Over the next few weeks, keep your eyes on the Middle East

[HunterPKP]

I wonder how the Houthis were able to shoot so close to an aircraft carrier to force it to take evasive actions, leading to losing that fighter jet

They launched a cluster strike that included Chinese and Russian made missiles. Our CIWS are countermeasures are good, but making an evasive turn to protect against 10-12ish missiles coming in at once? Losing a 60MM F/A 18 as a result of a maneuver that probably saved 1K+ lives? Yeah, I'm all for it.

 

[P. Marlowe]

I wonder how the Houthis were able to shoot so close to an aircraft carrier to force it to take evasive actions, leading to losing that fighter jet

From Friday:

Do we allow a terrorist group to control shipping in the Red Sea and impact it globally? A terrorist group that attempted a saturation attack on the Truman the other night with 6 cruise missiles, 2 rockets, and several Iranian UAVs…No. No we do not.

They’ve been dealing with similar attacks for the last several days. Taking evasive action doesn’t necessarily mean a near miss though. Navy guys can speak more knowledgeably to this, but I’d assume evasive action is taken at the time of detection. Think this was not chained down at the time because it was being moved. The tractors are tiny. In the right spot on one of those ships, it can easily go over.

 

[BigPapaWhit]

The early 90s say hi. You had civil war in basically half of Africa - Algeria, somalia, Rwanda, Djibouti, Burundi, Congo, Sierra Leone. Bosnia. Transnistria. Gulf war part 1. Yugoslav wars/Croatian independence. Georgia/South Osettia. Iraqi Uprisings. Civil war in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. The first Chechen war. Armenia/Azerbaijan. Civil war in Georgia. South Armagh was on fire. Literally. Like 450+ incidents/ira attacks. LA riots. Collapse of the Soviet union.

Point is, this isn’t an aberration. There is always conflict somewhere.

You work for the State Dept? Work for a think tank? Subscribe to The Economist? Foreign Affairs?

You seem too rational and informed to be hanging out in a Rivals chatroom. Unless...you are doing some oppositional research. Is your other handle Condor?

 

[GDead_Tiger]

They launched a cluster strike that included Chinese and Russian made missiles. Our CIWS are countermeasures are good, but making an evasive turn to protect against 10-12ish missiles coming in at once? Losing a 60MM F/A 18 as a result of a maneuver that probably saved 1K+ lives? Yeah, I'm all for it.

Aren’t our carriers usually far enough out so that this isn’t an issue?

 

[HunterPKP]

Aren’t our carriers usually far enough out so that this isn’t an issue?

If they can hit container ships in Red Sea, they can hit a Carrier Strike Group. Plus, they are using Chinese and Russian cruise missiles sold to Iran and then shipped to Yemen. These aren't ****** missiles like what Iran manufacturers.

 

[harristeeter]

Heavy on the spies like us vibes…

Great movie

 

[BigPapaWhit]

If they can hit container ships in Red Sea, they can hit a Carrier Strike Group. Plus, they are using Chinese and Russian cruise missiles sold to Iran and then shipped to Yemen. These aren't ****** missiles like what Iran manufacturers.

What is the bigger issue with China? The trade imbalance and currency manipulation? Or their selling of arms to countries that use those weapons against us?

 

[P. Marlowe]

You work for the State Dept? Work for a think tank? Subscribe to The Economist? Foreign Affairs?

You seem too rational and informed to be hanging out in a Rivals chatroom. Unless...you are doing some oppositional research. Is your other handle Condor?

Haha. No. I do have an FT subscription at the office…After Clemson, I spent almost 10 years working in Europe and Russia. Provided some interesting perspective.

 

[HunterPKP]

What is the bigger issue with China? The trade imbalance and currency manipulation? Or their selling of arms to countries that use those weapons against us?

It's both to be honest. A country with 4 times our population and the we import 4 times what they do. That imbalance isn't just bad, it's globally criminal. Them also selling weapons that are used against us can be called an Act of War. Both are bad and we can't allow it to continue.

