Possible ...

 ... but not guaranteed. 

Иран не намерен обращаться за помощью к России и Китаю в случае войны с Израилем и США. Об этом заявил президент Исламской Республики Масуд Пезешкиан в интервью американскому журналисту Такеру Карлсону. По его словам, Иран не нуждается в поддержке Москвы и Пекина, поскольку его мощи достаточно, чтобы защитить себя. Ранее агентство Reuters со ссылкой на иранские источники сообщило, что Иран хочет получить больше помощи от России в конфликте с Израилем и США. Однако о какой именно поддержке идет речь, не уточнялось.

Translation: Iran does not intend to seek help from Russia and China in the event of a war with Israel and the United States. This was stated by the President of the Islamic Republic Masoud Pezeshkian in an interview with the American journalist Tucker Carlson. According to him, Iran does not need the support of Moscow and Beijing, since its power is sufficient to defend itself. Earlier, the Reuters agency, citing Iranian sources, reported that Iran wants to receive more help from Russia in the conflict with Israel and the United States. However, what kind of support is being discussed was not specified.

Well, Moscow offered help, it is Iran's call, of course. The US, of course, like Israel, cannot defeat Iran but it surely can wreck a lot of things there, before recognizing that it ran out of munition. Speaking of which))

The United States will continue supplying weapons to Ukraine, President Donald Trump said on Monday, a week after the Pentagon halted some deliveries. “We’re going to send some more weapons. We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves. They’re getting hit very hard now,” Trump told reporters during a dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Defensive weapons, primarily, but they’re getting hit very, very hard. So many people are dying in that mess,” he said, without elaborating.

Sure, sure. I am positive those supplies will change the outcome, not)) Per waiting for "elaborating" by Trump it is akin to waiting for me to elaborate on open heart surgery--I wouldn't know even where to start. But, hey, what do I know, POTUS himself stated that Patriot PAC3 has 100% effectiveness. You can take this to the bank. 

Open Thread.

 Go at it. 

Oh, Come On!

Why Mister America, can not call ... well, judge for yourself:

“Dear Mr. Japan: Here’s the story,” Trump said. “You’re going to pay a 25% tariff on your cars.”

In related news, Mr. Coffee is still doing great and is not paying 25% tariff. Moreover, Mr. Radar is altogether enjoying life ...

You Know What?

This brought a tear to my eye. This is how legends depart. And, please, spare me this BS about Ozzy and him urinating at and on Alamo (well and snorting ants, LOL)). Black Sabbath and Ozzy defined, together with Deep Purple and Rainbow the heavy music. Not even Led Zeppelin for all Zeps' importance. It is the end of an era!

Here how we woke up to Ozzy and late genius Randy. 

Sabbath and Ozzy's contribution to modern music is immense. Have a nice retirement, Ozzy. 

Targeting Is Pretty Good ...

 ... for Russia's stand-off weapons. As you can see, SEAD in action. And yes, this is not SEAD they teach in NATO's military academies. Truth is, definition of air superiority as it is taught to, as an example, USAF is utterly obsolete. 

The Fate Of FFG Constellation ...

 ... as the epitome of obsolescence of the US Navy's surface force. 

In Continuation Of This Oregon State ...

 ... "researches" Bullshit being spun in media ONLY for the reasons of hiding the fraud that US (Israeli) AD systems are. Larry's guest columnist did an excellent write up on this issue. Israel was beaten into a bloody pulp. Here is one such 84% "effectiveness"--Port of Haifa. As you can see yourself--totally intact/s. Or this:

Left is Tel-Aviv 2025, right is Berlin 1945. Read the whole thing at Larry's blog. 

Say It Ain't So.

 In related news--water is wet, fire is hot and concrete floors are hard. 

Israel concealed that Iranian missiles hit several key military sites across the country during the recent 12-day war, The Telegraph reported on Saturday, citing radar data. The data, provided to the British paper by Oregon State University researchers who track bomb damage using satellite radar, indicates that six Iranian missiles hit five military facilities in the north, south, and center of Israel, including a major air base, an intelligence gathering center, and a logistics base. The extent of the reported damage is unclear. However, the hits were not publicly reported due to heavy military censorship, according to the report. When pressed on the issue, the Israel Defense Forces, declined to comment, only saying that “all relevant units maintained functional continuity throughout the operation.”

