Not necessarily advocating for the campaign to expand into causing effects on the ground, but .....
the figures for strength and related information on Irani forces, all that quoted stuff is the "before" picture, isn't it?

Change in leadership: does this have an impact on operations? This looks a little like changing the Sec Def? With the "Mosaic" strategy already being discussed, I will offer a "not going to change much" in terms of mil ops.

As to the Islands: what the US has established is air superiority, but not air dominance, over the Persian Gulf.

Why do I make that assessment?

(1) MANPADS on the Iranian defensive side are going to be used, and (2) the usual issue of drones and cruise missiles are asymmetric efforts using the airspace over the proposed battlespace. SAM threat otherwise appears to be negligible, and Iranian Anti Air Artillery may be too limited in range to impact the airspace.

The Three Islands in Question: it would appear that the operational concept is to control them and thus establish greater security over the shipping lanes behind them. (Along the Saudi and Omani coast) Reduce the risk profile of oil tankers moving toward the SOH.
Interesting idea, no idea of the details.

One wonders just how good these 'elite' Iranian troops are, and how fanatical when exposed to genuine elite all-arms forces using complete intelligence overview. The nature of mosaic is to inhibit Iranian units ability to plan , control and coordinate fast moving combat developments.

So many 'elite' units turn out to be wind and p1ss.

Let us hope so.

Here's a scientific wild arsed guess: EMP-type weapons (non nuclear) will be used tactically.

From which military?

Suez, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq etc etc have all exposed issues with "genuine elite all-arms forces"

Reports I have read on the Venezuela expedition would suggest that an EMP weapon or similar may have been used there.

Pound for pound, my experience with Spec Ops folks in Afghanistan fromWere that they got amazing results while working without a net.

What's your experience in, or (like me) working with (or better phrased, in support of), Spec Ops units?

I have supported SASR, CDT1 & CDT4 operations during the course of my career, so what?

Heh heh, Wolf.

I never go close enuf to smell the bad guys , but "helped" the friendlies from above.

A-37 in 604th Special Operations Squadron, previously 604th Air Commando Squadron. Escorted SOG folks and their little friends on insertion/extraction forays in northern Cambodia and southern Laos when we "had no troops on the ground in Laos or Cambodia". Hit bad guys trying to kill them when things turned into Prarie Fire emergencies. Also covered another unnamed outfit's insertions that were most cool - not as noisy as SOG and flew a foreign type chopper.
Flew night armed recce in southern Laos in that same outfit until Tet '68. On best mission got a few trucks by myself that were found by Covey and Raven FAC's. Pleiku, early '68.

A-7D, 356th TFS. Flew helo escort of Knives and Jollies in '72 (CH53's), plus flew Sandy role on several CSAR's. As Sandy 3, escorted one burning chopper outta an ambush scenario to safety, but survivor was captured - Acosta of Kansas 01B.
Last tour was a Sandy lead in 3rd TFS, Korat.

I enjoyed Sandy most, and nights over Trail were most scary. Very scary in mountains on moonless nights - was a challenge as we drppoed CBU from 300 -500 ft.

Gums sends...

OK thanks, I'd like you to elaborate on your terse line here:
What do you mean by that? That seems to me an overly broad condemnation.

Some of the best people I ever worked with, or supported were in that unique sub specialty.

lets face it, if Iran grabs just one American serviceman and parades them on TV then the US Military is tied up in knots, possibly for decades

12 Regiment Royal Artillery has been deployed to Cyprus. STORMER fires the exact same missiles as RAPID SENTRY, but has 8 missiles ready to fire instead of 4.

A boost to the anti-drone role adding an active defence to the EW/ECM system previously deployed with the RAF Regiment.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....91ad1e3b1.jpeg




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All these missiles being fired makes me wonder how our stocks are doing to fight Putin?

One would hope that Belfast has an open ended Purchase Order.....and a hurry up!

An extract from an interview with Sir Alex Younger, ex-head of MI6 on the situation between the US and Iran in which he says Iran now has the upper hand:-

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....323a65ec34.png
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Sounds like they went deed into Iran for multiple targets - or had to go a long way round to avoid the severe weather in the area.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....dbdeda826f.png
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Video

Another indication of a ground attack if they're flying in gunships - Unless they're going to use them in the anti-SUV role.

Presumed stock photo of the airframe.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0a578dece5.png
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