F-35B to replace the RAF's Harrier jump jet

 It was the most advanced fighter jet, Capable of vertical takeoff and Landing, and a triumph of British engineering.                                                     

But that was then. Today, 40 years after the Harrier jump jet first came into service, the last of the planes are about to be phased out.

The pin-up of aircraft enthusiasts and the hero of the Falklands war will be a hard act to follow. So what is riding the Harrier’s slipstream?

                                                                                                                                     

The answer is the F-35B, built by the American aerospace giant Lockheed-Martin. This new fighter-bomber can take off from just a few yards of runway and land vertically, thanks to a huge fan providing 20,000lb of thrust, which enables the plane to hover before touching down. The maker emphasises that the similarities to the Harrier are limited: the F-35 series is different in every other respect, and is equipped with 21st-century technology that will make it one of the most effective planes in the skies.

This point was rammed home last week when the US government killed off the F-35’s big brother, the F-22 Raptor. Production of this super-fighter, it said, will be capped at just 187, allowing more funds to be diverted to the 3,000 F-35s it is planning to build. Of these, Britain will buy 138, and the first three are expected to be delivered late next year. The F-35 uses an upgraded version of the Pratt & Whitney jet engines in the F-22. With a maximum thrust output of 40,000lb, this is the most powerful jet fighter engine yet built. The F-35 also uses similar radar-evading stealth techniques to the F-22, eliminating sharp angles on the airframe wherever possible. Its radar signature is said to be comparable to that of a steel golf ball.

The RAF will be using a modified variant called the F-35B, armed with Sidewinder missiles and combining the manoeuvrability of a Harrier with a top speed of 1,200mph — almost twice as fast as its predecessor. It also carries air-to-ground cruise missiles and up to 12,000lb of “dumb” bombs. This, says the Ministry of Defence, will allow it to play vital roles in air defence as well as the sort of low-tech ground conflict in which both the US and the UK are currently embroiled.

The F-35B is a more powerful workhorse than the AV-8B Harrier it replaces, able to carry twice the payload for nearly twice the distance. Arguably, though, it is the electronics that move on the furthest from its 40-year-old predecessor. As well as using the traditional stick and throttle, pilots will fly the aircraft through a combination of voice commands and touchscreen controls. Flight data will be displayed in 3-D inside the pilot’s helmet, and on-board software will diagnose mechanical problems and assess battle damage, then radio instructions ahead to ground crews. Each plane will effectively have its own R2-D2 robot to look after it.

Like the existing Harrier joint force, the F-35B will be flown by both RAF and Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy) pilots based on aircraft carriers. Up to 36 aircraft will be deployed on each of the two Queen Elizabeth-class ships currently being built at a cost of nearly £2 billion each. The first of the 64,000-ton vessels should enter service in 2014.

Few RAF pilots have flown the new plane in anger, but British Top Gun instructors have been preparing for its arrival with simulators. Squadron Leader Ed Thomas, an instructor with the RAF’s 208 Squadron, based in Anglesey, described the F-35B as an outstanding aircraft and said it was easier to fly than the Harrier. “It’s an excellent piece of kit,” he said. “It’s cutting edge, future-proof and better than anything else in contention.”

Those who have flown the planes have so far approved. Lieutenant-Colonel James “Flipper” Kromberg, a USAF pilot, flew the first of the F-35s in January 2008. At the end of his first day’s flying, he said: “I’ve been smiling since arriving this morning, and haven’t stopped yet.”

The UK has been promised full control over its aircraft, weapons and operating systems — unlike, say, Trident nuclear missiles, which rely heavily on its American manufacturer’s software and personnel, even when they are fitted into Royal Navy submarines.

The F-35 programme involves nine nations but the UK is Lockheed’s lead partner, and British manufacturers such as BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce will provide feedback into the B variant’s development. Sadly, Britain doesn’t appear to be getting the planes at a discount: the three evaluation aircraft ordered by John Hutton, the defence secretary, last month came with a combined estimated price tag of £180m.

