We will say we will fight with whatever we have, rather than getting what we need.
US military, technology, arms, tactics
Re: US military, technology, arms, tactics
Re: US military, technology, arms, tactics
Iran did not have S400 iirc.
Re: US military, technology, arms, tactics
US LUCAS vs Iran Shahed Drone | Explained in Detail
Why US Stole this Low Budget drone Iranian Drone.
Because It’s So effective that when it’s warhead Makes Contact with the Target.
The Firing pin strikes the Primer activating the Detonator and ignite the Huge Explosives.
But that’s not it, the US took the Iranian Drone Change the Glonass With a Budget Advanced optical terrain-matching software.
You have to Give it to the Iranian
They managed to Build a Low Cost Cruise Missile.
Because a single Tomahawk costs $2.5 million wile a Shaid and a lucas drone cost $35,000.
Not to Forget this can also be used to Hunt Down Mobile Targets like Tanks
Why US Stole this Low Budget drone Iranian Drone.
Because It’s So effective that when it’s warhead Makes Contact with the Target.
The Firing pin strikes the Primer activating the Detonator and ignite the Huge Explosives.
But that’s not it, the US took the Iranian Drone Change the Glonass With a Budget Advanced optical terrain-matching software.
You have to Give it to the Iranian
They managed to Build a Low Cost Cruise Missile.
Because a single Tomahawk costs $2.5 million wile a Shaid and a lucas drone cost $35,000.
Not to Forget this can also be used to Hunt Down Mobile Targets like Tanks
Re: US military, technology, arms, tactics
How the US Navy Clears Sea Mines in the Strait of Hormuz
Rising tensions with Iran have once again put the Strait of Hormuz at the center of global attention. This narrow waterway, only about 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, carries nearly 20% of the world’s oil supply every day.
One of the biggest threats in this region isn’t missiles or warships — it’s naval mines.
In this video we explore how the United States Navy detects and destroys sea mines, including the specialized ships, helicopters, and underwater drones used in mine countermeasure operations. From the Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship to underwater robots like the AN/SLQ-48 Mine Neutralization Vehicle, modern mine warfare is far more complex than most people realize.
We’ll also look at how mines are deployed, why they remain one of the most dangerous naval weapons in the world, and how the U.S. military protects shipping lanes in one of the most strategic waterways on the planet.
How do warships actually destroy sea mines?
How are shipping lanes reopened after a mine attack?
And what could happen if the Strait of Hormuz were suddenly mined during the Iran conflict?
Rising tensions with Iran have once again put the Strait of Hormuz at the center of global attention. This narrow waterway, only about 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, carries nearly 20% of the world’s oil supply every day.
One of the biggest threats in this region isn’t missiles or warships — it’s naval mines.
In this video we explore how the United States Navy detects and destroys sea mines, including the specialized ships, helicopters, and underwater drones used in mine countermeasure operations. From the Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship to underwater robots like the AN/SLQ-48 Mine Neutralization Vehicle, modern mine warfare is far more complex than most people realize.
We’ll also look at how mines are deployed, why they remain one of the most dangerous naval weapons in the world, and how the U.S. military protects shipping lanes in one of the most strategic waterways on the planet.
How do warships actually destroy sea mines?
How are shipping lanes reopened after a mine attack?
And what could happen if the Strait of Hormuz were suddenly mined during the Iran conflict?
Re: US military, technology, arms, tactics
Fire onboard in laundry section caused 7 day repair.
US Warship Gerald Ford 'Bruised', Races To Seek Safety, Set For Over 7 Days Of Repair Amid Iran War
Iran war rages, mighty American carrier heads for repairs. After suffering fire, USS Ford set for over 7 days of repairs. USS Gerald R. Ford is the world's largest aircraft carrier. Warship exiting Red Sea, repairs at US Navy base on Crete. A fire days ago needed hours of damage control efforts. At least 2 sailors were hurt onboard the aircraft carrier. US military: Fire originated in the ship's laundry spaces. The Central Command underlined fire not combat-related
US Warship Gerald Ford 'Bruised', Races To Seek Safety, Set For Over 7 Days Of Repair Amid Iran War
Iran war rages, mighty American carrier heads for repairs. After suffering fire, USS Ford set for over 7 days of repairs. USS Gerald R. Ford is the world's largest aircraft carrier. Warship exiting Red Sea, repairs at US Navy base on Crete. A fire days ago needed hours of damage control efforts. At least 2 sailors were hurt onboard the aircraft carrier. US military: Fire originated in the ship's laundry spaces. The Central Command underlined fire not combat-related
Re: US military, technology, arms, tactics
One of the great surprises of the war is the use of old aircraft, 70 year old B 52s and the A-10 Warthog that was due for retirement but now prolonged to 2029. Warthogs are flying out of Muwaffaq Salti airbase in Jordan. This airbase has been refurbished earlier by CENTCOM around 2019. The F-22s and F-35 are kicking the door open and the A-10s are being used to keep the door open, though A 10sare not being used for deep strike missions.. They have a longer loiter time and are being used also in the straits of Hormuz to attack, mine laying craft while the carrier aircraft go on strike missions. They are not being used for deep strikes inside Iran as some rudimentary form of integrated air defence is still active over Iran. They have attacked Shia militias north of Tikrit and near Mosul in Iraq. Here is the sort of ordnance they are carrying:
1. The Weaponry: Pilots are using the GAU-8/A Avenger 30mm cannon to shred small, fast-moving vessels. They are also carrying APKWS II laser-guided rockets and AGM-65 Maverick missiles, which are highly effective against naval targets in tight littoral (coastal) waters.
