Russia Starts Major Show of Force

More than 45,000 Russian troops, as well as war planes and submarines, started military exercises across much of the country today in one of the Kremlin's biggest shows of force since its ties with the West plunged to Cold War-lows.

President Vladimir Putin called the Navy's Northern Fleet to full combat readiness in exercises in Russia's Arctic North apparently aimed at dwarfing military drills in neighboring Norway, a NATO member.

 

"New challenges and threats to military security require the armed forces to further boost their military capabilities. Special attention must be paid to newly created strategic formations in the north," Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said, quoted by RIA news agency.

 

More on the "Cold" War Games reported from CBS News here.

 

Anyone doubt the Big Bad Bear is coming back? Apparently, even a 6-year low in oil prices isn't keeping Russia down [see article here in Moscow Times regarding Kremlin's 2015 record $81B defense budget].

 

 

First Female Submariners Taped in Showers

Navy criminal investigators are looking into who secretly filmed female officers of a submarine crew while they were showering and changing clothes aboard the USS Wyoming's unisex heads.

Petty officers recording female shipmates in showers, really? Really guys?!  It's noteworthy that this is the first submarine to have women serving onboard, and these are the first female submariners. 

According to a Navy Times article, up to a dozen sailors are suspected of viewing secretly recorded videos of their female shipmates undressing in a submarine shower over a period of 10 months.

Navy Vice Adm. M.J. Connor wrote that "an investigation is in progress." He also noted the women affected were provided assistance and the alleged perpetrators were removed from the ship pending the investigation's results.  "The Navy has successfully integrated women into our aviation, surface warfare and expeditionary warfare communities," Connor wrote in the letter. "It would be inaccurate to say that we achieved this without incident, but I can say unequivocally that we are a better force because of that integration."

At least official Navy acknowledges the service has had its share of "incidents" in transitioning into a seamless, fully integrated force.

No More Challenging Carrier Traps?

Saw this article last week in the San Diego Union-Tribune with the catchy title: "No More Tricky Landings" and had to laugh.  Do the pointy-head engineers really think they can program carrier landings to a science?  Hmm, seem to remember ACL and auto-throttle systems from the 70s and 80s. Sure, the technology is leaps and bounds better, but once the ship starts rocking and rolling, turbulence and lightening strike and a black box or two fails, dare to say it is more than "tricky" to land a 60,000-pound jet--even one with the most sophisticated computer system.

X-47B Update

It's been a while since I posted on the Navy's X-47B program. Here's a link from late Aug where the navy was conducting integrated flight ops on the THEODORE ROOSEVELT alongside an F-18 Hornet. I understand further carrier ops are scheduled in the coming months.

In researching unclassified websites and news reports, it looks like the navy is still at least five or six years away from IOC of the drone. Capitol Hill and the Pentagon continue to fight over what type of platform and mission is best suited for the X-47B-- light strike in a permissive or contested environment. In the meantime, trials and testing continue.

At a Bookstore Near You?

On a business trip to the East Coast this week, a good friend of mine texted me these photos from Chicago O'Hare and DFW airports. Already on Amazon.com and Kindle, striving for a bookstore near you next.

And to the readers of "The Last Top Gun" who have written reviews on Amazon, thank you!

The Sierra Hotel Break

The "Shit Hot" Break explained in titillating detail in Fightersweep.com.  The author describes the penultimate carrier break perfected by Mike "Nasty" Manazir, a former F-14 fighter pilot and Landing Signal Officer, now serving as Director, Air Warfare (OPNAV N98).  A great article! 

Review from Warbird News

Review of "The Last Top Gun" by Warbird News here.

Thanks for the promo, warbirdnews.com.  Great site for news, events, books and other aviation-related gee-dunk.  Check them out!