thrustwr.bsky.social
Former NavalNews & USNINews writer, Track Fuser, R-1/P-1 Budget Reader.
For defense-related stuff
Site: https://defensearchives.com/news
Map site: https://www.vermln.com
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Not to forget the KC-135 development program and daily maintenance costs for the last 45 years.
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They had to learn how to manufacture large composite pieces and RAM and all the SW development costs to develop CAD tools that could even design this thing. What is a few trillion between friends.
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Might as well add in the entire Global Strike Force Command cost. The US used F-35s, which took about $35B to develop, operate, and buy to date. So everything that has an F-35 is worth at least $35B of investment.
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Just racking up costs like whatever, why not throw in the cost to operate B-2s, the cost to train and feed B-2 pilots into the attack costs. Why not add the infrastructure costs.
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Sources: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
And Air Force P-1s
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Furthermore, the 20 figure is rather old (goes back quite sometime). Boeing received $20M for new MOP production as recent as 2019, which would have been enough for about 18-19 bombs.
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We have gotten many sat images pouring in from many sources on Fordow. Seems to indicate only 6 entry points against the site and no other damage.
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Esfahan seems to have been struck by TLAMs. Tho 14 MOPs + 30 TLAMs is 44 and they said 75 PGMs expended. Perhaps strikes against IADS?
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Briefing over at www.dvidshub.net/webcast/36417
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125 aircraft participated in supporting the strike all together, both 4th and 5th gens took part in the strikes and provided preparatory fires. No Iranian SAMs or aircraft engaged them come in or going out.
75 PGM expended in the op all together.
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I got an early morning, I will carry it from here.
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They are saying 5 missiles, no impacts.
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The raids started from 120-100 and have rapidly decreased over successive waves. Iran might still have a ton of surviving launchers (IAF claim was that they managed to suppress/destroy a third of their MRBM launchers) but might lack access to reloads or proper C2 to coordinate larger volumes.
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We have also seen other things like F-16 Sufas and F-15Is flying into Iranian airspace with CATM AIM-120s (essentially captive missiles) or without ECM pods. This signals somewhat high confidence on the IAF end.
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Should add that the Oct strikes took out a bunch of C3 and long range sensor sites as well ad S-300 batteries. For AD to function well, you kind of need all layers to be somewhat alive and functioning. This doesn't seem to be the case here.
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It might actually help boost morale on the AD end so you might so more activity there. Given these platforms are extremely vulnerable I think they will eventually be shot down at some point. But as it stands now, there doesn't seem to be much contest in the air.
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We have yet to see any footage of their wreckage or any AD hitting anything of this sort. (We have more footage of all sorts of things on the ground in Iran, like used missiles etc). I believe that any shoot down would be a big boost in morale and would therefore be paraded around.
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No, because I believe that Ukraine’s cause is more worthy of defense than the Iranian regime's.
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Hermes: x.com/AuroraIntel/...
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If these slow MQ-9-sized drones can survive the airspace over Tehran/Tabriz for 3 days continously without ever being shot down, I think it is safe to say that the air isnt contested: x.com/osinttechnic...
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I'm not sure if you have a proxy Twitter account, but IAF has posted like 10-15 different videos of Iranian medium and range SAMs getting Interdicted and destroyed. Furthermore, Iranians on the ground have shot videos of both Heron and Hermes 450 drones continously orbiting Tehran for days now.
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I'm neither Ukrainian nor Iranian, alas I dont think the Iranian regime is worth dying for and I hope it falls apart and wish the same for Netanyahu's government. The people deserve better.
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On a more serious note, you are no good to anyone dead. So, if i were an AD crew, and the Israelis have penetrated the airspace this much, I would absolutely not emit and go into hiding. Once AD as been penetrated, the game shifts from denial to survival. Survival itself is a form of denial.
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Load up on all the drop tanks I can find and 2x AIM-9 head for Romania over Armenian and Georgian Air Space.
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Not just tire guy. But all of them seem to be poasting through it.
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Some of their F-14s do fly but these ones were stored.
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Never been much of an f-14 fan but I feel bad for that hunk of metal.
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From this position, THAAD can complement Israel's Arrow 2 and 3s. A map on this I made last year:
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Close up of the protected position for the launchers and what might be the missiles. A THAAD battery has about 6 launchers each carrying 8 missiles, for a total of 48 available missiles. A battery can bring with it a single reload.
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What is wrong with this? I don't get it, this isn't a market where you have companies just itching for competition. Both of these companies are alive today and can produce at scale because of this shared agreement that has benefited everyone including the taxpayer.