 

[jph1009]

Houthis apparently using Chinese satellite data for targeting of the carriers

 

[Watson to Renfrow]

What is the bigger issue with China? The trade imbalance and currency manipulation? Or their selling of arms to countries that use those weapons against us?

I think the main thing is that china is asshoe

 

[cugrad1980]

We've got 6 B2 bombers at Diego Garcia. 1 more to arrive this week. B52s are also on station there now. Over 10 C17s that are obviously transporting munitions for said bombers. Nearly 10 KC135 tankers. This is NOT a show of force. This is guarantee of force.

By end of week, the USS Carl Vinson will be on station with her Strike Group. The USS Truman has had it's Middle East deployment extended and has been attacking the Houthis in Yemen repeatedly for around a week or so now. A 3rd Strike Group is likely heading that way as well and I would guess it's either the Nimitz (that just departed on her last mission) or the USS Gerald Ford that is in pre-deployment maneuvers in the Western Atlantic. The USS GHWB is also prepping for departure from Norfolk and the USS Lincoln at North Island is prepping for departure. That's a lot of Naval hardware about to be a sea.

Trump's comments that Iran either plays ball or bad things are going to happen is not a bluff. We're gonna continue to hammer the Houthis. The dumbasses actually tried to launch missiles at the Truman Strike Group last week.

Add to it that the Israelis are very wary of Iran's nuclear program. They took out most, if not all air defenses around Iranian Military Critical Infrastructure in their last attack.

Just saying, something to keep close eyes on. This can all be found on the internet if you look. We're not even trying to hide it.

Has Pete been at it again?

 

[HunterPKP]

Has Pete been at it again?

All you have to do is look at google for most, if not all of what I said.

 

[ChucktownK]

From Friday:

They’ve been dealing with similar attacks for the last several days. Taking evasive action doesn’t necessarily mean a near miss though. Navy guys can speak more knowledgeably to this, but I’d assume evasive action is taken at the time of detection. Think this was not chained down at the time because it was being moved. The tractors are tiny. In the right spot on one of those ships, it can easily go over.

Correct, its taken at time of Aegis detection. Which without giving away much information I can't, is near apogee when the missile is above the horizon to the surface radar.

Houthis thus far are not landing missiles anywhere really near a Carrier.

 

[ChucktownK]

Aren’t our carriers usually far enough out so that this isn’t an issue?

If they can range Israel from Yemen, they can range the CSG. The CSG is not close enough though that they can use accurate weapons. You need very accurate targeting information to launch at a carrier and put it in the ZEM loop for your missile seeker.

Carrier must loosely remain within range of the planes reaching their targets. In a pinch I would think landing at Camp Lemmonier will be fine.

 

[P. Marlowe]

The CTC/SO15 operation on Monday prevented an imminent terror attack. 5 Iranian nationals arrested for involvement in that. 3 others arrested for involvement in planning a different attack. Target was the Israeli embassy in south Kensington. Across from Kensington palace and a block off Kensington high street. Lot of embassies and ambassador/diplomatic residences in that area. Lot of shopping and hotels/restaurants, as well. Big op for that group and a solid job. Wouldn’t be shocked to see Iran attempt to increase these types of attacks in the UK and Western Europe in the coming months, though.

 

[TigerDesigner]

Any more to add with Trump now in the Middle East?

 

[PawsFan]

If they can hit container ships in Red Sea, they can hit a Carrier Strike Group. Plus, they are using Chinese and Russian cruise missiles sold to Iran and then shipped to Yemen. These aren't ****** missiles like what Iran manufacturers.

If the missiles are so good and they’ve fired so many and that haven’t hit anything, doesn’t that make them ******?

This board WAY overstates the number of attacks and the capability of the Huthis. Every attack needs to be taken seriously, but…..

 

[Toasted712]

If the missiles are so good and they’ve fired so many and that haven’t hit anything, doesn’t that make them ******?

This board WAY overstates the number of attacks and the capability of the Huthis. Every attack needs to be taken seriously, but…..

Take this from someone that is not super in the know but I would assume our targeting capability and anti missile defenses far exceed their’s.

