ishikabibble posted:

...Isn't the B-variant specifically meant for short take-off and vertical landing? I always thought the vertical takeoff portion was just like, something that came along with that ability and maybe has some use in emergency situations.

I'm pretty sure even the AV-8Bs the USMC flies are operated that way too.

Der Kyhe posted:

the US Marines think that the curved take-off ramps in small carriers look dorky.

Der Kyhe posted:

The B-variant definitely is. The entire VTOL is unneeded dead weight that works only if you either fly the thing basically unarmed, or have tanker flying around for immediate refill before doing anything useful with the plane. And the only actual reason to have one is because the US Marines think that the curved take-off ramps in small carriers look dorky.

For "maybe Russian propaganda?" 33.3% right is more correct than usually.

Vampire Panties posted:

I saw one of those dorky things landing at Miramar a few weeks ago. IIRC only the US Marines decided they desperately needed VTOL, to replace their Harriers on LHD ships

weg posted:

Ok so since this is the pro-NATO thread and I'm going to need to everyone write at least five words about why you like the F35 so we don't hurt it's feelings.

weg posted:

Ok so since this is the pro-NATO thread and I'm going to need to everyone write at least five words about why you like the F35 so we don't hurt it's feelings.

weg posted:

Ok so since this is the pro-NATO thread and I'm going to need to everyone write at least five words about why you like the F35 so we don't hurt it's feelings.

weg posted:

Ok so since this is the pro-NATO thread and I'm going to need to everyone write at least five words about why you like the F35 so we don't hurt it's feelings.

TK-42-1 posted:

it is trying it’s best

EorayMel posted:

Who needs jets for fighting and transportation when you can use the peerless power of your brain the size of a semi-truck to teleport yourself anywhere and also blast things you don't like with lasers?

weg posted:

Ok so since this is the pro-NATO thread and I'm going to need to everyone write at least five words about why you like the F35 so we don't hurt it's feelings.

McGavin posted:

Looks cooler than the X-32.

Budzilla posted:

F-35 rules. Mig aircraft drool.

HonorableTB posted:

if you have VTOL needs, the osprey is right there

weg posted:

Ok so since this is the pro-NATO thread and I'm going to need to everyone write at least five words about why you like the F35 so we don't hurt it's feelings.

Der Kyhe posted:

Well, whatever the actual reason Marines had besides "getting their own model", they were the ones who wanted the B-variant with VTOL/VSTOL-capabilities, and don't have ski-jumps on their carriers which would enable them to operate more conventional designs.

SilvergunSuperman posted:

I'd like to argue that mig is fun to say

quote:

Analysis: The information leak revealed more of Putin's little helpers - this is why the Kremlin's dirty money is a problem for Europe

The lure of Russian money has been so great that even the bloody war in Ukraine has not made all of Europe close the Kremlin's money taps, writes Yle reporter Jyri Hänninen.

How many oligarchs can fit on one island? Many tens, if you're talking about Cyprus.

A new leak published on Tuesday, Cyprus Confidential, revealed that 67 oligarchs have owned or managed companies in Cyprus at some point. And now we are not talking about small businessmen, but very rich and influential oligarchs like Gennady Timchenko and Roman Abramovich.

Abramović is known especially as the former owner of the British football club Chelsea. Timchenko not only has a Finnish passport but also exceptionally close relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the US, Timchenko is actually a kind of Putin's wallet. According to the claim – which Timchenko has of course denied – Putin has access to the oligarch's money if he wants to.

Through Cyprus, the oligarchs have owned yachts, luxury real estate, valuable art and private planes, but also shares in, for example, large Russian companies. Bacchanals of Putin's inner circle have been going on in the island nation.

Any money was fine

The most significant finding of the new data leak is how Cyprus and the various consultants operating there have been operating. The island nation is an EU country, and it should comply with the economic sanctions agreed upon by the Union. However, based on the leaked material, Cyprus has not been overly precise in this matter.

For example, the respected auditing and consulting company PwC helped Aleksei Mordašov, one of the richest men in Russia, in a billion-dollar arrangement, the purpose of which seems to have been to avoid EU sanctions. PwC did not comment on its individual clients to the international journalists' organization ICIJ, but said it was complying with the sanctions. Mordašov, on the other hand, said that he always followed the laws of all countries in his activities.

The leaked 3.6 million documents originate mainly from six so-called service provider companies (offshore service providers). These service providers are a kind of lifeblood of the tax haven economy that keeps the system going.

They establish companies for their customers and manage their practical affairs. The world's most famous company in the field is the Panamanian Mossack Fonseca, from which the 2016 data leak Panama Papers originated.

Service providers and consulting companies can be appointed as Putin's little helpers. For decades, they have helped oligarchs close to the Kremlin and large Russian corporations move their assets to tax havens. However, the money does not stay in Cyprus, Panama or the British Virgin Islands, a significant part of it has ended up in the West.

No critical questions have been asked about the origin of the money, even though everyone knows how corrupt Russia is.

Handy EU passports

Cyprus turned EU citizenship into a business. The island nation had its own "golden visa" program, granting citizenship to individuals who invest in the island nation. According to ICIJ, 2,869 Russians received Cypriot citizenship through the program. This generated an income of almost seven billion euros for Cyprus.

An EU passport guarantees free movement in the Schengen area and visa-free travel to many countries around the world.

Cypriot citizenship was acquired by many oligarchs and Russian businessmen and their family members. Among them is also Igor Kesaev, who is close to the Russian intelligence services. The businessman is also known in Finland. He owns his own island in Puumala, which, however, is currently confiscated. Kesaev is on the EU sanctions list.

Perhaps it will not come as a surprise that Kesaev has also run his business through his Cypriot companies.

The Kremlin decides how to spend the money

Why should an ordinary Finn care that the Russian oligarchs have run their funds through the EU country Cyprus?

The oligarch's money is not only the oligarch's. Russia's corrupt system works in such a way that Putin can practically dictate where the funds are spent. It could mean getting a yacht for Putin or buying a hockey team in the West, because the KHL hockey league needs to expand. Or something much darker.

Funds can be directed to Russian propaganda and disinformation, intelligence service operations in the West, or running one's own private army. According to Russian independent media and Western media, Gennady Timchenko has financed and possibly owns the mercenary company Redut, whose troops have also fought in Ukraine. Timchenko has reportedly not publicly commented on his connections with the mercenary army.

The money circulated through Cyprus and other tax havens is therefore not necessarily used only to buy a nice Renaissance villa in Italy, but to kill people in the raging war in Europe.

Sedgr posted:

The F35 is fine, eventually.

Strategic Tea posted:

As accountancy partners are just replaceable salesmen anyway, I don't see why we shouldn't drag every single one of them through the courts and demand they prove their innocence

mobby_6kl posted:

Blistex posted:

Agreed. Also, the production model was going to look very different