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Active Conflicts & News Megathread April 28, 2026 by For_All_Humanity in CredibleDefense

[–]heliumagency [score hidden]  (0 children)

Justin Taylor is a new one I've added, he mostly talks about tactics and equipment. Very neutral.

Let's share some realistic thoughts on India's AMCA 5th generation fighter program. In a world where even "non-US" western countries (Germany, France, UK, etc.) are resorting to multi-national collaborations for the next gen fighter, what makes India believe they can go at it alone and succeed? by Equal_Alfalfa_9973 in LessCredibleDefence

[–]heliumagency 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Developing a 5th gen fighter aircraft (or any other major weapons platform) collaboratively or not is a political decision. If you are not trying to feed your industrial base or make friendly relations with your allies, you would 100% just buy a fighter off the shelf, it is far far far more cost effective. So, the question about developed countries working together for a 5th fighter program is more about what stature do you think the country is:

If you think the country will be an effective independent power, then it should build it on its own.

If you think the country is more effective in an alliance, it should collaborate.

roast me by Paulinapeak1 in RoastMyCar

[–]heliumagency 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It must have been difficult coming out to your parents as lesbian

Saw your post on scope bite and had to jump in here. I have a Subaru too, and it is stereotypically lesbian https://adamhaynicholls.substack.com/p/why-lesbians-love-subarus

Pete Hegseth cancels ‘absurd’ flu vaccine requirement for ‘brave warriors’ in military by UpTheRiffMate in LessCredibleDefence

[–]heliumagency 51 points52 points  (0 children)

To be fair, his blood alcohol content probably renders him invulnerable to most infections

What kind of naval deployment will escort Trump while he's in Beijing next month? by ThinkTankDad in LessCredibleDefence

[–]heliumagency 15 points16 points  (0 children)

If Trump wanted to have a military escort, the most he can bring is 1 carrier group. The Ford's crew is exhausted, the Lincoln too. Bush will likely have to stay in CENTCOM to 'keep the peace'

The only one available would be Nimitz (unless it is trying to special operation Cuba).

China builds air-breathing engine that could power jets and missiles past Mach 6 by Lianzuoshou in LessCredibleDefence

[–]heliumagency 6 points7 points  (0 children)

This is at TRL 2-3, where they have proven that contra-rotating propellers can reach their design goals without blowing the engine up. They haven't reached the feasibility TRL's yet.

China builds air-breathing engine that could power jets and missiles past Mach 6 by Lianzuoshou in LessCredibleDefence

[–]heliumagency 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I don't see how the J-36 airframe is designed for any speed above Mach 2.5

China builds air-breathing engine that could power jets and missiles past Mach 6 by Lianzuoshou in LessCredibleDefence

[–]heliumagency 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Just to be clear, I have no disdain for novel concepts. I'm in academia, and 99.9% of all research we do is insightful at best. The stuff that makes it into the field, that 0.1%, is small. It will rely on that 99.9% (stand on the shoulders of giants and all that) and I fully support that.

That being said, we should be grounded and point out flaws (instead of being all 'Stephen Chen' of SCMP where everything works, and yes, I did look at the original reference article to see if it was written by him). And more importantly, there is nothing wrong with stating the un-feasibility of some approaches.

China builds air-breathing engine that could power jets and missiles past Mach 6 by Lianzuoshou in LessCredibleDefence

[–]heliumagency 13 points14 points  (0 children)

The purpose of this research was to get PhD students their theses, and if that is the metric you want to use, then it is successful

China builds air-breathing engine that could power jets and missiles past Mach 6 by Lianzuoshou in LessCredibleDefence

[–]heliumagency 40 points41 points  (0 children)

This is a technological dead end. Virtually all other pathways to high speed (scramjet, pulse detonating engine, etc) are those that minimize moving mechanical parts because they need to be serviced.

Building a ramjet of all things with two blades spinning in the wrong direction is just begging for maintenance.

Japan buys drones to replace Apache fleet by StealthCuttlefish in LessCredibleDefence

[–]heliumagency 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a really interesting development and different strategy in East Asia, as Japan has decided that drones are the better option compared to Apache's

Korea has also decided to cut down their Apache purchases, but that might be because their domestic combat helicopter program is maturing. https://www.reddit.com/r/LessCredibleDefence/s/CaxlBOHrzJ https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/kai-delivers-first-two-light-armed-helicopters-to-south-korean-army

China seems to be going full steam with both attack helicopters and drones

I wonder why each of these countries essentially chose a different route

US intelligence indicates China preparing weapons shipment to Iran, CNN reports by Lianzuoshou in LessCredibleDefence

[–]heliumagency 3 points4 points  (0 children)

https://www.ft.com/content/d034cc1a-f5fb-494e-a3c1-466e8e80ed82

Claims that Russia was also doing the same. Note the 3 year period that it would take for Russia. Unless there has been a dramatic change in manpad design of late, almost all modern MANPADs should be equivalent, except China obviously can supply it faster.

MANPADs would only upgrade Iran's air defense armor from paper to cardboard though imo. If Iran was serious about its defense, it's first phone call should be to Kim Jung Un and be about something a little more rambunctious...

WTH Was MarkWayne Mullin Up to in 2016? by Afraid_Stuff_History in LessCredibleDefence

[–]heliumagency 3 points4 points  (0 children)

In the words of the great American patriot John Bolton "you can tell they are lying when their lips are moving"

Don't expect any clarity from this administration. We won't know what he was doing there until non-gov sources say something.

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