Israel strikes on Iran

And interestingly enough, Iraq officially closed its airspace about the same time as Iran did...






Not in this case. The Ayatollahs aren't as popular as they used to be. Plus, it seems that they're following the WW2 German method of different factions competing for favor to maintain control of the military. Take out enough of the corresponding faction leadership and you can enact great changes in which cliques will be in power.
I still think that attacking religion directly will always be a mistake, especially in that part of the world where religion is valued more than life.

Such extreme belief systems (from the Western point of view) must be softened little by little with the influence of our way of life through digital media. In my country we lived a religious dictatorship between 1939 and 1965 and I remember that what the priests in charge of education feared the most were Superman comics and American movies. They were right, today most of the sixty-five thousand churches in the country are practically empty and their restoration is perceived by taxpayers as an excessive burden on the economy.

I do not trust too much in the apparent cracks in the power of the Iranian religious, every dictatorship has an important popular base and those who silence their opinions are not as many as Western intelligence agencies would like to believe.
 
:cool:
Fun fact about the F-15 marked 957 "Sky Blazer" seen in this video.

It was involved in a mid-air collision with an A-4 during a training exercise over the Negev in 1983.

The F-15 managed to land safely and was later repaired.

Over the years, Sky Blazer has downed 4.5 Syrian planes (half because another F-15 was involved in shooting down a Syrian MiG-23 in 1985, and it was unclear which one launched the missile that ultimately caused the plane to be shot down)

The same F-15 also participated in September's strikes on the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
Source :
View: https://x.com/manniefabian/status/1850180145488761325?t=rqtUHGgiLVlrZXSp4nXhvw&s=19
 
Such extreme belief systems (from the Western point of view)
Always worth remembering that Christianity is the religion that came up with such gems as: 'Kill them all, God will know his own'. ('Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius,' Arnaud Almaric, head of the Cistercian Order and Papal Legate before the massacre of the Cathars at Beziers during the Albigensian Crusade). There's little fanatical followers of other religions can do that Christians haven't already tried.
 
Always worth remembering that Christianity is the religion that came up with such gems as: 'Kill them all, God will know his own'. ('Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius,' Arnaud Almaric, head of the Cistercian Order and Papal Legate before the massacre of the Cathars at Beziers during the Albigensian Crusade). There's little fanatical followers of other religions can do that Christians haven't already tried.
From the current Western point of view
 
I remember extreme belief systems/ideologies with quite a following in 20th century Europe, or even 21st century Europe. With the attendant atrocities. That qualifies as current to me.
 
Some of those F-15 Eagles are F-16s Falcons, or perhaps rather some of those Ra'ams are Soufas. I notice the clip cuts away just before we see if that's a centre-line tank on the Soufa, or an ALBM. There are possibly some lumps and bumps visible on it just before the cutaway that might argue against the tank.

What's that store on the Ra'am's forward port CFT mounting? From the front dielectrics I presume it's a jammer of some description. The Ra'am is configured for air to air, but something's worth giving up a BVRAAM for.
 
Evidence of this?

2019

2021


2022

etc
 

I've circled what I could make out as damage below. Might have missed some.

Planet Labs Images
Parachin Military Base - Before 09/09/2024 vs After 27/10/2024

1730057259716.png 1730058364022.png

Khojir Military Base - Before 08/10/2024 vs After 27/10/2024
1730057784251.png 1730058006578.png
 
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I remember extreme belief systems/ideologies with quite a following in 20th century Europe, or even 21st century Europe. With the attendant atrocities. That qualifies as current to me.
That's true, but the discussion was about extreme religious beliefs
 
The IDF uses fast packs on the F-15 and F-16. It may have also developed similar equipment for the F-35.
 

