The United States Navy accepts its 44th modified F-5 Tiger from Northrop Grumman in St. Augustine, Fla. This aircraft, tail number 761550, was built by the company 33 years ago and put into service for the Swiss Air Force. Now, the upgraded aircraft is a U.S. Navy asset and will serve as an adversary trainer for naval aviators.

I’ve always thought the F-5 was a pretty sharp-looking aircraft. Norhtrop Grumman press release on the program here.

Marine Corps Times:

The MV-22 Osprey will head to Afghanistan by the end of the year, after it tests its sea legs on the amphibious assault ship Bataan, the Corps’ top officer said Wednesday during a briefing with reporters.

Commandant Gen. James Conway also said the aircraft likely will stay in theater for the remainder of the Corps’ role in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Despite a number of well-publicized teething problems, the Osprey has been getting the job done in Iraq so far as far as Murdoc can tell. I imagine that in Afghanistan, with fewer troops covering less-developed terrain, the Osprey may come in handy from time to time. Though I don’t know what its VTOL performance in high altitudes is.

This I didn’t know:

When the Corps sent the first MV-22 squadron to Iraq in September 2007, no one was certain how the aircraft would stand up in the harsh environment. To find out, the Corps kept the same aircraft in theater while rotating in three different squadrons over 19 months, allowing maintenance crews to determine which parts would wear quicker.

That makes sense.

“We are planning to resolve all the issues in 2010-2011, and after that we will make a final decision. At this point it is necessary to determine all technical specifications of the ship and the means of achieving them. Simultaneously, we have to decide on the strategic uses of aircraft carriers in the future,” Vladimir Popovkin said.

So far the Russian Navy only has one aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, built in 1985, with a displacement of 55,000 metric tons, a crew of 1,500, and capability to carry more than 50 aircraft.

Earlier reports that the Russians were not planning to arm the ship with cruise missiles seem to be confirmed.

Still some bad guys around, of course. Iraqi officials claim US troops killed two civilians, not fighters.

U.S. spokesman Maj. Derrick Cheng says several people launched grenades and began shooting Wednesday as the patrol was handing out micro-grant money to stimulate small businesses in the town of Riyadh.

“Launched grenades”? “Began shooting”?

So it could have been civilians, after all.

Specter says he’s switching from GOP to Democrats

“I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans,” Specter said in a statement posted on a Web site devoted to Pennsylvania politics and confirmed by his office.

In other late news, the Japanese attacked a US naval installation in Hawaii. Film at eleven.

Chinese Navy Requires Supercruising Fighter

A supercruising combat aircraft is a high priority of the Chinese navy, the country’s top admiral says in a revealing official interview that gives strong clues of perceived shortcomings and future directions for the maritime force.

Adm. Wu Shengli also says China must step up work on precision missiles that can overcome enemy defenses, and the nation should move faster in developing large combat surface ships — probably meaning the aircraft carrier program that looks increasingly imminent.

Meanwhile, the US Navy has prioritized retiring ships and subs early and opening up multi-year fighter shortages.

VI – Day, Victory in Iraq, June 13, 2009
The time has come to recognize our brave troops for bringing victory to the Iraqi people and to the cause of freedom around the world.

Concerns aired on number of Air Guard planes
What? A potential aircraft shortage? Next thing you’re going to tell Murdoc is that the Navy is short of ships.

New helmet program focuses on stopping power
Enhanced Combat Helmet for the USMC…perhaps not made of Kevlar.

Navy To Commission Guided-Missile Destroyer Truxtun
DDG 103 will be the sixth USS Truxtun in US Navy history.

Is Mexico arming Mexican Gangsters with US Weapons?
Anyone who knows anything realizes that machine guns and rocket launchers from the US civilian market are not arming Mexican gangsters. President Obama and AG Holder know this but keep saying otherwise. When I was young, I was told that sort of thing was called “lying.”

Petraeus suggests armed guards for cargo ships
I knew he must read MO!

Campbell Wants Out If Redskins Draft QB
If the Redskins trade up to draft Mark Sanchez tomorrow, I think I’m out as a fan.

NotreDameScandal.com
A Petition by Catholics to stop Notre Dame from having President Barack Obama as its commencement speaker.

TWA Flight 800 Was Downed by a Missile
A collection of links for those who haven’t heard all of this 800 times already.

Teens charged in war memorial vandalism
Mount Pleasant, Michigan. How nice.

That’s all. Continue mission.

Rep. Pete Hoekstra: Pelosi “Wasn’t Paying Attention” If She Thought CIA Was Not Waterboarding

I work in Hoekstra’s district. He makes the national news once in a while, usually on big issues.

UPDATE: Great observation in the comments:

This whole “I knew about the Enhanced Interrogation Techniques but didn’t think they were going to USE them” defense sounds a LOT like Hillary!’s “I voted to authorize the use of force against Iraq, but I didn’t think the President would actually use it” dodge.