But this is not what catches an eye, no. This does: 

Analysis cited by The Telegraph suggests that Israeli and US air defenses generally performed well, intercepting most of the incoming fire, although the share of missiles that penetrated through Israeli defenses rose to about 16% by the seventh day. The paper noted that this could have been linked with Israeli attempts to conserve ammunition, improved tactics by Iran, or the deployment of more advanced and harder-to-intercept weaponry.

This is an utter BS, concocted for hiding a devastating effect of Iranian strikes and a pathetic performance by Israeli-US AD, which led Israel to begging for a cease-fire. A "performance" corroborated by a dismal (lack of) effectiveness of NATO AD complexes in 404--which IS a feature of all West's AD systems. While classifying the impact of strikes is understandable, claims of 84% "effectiveness", especially from some "researches" from Oregon State University are down right propaganda, considering the well established trend of most US "academe" and military accepting Ukrainian propaganda about shooting down "most" of Russian drones and missiles, including hypersonic ones. Where are, one may ask, those "satellite radar" data on Yuzhmash? I thought so. 

This is Nevatim base last year. 

You can all see how "effective" Israeli AD is, all 84% of it/s. 

FABs With UMPK ...

 ... today fly at 100 km. Here is one yesterday at Krivoy Rog. 

Incomparable Jackie Venson ...

 ... for celebration on Fourth. Sheer brilliance in playing and song writing. Happy Fourth to everyone!

4th And START.

Trump is "unhappy"--somebody explain to him, the US has lost. The catastrophe of the US strategic forces as pertains START framework--there is simply nothing to discuss with the US for Russia. 

Larch Dug Up An Interesting Piece ...

 ... on Chinese HQ-9 AD complex. In support of the facts in this piece you have to recall that during recent (few years ago) tensions around Taiwan with the US Navy maneuvering in the area, China moved all its available S-400s and its regiment of SU-35 closer to the coast. Mind you, this is all after non-stop claims that HQ-9 is better than S-400. I omit here this Su-35 saga. Here is this piece and huge thanks to our good friend Larch. 

The Chinese "S-400 competitor" turned out to be weak

Pakistan is dissatisfied with the performance of the HQ-9B complex, which was advertised in China as "more advanced than the Russian Triumph."

Local conflicts, such as the Indo-Pakistani war, are often particularly interesting because of these duels, where systems that were competing in peacetime find themselves on the front lines against each other. The Chinese anti-aircraft missile system, like the S-400, is based on the Soviet S-300PM system.

The first models were presented in the early 1990s, and since then, several modifications have been developed, each more advanced than the last. The latest model, with the letter "B" and an integrated AESA radar and digital combat control system, was introduced by the Chinese in 2021. It was positioned as a "more advanced competitor to the S-400," although the Chinese were the first to acquire the "Triumfs" and are now using them in the most critical areas. But what can not be said for the sake of marketing.

Many countries were quite satisfied with this relatively inexpensive alternative, and it has recently become one of the most exported high-tech products from China's military-industrial complex.

Pakistan acquired the HQ-9B in 2021. Its combat debut took place during the brief conflict in May. However, it was a bit of a misfire. The system managed to intercept some of the French SCALP-EG cruise missiles launched by the Rafales, but it was completely ineffective against the Russian-Indian BrahMos missiles, which caused significant damage to Pakistan's rear airfields.

Shortly after the end of the conflict, Islamabad requested more advanced HQ-19 systems from Beijing, and tried not to even discuss the operation of the HQ-9B. However, it is now revealed that behind this conspiracy of silence lay a deep disappointment with one of China's top air defense systems.

Pakistanis on military forums complained that the complex is highly susceptible to electronic warfare systems, and its missiles require constant target illumination, which in turn quickly attracts enemy anti-radar missiles.

At least one full battery protecting the key Nur Khan airbase was destroyed by Indian Rudram-1 anti-radar missiles. The Pakistani military also complained that the HQ-9B could only shoot down subsonic cruise missiles, even though the advertisement promised that all missiles, including hypersonic and quasi-ballistic missiles, would be shot down.

This example once again proves that the original is always better than a copy, especially when the developer of that copy uses the original Russian Triumph for their own urgent needs.

So, make your own conclusions. 

Don't Worry, Mr. Wang Yi.

It is already set in stone. 

China cannot afford for Russia to lose the war in Ukraine, Beijing’s foreign minister has said, in unguarded comments to European officials. Wang Yi said Beijing does not want to see a Russian loss because of fears the United States would then shift its focus on to China. The comments were made during a four-hour meeting between Mr Wang and Kaja Kallas, the vice-president of the European Commission, according to several sources who spoke to the South China Morning Post.