British troops get new Sharpshooter rifle to blast Taliban... because their weapons have a longer range than ours

British soldiers in Afghanistan will be issued with a new infantry combat rifle for the first time in 20 years, the Ministry of Defence announced today.
More than 400 Sharpshooter rifles, which fire a 7.62mm round, are being purchased as part of a £1.5million 'urgent operational requirement'.
The first batch of the U.S.-made rifles will be used by the 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, from October.

'Urgent requirement': More than 400 U.S.-made Sharpshooter rifles will be used by British soldiers in Afghanistan from October
Quentin Davies, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, said: 'Troops in Afghanistan are already bristling with a variety of weapons they can use when fighting the Taliban.

Capable: The new rifle, the first to be issued to infantrymen in 20 years, fires a 7.62mm round and has a kill range of up to 900 yards
'The Sharpshooter rifle adds to this arsenal and provides them with an additional, highly-precise, long-range capability.
'This is a concrete example of where we add to our range of equipment to ensure our brave forces have the best kit available to them on the frontline.'
Sharpshooter rifles have a 'kill range' of up to 900 yards, while the Army's standard issue SA80 A2 assault rifle, which fires smaller 5.56mm bullets, is limited to around 300 yards.
Insurgents in Afghanistan are said to have learned the effective range of the current issue weapons and return fire from their AK47 rifles, which also fire 7.62mm bullets, from further away.
The MoD said the semi-automatic weapons, also known as L129A1 rifles, were the first new infantry combat rifle to be given to troops in more than two decades.
Colonel Peter Warden, Light Weapons, Photographic and Batteries team leader at Defence, Equipment and Support, said: 'The Sharpshooter rifle is very capable and has been bought to fulfill a specific role on the frontline in Afghanistan.
'It is a versatile weapon which will give our units a new dimension to their armoury.
'Initial feedback to the rifle has been very positive and the Army units deployed in Afghanistan are very keen to get their hands on it.'

The L129A1 Sharpshooter
The L129A1 Sharpshooter is a gas-operated weapon that carries a 20-round magazine. It is 945mm long and weighs 5kg. It will be manufactured by Lewis Machine & Tool Company in the United States. Features include a single-piece upper receiver and free-floating, quick-change barrels available in 305mm, 406mm and 508mm. It has four Picatinny rails with a 540mm top rail for night vision, thermal and image intensifying optics.

GOOD NEWS FOR THE ROYAL NAVY

There has been a lot of controversy in recent months over the level of defence spending and whether all of our commitments and current equipment plans are affordable. Despite this, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is pressing on with some very big ticket purchases for the Royal Navy. Just this week, a further £80m of sub-contracts for the two giant aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales were placed.  Around 40% of the value of the build of the two carriers is now committed and full-scale production is proceeding.

The carriers, which will be known as the Queen Elizabeth Class, are being constructed by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA) which consists of Thales UK, BAE Systems, BVT Surface Fleet, Babcock and the Ministry of Defence.
The carriers will each weigh 65,000 tonnes, be 280m long and 70m wide. A ship of this size is necessary to deliver the quantity of air power required. They will be capable of 25 knots and will have a total complement (with air group) of approximately 1500 people. Their flight decks will support an air wing capable of delivering significant offensive air power to support the battle ashore for prolonged periods of time and will be capable of carrying the widest possible range of aircraft in support of operations. They will be specifically developed to provide a base for the US/UK partnership designed Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.

They will be truly impressive ships and only the US Navy will have anything bigger or more effective. They will put the Royal Navy back on the maritime map but at a huge cost. In order to afford these mammoth ships the rest of the fleet continues to be pared back. The number of frigates and destroyers is likely to fall below 25. They are the backbone of the fleet and do the donkey work of patrolling the high seas and protecting shipping and British interests across the world. They are also necessary to provide defence for the highly vulnerable aircraft carriers. At the time of the Falklands War in 1982 the Royal Navy could muster over 60 frigates and destroyed

What Does a Sniper Really Do?

