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Rt @LaTribune, more than 80 MICA missiles, each costing between €600,000 and €700,000, had been fired in total from the 12 French air force Rafale jet fighters operating in the #UAE before the weekend of March 28, since the beginning of the Iranian conflict. French state sources do give a Mica price of €600-700k, but others give a cost of €1.5 million to €2 million ($1.6M–$2.2M) per unit. India paid €1.9 m per Mica. The new Mica NG programe cost $1.8 billion for 200+367 missiles - a unit price of €3.174 million! The Chief of Staff of the French Army @CEMAT_FR announces the deployment of 4 Tiger helicopters in the Gulf to provide our military with an additional option for intercepting Iranian drones that threaten our nationals and our allies. At a more affordable cost. |
This will be in retribution to our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered or killed over the Old Regime's 47 year "Reign of Terror." One wonders how the Saudis feel about this. Have they changed their readiness posture, increased or decreased, recently? Does any PPRuNer in the region have an insight on that?
Originally Posted by ORAC
(Post 12061499)
Photos
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"If China has designs on Taiwan, it's now or never."
hmm - Presdient Xi will no doubt look at the news Russia invades Ukraine - not a good result US dives into Middle east - not a great result so far Should I invade taiwan? Well I've still purging the PLA top to bottom - what could go wrong? Or maybe I'll just wait - US foreign policy and overseas ventures will likely be in total ruins in a year or so.................... |
Sun Tzu said (roughly):
If you defeat his plan you defeat your enemy. If the enemy isn't sure what your plan is, that makes his efforts more difficult. If you cover your plan with a smokescreen of noise, or dust, it also makes his efforts more difficult. Then again, if you don't know your own plan, you may defeat yourself. And lastly: Ike has an infamous aphorism - "Plans are worthless, but planning is everything". (Pretty much every staff officer has had this as part of their syllabus).
Spoiler
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Impressively understated.
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Originally Posted by larssnowpharter
(Post 12061336)
One suspects the talk on an invasion of Kharg Island is all misdirection. As I've said before it makes little military sense.
Sounds insane, but who knows these days. |
Going in by Herc onto a small soccer pitch?
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Originally Posted by TURIN
(Post 12061548)
Something popped up on farcebook earlier today about a US plan to secure several tons of Iranian Uranium by dropping in a few thousand troops, securing a perimeter and loading the uranium into waiting transport aircraft.
Sounds insane, but who knows these days. |
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Russian pro-war propagandist German Sadulaev proposed abandoning Ukraine’s Donbas and shifting to a defensive posture to avoid further losses. Instead, he called for redirecting efforts toward striking the United States, suggesting that freed-up resources should be transferred to Iran. He argued that even a small portion of missiles currently used in Ukraine could be reallocated to target U.S. military bases in the Middle East. |
Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50
(Post 12061525)
Sun Tzu said (roughly):
If you defeat his plan you defeat your enemy. If the enemy isn't sure what your plan is, that makes his efforts more difficult. If you cover your plan with a smokescreen of noise, or dust, it also makes his efforts more difficult. Then again, if you don't know your own plan, you may defeat yourself. And lastly: Ike has an infamous aphorism - "Plans are worthless, but planning is everything". (Pretty much every staff officer has had this as part of their syllabus).
Spoiler
Originally Posted by dead_pan
(Post 12061512)
Per my earlier post, and in light of Trump's latest social media brainf*rt, perhaps I should now say that both parties may consider various armageddon options in the event that things don't go their way.
Maybe that's part of Trump's grand plan: "You think you're the craziest?? I can out-crazy anyone!!" WRT "crazy" man strategy applied by Nixon and Kissinger, that didn't go so well there, although it was certainly great for sound bites and LB-II gave lots of screen time. (LB-II did achieve the goal of attrition of the SAM-2 stockpiles in Hanoi, at a considerable cost of USAF/USN crews and civilians). Mr T has a head start in the field of crazy which most other countries fortuitously do not enjoy. A revisionist might do well to go back and read the words of FDR in December 1941 (the 8th, in front of Congress... the body that used to be part of the US Govt, remember?), the comment "A date which will live in infamy" and reflect on the actions of the B&T show in recent times WRT international law and order. Going out and acting as a mob boss and whacking the head of state of any regime is rather odious, particularly before a "War" is declared. Wasn't part of that the bit that offended FDR? We have gone a long way since 7th December 1941, not sure the direction is what was expected. When Turkey is the responsible party, some self reflection might be in order. In the meantime, taking Kharg Island might make Mr T feel good, it won't be appreciated by the future gold star families that arise from what used to be described as larceny. Doing that to Venezuela hasn't quite turned out as expected, as far as plans go, giving a justification for an expanded and protracted asymmetric war will end about as well as it did in Afghanistan, Iraq and Vietnam. A stated strategy to plunder the resources of a sovereign state won't look good on a resume in the future, nor will it plead well in the court when there is an accounting which on occasions does catch up to perpetrators of crimes. Not often, but occasionally. If war was so damned simple to win at, there would be no need for bone spurs. |
Originally Posted by ORAC
(Post 12061508)
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Heck, you could sell tickets to go plinking, lots a folks would take on that circus act! |
Originally Posted by ORAC
(Post 12061580)
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Originally Posted by k3k3
(Post 12061106)
I was surprised to see the US aircraft so neatly parked in box to make it easier for the Iranians to hit them. Have they forgotten about dispersals?
