Houthi Homemade SAM 🚨TOD: J-20 "Mighty Dragon" | F-35s to Romania

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Edited by: Sidney McAlear

HISTORY OF THE DAY

Brigadier General Steve Ritchie: The Vietnam War's Only Air Force Pilot Ace

Richard Steven “Steve” Ritchie is celebrated as the only Air Force pilot ace of the Vietnam War. Born on June 25, 1942, in Reidsville, North Carolina, Ritchie began his military career by entering the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1960 and graduating in 1964. He distinguished himself by finishing first in his class in Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas.

Combat Achievements
Ritchie's combat career included two tours in Southeast Asia. His first tour began in 1968, flying F-4 Phantom IIs with the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam. During this time, he completed 195 combat missions and flew the first official F-4 Fast-FAC mission. After serving as an instructor at the Fighter Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, he volunteered for a second combat tour in 1972 with the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base.

During his second tour, Ritchie achieved five confirmed aerial victories against North Vietnamese MiG-21s. His first kill occurred on May 10, 1972, during Operation Linebacker. He scored additional victories on May 31 and July 8, downing two MiGs in under two minutes. On August 28, he secured his fifth kill, officially becoming an ace.

Ritchie's accomplishments earned him numerous awards, including the Air Force Cross, four Silver Stars, ten Distinguished Flying Crosses, and 25 Air Medals. After the Vietnam War, he served in various capacities within the Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and the Colorado Air National Guard until his retirement in 1999 as a brigadier general.

THREAT OF THE DAY (TOD)…via Wikipedia

Name: Chengdu J-20 "Mighty Dragon"
Country of Origin: China
NATO Designation: Fagin
Initial Operating Capability (IOC): 2017 (First Combat Units 2018)
Proliferation Countries: China; interested nations: U.A.E., Pakistan, & Egypt.
Produced: Estimated 200-250. Production rate 100-120 per year.
Variants:
🔺J-20: Initial production model with Russian AL-31 engines.
🔺J-20A:  Enhanced avionics and sensors; equipped with Chinese WS-10C engines.
🔺J-20B: Thrust vectoring control for improved maneuverability; future use of Chinese WS-15 engines.
🔺Family Model (aka two seats): Developed for tactical bombing, electronic warfare, and UAV command roles.
Speed: Mach 2.0
Engine(s): WS-10G thrust vectoring turbofan engines, each generating 30,000lbs of thrust, manufactured by Shenyang Liming Aircraft Engine Company (*prototype aircraft had engines manufactured by Russia).
Range: Approximately 3,400 kilometers (1,840 nautical miles)
Radar and Targeting: Equipped with an Advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, the J-20 is designed for stealth and enhanced maneuverability and is capable of engaging both air-to-air and air-to-ground targets.
Armament: 
🔺Main Weapon Bay: Long-range air-to-air missiles (PL-15, PL-21) and precision-guided munitions (LS-6/50, LS-6/100)
🔺Lateral Weapons Bays: Short-range air-to-air missiles (PL-10); Potential for air-to-surface missiles and anti-radiation missiles
“Fun” Facts: The J-20 is China's first fifth-generation stealth fighter, marking a significant leap in its military aviation capabilities. It features a canard-delta wing configuration. The J-20 features an electro-optical/infra-red targeting system, similar to the Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) found on the F-35 annnnndddddd the aircraft reportedly includes a 360-degree optical system akin to the F-35's Distributed Aperture System, which provides comprehensive situational awareness and aids in detecting stealth aircraft.

FLIGHT LINE

🎯 Marine Posthumously Awarded Top Medal for Heroic Actions in Osprey Crash | Corporal Spencer Collart was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic attempt to save pilots trapped in a burning V-22 Osprey after it crashed during a military exercise in Australia. Despite surviving the initial crash, Collart returned to the aircraft to rescue the pilots, ultimately succumbing to the smoke and flames. 

🎯 Houthi Rebels Shoot Down Two MQ-9 Reaper Drones | The U.S. military confirmed that Yemen's Houthi rebels shot down two American-made MQ-9 Reaper drones, with the first incident occurring on September 10 and the second on September 16. Houthis claim they took down the drone with a “locally made” surface-to-air missile.

