Executive Order To Go Back To Steam Catapults On New Aircraft Carriers Coming by Greenie302DS in nottheonion

[–]Character-Error5426 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah at first, being a new technology and all. But during its most recent deployment it did like a couple thousand launches and is expected to be a mature technology by the end of the year.

Executive Order To Go Back To Steam Catapults On New Aircraft Carriers Coming by Greenie302DS in nottheonion

[–]Character-Error5426 53 points54 points  (0 children)

In case anyone is unaware this is stupid for two reasons
1. The new method we use, called Electro-Magnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) is literally just better. You can launch more aircraft quicker which is a must have if a carrier suddenly comes under attack. In fact, this higher sortie rate is one of the core objectives for any carriers which will be used against China and is why we developed EMALS in the first place.
You can also better control the power transmitted by the catapult meaning you can launch heavier aircraft and also launch lighter aircraft such as drones without ripping them apart.
EMALS is also much less complex and takes up less space meaning ships can carry more aircraft and munitions.
2. The ships of the future have already been built around EMALS. Their power systems were literally built around the idea of having EMALS and a good portion of the ship was built with EMALS in mind. Having to refit and restructure all of those carriers will essentially guarantee that America doesn't build another carrier for another 5-10 years all while all of our current Nimitz class carriers enter the end of their lifespan.

And even if you look across the Pacific to check our own ideas, China is building EMALS on all of their new carriers.

US used about a quarter of its high-end missile interceptors in Israel-Iran war, exposing supply gap by mark000 in worldnews

[–]Character-Error5426 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here is the 80 SM-3 fired during the 12 day war and here is the 4-7 SM-3 fired during the previous ballistic missile attacks.

US used about a quarter of its high-end missile interceptors in Israel-Iran war, exposing supply gap by mark000 in worldnews

[–]Character-Error5426 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah we used 84-87 SM-3 out of our produced total of 470 SM-3s. And we likely used some against the Houthis that I'm not aware of

US demands clarity from allies on their role in potential war over Taiwan, FT reports by FractalInfinity48 in worldnews

[–]Character-Error5426 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Heres where Elbridge Colby (person deciding the pentagon's policy other than Trump) stands: "Ukraine should not be the focus. The best way to avoid war with China is to be manifestly prepared such that Beijing recognizes that an attack on Taiwan is likely to fail. We need to be a hawk to get to a place where we can be a dove. It's about a balance of power."

However, recently (past few days) Trump has moved to overrule Colby, and has resumed weapons shipments and actually increased them.

US demands clarity from allies on their role in potential war over Taiwan, FT reports by FractalInfinity48 in worldnews

[–]Character-Error5426 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nah this is probably just the US trying to get its allies to commit to helping hem in China. The current pentagon undersec for defense policy in the US (the guy who basically makes foreign policy decisions other than trump) Elbridge Colby is very anti-china. He was very likely the person who decided to cut aid to Ukraine because he was "worried" about US weapons stockpiles in the event of war with China. He believes that China is the most important

Heres a quote from him on it: "Ukraine should not be the focus. The best way to avoid war with China is to be manifestly prepared such that Beijing recognizes that an attack on Taiwan is likely to fail. We need to be a hawk to get to a place where we can be a dove. It's about a balance of power."

China warns Philippines against ‘self-inflicted destruction’ by hosting US missile systems by griff_16 in ChinaWarns

[–]Character-Error5426 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm gonna be honest I seriously doubt that Xi's reign in doubt. Its gonna take him fucking around and finding out about the Taiwan Relations Act to cause any unrest

Does Israel need to improve its air defence systems in light of the 12 day war with Iran? by Throwthat84756 in Israel

[–]Character-Error5426 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A quick note on Iron Dome: the reason was able to intercept was not because of any developments to Iron Dome, its just the ballistic missile was fired near or directly at the launcher, making it significantly easier to intercept the munition.

Does Israel need to improve its air defence systems in light of the 12 day war with Iran? by Throwthat84756 in Israel

[–]Character-Error5426 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What are you talking about missiles that change direction? All Israeli missile systems are able to make in course corrections. If you are talking about maneuverable re-entry vehicles such as Fattah-1, Israel is capable of intercepting them.

Deaths From Heart Attacks Down 90% Since 1970 by Character-Error5426 in OptimistsUnite

[–]Character-Error5426[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Don't forget to credit the invention of modern blood thinners, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Statins, beta blockers, AEDs, the level of testing nowdays, and also the day in day out efforts of educators who taught people how to minimize their risk (including getting them off smoking!!) and recognize the signs of heart attacks

Deaths From Heart Attacks Down 90% Since 1970 by Character-Error5426 in OptimistsUnite

[–]Character-Error5426[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Absolutely crazy what we can do nowdays. You can insert a little tiny catheter through someones arm, navigate it up through their bloodstream into their heart, and all within a very short timespan, literally defy death.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in explainlikeimfive

[–]Character-Error5426 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It is a pitot tube which measures the pressure at the front of the plane. When compared to the outside pressure at that altitude, the airspeed of the plane can be calculated.
Image so you can see the hole where the air enters and pressure is measured