NYPD Destroys 5,000lbs Of Illegal Fireworks

Video Credit: New York Police Department

Sunday Funnies

Video Credit: RingTales

It's the Weekend! 7/2/2011

     Get a load of this video showing a bunch of aircraft marshallers at various military bases around the world, dancing.

I did not make this.

New Predator Drone Footage

Video Credit: LowellGuy

Varyag: Is It A Threat?

     With all the talk that China will use the Varyag to rule the western Pacific, I would like to explain why the Varyag will NOT be a SERIOUS threat to the U.S. military or the U.S.'s interests in the region.

     First, the Chinese navy has no experience with carrier operations, specifically: operating cat and trap systems, landing aircraft on a moving surface, replenishing large ships while underway, and launching, arming, fueling, and repairing aircraft in heavy seas. On top of that all these shortcomings are aggravated during combat operations, as all activities will have to be done faster, at the same time with an increased degree of precision. 

     Second, the Varyag is of the Admiral Kuznetsov-class, and has a relatively small air wing of 26 fixed-wing aircraft (J-15, New AEW&C aircraft), and 24 helicopters (Ka-27), for a grand total of 50 aircraft. 50 aircraft is decent number for a second-tier military (Britain, France, Spain, etc...), but in a drawn out war with the U.S., 50 aircraft (of which less than half are fighters) will be nothing. Against 5+ American supercarriers, each carrying 100 aircraft, 50+ of which are fighters (not including aircraft from Japan, Guam, South Korea, and possibly the Philippines), 20 +/- fighters will be nothing. 

     Third, China has no escorts for the Varyag. One of the most important things needed to operate an aircraft carrier is destroyers for ASW (anti-submarine warfare) and air defense. You also need submarines to make sure no enemy submarines get close enough to take a shot at the Varyag or any of the escorts. China has both of these types of ships, but either in limited quantity or of lousy quality or both (China's nuclear submarines make enough underwater noise to make a U2 concert sound quiet). China does have diesel electric Kilo-class subs that are extremely quiet, but are too slow to escort a carrier task force. China also is beginning to build Type 052C destroyers which have a greater air defense capability than previous classes, and will probably form the backbone of Chinese carrier task forces.

     Fourth, the Chinese will need a much better supply system to keep the Varyag at sea for extended periods of time. As of June 2011 the Chinese navy has a rather limited at-sea supply system, which is essential for operating an aircraft carrier(s). 

     While the Varyag is the only aircraft carrier the Chinese have, it will not pose a serious threat to the U.S.military. However, the Chinese military has expressed interest in building more carriers, but until the Chinese are able to field 3+ carriers with large air wings, the Varyag will not pose a serious threat.

     

      

Aircraft Carriers: The Newest Trend In Deterrence

     The photo above is a picture of the USS Texas, which is literally the last dreadnought, and a distant cousin of today's aircraft carriers.
     When the dreadnought era began with the launching of the HMS Dreadnought, a massive arms race began with countries all over the world racing to build dreadnoughts, to either deter other countries from attacking them or to intimidate surrounding countries. The same goes for aircraft carriers to some extent, if you don't have an aircraft carrier(s) you are at risk of having distant territories taken (Britain & the Falklands) or being bullied by another country.
     However, aircraft carriers today are not as all-powerful as they were through the late 1940s to the mid 1960s before modern anti-ship missiles like the AS-4 "Kitchen" came into service. New threats to aircraft carriers continue to arise, such as anti-ship ballistic missiles like the DF-21D and ever quieter submarines (a similar situation was the advent of naval aviation and the threat to battleships). To further aggravate the problem is that navies like the U.S. Navy build ever larger carriers like the Gerald R. Ford-class, which concentrates the Navy's air power in 11 or so locations that every country with a space program knows.
     I am not saying aircraft carriers are obsolete, far from it. I am saying carriers are an integral part of a country's national security, but instead of large size and limited quantity, they must be of small size (30,000 to 70,000 tons), and a larger quantity (12-20 for the U.S.). Aircraft carriers that would be examples of this would be the Queen Elizabeth-class and the USS America (LHA-6), both of which are relatively small compared to American super carriers (72,000 & 45,000 long tons compared to 100,000+ long ton Nimitz-class carriers).
     With aircraft carriers continuing to increase in size, and new threats constantly appearing, it will be in the next 25 years that the aircraft carrier really and truly comes of age as a new Cold War begins in the Pacific Ocean, and the aircraft carrier shows what it can really do.
   


Photo Credit: Daniel Schwen

Libyan Rebels Attack Gaddafi Artillery Position

     Thanks to Kit Up! for finding this video.

Tank Firing At 18,000 Frames Per Second

     Take a look at these videos showing a T-90 firing in slow motion.

If you thing that was cool, take a look at this.

  I did not make this or record this.

It's The Weekend! 6/25/11

     Since it's the weekend, I give you this funny video.

     I did not make this.

You To Can Rename Al-Qaida

     When Osama Bin Laden was nailed about a month ago, he was working on a new name for Al-Qaida, as the Danger Room reports.