       

16 April 2011

Army Ranger Sniper

In the interest of privacy, the Army Ranger sniper we interviewed for this article asked not to be named; he will be referred to as Army Ranger Sniper for the duration of this interview.

A sniper is a highly trained soldier who specializes in shooting targets with modified rifles from incredibly long distances. They're also adept in stealth, camouflage, infiltration, and observation techniques.

Military snipers are used in a variety of missions on the battlefield, and the sniper's primary mission has nothing to do with pulling a trigger. The main battlefield role of the sniper is reconnaissance. Because snipers are masters of stealth, they are perfectly suited to sneak behind enemy lines to provide command with information about the enemy's size, strength and location.

When the mission calls for it, snipers can also dismantle and dishearten the enemy with a few well-placed rifle shots. Instead of engaging the entire enemy force like traditional infantry, snipers concentrate their efforts on hunting key people -- officers, pilots, armor drivers, technicians, and communications operators. With deadly shots that kill without warning, military snipers break both the enemy's will and ability to fight.

A U.S. Marine Sniper sights a target through a scope on a 12.7 mm .50-caliber light Fifty Model 82A1 Sniper Rifle.

When there is no specific objective, a sniper will look for targets of opportunity. By tracking enemy movements, snipers wait patiently for the unsuspecting soldiers to present the opportunity for a perfect shot. An officer taking a break to smoke a cigarette, a pilot flight-checking his helicopter, an armed guard on patrol -- these are all targets of opportunity.

"You want to take out what's going to help your buddies the most." This is what Army Ranger Sniper had to say on selecting targets of opportunity. He continues:

... When you're in the military, you have experience knowing how a commander acts. You know a private -- a private Joe Nobody is generally going to be sitting behind a mound or sitting in a hole with his weapon. You can tell who's who by looking -- 'Okay, this guy's in charge and that guy's a nobody' -- just because of the way they act. That's one of the reasons in the field you're not supposed to salute officers. Say, in the field, you're sitting there looking and some guy walks by and salutes somebody and then, 'BAM' -- you know he's an officer. That's one of those things you pick up on.

Snipers are also utilized in support roles. These support roles can be an over-watch position or a blocking action. When a sniper is in an over-watch position, he sets himself up in a concealed place that gives him a clear view of the battlefield. There he can support the assault force by taking out enemy forces that are endangering the advancing platoon. In a blocking action, snipers set up to help secure a position that is controlled by their platoon. They may set up on a roof and help ground forces defend their position.

­Snipers don't just shoot people. They are often ord­ered to destroy material targets. A sniper may shoot generators, radios, transmitters, or fuel and water supplies. Putting a .50 caliber round in the engine block of a helicopter or transport is just as effective as putting one in the man who drives them.

Snipers are what military strategists refer to as force multipliers. Simply put, a force multiplier is an individual or small team that, through the use of special tactics, can do the damage of a much larger force. What's amazing about snipers is that they are capable of force multiplication without ever directly engaging the enemy.

Because of the nature of their missions, snipers travel with very little gear, patiently moving under the cover of brush or night. But they never travel alone. Snipers teams often have to stay completely still for hours or days at a time to avoid detection, waiting for the right moment to take the shot. In the next section, we'll learn how sniper teams work together to achieve "the perfect shot."

SO YOU WANTA BE A WWII (AIRSOFT) US AIRBORNE RANGER

Here is if you like a kit guide and were to get the uniform and equipment that you require if you wish to go fully into this with the real look.

US: 2ndRangers

Head

• M1 GI Helmet (Post War): SoF £20 (better colour results can be achieved by spraying OD Green)
• Helmet net: SoF £4 – £6 (green tight net, or open weave net more associated with the Airborne)
• Helmet leather chinstrap (missing off the post-war helmet) and canvass Chinstrap (of which coupled onto the bails using fasteners) should be replaced with the khaki canvass strap, and sewn onto the bails: SoF £15
• Paratrooper leather chinstrap (cupped leather) and canvass A-Frames, secures the helmet firmly to the wearer’s head. A-frames attach to the leather sweat band/canvas suspension inside the helmet liner: SoF £30 for the whole set (not shown in photograph)
• Tan, brown and green hessian was commonly woven into the helmet liner to mask the outline of the helmet to offer the trooper more concealment (can be taken from torn up sandbags or hessian potato sacks).

