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Originally Posted by B Fraser
(Post 12060767)
If China has designs on Taiwan, it's now or never.
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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. Lucky they committed to a fleet of e7s a couple of years ago. If not they'd be waiting years for the supply chain to spool up. |
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BREAKING: The Israeli and U.S. air forces are now targeting Iran’s oil infrastructure in Abadan–Khorramshahr, with confirmed strike activity against the Abadan refinery and petrochemical complex early this morning. According to multiple incoming reports, the airstrikes began at approximately 07:25 local time, with continuous and sequential explosions reported for at least 10–15 minutes. Eyewitnesses in Abadan reported: 07:30: Ongoing explosions originating from the direction of the Abadan refinery 07:33: At least 10 explosions, with windows shaking across nearby neighborhoods (including areas near Falakeh Alfi) 07:39: Up to 10–11 extremely loud detonations assessed to be from the Abadan petrochemical facilities. Additional reports from Khorramshahr confirm repeated, rapid successive explosions (“barrage-style”), with at least 7–10 heavy detonations heard, suggesting multiple strike packages or follow-on targeting within the same complex. The intensity, repetition, and proximity of the blasts indicate direct hits on core refinery and petrochemical infrastructure, likely targeting processing units, storage facilities, or pipeline nodes within one of Iran’s most critical oil hubs. The Abadan refinery—one of the largest and most strategic in Iran—along with adjacent petrochemical facilities, forms a central pillar of the country’s fuel production and export network. The scale and sequencing of these strikes suggest a deliberate effort to disrupt Iran’s energy backbone. |
Originally Posted by Wyntor
(Post 12061324)
Alternatively...."we could put a couple of thousand guys into artillery range to secure an oil loading area 300 miles from a closed transit Strait."
Ain't taking anything other than casualties. Strategic genius. |
Israeli TV video
EXCLUSIVE: THE "HOSTAGE PRESIDENT" Senior Iran Analyst Dror Balazada (@DBalazada) reveals explosive leaked details of a deepening rift between President Pezeshkian and the Revolutionary Guards. In a heated confrontation, Pezeshkian reportedly lashed out at the IRGC Commander-in-Chief, warning: "You are ruling the country like suicidals... if this continues for another three weeks, the economy will collapse". The sources reveal a presidency under total siege: .
"I feel like a hostage," Pezeshkian reportedly claimed. "The only job I have is to read your crazy scripts". These leaks confirm the IRGC now holds absolute control, steering Iran toward an increasingly extreme and dangerous path. |
For how many Tankers of Oil should the RAAF Lend/Lease some Wedgetails for? :E
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Looks like the Chinese and other operators aren't being allowed, or not risking, to transit through the Gulf.
Sal Mercogliano: The Strait of Hormuz just hit double digits transits since the beginning of March, a total of 11 on March 27 & 28. It should be noted that these numbers are largely due to bulk carriers delivering food to Iran. In the meantime, Iranian tankers are running the Strait dark*. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c728123f57.png * Ukraine secured an agreement with Gulf states to supply naval drones, Zelensky said. |
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.
Re Kharg Island, I'd imagine the Iranians are busy fortifying it and making it an absolute nightmare for any invasion force: IEDs galore, pre-targeted drones and ballistic missiles etc. If they do feel its likely to be lost then there's various armageddon options e.g. them setting the whole place ablaze, pumping millions of pumping millions of gallons of crude into the Gulf and setting that alight etc. I wouldn't discount anything if they feel they're really under the cosh. One dilemma for Iran is that its not their oil as soon as its despatched, its whoever purchased it (hence why none of their tankers are being intercepted), which could explain the US's focus on it. |
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Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity says Iran attacked one of its water distillation facilities overnight. Ministry (of Electricity): Service building in one of the power stations and water desalination plants damaged due to an immoral Iranian attack on the State of Kuwait. - The Ministry's official spokesperson, Fatima Hayat: "The technical teams and emergency units have immediately commenced their operations in accordance with the approved emergency plans to address the repercussions of the incident and ensure the continuity of operational efficiency". - She emphasized that the safety and stability of the electricity and water systems represent the utmost priority, and that all technical teams are working around the clock with high efficiency in preparation for any emergency. |
Originally Posted by Birocracy
(Post 12061333)
Yes - they're precious and not to be taken for granted. It's not so much the money td (closer to 1b a piece for e7s?) it's the lead time.
