I don't think that is what you wanted to link to.Korean's want get a slice of that new European spending on arms. While the focus in Europe is on buying European, there are definitely some upsides to buying some hardware from South Korea. Their big industrial capacity would probably allow some quicker delivery times on some items (specially ships and artillery). And their new MBT is a pretty formidable machine.
South Korea Eyes European Market
Thanks for catching it. Updated the link now. And yeah, the Korean's are building some decent hardware and can deliver somewhat faster until the Europeans upscale their industryI don't think that is what you wanted to link to.
But yeah, Poland making a major purchase of Korean systems had been quite major news for some time. And just two days ago there was another report that apparently they have ordered another major batch of 180 K2 MBTs which could start delivery as early as April. Their artillery systems also aren't half bad.
I hate politics in Military affairs.
The F-35 killswitch from a German defense contractor spokesman is a complete load of bollocks.
I did wonder about that. I was working with one of the principal contractors to the project in the early days and never heard anything remotely related to a kill switch, but then they wouldn't have told me if there was.
The closest thing would be to cut off the logistics and data connections, but right now that might actually improve the F35.
Is it though? Yes, of course there isn't a hardware or remote software killswitch in the aircraft that bricks it. But factual reality isn't much better, because the F-35 relies on software updates and spare parts supply from the US, and some systems aren't even allowed to be maintained by non-US personnel. If the USA decide to cut a buyer of the system off of those things, that pretty much equals a killswitch. Not an immediate, one-minute-to-the-next one. But it will make the system unusable in due time.I hate politics in Military affairs.
The F-35 killswitch from a German defense contractor spokesman is a complete load of bollocks.
Is it though? Yes, of course there isn't a hardware or remote software killswitch in the aircraft that bricks it. But factual reality isn't much better, because the F-35 relies on software updates and spare parts supply from the US, and some systems aren't even allowed to be maintained by non-US personnel. If the USA decide to cut a buyer of the system off of those things, that pretty much equals a killswitch.
So yeah, it's bollocks and it also isn't. And with the USA in their current state, it is certainly a big part of a potential buyer's consideration how much they would be able to use a system without having to beg their approval.
so this pretty much proves it's a Woodwardesque business to pay a top dollar for a machine that's extremely expensive, quickly becomes 'not as good as the next iteration' due to dependence on the seller to provide software updates and with big supply chain problems.Software updates don't mean the plane is redundant. It just means that the version you're on isn't as good as the next iteration. For example, most UK F-35's are on Block II, with Block III being pending soon, whereas block IV is already out for some F-35's.
As for supply chain problems, well yeah, but it's hardly a kill switch. It's the same as buying any weapon from any provider. If they shut off the taps you're screwed.
Inability to update the software does very quickly make the aircraft redundant in the F-35's case though. Not only does it mean you cannot adapt new weapons to the plane and can't update with new enemy capabilities. You also cannot update the Mission Data File, which is being provided by ACURL in the US and plays a massive part in the operation of the F-35. It's not like you're just operating a smartphone that is just an OS-patch or tow behind but every app still works, you just don't have the most modern version of it.Software updates don't mean the plane is redundant. It just means that the version you're on isn't as good as the next iteration. For example, most UK F-35's are on Block II, with Block III being pending soon, whereas block IV is already out for some F-35's.
As for supply chain problems, well yeah, but it's hardly a kill switch. It's the same as buying any weapon from any provider. If they shut off the taps you're screwed.
Inability to update the software does very quickly make the aircraft redundant in the F-35's case though. Not only does it mean you cannot adapt new weapons to the plane and can't update with new enemy capabilities. You also cannot update the Mission Data File, which is being provided by ACURL in the US and plays a massive part in the operation of the F-35. It's not like you're just operating a smartphone that is just an OS-patch or tow behind but every app still works, you just don't have the most modern version of it.
If you lose hardware support with most other systems, you can deal with it in some way. Use different parts, mount homegrown weapons, etc. With the F-35, complex and hyperintegrated as it is, that is only possible in an extremely limited capacity.
And again, some parts of the aircraft aren't even allowed to be maintained by non-US personnel, the only exception to that being the Israelis afaik.