Uniform

• 82nd and 101st Airborne wore jumpsuits which were reinforced on the knees and elbows. They are covered in pockets for storing all the equipment they will have needed until they were relived. For Airsoft purposes they are handy for carrying bags of bbs, magazines and pyros.

Uniform as Pictured:

• M42 Jumpsuit with reinforced Knees and Elbows: SoF, P and various – £80-100 depending on supplier / sizes. The larger of frames should think about reinforcing the stitching in the crotch area as the stitching on the repros is not that great. On the trousers, tucking the leg straps inside and underneath the cargo pockets stops the material from overstretching here.
• 82nd Shoulder Tile. Pretty much all retailers will have due to popularity – £6-10 is average, the badge that is already sewn into the material looks better mounted onto actual jacket, rather than the standalone patch.
• Private Rank Slides  – Recommended for all players at CiA games unless assigned a rank otherwise (other than that any rank goes) £5 up to £10 for large patches such as Sergeant.

Feet

• Corcoran Jump Boots. Airborne troopers wore these, and they were quite sort after by many of the other units: SoF - £60

Webbing

• M1923 Garand cartridge belt: SoF £25-30 (original belts are more robust than the monkey metal used in repro belts, but are rather pricey). Other belts that can be worn: the Standard Pistol belt (for use for Thompson Rigs and M1 Carbine Rigs: SoF £15
• M1936 Suspenders, hooks onto the M1923 Cartridge belt (or any of the belts with the eyelets, and spreads the weight of the loaded belt): SoF £25
• M1936 Musette pack, hooks onto the M1936 Webbing suspenders from the D-loops: SoF £20, fill with bubble wrap to bulk it out and keep weight light but useful for carrying gas, water or food if out on long regen games (or waterproof Poncho if it is raining)
• M1910 Water bottle set: SoF anywhere between £15 and £20 as standard. Hooks onto eyelets on the bottom of the belt.
• M1942 First Aid pouch, attaches to front left hand side of the webbing belt (usually, or wherever it fits) SoF £5, can be useful for carrying BFG blank rounds and arming rod for airsoft, otherwise filled with metal Carlisle tin. SoF £8
• Airborne First Aid pouch (attached to suspenders pictured) or attached directly to the helmet netting (more commonly done during Op. Market Garden: SoF £15
• Leather Colt .45 holster (cross drawer shoulder version was more commonly used by the riflemen – officers and NCOs usually had the hip version). Used by Officers and NCOs for carrying their colt .45 (where issued) SoF £25-30, try and get a nice shade of reddy brown, rather than the nasty orange repro jobbies.
• T-Handled entrenching tool (attaches to belt for airborne) : SoF repro £20
Green webbing can be used too, during the war there will be a mixture of Green and Tan webbing due to the particular batch of dye they were using in the material at the time.

Weapon

• Custom M1 Garand (AEG) converted from AGM M14: S&S – £200 approx.
• TM 1911 (GBB): AS and other retailers £80-120
• Garand reproduction sling: SoF – £20

Misc.

• M1 Garand Bandolier. Here shown around the neck it was used for carrying 6 extra 8 round M1 clips, however they do not fit much airsoft wise: SoF/ebay – £5 They can be filled with moulded rubber M1 clips to make it look like the real rounds but about 1/10th of the weight: SoF – £3 each

Notes

All prices are approximate. Also try Militaria Fairs – they can contain some real bargains. Many of the items pictured were bought at Militaria fairs. Where no retailer is mentioned in the list above its best to try buy at a fair.