Lucky they committed to a fleet of e7s a couple of years ago. If not they'd be waiting years for the supply chain to spool up. They cancelled it over a year ago. Goes to show I have my finger on the pulse. At this rate i could get a job in the oval office. |
Originally Posted by Birocracy
(Post 12061367)
Whoops
They cancelled it over a year ago. Goes to show I have my finger on the pulse. At this rate i could get a job in the oval office. So I believe they are still be built and will sent to UK for final fitout |
I think I may have heard of 2-3 E7s perhaps with a shorter lead time.
"Nice little runners. Never raced or rallied. Delivery mileage only. Owned by a lady and latterly her son." Buyer collects - on a flat bed... (Sorry mods, couldn't resist.) |
Originally Posted by ORAC
(Post 12061249)
The cancellation of the E-7 was supposed to be accompanied with the purchase of up another 90 x E-2Ds on the basis that a handful of E-7s would be to vulnerable to deploy in a high risk scenario, whilst you could risk a few E-2Ds.
I noted previously that they deployed at least 5 x E-2Ds into theatre nearly 2 weeks ago. https://www.pprune.org/military-avia...l#post12053734 Australia deploys E-7A to Middle East amid Iranian attacks – FlightGlobal |
Video presumably recorded over the weekend. Stripper says she doesn't want to spread disinformation, but some of the marines mentioned deploying next week - which presumably now means this week.
I literally briefed this morning on the strip clubs on Bragg Blvd in Fayetteville are a real indicator of troop movements ... and here we are. Stripper says troops who “look like fetuses” are blowing their money ahead of deployment |
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Tehran was loading five (5!!!) oil tankers simultaneously yesterday at Kharg Island, as the US-Israel-Iran war enters into its fifth week. Sentinel-2 L2A @CopernicusEU (It feels like Iran is trolling the White House via Kharg) |
US GROUND OPERATION INCOMING? >Pizza Index is exploding . >Gay bars are suddenly empty. >Suspicious wallets just placed $200,000+ on this. Potential payouts now over $1,000,000 NEW SUSPICIOUS BET A fresh wallet just placed over $170,000 on US forces entering Iran before March 31. >Joined in March 2026 >Just 7 predictions >Potential payout: $777,000+ All signs point to a US invasion of Iran by March 31 ->Friday: Mar-a-Lago fundraiser is postponed. >Saturday: Trump cancels CPAC (first time in 10 years)...... |
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"->Friday: Mar-a-Lago fundraiser is postponed."
It is getting serious, It could workout, the US sharpened themselves on Vietnam, A'Stan and Iraq |
Here come the A-10s.
USAF United States Air Force - Coronet East Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 8x #AE015E 59-1512 - BORA 21 #AE065F 60-0346 - BORA 22 #AE0501 59-1504 - BORA 23 #AE0687 60-0349 - BORA 24 #AE0650 58-0049 - BORA 31 #AE0504 60-0345 - BORA 32 #AE047B 58-0117 - BORA 33 #AE0377 63-0522 - BORA 34 + TABOR 71-76 flt 6x A-10s + TABOR 81-86 flt 6x A-10s Eight KC-135s from Bangor ANGB and RAF Mildenhall are supporting the move of twelve A-10 Thunderbolt II’s from Pease Air National Guard Base to RAF Lakenheath. TABOR 71 and TABOR 81 departed ~30 mins apart, and should arrive just after sunset this evening. BORA 21/22 were travelling at just 300kts. These A-10s are from the 107th Fighter Squadron. There are a further 6x from the 190th Fighter Squadron due to follow them this week. |
Photos
BIG: Satellite images show fires at two pumping stations on the Habshan–Fujairah oil pipeline, which carries crude from Abu Dhabi to the port of Fujairah, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Iran may be targeting alternative export routes used by U.S. allies to avoid Hormuz. Iran has targeted Habshan–Fujairah oil pipeline. The United Arab Emirates can no longer bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Only Saudi's East-West Pipeline remains active. |
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