When you aren’t on X, you may’ve missed that america navy misplaced the costliest weapon system ever constructed. Not solely did they lose it, however they needed to resort to crowdsourcing info to attempt to discover stated weapon system.
I watched the information diligently final evening, in search of updates and protection of the lacking F-35 Lightning II, solely to seek out little to no point out of the ‘zombie’ plane. The occasion birthed a number of the greatest memes on social media and several other hilarious inside jokes on veteran boards, nevertheless.
Finally, particles from the plane was found in a area not removed from the bottom of origin, and it seems nobody was injured or killed this time. Nonetheless, all the episode begs some severe questions on managing our protection spending and holding our protection trade accountable.
When you’re involved or upset concerning the US dropping a $150 million greenback F35 to Cuba, remember that Biden left $7 Billion {dollars} price of navy weapons, amo and autos in Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/gJWxzmBkEg
— Basic™️👀🇺🇸🦅 (@TheGeneral_0) September 18, 2023
Return to M. Milley if discovered
This Sunday, a pilot of an F-35 fighter jet ejected from his plane for unknown causes. The airplane was lacking till final evening when its particles was lastly present in a area close to Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina.
Main as much as its discovery, Joint Base Charleston felt the necessity to ask the general public for assist discovering the plane, releasing a cellphone quantity for residents to name with info. After I first noticed the discover from the bottom with the cellphone quantity, I needed to dive fairly deep as a result of I assumed it was a hoax or maybe a headline from the Babylon Bee – alas, it was not.
Many contemplated how on Earth america navy may lose a fighter jet. Questions that got here to thoughts each on social media and in my very own head included:
- Doesn’t this factor have a tracker or transponder on it?
- What would somebody say in the event that they ‘discovered’ an F-35 after they name the 1 800 quantity?
- How lengthy can a fighter jet fly by itself?
- Did China hack the fighter jet and fly it to Cuba?
- Did another person hack the fighter jet and plan to make use of it as a missile, a la 9/11 fashion?
- Did aliens abduct the fighter jet?
UPDATE: The lacking #F35 plane in South Carolina has been situated. Extra particulars to comply with. #AviationNews #Military #ufotwitter #aliens pic.twitter.com/wFttolWlyE
— Fettuccine Break up (@FettuccineSplit) September 18, 2023
That final one is only for enjoyable; nevertheless, identical to with UFO disclosure, the likelihood that we’ll discover out the reality behind why the pilot ejected and why the navy had such a tough time discovering the airplane will possible stay a thriller.
RELATED: Pentagon Shifts Combat Training, Signaling Preparations for War With China, Russia, Major Powers
An actual lemon
When you aren’t a protection nerd like myself, let me introduce you to the F-35 Lightning. Some variations of this Lockheed Martin brainchild can take off and land vertically and hover in place along with having superior stealth capabilities.
Help Conservative Voices!
Signal as much as obtain the newest political information, perception, and commentary delivered on to your inbox.
The stealth side offered copious puns, noting that maybe the fighter jet is just too stealthy even for the Pentagon. One F-35 will cost you about $80 million, not together with the upkeep and upgrades required.
The Authorities Accountability Workplace estimates all the F-35 program to value about $1.7 trillion, which incorporates this system’s buying, working, and sustainment prices, making the F-35 the only most costly weapons program ever. It’s additionally the worst weapons program, on this Airman’s opinion.
By my depend, this crash places the F-35 at eight complete crashes since its inception. Whereas it feels like a cool navy toy, it’s been grounded for varied points, together with not having the ability to deliver oxygen to pilots and in addition being incapable of flying inside 25 miles of, await it… lightning.
RELATED: Senator Rand Paul & RFK Jr. Team Up to Take Down the Uniparty’s Disastrous Foreign Policy
That’s proper, the F-35 Lightning is rather like my youngsters, fearful of thunderstorms. Two years in the past, the New York Times known as this system a “boondoggle,” and most of DC admits it’s a horrible funding.
Nonetheless, that hasn’t stopped Congress from pouring more cash into the fighters, with Canada, Germany, and Japan additionally buying F-35s from Lockheed. If you find yourself one in every of only some huge boys on the town, you don’t want to fret about enterprise hurting when you produce a crap product.
Biden was requested about his ideas on the F35 and he stated he is not a giant fan of Ford Vans. 🥴
— The Nasty Italian🍷🇺🇸 🇮🇹 (@sayitnspinit) September 18, 2023
It’s not simply the airplane
The F-35 is horrible, however when you pay nearer consideration, it’s extra than simply this specific weapons system having points. Performing Commandant for the Marine Corps Basic Eric Smith has directed all Marine Corps aviation items to conduct a two-day “pause in operations” or what we veterans would name “down days.”
The objective of the 2 days is to debate aviation security issues and greatest practices, as the next assertion from the Marine Corps explains:
“This stand-down is being taken to make sure the service is sustaining operational standardization of combat-ready plane with well-prepared pilots and crews.”
This newest crash is the third Class-A aviation mishap in simply six weeks. A Class-A mishap includes property harm of a minimum of $2.5 million or lack of life.
Final month, a F/A-18 Hornet crashed in San Diego, killing the pilot. A couple of days later, an MV-22B Osprey crashed in Australia, killing three Marines.
Each incidents are nonetheless beneath investigation, but it surely begs the query: are our weapon techniques all unhealthy, or are our pilots unsafe? It might be a combination of each, which ought to preserve you up at evening.
Let’s deliver him residence protected….#F35 pic.twitter.com/igzlYMFgLI
— UFO CHRONICLES PODCAST🎙️𝕏 (@UFOchronpodcast) September 18, 2023
Nothing to see right here
The USA spends extra on protection than the next ten nations mixed: China, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea, and Ukraine. This week, the Home of Representatives is attempting to pass an $826 billion protection invoice.
These inflicting velocity bumps to this plan are being shamed by neocons and Democrats, claiming they don’t care concerning the troops or nationwide safety. However I might argue they in all probability care greater than another group in DC.
Let’s make a journey down reminiscence lane and take a look at the Division of Protection’s current efficiency report:
- The Pentagon failed its fifth consecutive audit, solely accounting for 39% of $3.5 trillion in belongings
- Pentagon leaders claimed there was proof the Afghan authorities would maintain out
- Basic Mark Milley underestimated Ukrainian navy, stating they’d fall in 72 hours
- The DOD “missed” Chinese language spy balloons throughout Trump administration
- Pentagon discovered $6.2 billion accounting error for Ukraine
However certain, let’s preserve making it rain taxpayer {dollars} on a corporation that has turn into adept at failing.
Joint Base Charleston officers said final evening after the particles area was discovered:
“This mishap is at present beneath investigation, and we’re unable to supply extra particulars to protect the integrity of the investigative course of.”
I’m certain, let me guess – no actual solutions shall be divulged, however more cash shall be spent on the F-35 Lightning. This nation’s downfall shall be our abdication to wanna-be struggle heroes and hawks on the Hill.
Within the meantime, the Pentagon ought to speak to Apple and see if they’ll get a characteristic like Discover My Airplane – it would mitigate future embarrassments.
Have you ever seen my F35? pic.twitter.com/SmKstqIW9h
— Ramble_Rants (@ramble_rants) September 18, 2023
Now’s the time to help and share the sources you belief.
The Political Insider ranks #3 on Feedspot’s “100 Finest Political Blogs and Web sites.”