The US only have/had 14/15 active E-3 aircraft. Drones can be targeted within a square meter, they can even have AI guidance. Satellite imagery is available in near real time. |
Originally Posted by Ninthace
(Post 12061626)
What good is dispersal given the current state of technology?
Drones can be targeted within a square meter, they can even have AI guidance. Satellite imagery is available in near real time. |
Interesting approach to opsec at Fort Bragg.
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If we qoute Sun Tzu, than :
No attack upwards ( up to the hil) Is more appropriatte if anyone considers ground attack on Iranian costs all around SoH..( steep mountains almost to coastline). Lesson that among many others was not known to Pochorek- KuK genaral in the opening battle against Serbia in avg 1914- and they finished it accordingly. 👹🤪 |
Originally Posted by tdracer
(Post 12061184)
I doubt the USAF is overly worried about losing a few 65-year-old KC-135s.
The E-3 AWACS is a different story... As k3k3 notes, they don't have many to start with, and IIRC, that $100 million price tag was when they were new (in 1980's money) - replacements will be much, much more.
Originally Posted by larssnowpharter
(Post 12061336)
One suspects the talk on an invasion of Kharg Island is all misdirection. As I've said before it makes little military sense.
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May I hope any aircrew who are shot down over Iran receive the care my late Father received, as I am really sad that your government feels that you need to be asked to do what he had to do, in a more questionable cause than his.
Regards Mr Mac |
Looks like, with the Iranian air force reduced to dust, the air-to-air threat is gone and the F-22s are headed home.
USAF United States Air Force 17:47L - TABOR 31-36 Flt 6x F-22A’s departed RAF Lakenheath for Langley Air Force Base, supported by CLEAN 11-12 Flt. Video[QUOTE] USAF A-10s are arriving in the UK tonight as the U.S. surges more Warthogs to the Middle East. |
If they go in on the ground, it will be 14 minutes after a surge in oil-futures trading.
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Originally Posted by ORAC
(Post 12061678)
Looks like, with the Iranian air force reduced to dust, the air-to-air threat is gone and the F-22s are headed home.
Meanwhile the A-10s heading out to the war zone have arrived in the UK. Long slow legs at their speed. Video[[color=#000000]QUOTE]https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/...357275370?s=20 God bless the Hawgs. |
Originally Posted by GlobalNav
(Post 12061765)
Well, if the Lord was really running this thing, we wouldn't be in all this trouble
Back to military issues: F-22's going home is good enough news, for the families of those deployed from that unit. |
Originally Posted by skua
(Post 12061658)
Interesting approach to opsec at Fort Bragg. https://x.com/camilapress/status/2038268025330385333
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Originally Posted by West Coast
(Post 12061798)
Strippers huh? Well you know what they say, loose lips sink ships.
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Well, this is just getting better every day… not.
The United Arab Emirates, supported by Bahrain and Kuwait, is pushing hard for U.S. President Donald J. Trump to order a ground invasion of Iran, as officials from many Gulf allies of the United States, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE, have conveyed in private conversations that they do not want the ongoing military operation to end until there are significant changes in the Iranian leadership or there’s a dramatic shift in Iran’s behavior, diplomatic officials tell the Associated Press. |
Each of the named countries has a military already on Iran’s doorstep. Suggestions: Do it yourself.
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And Bibi’s son.