Tactical Advantage: Unlike faster stealth jets, the A-10 can loiter for hours at low altitudes, providing persistent overwatch for commercial shipping and U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ships like the USS Santa Barbara.
2. This has been the area in which they have excelled. Counter-UAS (Drone Hunting)
The conflict has seen a massive influx of Iranian-made drones, such as the Shahed-136. The A-10 has evolved into a cost-effective "drone hunter" across Iraq and Syria.
Air-to-Air Role: Though not a dogfighter, the A-10 is being equipped with AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles and its cannon to down low-cost drones. This saves expensive long-range missiles for higher-tier threats.
Economics: Using an A-10 to loiter and pick off "one-way attack drones" is significantly cheaper and more sustainable than scrambled F-35 or F-15 sorties. Maybe an armored IJT or an armored Hawk would do with endurance.
3. Operations Against Proxies
Outside of direct strikes on Iranian assets, the A-10 continues its traditional role in Iraq and Syria, targeting Iranian-backed militia groups, like I said up above north of Tikrit and around Mosul. These missions focus on destroying missile launchers and logistics hubs used to attack U.S. regional bases.
In the Straits of Hormuz / Southern Flank of Iran
Main Targets Fast-attack boats, mine-layers, and UAV swarms
Key Weapons 30mm GAU-8 Cannon, APKWS II Rockets, AIM-9M Sidewinders
Because of this they have been granted a service reprieve until 2029 due to its success in this conflict.
Upgradation to Link 16
Also they carry a 600 lb centerline fuel tank for endurance. They was a rush job to upgrade A 10 to Link 16 and so they can now communicate with the F 22s. Can you spot their Link 16 antennae?
(hint TACAN)
Another fact is that Ah 64 Apaches are being pressed into drone killing operations too. This will possibly be studied by the IAF to analyse their effectiveness and possibly incorporated into the Rudra and Prachand.
Added later: https://theaviationist.com/2026/02/07/a-10-link-16/
1. The Weaponry: Pilots are using the GAU-8/A Avenger 30mm cannon to shred small, fast-moving vessels. They are also carrying APKWS II laser-guided rockets and AGM-65 Maverick missiles, which are highly effective against naval targets in tight littoral (coastal) waters.
Tactical Advantage: Unlike faster stealth jets, the A-10 can loiter for hours at low altitudes, providing persistent overwatch for commercial shipping and U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ships like the USS Santa Barbara.
2. This has been the area in which they have excelled. Counter-UAS (Drone Hunting)
The conflict has seen a massive influx of Iranian-made drones, such as the Shahed-136. The A-10 has evolved into a cost-effective "drone hunter" across Iraq and Syria.
Air-to-Air Role: Though not a dogfighter, the A-10 is being equipped with AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles and its cannon to down low-cost drones. This saves expensive long-range missiles for higher-tier threats.
Economics: Using an A-10 to loiter and pick off "one-way attack drones" is significantly cheaper and more sustainable than scrambled F-35 or F-15 sorties. Maybe an armored IJT or an armored Hawk would do with endurance.
3. Operations Against Proxies
Outside of direct strikes on Iranian assets, the A-10 continues its traditional role in Iraq and Syria, targeting Iranian-backed militia groups, like I said up above north of Tikrit and around Mosul. These missions focus on destroying missile launchers and logistics hubs used to attack U.S. regional bases.
In the Straits of Hormuz / Southern Flank of Iran
Main Targets Fast-attack boats, mine-layers, and UAV swarms
Key Weapons 30mm GAU-8 Cannon, APKWS II Rockets, AIM-9M Sidewinders
Because of this they have been granted a service reprieve until 2029 due to its success in this conflict.
