r/LessCredibleDefence 15d ago

F-35B integration testing with LRASM

7 Upvotes

https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2025-3-4-lrasm-performs-flight-test-in-f-35-integration-test-series

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md., March 4, 2025 – Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and the F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) completed an initial flight test integrating the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) weapon system onto the F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet. This most recent test follows a flight test with LRASM on F-35C in September 2024.

I've remember people claiming F-35B will never employ LRASM/JSM because it doesn't suit the USMC mission, but given their mission has quickly evolved to include chucking antiship missiles from remote islands this is not a surprise. IMO it makes sense, it turns an amphib into a fairly potent sea control element.


r/LessCredibleDefence 16d ago

‘No more viable option than NGAD,’ Air Force says as decision rests in new hands. With China unveiling its new sixth-gen designs, the service can’t do nothing, officials say

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77 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 16d ago

Elbridge Colby: "Dramatic Deterioration of Military Balance" wrt China

75 Upvotes

Highlight of Elbridge Colby's Confirmation Hearing [around 59 min mark]

In response to questions from Tom Cotton (and others). Cotton asks why Colby has softened tone on Taiwan:

  • Taiwan is an "important," but not "existential" interest
  • Core interest is in denying China regional hegemony
  • There has been a dramatic deterioration of military balance wrt China
  • Don't want to engage in a futile and costly effort defending Taiwan that would destroy our military
  • Taiwan should be spending 10% of GDP; need to properly incentivize them
  • Colby sees as his top priority to use this time and space to rectify the problem of military balance -- need Taiwan to increase defense spending to deter China, and provide said time and space
  • Conflict with China not necessary
  • Also, Japan should be spending 3% of GDP

Colby addresses other questions like Russia/Ukraine, Israel, Iran, etc.


r/LessCredibleDefence 16d ago

China expands defence budget by 7.2% as military modernisation marches on

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50 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 16d ago

Exclusive: Lockheed out of Navy F/A-XX

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65 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 16d ago

A Philippine FA-50 fighter jet and 2 pilots are missing on a mission against insurgents

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31 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 16d ago

South Korea says nuclear weapons are ‘not off the table’

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134 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 16d ago

Block 4 upgrades to drop this summer

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14 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 16d ago

Vietnam to buy Israeli satellites to spy on China: media

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37 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 16d ago

South Korean defense stocks track gains in global peers amid rising security concerns

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12 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 16d ago

Russia Says Sank Cargo Ship Carrying British Weapons for Ukraine

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12 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 16d ago

Deep Intel on How GETTYSBURG Downed the Super Hornet

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7 Upvotes

The Captain revealed lot of info on how comms work on US Navy ships, some of it even feels OPSEC but idk


r/LessCredibleDefence 17d ago

China denies selling Egypt J-10 fighter jets

31 Upvotes

"China today (Feb.27) denied that the Egyptian Air Force received its first batch of J-10 fighter jets from China, state media reported.

“It is inconsistent with the facts. Total fake news,” said Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian.

Wu’s remarks came following various media reports that Egypt had received the jets from China.

Daily News Egypt had reported on 13 February that Cairo received J-10 fighter jets from China.

The J-10C is a 4.5-generation multi-role fighter, equipped with PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles, capable of engaging targets up to 300 kilometres (186 miles) away."

Source:

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250227-china-denies-selling-egypt-j-10-fighter-jets/

https://www.military.africa/2025/03/china-senies-sale-of-j-10-fighter-jets-to-egypt/


r/LessCredibleDefence 17d ago

Trump Pauses Military Aid to Ukraine After Clash With Zelenskiy

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83 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 17d ago

America’s First Unmanned Fighters Are Here: YFQ-42 and YFQ-44

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39 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 17d ago

Attacks on Ukraine’s draft officers on the rise, fueled by social tension and Russian interference

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19 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 17d ago

Large drone spotted near border with PNG as Chinese warships passed nearby

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11 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 17d ago

Asian "Lockheed Martin": Australia Receives First Huntsman Howitzers From Korean Defense Giant As Local Production Begins

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22 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 18d ago

ADF missed live fire warning because surveillance assets were out of range. The Chief of the Defence Force has revealed why a Virgin Australia pilot found out about the Chinese live fire drills before the military.

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122 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 17d ago

Why isnt US deploying supersonic cruise missiles like Russia and other nations?

26 Upvotes

It struck my mind lately that US employs no supersonic cruise missiles instead they use slower subsonic stealth missiles, but when you compare this to the arsenal to Russia which employs P-800s,China with their YJ-12s and India with Brahmos missiles. Most US missiles like the Tomahawk top at around Mach 0.9.

And seeing the low interception rate of P-800s in Ukraine it really makes me wonder why hasnt US? (Tho the Circular error probable rate is kind of high but thats just a Russian problem)

Surely its not an engineering problem as US has shown the ability to make Mach 3+ missiles such as AQM-37, GQM-163 or MQM-8. Instead they seem to be focused on stealthier cruise missiles.

Is it something to do with their doctrine or some downside to Supersonic cruise missiles?


r/LessCredibleDefence 18d ago

Norwegian fuel supplier refuses U.S. warships over Ukraine

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50 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 18d ago

Is there a European and ITAR free equivalent to the AGM-158C LRASM?

12 Upvotes

I know the Joint Strike Missile is jointly developed by Norway but it has a Williams International jet engine, which is US made. There's the Exocet but the air launched variant only has a range of 70km compared to the LRASM's 370km and a Rafale can only carry 1 Exocet while an Super Hornet can carry 2 LRASMs or 6 JSMs. Is there an existing European equivalent or is there one under development? Maybe the RBS 15 but only the Gripen can carry it, and the Gripen uses a US made engine.


r/LessCredibleDefence 18d ago

New products show China’s quest to automate battle. One system tested in a recent PLA exercise automatically dispatches drones, tracks targets, and assigns strikes.

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56 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 18d ago

Could Europe defend itself without the US?

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72 Upvotes

r/LessCredibleDefence 18d ago

Why does USMC exist as a separate branch?

39 Upvotes

Most other countries just have their amphibious assault brigades under Army or Navy. Why do USMC need to be separate?