     The best Osama had come up with so far was "Monotheism and Jihad Group", it's pretty obvious that Osama needed a advertising advisor. So, to help fix this problem the Danger Room is holding a contest to find a new name for Al-Qaida, some of the most popular names right now are "League Of Extraordinary Beards", 

"Kandahar Ardent Brotherhood Of Orthodox Muslims" (KABOOM), "Dr. Bin Laden's 100% Natural Good Time Terror Band Solution", "Bad News Beards", SEAL bait, "These Aren't The Beards Your Looking For", etc. 

     So, if you think you have the new name for Al-Qaida hop on over to the Danger Room and enter your suggestion.

Note: This is just a joke, and vote for the name Muslims & Guns.

  

   

Congressman Releases TV Ad Showing Chinese Invasion

     Republican congressional nominee Mark Amodei released this ad, stating he will vote against raising the debt limit and protect America's independence from China.

     This guy has guts.

Varyag To Begin Sea Trials July 1st

     Defense News reports that the Chinese carrier Varyag will sail for sea trials on July 1st, but will not be officially launched until October 2012.

     With the increasing tensions in and around the Spratly Islands, the Varyag would be a powerful bargaining  tool, especially with countries like the Phillipines or Indonesia who have small and/or aging navies. However, Vietnam and Malaysia both have relatively large and new navies that if used with skill, could pose a threat to any Chinese forays into the Spratley Islands.

     With the Varyag close to sailing it will be interesting to see how other Asian countries react to the Varyag in the South China Sea.

6 Terrorists VS. A Predator Drone

     Get a load of this encounter between 6 terrorists vs. a Predator drone.

5 out of 6, not bad.

Video Credit: LowellGuy 

New Photos Show Varyag's Starboard Side

     New photos of the Varyag's starboard side have just emerged, showing the aircraft elevator and the starboard side of the island.

Looks like there might be another 10 barrel gatling gun in the photo.

Photo Credit: Alert 5

It's Official: Russia Buys Two French Mistral-class Amphibious Assault Ships

     On Friday Russia signed a deal worth 1.6 billion dollars, for 2 Mistral-class amphibious assault ships, as Defense Tech reports. The deal also reportedly includes initial logistics, training and technology transfer. 

     The deal for 2 Mistrals has been in the works for about a year, and only now has it been completed. The deal was held up for some time over objections from former Soviet states like Estonia, Latvia, Georgia over the growing Russian military, and the threat the Mistrals would pose to them.

     The Mistral-class was developed to increase the amphibious capabilities of the French Navy and allow the French to perform raids, withdrawals and amphibious assaults. The Mistral-class can carry up to 900 troops for a short time, and between 60 and 70 vehicles. The Mistral-class can handle up to 16 medium helicopters (NH-90, Tiger) or up to 35 light helicopters, which could be stored in the hanger or on deck. The Mistral-class has a displacement of 21,300 tons with a full load, and a displacement of 16,500 tons when empty. 

     With Russia rebuilding it's military, it will be interesting to see how the former Soviet states and the world will react to this purchase.     

     

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Airliner Photos That Look Photo Shopped But Are Real

     Recently, photos have emerged showing airliners coming into land, less than 150 feet above tourists on the beach.
     The photos were taken at Maho Beach which is situated just before runway 10 which is part of the Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side of Saint Martin . Airplanes on approach to runway 10 have to approach at minimal altitude due to the runway's short length (2,180 meters), as the photos below show.

Photo Credit: Yahoo and Wikipedia

Andrew Klavan On The Culture: 6/19/11

I did not make this.

It's The Weekend! 6/18/11

     Since it's the weekend, I give you this clip from the movie Clear And Present Danger.

I did not make this or record this.

New Photos Show Construction Equipment Being Removed From The Varyag

     The guys over at China Defense Blog spotted these photos showing construction equipment being removed from the Varyag (Shi Lang).

     With the Chinese finally acknowledging the existence of the Varyag and removing construction equipment from the flight deck, it looks like the Varyag is getting ready to sail. 

Photo Credit: China Defense Blog

Planes.....The Movie

     Stephen Trimble over at The DEW Line spotted this trailer for a Disney spin off of the "Cars" franchise. The movie is supposed to have something to do with carrier aviation, take a look.

     Trimble says quote, "Like all good art, the trailer shown below inspires many questions, such as: Is that really a V-tailed EA-6B in the background? Why do you need a catapult to launch an AirTractor? How can a B-2 zip around like that without compromising its structural integrity? And, perhaps most disturbingly of all, why am I questioning the contextual purity of a cartoon?
     Well, to answer Trimble's questions, 1) No, it's an F/A-18G Growler. 2) You need a catapult to launch an AirTractor, because 680 & 1/2 horsepower isn't going to get you off a carrier deck. 3) It's Disney and it's a cartoon. 4) You are questioning the contextual purity of a cartoon because you are an adult.
     Planes is supposed to be a straight to DVD movie and will not go through theaters, but I think NetFlix will be getting a lot of requests for it in 2013.