Russia is fully aware of what is going on and the demilitarization of the combined West continues. Successfully. That is why Mr. Trump is "unhappy" after his chat with Mr. Putin yesterday. In fact, Mr. Yi, other than moving its grossly outdated carrier force back and forth in the Pacific theater of operations, and with the exception of its definitely superior submarine force, the US simply has no resources to fight China. US military-political establishment is good at verbiage, in terms of real actions with satisfactory outcomes--well, it sucks. And yes, after Mr. Ryabkov's statements in Iranian Embassy in Moscow three days ago, let me state what I was stating ad nauseam for the last decade: Russia's role in BRICS (and Eurasia) in general is that of a defender of the realm based on revolutionary military and civilian technologies and historically unrivaled operational experience. It is for China to decide which way she wants to go. I speak about some of those nuances in my today's video. 

P.S. Four hours with this stupid bitch, good Lord, Chinese definitely have the ability to take punishment))) 

When You Are An Idiot ...

 ... and a demagogue, who doesn't understand basic facts of WW II and why, for some reason, GB received THREE times more Lend-Lease than ... USSR. 

He, of course, twists facts and numbers (US humanities graduates are not good at arithmetic, let alone attrition dynamics) and, of course, even biased and largely inaccurate (lowering them) in terms of Soviet production numbers Statista disagrees with him. 

But then again, what did Barnett know about his own country? Right?

He is the kind of guy who has zero understanding of the warfare of WW II and on, but because he has "degree" in classicism considers himself a military "historian". Mind you, this is in no way to denigrate heroism of British people and their forces who fought bravely, but Hanson better also acquaint himself with the realities of WW II and its REAL history. 

Trump Was Informed ...

 ... again that the US is in no position to demand anything. It lost. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed the Ukraine conflict and its potential resolution in a sixth phone conversation with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, Moscow has said. The two leaders focused on the implementation of agreements reached by Moscow and Kiev during direct talks in Istanbul over the past months. Moscow will continue to seek a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict but will not leave its root causes unaddressed, Putin stated during the conversation. Trump, in turn, called on the Russian president to cease the hostilities as soon as possible, according to presidential aide Yury Ushakov. The two presidents, however, did not discuss a potential meeting, Ushakov said. They nevertheless covered a broad range of topics, including the recent escalation between Israel and Iran, developments in Syria, and the situation in the Middle East, according to the aide.

This will be told to any Western leader time, after time, after time. Here is the proper quote from Ushakov:

"Наш президент также сказал, что Россия будет добиваться поставленных целей, то есть устранения всех первопричин, приведших к нынешнему положению дел, к нынешней конфронтации. И от этих целей Россия не отступится". 

Translation: "Our president also said that Russia will achieve its goals, that is, the elimination of all the root causes that led to the current state of affairs, to the current confrontation. And Russia will not back down from these goals."

You see, RT decided to "soften", water down, what actually has been stated re: SMO. Objectives of SMO ARE NOT negotiable, period.

That's The "Level" ...

 ... of these guys. 

The Ukrainian Armed Forces dictate the tactical agenda of the Russian army, allowing it to capture more and more new territories, but these are low-lying and marshy lands. Chuck Pfarrer, former squadron commander of the 6th detachment of the US Navy SEALs, stated this in an interview with political strategist and head of the NGO “For a Free Ukraine” Jason Smart, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.

A strong butthurt I feel in this man)) 

Smart decided to soften the effect of this admission by telling the story that “people in Russia are unsettled and nervous,” and that Russian President Vladimir Putin “stutters like he hasn’t stuttered in the last 20 years.” Realizing that he had been stupid in acknowledging the Russians’ successes, Pfarrer also began to invent stories about Russian soldiers surrendering en masse.

"They don't feed them. They don't get any support. They don't have food. They don't get medical care. Look, if you don't have bullets, bandages and beans, you're not a soldier, you're homeless," Pfarrer raved.

Yes, Russians are finishing last pickled hedgehogs)) 

Nima and Me.

Live in 30 minutes. 

To Create The New System Of Standards ...

 ... you have to have those standards be among if not the best. For those people who still continue to reside in this La La Land of Chinese commercial aerospace--just signing some agreements is not enough. 