 

[TC Tiger]

Any more to add with Trump now in the Middle East?

Yes. The GOAT is making moves to make America better/stronger and the world safer.

 

[PAWrocka]

Take this from someone that is not super in the know but I would assume our targeting capability and anti missile defenses far exceed their’s.

Ex-frickin-actly!!!!!

The most valuable thing that war in Ukraine has provided is that the Russian (and by extension the Chinese) capability and tech are complete “dog sh*t”.

The Russian and Chinese have NOTHING that they haven’t stolen from us … and what the do have are just shittier versions of our outdated tech.

The US is literally just competing with itself and has been since 1989.

 

[ChucktownK]

Take this from someone that is not super in the know but I would assume our targeting capability and anti missile defenses far exceed their’s.

We do, but don't think Aegis is foolproof either. This conflict has shown many eye-opening things about what the US taxpayer has gotten for the money we spend.

 

[Toasted712]

We do, but don't think Aegis is foolproof either. This conflict has shown many eye-opening things about what the US taxpayer has gotten for the money we spend.

ELI5 what Aegis is.

 

[ChucktownK]

ELI5 what Aegis is.

The Aegis Weapon System is the Navy's ship-based missile defense. It consists of the SPY radars in cruisers and destroyers along with the various SAM missiles that intercept different tiers of targets.

 

[UrHuckleberry]

The Aegis Weapon System is the Navy's ship-based missile defense. It consists of the SPY radars in cruisers and destroyers along with the various SAM missiles that intercept different tiers of targets.

Smart 5 year olds in your life

 

[Toasted712]

Smart 5 year olds in your life

I’m an idiot and I understood.

 

[UrHuckleberry]

I’m an idiot and I understood.

lol I understood too, was just laughing bc a 5 yo wouldn't

 

[BigPapaWhit]

Consider me pessimistic of long term impact

Let’s see what sticks post visit. Arabs are traditionally/culturally great hosts. Does not mean they won’t change their attitude/stance once the envoy leaves.

Nor is Trump known to sticking to his guns when presented with a compelling offer. It will be interesting how he deals with Netanyahu and Israel once he leaves the Arab sphere of influence.

Don’t underestimate the Zionist Lobby.

But we can all hope.

 

[HunterPKP]

If the missiles are so good and they’ve fired so many and that haven’t hit anything, doesn’t that make them ******?

This board WAY overstates the number of attacks and the capability of the Huthis. Every attack needs to be taken seriously, but…..

Indeed. We've already learned a ton via Ukraine about how ****** Russian hardware is. That being said, it's still better than Iranian made missiles. I'd wager the Chinese stuff is better than the Russian stuff. Hell, the Chinese CH-AS-X-13 anti-ship scared the hell out of our military brass as we did not have true countermeasures for it when we found out about it. We do now, but it's still a scary missile. Fortunately, they aren't selling it to the likes of Iran. At least for now.

 

[BigPapaWhit]

Ex-frickin-actly!!!!!

The most valuable thing that war in Ukraine has provided is that the Russian (and by extension the Chinese) capability and tech are complete “dog sh*t”.

The Russian and Chinese have NOTHING that they haven’t stolen from us … and what the do have are just shittier versions of our outdated tech.

The US is literally just competing with itself and has been since 1989.

Id hesitate to knock Chinese capabilities unless you know something the DOD doesn’t? Or has the last five plus years of strategic focus on Chinese military advancement been defense industry propaganda?

 

[Toasted712]

lol I understood too, was just laughing bc a 5 yo wouldn't

My grandfather flew on and off air craft carriers so I grew up with these type of stories and discussions. Maybe not 5, but like 7 year old me?

 

[ChucktownK]

Id hesitate to knock Chinese capabilities unless you know something the DOD doesn’t? Or has the last five plus years of strategic focus on Chinese military advancement been defense industry propaganda?

Its not propaganda, they advance at a faster pace than DoD does. My analogy to most people is that their pace is where we were in the 1950s/60s timeframe. Back then we had an idea, we'd say "f*** it, lets fly it and see if it works". We don't do that anymore.