Fingers crossed any military supplement is voted down so this excursion ends. |
Originally Posted by EDLB
(Post 12061854)
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Originally Posted by artee
(Post 12061806)
Are you casting aspersions on the lady's tools of her trade? :E
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The United States appears to be deploying EA-37B Compass Call aircraft to the Middle East to support operations against Iran, potentially in support of any ground component. If confirmed, this would mark the platform’s first combat tasking. The EA-37B is a wide-area airborne electronic attack system designed to deny, degrade, and disrupt adversary communications, radar, navigation, and information networks, effectively jamming communications, early warning radars, and navigation systems during combat operations. Two EA-37Bs Arrive at RAF Mildenhall on Possible First Operational Deployment |
Bomber Mission 47 - The Spirits Return #FreeIran! --- Operation EPIC FURY --- Yesterday, alongside two bomber mission from RAF Fairford, a pair of B-2A "Spirit" bombers flew to Iran on #OperationEpicFury and are believed to have struck an Iranian missile base and another facility near Isfahan. The bombers are now over the Atlantic heading home. Mission XLVII B-2A "TALUS38" ? B-2A "TALUS39" ? KC-46A "BLUE16" 22-46106 #AE63D6 (From LPLA) KC-46A "BLUE17" ? (From LPLA) KC-46A "BLUE18" ? (From LPLA) KC-135R "BLUE26" 57-1486 #AE041D (From LROP) KC-135R "BLUE27" 59-1448 #AE047C (From LROP) KC-135R "BLUE28" 59-1453 #AE0362 (From LROP) KC-135R (x3) "BLUE##" (From LGSA?) KC-46A "BLUE??" 17-46037 #AE5E12 (From LPLA) KC-46A "BLUE??" 19-46108 #AF8444 (From LPLA) KC-46A "BLUE??" 17-46027 #AE5E08 (From LPLA) |
China bound oil tanker attacked.....
Two vessels targeted in Gulf as attacks on shipping continue. The 10,100-TEU container ship Express Rome, sailing under the Liberian flag, reported two projectiles striking the water nearby while sailing off Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia. The incidents occurred within an hour of each other, with no damage reported and all crew confirmed safe. Later, at around 20:20 GMT, the Kuwait-flagged oil tanker Al Salmi was struck approximately 31 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, resulting in a fire onboard. According to #MarineTraffic data, the 332-metre tanker, built in 2011, was en route to Qingdao, China, carrying an estimated 2 million barrels of crude oil. Images of the Kuwaiti VLCC Al-Salmi targeted by an Iranian drone in the early hours of Tuesday 31 March. Clear damage to the hull. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e2d038a7a2.png |
Troops from the 82nd Airborne Division have started arriving in the Middle East, including elements of the 1st Brigade Combat Team and personnel specializing in logistics and communications - US official to Al Jazeera Additional forces are expected to continue arriving this week. The movement of the 82nd Airborne appears to have begun on the 26th and continues with several flights still in progress today. *Note: I have obscured the destinations until those become public via other means. |
On Air Force One yesterday Trump told reporters "We've had regime change". He was arguing that because key Iranian leaders had been killed in Israeli/US strikes the leadership structure has fundamentally changed. He also made similar claims in his Truth Social posts.
Back in early March Trump declared that " Regime change is the aim of the entire conflict,". Now we have rumours of US possible withdrawals from the conflict leaving the SoH essentially blocked. Lots of other rumours, misinformation, deception and misdirection ongoing but could this be Trump getting ready to declare "victory". |
The U.S. Air Force is deploying another E-3G Sentry AWACS to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, as a replacement for 81-0005, which was destroyed by a ballistic missile strike by the IRGC Aerospace Force on March 27.
The replacement aircraft is expected to arrive at Prince Sultan Air Base on Friday. Tomorrow 78-0578/OK is expected in Germany (Ramstein) as Shuck78 on transit from Tinker to the Middle East. This is replacement for the 81-0005/OK that was destroyed by Iranian attack. |
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USAF United States Air Force - Coronet East Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 2x #AE038F 63-7996 - BORA 43 #AE065D 60-0320 - BORA 44 Two KC-135s have departed RAF Mildenhall and Prestwick to collect what should be a further six A-10s - this time from the 190th Fighter Squadron expected to depart Pease ANGB in the next few hours. They will join the 12x A-10s from the 107th Fighter Squadron that arrived at RAF Lakenheath last night. |
Originally Posted by larssnowpharter
(Post 12061980)
......... Now we have rumours of US possible withdrawals from the conflict leaving the SoH essentially blocked. Lots of other rumours, misinformation, deception and misdirection ongoing but could this be Trump getting ready to declare "victory".
Despite random WH claims of this and that, and which really aren't worth even reading as they are just random "sound bites" based on fantasy rather than reality, I'm really not sure what has been achieved apart from a spell of total chaos, death and destruction rippling out across the Globe. And that's not a pop at the US Military - rather, those that command them. It says something when I honestly now believe more will be achieved by the rest of the world (providing the US stays out of it) sitting down with Iran, once US forces have gone home for their Medals etc. At least the rest of the world seems to have some idea of how Iran works and, in an odd way, the war has benefited Iran the most as it has handed them the upper hand going forward. After all, Iran has actually demonstrated way more "proportionality" in their response to US/Israeli aggression - unlike the US/Israel approach. Of course some will disagree but I'll stick with my views if that's OK. |
Now we have rumours of US possible withdrawals from the conflict leaving the SoH essentially blocked. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....973d44f595.png |
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