 S&S – Shoot ‘n Scoot:www.shootnscoot.co.uk
EM – Epic Militaria: www.epicmilitaria.com
ML – Monty’s Locker: www.badges.montyslocker.co.uk
SoF – Soldier of Fortune www.sofmilitary.co.uk/reenactors/index.asp
WPG – What Price Glory www.whatpriceglory.com
CES – Chas E Smith: www.chasesmith.co.uk
AS – Airsoft Skirmish: www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk
DP – Div Patch: www.divpatch.com
SJ – Sentimental Journey: www.sentimentaljourney.co.uk

THE NEW TM SCAR L recoil

Review: Tokyo Marui SCAR-L Recoil Shock

This is a very quick initial review of the TM SCAR-L Recoil Shock AEG System.

As with other TM guns, the external seems reasonably well built. Although there's a tone difference between the upper, lower and grip, it's not as strongly contrasted as VFC SCAR-L's. To me TM's FDE is somewhat a little "earthier" than VFC SCAR-L's. Here's some initial pics :-

Unboxing the TM SCAR-L :-

A close up of the lower/upper receiver colour difference :-

I've found the TM grip to be bigger (and therefore more comfortable) than the VFC, which to me has always felt "slender". Also as visible, the selector switch positioning is different, but the magwell on the TM also has an indentation of which VFC's doesn't. Other aesthetic differences includes the hinge for the folding stock, the front flip sight adjustment, the gas block colour (material?), etc. The overall TM receiver length does appear to be a little longer than VFC's but not by much. Later I'll be counting rails.

Some other notable differences include :-

• TM's charging handle doesn't lock back, you have to hold it back to adjust the hop (which is similar to the TM Sopmod style)
• The front barrel extender (at least in the manual) appears to be one piece. That's a pity 'cos it means I can't just unscrew it to make it into a CQB - I could be wrong 'cos I'm just referring to the user manual and haven't physically tried unscrewing it.
•  The gas block is a dummy, you cannot remove anything like the VFC (i.e. no hop adjustment, or no torque screw driver)
• There's wires visible from the receiver to the stock (see below)

 Also wires are nicely routed within the stock (fuse is barely visible but there), and there's a little swing hook for the battery wires too :-

The stock pin is also held nicely in place, without having to worry about losing the locking pin (like the VFC SCAR-L).

Here's the breakdown from the user manual, that barrel appears to be one-piece :-

Black Wolves

Black Wolves

AIRSOFT

Well here is the first post on The Black Wolves Airsoft Blog.  We are a bunch of friends who have got together and made a Team and I like to think that we are a very good Team, even though every Individual player is just like any other player who skirrmishes and enjoys Airsoft.

We help each other out when one of the team has a problem if one of the Teams guns breakdown we will try to fix it but if its not a quick fix we have enough Airsoft guns that that Team member can continue to play then we try to sort out the problem later, and if its above our abilities we give it to Fire Support who are the best shop and repairs any where in the country.

We also all chip in Money together to buy things for the Team to give us a little bit of comfort.  We have a 10ft x 10ft Gazebo and an industrial Gas Heater so when its cold and wet we sit in our nice warm and dry Gazebo until we go out to play.

We invite anyone who wishes to join our team and have fun together as we said you dont have to be special except you must own your own gun (except 2 Tones).  So if you wish to join just come and see us in our Gazebo.

We have a Team Patch which I think most of you have seen which is the only thing you need to Purchase to become a Team Member which costs £10

We also chip in together to buy products cheaper in Bulk Like bbs Pyros etc

we also have Team Polo Shirts which are personilised with the Black Wolves emblem on the left breast and your name above it.

We have two colours Tan or Black and these are only £15 each but its not compolsory to buy them.

Thanks for reading my first Post of |Many I hope which some will be talking about certain games,
Games organised at differant sites
Games we get invited to
Requests from other people of what they would like to read (if we are able to)

So again Many thanks and please login and if you wish leave a comment below:

Kind Regards
Mark "Black Wolf" Christie