Friday, March 25, 2016

U.S. Uses upgraded OV-10G Broncos against ISIS

Check out the link to the Daily Beast article. Looks like we deployed the two heavily modified OV-10Gs from the Navy's  Special Warfare's Combat Dragon II program.

I've said for years that the Air Force and Marine Air have missed a golden opportunity by not pursuing  upgraded Broncos. There are a multitude of missions that an upgraded OV-10 can do that would be considerable cheaper than deploying F-16's or even A-10's.

I'm not surprised by the lack of foresight and zeal in acquiring an aircraft like the Bronco, but judging by the incompetence shown by both the Air Staff and the Marine Corps with the ongoing F-35 disaster I shouldn't be.

Anyway her is the link and a pic.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/03/09/why-is-america-using-these-antique-planes-to-fight-isis.html


Russian Attack Helicopters in Syria

The Russians announced the pull out of the majority of their Air Force units from Syria. But at the same time are beefing up their Attack Helicopter force by deploying both the KA-52 Alligator and the MI-28 Havoc.

Syria is looking more and more like the Spanish Civil War every day.

KA-52

MI-28

Dassault Super Etendard bows out

Last week when the French carrier Charles De Gaulle returned to port they launched the last sorties of the Super Etendard. The Super Etendard has served the French Navy for over 40 years and will retire from service later this year.

The jet has also been used by both the Iraqi Air Force and the Argentine Navy.
Most notable use of the Super Entendard was during the Falklands war. Using the purpose designed Exocet anti ship missile the Argentine's made two successful attacks on the British Task Force, the first heavily damaged the H.M.S. Sheffield which later was scuttled. The second was against the merchant ship Atlantic Conveyor which was sunk.

Currently the Argentine Navy who has a fleet of 11 aircraft. all of which have been upgraded to the SEM ( Super Etendard Modernization) standard.




U.S.S. Hartford ice surfacing during ICEEX 2016

Another cool video this time its the fast attack submarine U.S.S. Hartford surfacing through the ice during ICEEX 2016.

C-17 on a dirt strip

Great video of a C-17 landing on a dirt strip and unloading a pair of Apache's.
You really have to understand how big a C-17 is to know how impressive this is.