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LO CFTs for the F-35i (or any F-35 variant for that matter) should be out of question, no?
Sounds like something that would be far more difficult to develop, install, and keep secret than LO Drop tanks
 
The IDF uses fast packs on the F-15 and F-16. It may have also developed similar equipment for the F-35.
I can't see where you'd put CFTs on an F35 without messing up access somewhere. They can't go under the wings because the Weapons Bays are there. They can't go over the fuselage because that's where all the access panels are, you'd have to be willing to remove the CFTs constantly.
 
Any talk about a refueling drone?
Fighters feed from a cheapo drone that becomes a cruise missile at the last…
 
I don't see much difference between religious, ideological and nationalist zealotry. I am witnessing the bloody results of those every day.
If you're willing to spoil your next vacation, I suggest you do some comparative field research between ideology and religion by visiting Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, North Korea, and Afghanistan.
 

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I can't see where you'd put CFTs on an F35 without messing up access somewhere. They can't go under the wings because the Weapons Bays are there. They can't go over the fuselage because that's where all the access panels are, you'd have to be willing to remove the CFTs constantly.
It only has to work once as the phase one of the Saturn V or Doolittle B-25s or Yamamoto P-38s or Ulithi's Gingas.
 
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From the current Western point of view
Not sure how to parse 'Western' in this case. The current 'Western' POV (are we talking about the same thing?) sometimes looks like 'don't do as I do, do as I say'. The events in the Middle East today remind me of that.
If you're willing to spoil your next vacation, I suggest you do some comparative field research between ideology and religion by visiting Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, North Korea, and Afghanistan.
They are all most unpleasant, to varying degrees. The common denominator is, in my view, violent repression.
I was thinking of the current unpleasantries that are befalling Ukraine, and the events when former Yugoslavia disintegrated.

I think I will pass on the idea of that field trip.
 
The IDF uses fast packs on the F-15 and F-16. It may have also developed similar equipment for the F-35.
There is no evidence of CFTs for F-35s and indeed would likely impact the low observability. Even if they were developed, they would not be something one could easily just fit for the operation. Rather they would almost need to be flying with them all the time and thus we would probably have seen something by now.
 
Not sure how to parse 'Western' in this case. The current 'Western' POV (are we talking about the same thing?) sometimes looks like 'don't do as I do, do as I say'. The events in the Middle East today remind me of that.

They are all most unpleasant, to varying degrees. The common denominator is, in my view, violent repression.
I was thinking of the current unpleasantries that are befalling Ukraine, and the events when former Yugoslavia disintegrated.

I think I will pass on the idea of that field trip.
In my opinion, the most profound differences between these systems are the way in which each treats women. In ancient Greece the goddesses and heroines of epic literature were powerful women but in real society women could not own goods or public positions, a democracy with slaves, there has always been a lot of cynicism in these matters.
 
There is no evidence of CFTs for F-35s and indeed would likely impact the low observability. Even if they were developed, they would not be something one could easily just fit for the operation. Rather they would almost need to be flying with them all the time and thus we would probably have seen something by now.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entebbe_raid

When fighting for survival, the technical details are resolved one way or another, I am always surprised by the initiative and determination of this people.
 
Agreed. I don’t consider external fuel tanks as a aircraft modification.

The F-35I was not equipped or certified to carry drop tanks when delivered. The Israelis had to modify the hardware and software of the aircraft to use drop tanks.
 
There was a fire at an oil refinery in Khazestan on the 15th of October before the attack but it was Shushtar not Abadon. Could still be unrelated though, damage appears more like a fire than a bomb.
 
The F-35I was not equipped or certified to carry drop tanks when delivered. The Israelis had to modify the hardware and software of the aircraft to use drop tanks.
Alternatively they may convert part of the internal weapons bay to house fuel also?
 
Let’s be realistic please.
Okay, let's be realistic, but let's expect surprises.
Alternatively they may convert part of the internal weapons bay to house fuel also?
When using internal bombs bays to carry fuel, the offensive weaponry should be located outside, it should also be something very small and very lethal. At best an electronic jammer of enormous power, at worst... better not to think about it.
 

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