The Iranian naval forces have bought super speed boats and armed them with rockets and other weapons.A swarm of the small boats could threaten the US Carrier Strike Groups in the Persian Gulf region.They could saturate US Navy defenses;but some believe modern warships would ultimately be able to prevail against them.
The Iranians purchased the Bradstone Challenger speedboat,which is a stable platform for weapons.Efforts were made to halt the acquisition of the advanced watercraft,but a South African arms dealer managed to sell it to the Iranians anyway.
In a recent wargame,several US ships were sunk by the speedboats.
The USS John C. Stennis(CVN 74) and its Carrier Strike Group deployed to the Persian Gulf on Monday from Bremerton,Washington,four months ahead of schedule to meet any contingency which may arise in the tensed up region.The ships and aircraft will also have to stay at sea for eight months,rather than the usual four.
The Stennis,a Nimitz class nuclear aircraft carrier,is armed with Sea Sparrow missiles,as well as the Vulcan Phalanx Close-In Weapon System,for defensive purposes.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Militant Attack Damages General Dempsey's Plane-the full story,plus the Blackhawk crash
Afghan militants fired rockets at Bagram air base,damaging the plane of Joint Chiefs Chairman General Martin E. Dempsey,US Army,and wounding two US Air Force maintenance technicians.The general was not in the area at the time.
The attack took place at 2am Monday.Two rockets landed on the air base's flight line,damaging the front and one engine of the C-17 transport aircraft.The two airmen suffered cuts and bruises from shrapnel.A NATO helicopter was also damaged in the assault.
The attack was similar to others launched by Taliban militants against Bagram on a regular basis,coalition spokesman Jamie Graybeal noted.He was sceptical of militant claims that they specifically targeted the general's plane,having exact information as to its location.Bagram is the main coalition air base in Eastern Afghanistan.
General Dempsey was in the country with General James R. Mattis,US Marine Corps,Commander US Central Command.They had met with coalition commander General John R. Allen,US Army and Afghan officials on the status of the war,the longest in US history.
Last Thursday,militants claimed they had shot down a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter that crashed in a firefight northeast of Kandahar,Afghanistan,killing seven US service members and four Afghans.Two US Navy SEALs were among the dead,along with a Navy explosives specialist and four US Army soldiers.
Blackhawks are a workhorse helicopter in Afghanistan,transporting troops,supplies and dignitaries over the mountainous and explosives-laden terrain.
The crash is under investigation.
The attack took place at 2am Monday.Two rockets landed on the air base's flight line,damaging the front and one engine of the C-17 transport aircraft.The two airmen suffered cuts and bruises from shrapnel.A NATO helicopter was also damaged in the assault.
The attack was similar to others launched by Taliban militants against Bagram on a regular basis,coalition spokesman Jamie Graybeal noted.He was sceptical of militant claims that they specifically targeted the general's plane,having exact information as to its location.Bagram is the main coalition air base in Eastern Afghanistan.
General Dempsey was in the country with General James R. Mattis,US Marine Corps,Commander US Central Command.They had met with coalition commander General John R. Allen,US Army and Afghan officials on the status of the war,the longest in US history.
Last Thursday,militants claimed they had shot down a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter that crashed in a firefight northeast of Kandahar,Afghanistan,killing seven US service members and four Afghans.Two US Navy SEALs were among the dead,along with a Navy explosives specialist and four US Army soldiers.
Blackhawks are a workhorse helicopter in Afghanistan,transporting troops,supplies and dignitaries over the mountainous and explosives-laden terrain.
The crash is under investigation.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Raytheon's Mk-31 RAM Shields Warships
Since 1993,Raytheon's Mk-31 Rolling Airframe Missile system has been in naval use.The shipboard anti-missile weapon features robust firepower and multiple simultaneous engagement capability against incoming fires.
The Mk-31 is comprised of up to 21 Mk-44 Guided Missile Round Packs and a Mk-49 Guided Missile Launching System.Guided by shipboard sensors such as the Aegis system,the Mk-31 engages anti-ship missiles;fixed and rotary wing aircraft;and fast surface vessels.
The Mk-31 has had at least one software upgrade in its career.Countries using the system to safeguard their warships include the US;Germany;South Korea;Egypt;Greece;and Turkey.It was originally developed by the US and Germany.
A link to a photo of the Mk-31 is posted below.
Raytheon(RTN)
The Mk-31 is comprised of up to 21 Mk-44 Guided Missile Round Packs and a Mk-49 Guided Missile Launching System.Guided by shipboard sensors such as the Aegis system,the Mk-31 engages anti-ship missiles;fixed and rotary wing aircraft;and fast surface vessels.
The Mk-31 has had at least one software upgrade in its career.Countries using the system to safeguard their warships include the US;Germany;South Korea;Egypt;Greece;and Turkey.It was originally developed by the US and Germany.
A link to a photo of the Mk-31 is posted below.
Raytheon(RTN)
Friday, August 10, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Nature Note:One Opossum Morning-a wildlife encounter
One morning in late July,I saw that the garage was a bit messed up,with snow shovels on the floor and dry leaves scattered about.It must have been a cat fooling around,I thought.When I opened the car hood,I saw what it really was that had caused the ruckus:an opossum,North America's only marsupial,or pouched mammal.This unique animal even appears in a current TV commercial.
My opossum was lying still on her side on a big nest made of dry leaves and bits of plastic.She was "playing possum" with me,pretending to be dead.The nest was right up against the battery.She was actually a young opossum,born in the spring.I put some work gloves on and lifted her up.She hissed at me and bit me lightly with her many small teeth.I put her back down,fearing rabies.
I called Animal Control for assistance.Meantime,the animal had gotten deep within the engine.An animal control officer responded within an hour and poked her with a plastic baton.This indeed dislodged her.She ambled away across the drive,headed for a pine plantation.My guest the garage opossum hasn't been back since,convinced that engines are really no place for an arboreal mammal.
My opossum was lying still on her side on a big nest made of dry leaves and bits of plastic.She was "playing possum" with me,pretending to be dead.The nest was right up against the battery.She was actually a young opossum,born in the spring.I put some work gloves on and lifted her up.She hissed at me and bit me lightly with her many small teeth.I put her back down,fearing rabies.
I called Animal Control for assistance.Meantime,the animal had gotten deep within the engine.An animal control officer responded within an hour and poked her with a plastic baton.This indeed dislodged her.She ambled away across the drive,headed for a pine plantation.My guest the garage opossum hasn't been back since,convinced that engines are really no place for an arboreal mammal.
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