To dual-track certification mechanism away from FAA and EASA you need to be able to have a complete enclosed cycle of the commercial aerospace--in other words you have to SET those standards which are very competitive (if not the same) beyond the West's framework. China DOES NOT have it. The whole idea behind COMAC 919 was to get this rather un-remarkable aircraft stuffed with Western-made ... everything and thus follow the path of Sukhoi Super Jet which was certified in the West and flew for a number of Western airlines. But then again, here is an interesting historical bit. This is Haneda airport in Tokyo, 1971. Il-62 with KLM sticker (some flew with Japan Airlines livery) hauling passengers on Trans-Siberian route Tokyo-Moscow-Amsterdam. They were leasing those planes--yes, KLM and JAL. 

Like this. 

In other words, USSR (historic Russia) have been not only a provider of the commercial air transport for Eastern block and the third world, but was a direct competitor to West's commercial aerospace. So, in this case--Russia's leaving global aerospace market due to economic atrocity and its effects in 1990s-2000s was a TEMPORARY thing, and the plans for the return have been already in the making in 2000s. Russian planes also will not be certified by EASA--it is a given (FAA--we may have to give it a bit longer to understand their "approach"), but they are Russian-made. Forget about all critical systems such as engines, APU, avionics, mechanics, what have you. Russians told all those Western designers to go and pound sand. 

BTW, do you know that it is not just about appearances (looks), nope--to design a seat in the aircraft in the US you MUST have at least a Bachelor degree in either aerospace engineering or a mechanical one. It is a hell of an important part in any aircraft. So, guess who is ready now to roll out those standards, granted it is an immense work to create this certification mechanism for BRICS and Global South. To forestall the assault of China fanboys (not to be mistaken for people who greatly appreciate China's magnificent achievements but also point out obvious facts)--China is only now evolving with her competitive (emphasis--competitive) commercial aerospace and it is a long and arduous journey. This is clear to anyone who ever worked in any capacity in commercial aerospace and who saw what and how Standards and Quality Management Systems (QMS) dominate the process, until cretins with MBAs begin to interfere to keep shareholders "happy". You all know what I am talking about. In conclusion: YES--to dual track, NO--it is not going to be China, especially NOW when MC-21 is finishing certification, and SSJ is doing the same. Not to mention Tu-214 and its two pilot cockpit version. Is China ready to break away from the West? I thought so.  

About This "Storage" ...

 ... of the "industrial plant" in Zhitomir. Allegedly Polish-made industrial machinery blew up)) 

Of course, something doesn't add up here. But something tells me that this "industrial machinery" from Poland was visited by Mr. Iskander or X-101. 

Meanwhile, Ka-52 shoots down 404 UAVs using Igla-V missiles. 

But the day wouldn't be complete without this cretin offering his opinion on Mr. Lavrov. 

So, yes--that's their "cultural" level. But another thing which should be kept in focus. No matter how we cuss (justifiably) DJT--this was the coup by the treasonous US "elites" and scumbags from DNC organized crime group. 

A US intelligence report on Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election, commissioned by then-President Barack Obama, was nothing but a deliberate manipulation, CIA Director John Ratcliffe has said, citing his agency’s recent internal review. Known as the 2016 Intelligence Community Assessment on Russian Election Interference (ICA), the report kickstarted the Russiagate conspiracy, prompted special counsel Robert Mueller’s inquiry, and “ate up the first two years” of President Donald Trump’s first term, Ratcliffe said in an interview with the New York Post published on Wednesday. The new CIA head ordered an internal review of the report in May. Obama ordered the ICA just six weeks before leaving office. According to the CIA review of its drafting and rushed release, declassified on Wednesday, then-CIA Director John Brennan, FBI Director James Comey, and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper were unusually and “excessively involved” in the process. “The rushed timeline to publish both classified and unclassified versions before the presidential transition raised questions about a potential political motive behind the White House tasking and timeline,” the review said, calling the work on the report “chaotic,” “atypical,” and “markedly unconventional.”  

The main question of course, since we knew it all along about all this, is--what are they going to do about what amounts to state treason? Right, nothing. I love those definitions--"markedly unconventional", yes, it is Washington's speak for BULLSHIT and that's the only thing they are good at.  

Rachel And Me.

Today. 

Why Now?

Very simple--Europe is shaking in its boots. Reasons for Macron's call. 

