Defense of the Republic of the Philippines

Leonardo is back in the race one more time, with US subsidiary DRS:

https://www.dodbuzz.com/2017/02/08/leonardo-rejoins-air-force-t-x-bidding-without-raytheon/

Italian aerospace company Leonardo is back in the running to bid on the U.S. Air Force’s T-X trainer jet competition after it separated from a joint venture with Raytheon Co., the company announced Wednesday.

“Leonardo is proud to confirm its participation in the U.S. Air Force T-X competition with its T-100 integrated training system,” it said in a release. “Leonardo will leverage its U.S. company, Leonardo DRS, as the prime contractor, bringing to bear Leonardo’s leading aeronautical and simulation expertise to deliver a fully integrated solution in the best interests of the Air Force.”

The company further stated the “T-100 will be a U.S.-based program that will bring significant economic benefits to the country through a newly established and skilled U.S. workforce, in addition to the technological and industrial capabilities embedded in newly built U.S.-based manufacturing facilities.”

The T-100 is based on Leonardo’s M-346 twin-engine trainer aircraft.

That's a much better photo than the night one that was taken down.

There are no nuclear weapons on USN ships.

"It is U.S. policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence or absence of nuclear weapons at any general or specific location.”

“It is general U.S. policy not to deploy nuclear weapons with ground units, or aboard surface ships, attack submarines, or aircraft.  However, we do not discuss the presence or absence of nuclear weapons aboard specific ships, submarines, or aircraft.”

"The basis for the security requirement inherent in the U.S. policy of neither confirming nor denying the presence or absence of nuclear weapons is DoDI 5230.16, October 6, 2015 to deny militarily useful information to potential or actual enemies, enhance the effectiveness of nuclear deterrence, and contribute to the security of nuclear weapons, especially against the threats of sabotage and terrorism.”

In other words, yes, there is always the possibility that one or more nuclear weapons are aboard a US asset at any given time. In any case, the mention and  characterization of "nuclear tips" is an inaccurate representation of how the US would distribute, store or otherwise deploy special weapons to COCOMs.

The Houthis claim it was an AShM. The RSN claims it was a small boat swarm.

The RSN didn't take to heart previous attacks on traffic in the region. For this kind of environment, you need to push out your triplines - where before you let a fishing boat inside of a 1,000 yards, CPA, now it's 5,000 before you start radio warnings.

Drones are helpful in high trafficked zones. You don't put unnecessary wear and tear on your manned aviation detachment. You could easily launch and recover them especially if they're VTOL and run multiple units simultaneously.

The use of observers nearby to record the attack is a threat indicator. Look around hard; sort out the traffic. Is that boat new looking? Are they in the middle of a beat up fishing fleet? Does it match the markings of everyone else? This is where localized MDA is valuable. Knowing traffic patterns and if the vessel is new to the area helps focus the attention on potential threats.

Seems like something hit Hapilon. The report reads as if they were observing remotely - possibly drone support. Too bad it wasn't an armed drone; they could have finished him off.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/597379/news/nation/abu-sayyaf-leader-hapilon-seriously-hurt-in-military-ops-afp-chief

Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon has been seriously wounded as military artillery pounded suspected bandit hideouts in Butig, Lanao Del Sur.

No less than AFP chief of staff General Eduardo Año confirmed the report to GMA News' Jun Veneracion.

"May tama siya... grabe," Año was quoted as saying on "24 Oras" Friday.

An excerpt of a military report said Hapilon had been observed to be weakening and even lost consciousness several times.

It added that Hapilon was being carried by four persons.

The immediate concern that should be addressed is to teach people not to move UXO. They moved it to a garage then called for help. Imagine what the damage footprint would have been like on a crowded street during transit.

It's simple. Under State Department regulations which are implemented *jointly* by the DOD and State - there are vetting requirements that the end-user nation must meet regarding Human Rights controls in order to receive said FMA/FMS. In fact, the GAO has argued for years that those controls are inadequate depending upon who the recipient is. Eqypt is a perfect example.

http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-16-435

Note my last sentence. It implies that whoever is in Office in Washington has the ability to strongly influence how that aid is delivered vis-a-vis HR monitoring and record of the end-user. Obama's administration AND Congress sent clear messages to Malacanang that they believe the Drug Campaign is contributing directly to the reported loss of life.

Just look at how Sen. Ben Cardin was able to throw the entire SIG-Sauer sale to the PNP in doubt with one single press release. Now imagine when State Department actually implements sanctions - at an agency level - against a nation state. They've done so in the past. They can then use the DOD's DCSA program to limit the release of or the shape of future and current aid.

I don't know why people think this is so implausible. It happens all the time. Here's a running list of Defense Trade embargos, updated regularly and by Fed reg violated:

https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/embargoed_countries/