🎯 Explosive Pager Attacks | A series of coordinated explosions involving pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon and Syria resulted in at least 12 deaths and thousands of injuries. The attacks, which occurred over two days, have been attributed to Israel by multiple sources, although Israel has not officially claimed responsibility. The explosions have been described as a sophisticated operation, with small explosives reportedly embedded in the devices. Of note, Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon was injured in the attack. 

🎯 Venezuela Arrests Fourth American Over Alleged Plot Against Maduro | Venezuela has arrested a fourth U.S. citizen in connection to an alleged plot to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro, accusing them of taking photos of sensitive sites in Caracas. This follows the detention of three other Americans and several Europeans, with claims of a conspiracy involving foreign intelligence to overthrow Maduro.

🎯 U.S. Troops Deployed to Shemya Island | In response to increased Russian and Chinese military activity near Alaska, the U.S. Army has deployed about 130 soldiers and mobile rocket launchers to Shemya Island in the Aleutian chain. This deployment, part of a "force projection operation," comes as Russian aircraft and naval vessels, including submarines, have been observed near Alaskan waters during joint military exercises with China.

🎯 China Claims Ability to Detect U.S. Stealth Jets Using Starlink Satellites | Chinese scientists have reportedly demonstrated the capability to detect stealth aircraft like the F-22 and F-35 using electromagnetic radiation from SpaceX's Starlink satellites. In an experiment, a drone with a radar cross-section similar to a stealth fighter was detected using signals from the satellite network, suggesting potential vulnerabilities in U.S. stealth technology. 

🎯 American Pastor Released from Detention in China | Chinese authorities have released David Lin, an American pastor who was detained for nearly 20 years on charges of contract fraud, following diplomatic negotiations between the U.S. and China. Lin, originally sentenced to life imprisonment in 2006, was granted medical parole and has returned to the United States.

🎯 Pentagon to Oversee $3 Billion Effort to Strengthen Microchip Supply | The Pentagon, in collaboration with the U.S. Commerce Department, will lead a $3 billion initiative under the CHIPS and Science Act to bolster the domestic supply chain of microelectronics critical for military use. 

🎯 FAA Proposes Fines Against SpaceX for Launch Violations | The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $633,000 fine against SpaceX for allegedly violating launch license requirements during two missions in 2023. The infractions involve the unauthorized use of a new launch control room, skipping a readiness poll for the June Falcon 9 launch of Satria-1, and using an unapproved rocket propellant farm for the July Falcon Heavy launch of Jupiter-3. 

🎯 U.S. Clears F-35 Sale to Romania | The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of 32 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters to Romania in a deal valued at approximately $7.2 billion. This acquisition will provide Romania with its first two squadrons of F-35s, enhancing its defense capabilities and interoperability with NATO.

🎯 Dusty Crop Popper Cuts |  The U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has decided to cut its procurement target for the new L3Harris AT-802U Sky Warden aircraft from 75 to 62. The AT-802U is AFSOC’s answer to replace the U-28 and runs about 2-4% the cost of having an F-22 drop a bomb on a mud hut in country XYZ.

🎯 Hong Kong Man Jailed for T-Shirt |  Chu Kai-pong, 27, has become the first person convicted under Hong Kong's new national security law, Article 23, after pleading guilty to sedition for wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times." Arrested on June 12, Chu was sentenced to 14 months in prison, with the court citing his intent to reignite the 2019 protests.

🎯 Kentucky Sheriff Charged with Murder in Shooting of Judge | Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines, 43, has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, multiple times in his chambers at the Letcher County Courthouse. The incident occurred following an argument.

🎯 Air Force Hits Recruiting Goals with Policy Changes | The U.S. Air Force has squeaked past its recruiting targets for fiscal year 2024 for active-duty, Guard, and reserve forces, attributing this achievement to policy adjustments, including relaxed body fat standards and updated tattoo policies. In the end, the DoD has an uphill battle when it comes to recruiting, only 23% of American youth qualify for service.

Trivia Answer:
C) Operation El Dorado Canyon

Operation El Dorado Canyon was a series of U.S. airstrikes against Libya on April 15, 1986, in response to the West Berlin discotheque bombing, which was attributed to Libyan agents. The operation involved coordinated attacks by the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps targeting military sites in Tripoli and Benghazi. These strikes aimed to diminish Libya's capacity to support terrorist activities and were notable for their precision and scale, involving over 100 aircraft.