Canada moves to 2% GDP end of FY25/26 - PMMC

[Colin Parkinson]

If Wiki is to be believed and in this case I do, the missiles at the time kind of sucked and the Phantom found the need to be gun armed to achieve kills in the air battles over Vietnam.

McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Kirkhill]

With the West in general the issue isn't the how, it's the 'why' ...

“Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'.” Viktor E. Frankl

I read his book years ago when I live in the CR, changed my thinking and outlook on a number of things. Thanks for reminding me about this, I'm going to find the book in my library and re-read it 30yrs later.

Thanks to both of you for a reference to a book of which I had never heard previously.

 

[lenaitch]

I don't think anyone made the claim that the Avro Arrow was a 'fighter'; it was designed and intended to be an interceptor of approaching Soviet bombers. It was intended to be a lawn dart. If it had hard points in the design (and don't doubt that it would have), I suspect some of them would have been wet, because the proposed 'combat' range was only about 300 miles.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Thanks to both of you for a reference to a book of which I had never heard previously.

Anyone living in Alberta or BC should keep it handy

 

[KevinB]

If Wiki is to be believed and in this case I do, the missiles at the time kind of sucked and the Phantom found the need to be gun armed to achieve kills in the air battles over Vietnam.

McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

100%
Most of the radar missiles of the time were designed for the interceptor role -- shooting down Bear's, then TU-16 and TU-22's and while the TU-22 was fast - it wasn't maneuverable . Those early radar missiles like the AIM-4 Falcon where not very maneuverable, and required a constant radar lock within a fairly small AOA - so fighters simply maneuvered out of the envelope. The Falcon was a dual seeker - both IR and Radar but in 54 launches in Vietnam only got 5 kills during Rolling Thunder protecting B-52 strikes where the Mig's seemed to be focused on the B-52's
*
The early Sidewinders available in Vietnam where tail trackers only -- so you needed to get a jump on the target and keep it lined up for it to lock -- even then the hit rate was pretty abysmal due to the G load as the Mig's could juke it.

So guns came back to Air to Air -


There is a great excerpt on Wiki on the Falcon AIM-4 Falcon - Wikipedia
Col Robin Old's is quite a character - having read a few books about him -- his rewiring his Phantoms for the Sidewinder was one of his minor clashes with authority in the USAF-- he had once threatened to shoot down the tanker he was trying to tank from - as most of his canopy had been shot away and he had taken 15min to lite a cigar - and the crew didn't want to tank him with the lit cigar - -- then eventually agreed to fill him up, after he encouraged them with the threats.

 

[Kirkhill]

Norway's Kongsberg buys US startup missile maker capable of production in mass quantities

Norway’s KONGSBERG buys U.S. maker of mass-produced missiles

Norway's largest defense company has completed the acquisition of a California missile startup that makes interceptors and strike weapons designed to be produced by the thousands rather than the dozens, bringing a proven American mass-munitions manufacturer into the European defense

defence-blog.com

Germany's Airbus aquiring a variety of UAVs including the US made Valkyrie

Airbus Showcases UAS Portfolio at ILA Berlin | Joint Forces News

Airbus is showcasing one of Europe’s most comprehensive and versatile Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) portfolios at ILA Berlin.

www.joint-forces.com

Britain's BAE buying and cooperating with many UgV suppliers

BAE Systems buys drone-maker Malloy Aeronautics

The acquisition follows a two-year partnership between the companies to develop the all-electric quadcopter T-650.

www.defensenews.com

Herne: How UK–Canada Collaboration is Redefining Autonomous Submarine Warfare – Vanguard

vanguardcanada.com

Denmark buying JASSM-ER from the US for its US built F35s , Greenland notwithstanding

US Approves Long-Range JASSM-ER Missiles for Danish F-35s

The US Department of State has approved a potential $842-million sale of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles-Extended Range to Denmark.

thedefensepost.com

....

Trends

 

[Colin Parkinson]

I think these UAV's are excellent for persistent surveillance, I firmly believe that the manufactures are hand waving away the struggles of communicating targeting information in real time from underwater at distance.

 

[KevinB]

I think these UAV's are excellent for persistent surveillance,

Outside of contested airspace.
One needs more UAS to make up for losses than most forecast, as well as Satellite and Very High Altitude options.

I firmly believe that the manufactures are hand waving away the struggles of communicating targeting information in real time from underwater at distance.

No
Many large firms have several options and methods for their or others UUV systems.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

I like to see a video feed through a thermocline with devices more than 10nm apart. The only way I can see it being done is via fiberoptics.