”We Were Soldiers” and ”Blackhawk Down” are both pretty good in my opinion.

Here is a site that proposes operating personal pod equipped F-35B’s from converted Iowa class battleships! http://www.combatreform.com/battleships.htm

I prefer the other idea that was dropped some time ago, with the pods carrying people/ stores behind the lines. I wonder if it really was dropped or if it was publically dropped!

I wonder if the F-35B will ever use these pods, it might make a good stealthly CSAR candidate? I wouldn’t fancy being a passenger though 🙂

A tri-mode seeker wouldn’t be necessary for every situation but it is certainly worth having if the price is right. Having imaging infrared, semi-active laser and millimeter wave radar guidance all in one package gives you options on how and what targets you can attack.

IIR is a passive fire and forget system and good for covert attacks and moving targets.

MMW is a active fire and forget system and good for bad weather and moving targets.

SAL is a point and shoot system and good for attacking pinpoint targets that IIR and MMW are not suitable for (buildings, caves, etc).

IIR and MMW also give a target recognition capability that allows missiles to be sent to a area where they search for their own targets.

This is not deterent – The US military has enough deterrent already to blow the world up 50 times over. This is beyond deterrent, WAY beyond the stalemate of the Cold War you describe.

The trouble is that some of the USA’s potential enemies can’t be deterred with a MAD policy. Fanatics don’t think the same as normal people.

Did anyone catch the “Navy Pilots” documentery on Discovery wings uk last night.

It’s actually called ”Fleet Air Arm” and is quite a good program (made in 2005). I’ve seen 3 episodes so far which were about the Sea Harrier, Commando helicopter and Lynx units respectively. Admittedly they’re a bit short on facts and details but are worth a look.