I can tell you they're still behind in many areas, but they know it, and they stick to their plan to make it better at a pace we couldn't do.

The thing about not being pinpoint accurate with your missile/weapon is that you can just make more of them, cheaper, and overwhelm.

 

[PawsFan]

Indeed. We've already learned a ton via Ukraine about how ****** Russian hardware is. That being said, it's still better than Iranian made missiles. I'd wager the Chinese stuff is better than the Russian stuff. Hell, the Chinese CH-AS-X-13 anti-ship scared the hell out of our military brass as we did not have true countermeasures for it when we found out about it. We do now, but it's still a scary missile. Fortunately, they aren't selling it to the likes of Iran. At least for now.

We’ve known long before Ukraine that Russian equipment is subpar.

I wouldn’t be so fast to dismiss Iranian
made equipment. They sell some of their R&D to China and vice versa. They make a dang good UAVs.

 

[HunterPKP]

We’ve known long before Ukraine that Russian equipment is subpar.

I wouldn’t be so fast to dismiss Iranian
made equipment. They sell some of their R&D to China and vice versa. They make a dang good UAVs.

True. We did not know how bad their newer SUs though. Good points on Iranian UAVs. One of my brother's programs is helping defend against that in Iraq.

 

[BigPapaWhit]

Its not propaganda, they advance at a faster pace than DoD does. My analogy to most people is that their pace is where we were in the 1950s/60s timeframe. Back then we had an idea, we'd say "f*** it, lets fly it and see if it works". We don't do that anymore.

I can tell you they're still behind in many areas, but they know it, and they stick to their plan to make it better at a pace we couldn't do.

The thing about not being pinpoint accurate with your missile/weapon is that you can just make more of them, cheaper, and overwhelm.

Tracking now...

 

[PAWrocka]

Id hesitate to knock Chinese capabilities unless you know something the DOD doesn’t? Or has the last five plus years of strategic focus on Chinese military advancement been defense industry propaganda?

You think we’ve only had a strategic focus on the Chinese Military for 5 ish years???

Anything remotely competent that the Chinese have, they stole from us. Anything they created on their own is dog ****.

 

[P. Marlowe]

US civilian personnel and military dependents being moved out of parts of the region. Potentially noteworthy.

 

[UrHuckleberry]

US civilian personnel and military dependents being moved out of parts of the region. Potentially noteworthy.

Could be cautionary or could be prophetic

 

[anon1753124268]

https://www.reuters.com/world/middl...ion-due-heightened-security-risks-2025-06-11/

Id say by the end of the year, there will be war

 

[tigerragman]

We've got 6 B2 bombers at Diego Garcia. 1 more to arrive this week. B52s are also on station there now. Over 10 C17s that are obviously transporting munitions for said bombers. Nearly 10 KC135 tankers. This is NOT a show of force. This is guarantee of force.

By end of week, the USS Carl Vinson will be on station with her Strike Group. The USS Truman has had it's Middle East deployment extended and has been attacking the Houthis in Yemen repeatedly for around a week or so now. A 3rd Strike Group is likely heading that way as well and I would guess it's either the Nimitz (that just departed on her last mission) or the USS Gerald Ford that is in pre-deployment maneuvers in the Western Atlantic. The USS GHWB is also prepping for departure from Norfolk and the USS Lincoln at North Island is prepping for departure. That's a lot of Naval hardware about to be a sea.

Trump's comments that Iran either plays ball or bad things are going to happen is not a bluff. We're gonna continue to hammer the Houthis. The dumbasses actually tried to launch missiles at the Truman Strike Group last week.

Add to it that the Israelis are very wary of Iran's nuclear program. They took out most, if not all air defenses around Iranian Military Critical Infrastructure in their last attack.

Just saying, something to keep close eyes on. This can all be found on the internet if you look. We're not even trying to hide it.

As of today it is reported are now moving U.S. government employee's families out of the region. Me thinks the fuse is very short for Iran to begin dismantling their nuclear facilities w/o facing Israeli and/or U. S. military consequences.