SpaceX getting into national defense

Well, sort of.  Got to say I am happy about this as SpaceX seems to be one of the few competent companies out there.

Losses

As some of you may know, Armenia and Azerbaijan have been fighting an undeclared war over the last few months.  Courtesy of Jeff “Inch High” Groves is an article listing the calculated losses for each side in equipment so far.  Given the small nature of the countries involved, these are some pretty significant losses.  Also, of note to me is how drones are changing the face of warfare, especially as it applies to the vulnerability of armored forces.

Way cool lasers

Looks like Lasers will be coming to a battlefield sooner rather than later.  Here is why.

Civilian pilots at Pearl Harbor

Anyone who has seen Tora! Tora! Tora! knows that there was a civilian aircraft flying at the time of the Peral Harbor attack. What I didn’t know, at least until I talked to Jim Bates recently, was that there were a number of civilian aircraft aloft, and not all survived.  A really good article here.

Paper Tiger

I’ve said before that other than its ageing nuclear arsenal, Russia is a paper tiger, and while we should keep a wary eye out, it is not our major concern. Here is a story that provides an example of that fading power.

Good for them

The US government is going to sell three new weapons systems to Taiwan. Good.  The US needs to be firm in its commitment to Taiwan, especially in light of China’s broken promises regarding Hong Kong.

China is serious

China is serious about Taiwan.  Deadly serious.  You don ‘t go building a full size replica of another countries government buildings unless you have a real plan to invade.

China/Taiwan

Looks like a game of chicken with high powered weapons.  I haven’t had to drag this clip out in a while.

Glad we are doing this

All US forces need to train against aggressors with the best equipment possible.  The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle.

Things getting warm over Taiwan?

Taiwan says they didn’t shoot down a PRC jet.  Hmmm.