan; CTF member … rrrrrrr … supporter, Riley Climenhaga; CTF Operations VP Shannon Morrison. When it
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: About that Blind Spot. Don’t Worry, Be Happy.
Lockheed’s troubled F-35 is attracting criticism due to pilot complaints that they can’t see what’s behind them. They can’t “check their six” man, bummer. Who cares? If you’re piloting an F-35 and there is something behind you that’s a mortal threat, being able to see it isn’t going to be
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Wringing More Life Out of Canada’s CF-18s
The Harper government has decided to upgrade Canada’s aging fleet of CF-18s to buy a little time while it tries to sort out its blunder over the F-35. Sources said the changes in the eligible options make it easier for manufacturers to propose a “mixed fleet” of upgraded CF-18s and
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Please, Not In Front of The Children
The U.S. Air Force general responsible for the troubled F-35 light attack bomber programme caused a stir with his blunt criticisms of the principal contractors, Lockheed-Martin and Pratt & Whitney. At an Australian air show, Lt. Gen Christopher Bogdan, left a few contractors’ jaws dropped when he lambasted Lockheed and
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Australia Orders Another Two Dozen F-18 Super Hornets
Another apparent setback for the F-35 light attack bomber. The Pentagon has informed Congress of plans to sell twelve more F-18 E/F Super Hornets plus a dozen electronic warfare F-18 Growlers to Australia. The two dozen jets, including the electronically sophisticated Growlers, will come in at around $3.6 billion including
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Ugly Problems Loom for F-35 Light Bomber
Australia is becoming nervous about the planned purchase of 100 Lockheed F-35 light strike bombers. The fighter’s soaring costs have produced rising consternation in Australia, with a number of politicians questioning whether the air force can afford to purchase the 100 fifth-generation stealth aircraft it initially intended to buy.U.S. Air
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Holy Sit
Kids were getting chemical burns from a toilet seat (and probably desk, for a boy with burned elbows) at an Ottawa area school. Most likely the disinfectant was sprayed on but never properly wiped off and rinsed. One of my concerns with using publish washrooms that have just been cleaned,
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