Upgradation to Link 16
Also they carry a 600 lb centerline fuel tank for endurance. They was a rush job to upgrade A 10 to Link 16 and so they can now communicate with the F 22s. Can you spot their Link 16 antennae?
(hint TACAN)Another fact is that Ah 64 Apaches are being pressed into drone killing operations too. This will possibly be studied by the IAF to analyse their effectiveness and possibly incorporated into the Rudra and Prachand.
Added later: https://theaviationist.com/2026/02/07/a-10-link-16/
Re: US military, technology, arms, tactics
Maybe the US should reopen the old WW2 B24 Liberator and B25 Mitchell bomber aircrafts factories. With their 4-8 gunners the piston powered aircraft could prove to be very effective drone hunters. In WW2 at peak production the US was making around 20 Liberators per day!vsunder wrote: ↑20 Mar 2026 21:53 One of the great surprises of the war is the use of old aircraft, 70 year old B 52s and the A-10 Warthog that was due for retirement but now prolonged to 2029. Warthogs are flying out of Muwaffaq Salti airbase in Jordan. ...
...Unlike faster stealth jets, the A-10 can loiter for hours at low altitudes, providing persistent overwatch for commercial shipping and U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ships like the USS Santa Barbara.
...Maybe an armored IJT or an armored Hawk would do with endurance.
Yes.. am kidding
Seriously though, just goes to show that even old, seemingly obsolete weapons can find new applications.
There is a old thread here on this forum (started by the venerable Doctor saab IIRC) about Old Weapons which are/could be still relevant
Added - Found it... in the Forum Trash Can though
viewtopic.php?t=7194
Re: US military, technology, arms, tactics
A-10's Ruthless Hunt in the Strait of Hormuz?
"Why" the A-10 Thunderbolt is Suited for the Strait of Hormuz
Well The U.S. Air Force has been trying to retire the aging A-10 for years to free up budget for 5th-generation stealth fighters like the F-35.
However, the unique geography and asymmetric threats of the Strait of Hormuz have made the Warthog temporarily indispensable.
They fly Low and can Slow down the Flight Speed.
Modern jets often fly too fast and high to effectively track small, agile boats swarming in a tight littoral coastal environment.
The A-10 is built to fly close to the surface, allowing pilots to visually identify and engage small, erratic targets.
One of the Main Advantage is that it also has Massive Loiter Time
The A-10 can circle above the strait for hours.
This persistent over watch allows them to wait patiently for IRGC boats to emerge from hidden coastal inlets before striking.
as we also know The Strait is heavily defended by man-portable air defense systems and small-arms fire.
To Counter Small Fire Arms The A-10's "titanium bathtub" cockpit armor and redundant flight systems allow it to absorb heavy anti-aircraft fire and keep flying
a risk the military is less willing to take with a F-35 $100 million stealth fighter Jet.
"Why" the A-10 Thunderbolt is Suited for the Strait of Hormuz
Well The U.S. Air Force has been trying to retire the aging A-10 for years to free up budget for 5th-generation stealth fighters like the F-35.
However, the unique geography and asymmetric threats of the Strait of Hormuz have made the Warthog temporarily indispensable.
They fly Low and can Slow down the Flight Speed.
Modern jets often fly too fast and high to effectively track small, agile boats swarming in a tight littoral coastal environment.
The A-10 is built to fly close to the surface, allowing pilots to visually identify and engage small, erratic targets.
One of the Main Advantage is that it also has Massive Loiter Time
The A-10 can circle above the strait for hours.
This persistent over watch allows them to wait patiently for IRGC boats to emerge from hidden coastal inlets before striking.
as we also know The Strait is heavily defended by man-portable air defense systems and small-arms fire.
To Counter Small Fire Arms The A-10's "titanium bathtub" cockpit armor and redundant flight systems allow it to absorb heavy anti-aircraft fire and keep flying
a risk the military is less willing to take with a F-35 $100 million stealth fighter Jet.
Re: US military, technology, arms, tactics
How the US Navy Is Replacing $3M Missiles with $3 Laser Shots in Hormuz
How the US Navy Just Replaced $3M Missiles with $3 Laser Shots in Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is on the edge. Over 150 commercial vessels are anchored outside the world's most critical oil chokepoint. Tanker traffic has collapsed by 70 percent. And US Navy destroyers are navigating contested waters where Iranian fast boats, surveillance drones, and shore-based missile batteries are operating at a pace not seen in decades.
