Several news releases recently have all included the info that the UK has been getting tech transfer as needed, for the work at hand. The main gripe the UK has is not getting it all NOW!

The problem the US has with this is two-fold:
1. full, unrestricted tech transfer, in the way the UK is asking for, would allow the UK to then cut all US companies out of further work on the UK F-35s… the UK could then modify, upgrade, and manufacture more aircraft without any involvement of US companies. While this is good for UK security, it is bad for the US companies that developed most of the tech (with a minor-moderate UK contribition).
2. full, unrestricted tech transfer, in the way the UK is asking for, would allow the Uk to possibly re-sell to others, without needing US permission. The US then would have no ability to control where the tech info ends up… which is bad for US security concerns. I know it was a long time ago, but think “Derwent & Nene engines to USSR” & “Mig-15s in Korea”. Yes, that was UK developed tech, but it was tech bought from the UK used to kill US aircrews & ground troops.

With the shifting political alignments and alliances in the world, extreme caution needs to be exercised about who gets what… if the Wahabi majority in Saudi Arabia removes the Monarchy, the US & UK might be facing those Tornados & Typhoons in 5-10 years… unless we just let them do whatever they wish in regards to Israel, Iraq, etc.

MACR WSOp (ALM) RW?

Not much, what’s up with you? And you don’t have to call me Mister, I’m not that formal with friends!

So, when the French cut numbers in order to improve the quality of each remaining aircraft it is a good move… but when the US does the same thing, it shows that the entire program is in trouble… I see!!!

So, it would be a really outstanding thing then, if the French reduced the buy to 15 aircraft… that way they could have one squadron of the best aircraft in the world!!!

Funny, I thought “Fly-by-Wire” meant that electric signals are sent along wires to servos and motors that move the control surfaces… and means nothing else!! It means that the only thing that moves between the pilot and the control surface actuators/motors is electrons, and not any fluid or solid system. It does not mean a computer!

A computer is not needed for a FBW system, and in fact a computer can operate a hydraulic, or rigid push-rod, or pneumatic, or cable, or hybrid [of any or all] type of system just as easily as it can operate a FBW-only system!

Well, the Soviet Union in 1939 started building two 60,000 ton Battleships in a fully enclosed building in the shipyard at Molotovsk (28 miles from Arkhangelsk on the Arctic coast)[see link below for a photo], this was confirmed by the US Naval Attache in a January 1944 visit (he reported “they are not very far along”), and they were later scrapped.
Therefore, it is possible to build 50,000 ton carriers in one, which would make satellite surveillance useless.

The big question is not can they, but are they??

http://photobucket.com/albums/b336/Bager1968/misc%20ships/?action=view&current=USSRBBconstructiondock.jpg

As a wise man once said (about those who want to become Scientists)… “Are you willing to follow the truth every time, even if it contradicts your current beliefs, even if it leads you into places that scare the sh*t out of you?”

This should be true also of Journalists and especially Historians, as they both shape not only our view of the world (and the meaning of that view), but also our view of ourselves!

There are 24 silos in the Ohio class SSBN/SSGN subs. The Tomahawk missiles are in slide-in/quick-change modules, as are the planned equipment & SEAL berthing modules (for rapid re-configuration).

A 6-Tomahawk module in each of 24 silos gives 144 missiles… add some in the torpedo tubes and tube reload stations…. 154 plus a couple of torpedoes for self-defense.

Of course, if they are using some of the silos for SEALs or equipment, then the TACTOM load would be reduced accordingly, therefore, on SEAL/special ops missions, the TACTOM load is likely to be 60-72 less than in a full strike mission.

They would have to launch the SEAL delivery vehicles before the missiles in the forward 10 silos could be launched, so these would be the ones used for berthing & equipment.