Good news, Polish addition

The Poles are buying 32 F-35s.  This will help them integrate further into NATO and provide them true 5th generation capabilities.  The Poles understand the need to be vigilant to their East.  I dam sure wish the rest of Europe did.

F-35 update

The per unit cost of the F-35 continues to fall as more are purchased.  Latest here.

Well, this is interesting

A talk by the USAF Chief of Staff talking about having the F-22 and F-35 communicate and share information with the X-37B.  Of course, as the article notes, this raises the ever-present question of exactly what the X-37B does and what sort of sensors it has that could share useful information with the fighters.  Something fascinating is going on with thee X-37B.  I just hope that one day we know what it is.

F-35Bs for South Korea?

Maybe.  It only makes sense, and with the South China Sea becoming such a flashpoint, it is unsurprising that Japan and South Korea would feel the need to strengthen their capabilities at sea.

Yes, next question

Question here.  Iran simply doesn’t have the ability to project its military power much beyond its borders except thru the use of terrorist proxies.

What if an F-22 and an F-35 had a baby?

It would probably look like this.  South Korea’s mock-up of their proposed new fighter aircraft, being co-produced with Indonesia.

More F-35 stuff

A short article talking about the data-linking capabilities of the F-35.  It sounds impressive, but I wonder how it holds up in a high intensity environment?

Why Turkey can’t have the F-35

And why this may lead to it leaving NATO.  Turkey is making a mistake.  Pretty sure NATO will actually be better off with Turkey gone.

A little bit of good news

It seems like nothing but bad news comes out of Asia these days with tensions ratcheting ever higher.  Well, this seems to be a positive development.  The JMSDF has asked the US Marines to deploy the F-35B on two large Japanese Helicopter carriers.  The Japanese are buying their own F-35Bs and this appears to be some advance work to make sure that the JMSDF ships are ready for the new equipment.

Turkey crosses a line

They have started receiving S-400 SAMs from Russia.  This means they won’t be getting F-35s.  Frankly, given its current government, I don’t see Turkey staying in NATO.  I am not sure they were ever really a good fit to begin with.