For years, the US Navy's answer to every drone threat cost between $2 million and $4 million per intercept. Between November 2023 and early 2025, that approach burned through over $1 billion in munitions in the Red Sea alone — more defensive interceptors fired in 15 months than in the previous 30 years combined.
Now something has changed.
A directed energy system is operating alongside US warships in the Persian Gulf right now — one capable of neutralising a drone threat for approximately one dollar. No missile cell consumed. No magazine depleted. No return to port required.
This is the full story of HELIOS and ODIN — the laser weapon systems the US Navy has developed, what they are doing in the Strait of Hormuz today, and why they may permanently rewrite the economics of naval warfare.
From the first shipboard laser fired in the Persian Gulf in 2014 to the four-drone engagement confirmed by Lockheed Martin in January 2026, this is the technology that is changing everything.
CHAPTERS
00:00 The Strait of Hormuz Is on the Edge — Here's Why It Matters
01:49 The $1 Billion Crisis the Pentagon Could Not Ignore
02:54 How Iran Made the Cost Equation Completely Unsustainable
05:28 The Night America First Fired a Laser Weapon at Sea
06:48 ODIN: The Drone Blinder Operating in the Strait Right Now
08:26 HELIOS — Meet the $1 Per Engagement Weapon Built to End This
10:34 The Uncomfortable Truth About Where HELIOS Actually Is Today
12:04 Navy Leadership Admits the Laser Programme Fell Dangerously Short
13:58 Five Destroyers Already Wired — The Quiet Scale-Up Nobody Noticed
16:50 The Era of the Interceptor Missile Is Coming to an End
How the US Navy Just Replaced $3M Missiles with $3 Laser Shots in Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is on the edge. Over 150 commercial vessels are anchored outside the world's most critical oil chokepoint. Tanker traffic has collapsed by 70 percent. And US Navy destroyers are navigating contested waters where Iranian fast boats, surveillance drones, and shore-based missile batteries are operating at a pace not seen in decades.
For years, the US Navy's answer to every drone threat cost between $2 million and $4 million per intercept. Between November 2023 and early 2025, that approach burned through over $1 billion in munitions in the Red Sea alone — more defensive interceptors fired in 15 months than in the previous 30 years combined.
Now something has changed.
A directed energy system is operating alongside US warships in the Persian Gulf right now — one capable of neutralising a drone threat for approximately one dollar. No missile cell consumed. No magazine depleted. No return to port required.
This is the full story of HELIOS and ODIN — the laser weapon systems the US Navy has developed, what they are doing in the Strait of Hormuz today, and why they may permanently rewrite the economics of naval warfare.
From the first shipboard laser fired in the Persian Gulf in 2014 to the four-drone engagement confirmed by Lockheed Martin in January 2026, this is the technology that is changing everything.
CHAPTERS
00:00 The Strait of Hormuz Is on the Edge — Here's Why It Matters
01:49 The $1 Billion Crisis the Pentagon Could Not Ignore
02:54 How Iran Made the Cost Equation Completely Unsustainable
05:28 The Night America First Fired a Laser Weapon at Sea
06:48 ODIN: The Drone Blinder Operating in the Strait Right Now
08:26 HELIOS — Meet the $1 Per Engagement Weapon Built to End This
10:34 The Uncomfortable Truth About Where HELIOS Actually Is Today
12:04 Navy Leadership Admits the Laser Programme Fell Dangerously Short
13:58 Five Destroyers Already Wired — The Quiet Scale-Up Nobody Noticed
16:50 The Era of the Interceptor Missile Is Coming to an End
Re: US military, technology, arms, tactics
Naval Intelligence in the Age of Autonomy, AI, and Attritable Mass
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedi ... table-mass
April 2026
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedi ... table-mass
April 2026
Re: US military, technology, arms, tactics
B-21 Raider accelerates delivery of long-range strike capability
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display ... apability/
14 April 2026
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display ... apability/
14 April 2026
Re: US military, technology, arms, tactics
And the MQ-9 Sea Guardian is being developed into a Sub-tracker, a mine-killer and even an AEW UCAV (which can be launched from an aircraft carrier)
MQ-9B Sea Guardian Ready For Teaming With P-8 Poseidon
MQ-9B Sea Guardian Ready For Teaming With P-8 Poseidon
Re: US military, technology, arms, tactics
USAF is planning to buy 200 plus F-15 EX Eagles.
https://www.twz.com/air/f-15ex-buy-was- ... fect-sense
Even the uber super power feels 4.x gen still has a role in the near future
https://www.twz.com/air/f-15ex-buy-was- ... fect-sense
Even the uber super power feels 4.x gen still has a role in the near future