The Countries: Forget it, Burkina Faso, Michigan is still the worst.

[Swansong]

Is the Su-57 behind the F35 in capabilities, or just in the production cycle?

Also, are we reaching a ceiling where the marginal return on pushing avionics is so low it's better to just pump out a few more of the existing generation? Is the 5th generation the last generation that's really worth it (except as a jobs program obviously)?

Also, are hypersonic air-to-air missiles just going to turn all of these into incredibly expensive fireworks the instant anyone uses them? Seems like we might have that WW1 situation where all the cutting edge capital ships never leave port because one $15 sub can kill them.

I think the 57 is behind the 35 in capabilities, and most definitely on production. The 57 engines aren't finished and there's no timeline for them (Russia says one thing, analysts say they're lying... the usual). Russia has invested heavily into BVR AA tech, but as far as I'm aware they're still catching up to where the US was in the 1990s. I know Russia is claiming that the 57 and the future SU75 are totally networked and have better radar than the 35, but most analysts seem skeptical of that too.


I don't honestly know much about the hypersonic missile tech. It isn't new by any stretch. Russia is crowing about it like it's some wild new thing that they're way more advanced than the US. They may actually be ahead of us, but on one hand I'd be surprised, and on the other hand... so what? They don't really change the game much beyond being a possible vague threat to carriers (which, to be fair, since the US seems hell bent on building bigger and bigger... targets). But again, I'm not super knowledgeable about the subject.

[Kepler]

Republicans will take some lessons learned from Uganda.

[Swansong]

In actual news, the USS Abraham Lincoln is deploying with USMC F35Cs, so I guess that confirms they're operational.

https://news.usni.org/2022/01/03/abr...eid=2b9555b06e


The "C" variant is the carrier model. No VTOL. "B" is VTOL, and I think is operational? So this makes all three versions fully combat-ready. That's good!

[Kepler]

In actual news, the USS Abraham Lincoln is deploying with USMC F35Cs, so I guess that confirms they're operational.

https://news.usni.org/2022/01/03/abr...eid=2b9555b06e


The "C" variant is the carrier model. No VTOL. "B" is VTOL, and I think is operational? So this makes all three versions fully combat-ready. That's good!

Are the VTOLs for the Marines? I get the impression they are for extraction, not insertion (you can't parachute out).

[Swansong]

Are the VTOLs for the Marines? I get the impression they are for extraction, not insertion (you can't parachute out).

I think the Marines will be the primary users for the B version, but the functionality adds so much weight and... stuff that VTOL ends up limiting performance in a big, big way. Also, the B version is technically capable of vertical takeoff, but only with limited fuel and virtually no payload - it's more of a landing thing. Honestly I think you either design a fighter specifically with vertical takeoff as a requirement and key design feature, or you don't bother. There's a reason the Harrier is about the only long-standing VTOL fighter.

The requirements on the F35 were always fantastical pipe dreams, but on the bright side the A and C variants promise to be insanely good fighters in their own rights.

[Kepler]

Paraguay: Colonel Bambi, in the conservatory with the lead pipe.

[Spartanforlife4]

Protests and riots currently going on in Kazakhstan. Originally began to protest the rising energy prices after caps were lifted to start the year. The cabinet resigned to try to appease the protesters, and caps put back in place, but that didn’t work and they continued to grow.

Internet has reportedly been cut and there’s a two week curfew in place.

[Kepler]

Is nice!

[Kepler]

US January 6: policeman trampled to death.
Kazakhstan January 6: hold my beer.

At least with the latter the protesters are trying to overturn fascism.

[Kepler]

[Kepler]

Norway becomes a threat.

[Kepler]

Almaty becomes Fun City.

[Kepler]

Life expectancy in the red states is lower than the Northwest Territories.

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Almaty becomes Fun City.

Pooty's gotta nip this in the bud before the common Russian get any funny ideas about protesting his autocracy. Plus, he needs friendly regimes in charge of his "former" satellites.

[Kepler]

Grab onto a table or something, mookie.