Meanwhile, for fanboys of military porn in 404 and the West (and in Russia), all those "military experts". Here are newest T-14 getting ready to be loaded on rail platforms and shipped to the front lines (they will get mangals there as needed). 

But, of course, because CNN or NBC do not report on that--it doesn't happen. 

Daniel Davis and Yours Truly.

 Live, shortly. 

Daniel Davis.

I don't see the change of a doctrine in the US--simply no military cultural DNA required for it. 

It is in the political top which, as we all saw, is corrupted to the core with deluded idiocy of supremacy based on ... nothing. In the end, as I repeat ad nauseam--war is a cultural affair, always was, always will be. Those in the US military who get it, like Daniel Davis, they are not allowed anywhere near political influence required for reshaping the US military in what it is supposed to be--a strong but compact Army whose main focus should be on defense of the US proper, and powerful enough Navy capable to "unlock" critical chokepoints in Atlantic and Pacific. The idiocy of "power projection" based on obsolete carrier airpower, which also bankrupts the US, is not the way to go. Missile weaponry is not waiting to US Navy's air defense to catch up. 

Meanwhile Russian Air Force ...

 ... which as we all know loses 150 combat planes daily and never gained air superiority over 404, continues--magically, I guess--exercise this air superiority over the battlefield. But what do I really know about it. 

These are the guys from the "Singing Squadron", which harks back to a legendary Great Patriotic War squadron of Vasiliy Emelianinko (in Russian).

But it became immortal after the Leonid Bykov's cult Soviet classic which hits as hard today as when it came out in 1974--Only Old Men Are going to Battle. And the "Singing Squadron" still flies into battle today. And yes, times changed and pulsating Motley Crew's track (one of the best in Glam Metal) fits perfectly--it is a jet age after all. 

It Is Not Just In Yekaterinburg.

Russia is (finally) finishing off ethnic (this time Azeri) "diaspora" which is a euphemism for organized crime groups. Here is the arrest of the "boss" of Ural "diaspora" who, naturally, controls free farmers' markets in the area and is accused of a series of homicides going back as far as 1990s. 

But that is not just Yekaterinburg, Voronezh also joined the chat and it begins to look as a massive operation across Russia where ethnic mafias are beginning to live in a new paradigm. This has nothing to do with hundreds of thousands of regular Azerbaijanis, many of who are law abiding Russia's citizens, but the signal to ethnic organized crime groups is clear. 

Official Baku decided to go, for now, head to head with Russia, including jailing Russian citizens, correspondents of Baku bureau of Sputnik. 

According to Azerbaijani media, a total of seven suspects have been detained in the case involving the Russian journalists. However, only the senior editors ended up in pre-trial custody. The case reportedly involves multiple offenses, including fraud, illegal business dealings and money laundering. Shortly after the raid on the Sputnik office, Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Azerbaijani Ambassador Rakhman Mustafaev, citing “Baku’s hostile actions and the unlawful detention of Russian journalists.” 

Well, wrong move. Russia is completely independent in every single respect from Azerbaijan, while the same cannot be stated for official Baku. Especially, when suddenly some "rumors" (wink, wink) begin to circulate that some drones, both against Iran and Russia, could have been launched from the territory of Azerbaijan. So, we know how it will go if things do not change in official Baku attitude. If Baku thinks that its close relations with Turkey are somehow any kind of assurances--wrong assessment. And pissing off Iran, boy ... well Azerbaijani political top can call on whatever they want, but the weight categories are so incomparable that I would rather get myself a bucket of pop-corn.  

Meanwhile, bank teller boy called Putin. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron by telephone, the Kremlin press service said on Tuesday. It is the first phone contact between the leaders since September 2022. The conversation revolved around the situation in the Middle East, as well as the Ukraine conflict. During the call, Putin told Macron that the Ukraine conflict was “a direct consequence of the policies pursued by Western states, which for many years ignored Russia’s security interests,” and had established an “anti-Russian bridgehead” in the country, the press service stated. The Russian leader reiterated Moscow’s approach to any settlement, stating that it must “be comprehensive and long-term, address the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis and be based on new territorial realities.”

Allegedly France did land some contingent to Odessa. Doesn't matter, I hope those hapless servicemen wrote parting letters to their families, because they will be found out and killed. I don't even know what else did Macron expect to hear from Putin, because Russia's conditions re: 404 are the same. But this loser will now parade in a front of the same EU losers like him his phone call as if France matters in any serious geopolitical matters. She does not.