You can’t make this up. As Hurricane Michael ripped through the Florida panhandle, home to Tyndall Air Force Base, an unspecified number of F-22s were damaged because they lack the parts to be operational and were stuck in hangars to take a beating, reports the WSJ: Part of the F-22 problem is upkeep on a coating that helps the planes evade radar. Another issue is the supply chain for parts now that the U.S. no longer produces the airplane, and “some original manufacturers no longer make the parts or are completely out of business,” GAO notes. Air Force officials told GAO that a simple wiring … [Read more...]
F-35 Fleet Grounded after Crash
It was a mistake cancelling the twin engine F-22 program. The funds had been sunk so to speak. And then it was cancelled in the ninth inning. Talk to any pilot and he’ll tell you two engines are better than one. Now, the inferior single-engine F-35 is grounded because of another problem with its balky engine. Not good if you have only one of them. The F-35 program has never really gotten off the ground. It’s been pushed. It’s been forced. Here’s a thought. If Jeff Bezos has figured out a way to sell rockets to the Air Force, let’s open the F-35 engine to real market competition. It would … [Read more...]
My Favorite Guns
My favorite guns are the ones you own. But for me, when it comes to handguns, I favor Sig Sauer simply because of my training at Sig Sauer Academy. (read more about my trips to Sig Sauer Academy here, here, and here). When I talk to my friends who own Glocks, they tell me how much they love them. I’m in the process of purchasing the Glock 19x—the model put forward in the U.S. Army handgun selection contest, because I figure if my friends love Glocks, and Glock submitted it for the competition, then it’s probably more than OK for me. At the end of the day, there’s never a bad time to get … [Read more...]
P.J. O’Rourke: Money and the Visa Card of the Future
You don’t want to miss P.J. O’Rourke’s excellent response to a question posted at minute mark 41:47 about the role of government in our lives. In reference to a lawless Mogadishu, Somalia, circa 1992, O’Rourke is asked if he prefers lawlessness to our current government. His response is a wonderful reminder of what founding father James Madison had in mind for our young country. But first, listen to minute 22:00 where he talks about being a radio reporter for ABC News in Mogadishu and visiting a crowded makeshift market with his reporter friend Leon. Standing in the crowd Leon waves his 9mm … [Read more...]
The Five Deadliest Guns on the Planet?
Writing at The National Interest, Kyle Mizokami explains his choices of the five deadliest guns on the planet. Here is his list in a much abridged fashion: The Colt M1911A1: Designed by prolific gun designer John Moses Browning, and first introduced in 1911, the Colt 1911 pistol was meant to replace weaker .38 caliber pistols used by the U.S. Army during the Philippine Insurrection. The Glock 17: The Glock 17 was built around three key ideas: simplicity, reliability and ease of use. The handgun is easy to take apart, with a single press of the button removing the slide for cleaning and … [Read more...]
Henry Repeating Arms
If you're not already familiar with Henry Repeating Arms, it's a company I encourage you to get to know. I'm not being paid by Henry to recommend them. I've come to rely on Henry's rifles over years of ownership. Read some of my past posts on my favorite Henry rifles. Also, to get more info on Henry, signup for their free catalog here. VIDEO: Henry U.S. Survival AR-7 My Grandkids All Own Guns “The Great Object Is that Every Man Be Armed” The Armed American Family Originally posted March 26, 2018. … [Read more...]
This Weapon Will Stop Russian Tanks Dead in Their Tracks
Saab’s new generation anti-tank weapon, built with a mission to defend European borders, will stop main battle tanks (MBTs) dead in their tracks. The Next-Gen Light Anti-Tank Weapon (NLAW) provides game changing technology with its two firing modes. With its Direct Attack (DA) mode the NLAW is best used for attacking soft targets such as trucks, buses, and helicopters while its Over Top Attack (OTA) mode is best used for attacking tanks from above, the most vulnerable location of a MBT. The NLAW also allows the soldier to select the distance in which the missile arms itself for complex … [Read more...]
What Syria is Teaching us about Tanks
In Syria, hard lessons are being learned about some of the world’s most powerful tanks, including the Russian T-90A and the German Leopard 2A4 (used by Turkish ground forces). The T-90A and Leopard 2A4 are both equipped with advanced defense systems like Active Protection Systems (APS) and Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA). Given their technological advantages, why are they being destroyed so regularly on the Syrian battlefield? The answer is that even with APSs and additional armor, these tanks are susceptible to attacks from the side, beneath, and from above. They are also vulnerable to … [Read more...]
F-35 Defeats Russian Su-57 Without Firing a Single Shot
Russia has officially announced its troubled fifth generation fighter jet program would not see mass production of the Su-57. Business insider reported back in March of 2018 that the program “desperately needed an infusion of cash from international investors”. Experts alleged that the deployment of Russia’s underdeveloped and underpowered Su-57 to Syria did little in terms of a marketing ploy. The final blow came when India pulled out of an 11-year joint project in April of 2018, leaving Russia scrambling for funds with an already taxed military budget and weak economy. India has now turned … [Read more...]
U.S. Army Developing Next-Gen M249 SAW
The U.S. Army is looking for a lighter-weight next-gen squad automatic rifle (NGSAR) to replace the 30+ year old M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). Textron Systems and five other unidentified gunmakers have received contracts to develop a prototype. The prototype will combine the firepower and range of a machine gun with the precision and ergonomics of a rifle. It will have improvements in accuracy, range, and lethality. The new weapon will be lightweight and fire lightweight ammunition aimed at improving soldier mobility, survivability, and accuracy. Read more from Textron’s press … [Read more...]