Gun Trucks

[Targan]

Hire the Swiss. They'll stand at your shores, pikes in hand

Don't get me wrong, I'd be all for having our own funky, down under version of the Papal Guard but... we have a LOT of shores. I don't think there are enough Swiss people for that.

[Panther Al]

Oh sh*t. Is that the general consensus I wonder 'Cause here in Australia we're kind of banking on the F-35. Our old-style FA/18s are getting a bit long in the tooth, we've retired all our F-111s and we've bought a few Super Hornets as a stopgap measure while we wait for the F-35. If that project falls in a heap we're going to have a pretty horrible capability gap.

Of course one could argue that with such an iddy biddy defence force, Australia is always going to suffer capability gaps. We may be a wealthy nation on a per capita basis but we just don't have the population base to support a truly capable armed forces.

In all honestly, my admittedly scant, research and knowledge of the F35 program tells me its more boondoggle than not. Yes, it has the potential of being a very good multirole Aircraft. But its going to be probably one of the most expensive fighters ever. And the maintance costs are projected to be equally massive.

Ignoring the steathy bits of the F35 program, I honestly believe the various Airforces that are buying into it would be much better served with the latest flavours of current strike fighters: F/A18 E/F, Block 50/60 F16s, Gripens, and 15E's. Be massivly cheaper to boot.

[Legbreaker]

... we have a LOT of shores. I don't think there are enough Swiss people for that.

Our borders would be just like Swiss cheese.

[pmulcahy11b]

And for the really desperate, there are concrete armored crs.

Oh christ, I just had to laugh at that one...

[Ronin]

In all honestly, my admittedly scant, research and knowledge of the F35 program tells me its more boondoggle than not. Yes, it has the potential of being a very good multirole Aircraft. But its going to be probably one of the most expensive fighters ever. And the maintance costs are projected to be equally massive.

Ignoring the steathy bits of the F35 program, I honestly believe the various Airforces that are buying into it would be much better served with the latest flavours of current strike fighters: F/A18 E/F, Block 50/60 F16s, Gripens, and 15E's. Be massivly cheaper to boot.

It would seem to me that the Sukhoi PAK FA would be a better choice than the F-35 at the moment. If for no other reason its superior to the Super hornet (etc). While the F35 is potentially a better aircraft. Its a long, long way away. The Sukhoi is a year or two tops, away. NATO countries need to shake the stigma, that the Russians are the bad guys. We cant buy their stuff. Let face it, its a brave new world. Its kinda every country for itself. I mean we buy all kinds of stuff (Clothing, other assorted items) from China for our military here in the US. I think they portray a far greater threat in our future than the Russians. My ten cents anyway

[Webstral]

I think they portray a far greater threat in our future than the Russians. My ten cents anyway

Each of these nations will be as big a threat as their leadership feels they can afford to be.

The US should be buying all the latest Russian gear, if only to see what is going on with the competition. Pilots who thoroughly understand the enemy's strengths and weaknesses, as well as their own strengths and weaknesses, are the most likely to bring victory.

Concrete armored cars. I never would have thought of that. The threat of invasion really brings out the creativity in some folks.

Getting back the gun trucks, I want to put a question out to the community at large: when does a fire support vehicle become a light assault gun

[Ronin]

Getting back the gun trucks, I want to put a question out to the community at large: when does a fire support vehicle become a light assault gun

I would say when the vehicle in question is equipped with heavy frontal armor, and a gun of at least 50mm.

[Ronin]

Couple pics I came across

[pmulcahy11b]

It would seem to me that the Sukhoi PAK FA would be a better choice than the F-35 at the moment. If for no other reason its superior to the Super hornet (etc). While the F35 is potentially a better aircraft. Its a long, long way away. The Sukhoi is a year or two tops, away. NATO countries need to shake the stigma, that the Russians are the bad guys. We cant buy their stuff. Let face it, its a brave new world. Its kinda every country for itself. I mean we buy all kinds of stuff (Clothing, other assorted items) from China for our military here in the US. I think they portray a far greater threat in our future than the Russians. My ten cents anyway

And the Russians will sell the PAK FA a lot cheaper than we're selling the F-35 for, because they're strapped for cash. And the Russians aren't so worried about getting everything perfect or making every congressional district happy -- they just want to get on the market with something that, while it may not be what the F-35 may eventually come, is on the market now and is better than what is now available. A lot of countries will see the PAK FA as an opportunity to get stealth at a bargain, even if its systems are not as deluxe as those that the F-35 will eventually have or its stealth profile isn't as small as the F-35 will eventually have.

[Legbreaker]

And electronics and other systems can be upgraded over time....

[Sanjuro]

And for the really desperate, there are concrete armored cars.

How about an aircraft carrier made of Pykrete It won't be fast, but you can make it big enough to carry conventional aircraft rather than dedicated carrier-based models...

http://www.knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/Icecrete/

[bobcat]

[Graebarde]

Found what I was looking for in the WW2 aircraft with LCG in the nose.. Bell P-39 had a 37mm firing through the rotor hub. Don't ask me how.. just what it says... knew that I saw something on one somewhere... Not may built, and I know there were some in service in PAO.. met an old timer at church years back that flew them, then transfered to P-38 Lightning. He was on the Yamamoto raid flying top cover for them. Funny old guy too... said he was shot down three times... but got five of them.. "Oh your an ace." says I. "That's not how my wife pronounces it." says he.

FB

http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.aspaircraft_id=140

[Graebarde]

How about an aircraft carrier made of Pykrete It won't be fast, but you can make it big enough to carry conventional aircraft rather than dedicated carrier-based models...
http://www.knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/Icecrete/

Yeah that was an interesting program on History Channel about that some time ago. Wood pulp and ice... guess they were for northern service only.. but the concept was actually sound from tests done, as to construction, floating, and durability, other than the fact it melted!!

[boogiedowndonovan]

Hey Grae,

when you were in Vietnam, did you come across any gun trucks

just curious
bdd