Occasional Reader 2/25/2026 7:36:57 AM

1

The SOTU was truly a tour de france* of Trump’s style, but I will add my nitpick; it’s just “Medal of Honor”, Mr. President. No “Congressional”.

* said in “Little Carmine” Lupertazzi-voice

JCM 2/25/2026 8:36:16 AM

2

US Air Force stealth fighters land in Israel, official says

Around a dozen U.S. Air Force F-22 fighters have landed in Israel, according to a U.S. official.

Iran's air defense got bodied in the last round. Iran has 130 or so gen-3 fighters, MiG-21s, F-4s, F5s. less than 5 F-14s. 50 or so gen-4 MiG-29 and Su-24s. Availability is unknown but I would estimate at 30%. Trump has put 120 F-16s, F-15s and F-18s into the region and a bunch of electronic warfare assets.. A dozen or so KC-46s on the Carnary Islands, and other 20 to 30 KC-130s in the region.

If you are going to go kinetic... over kill is a good thing.

Kosh's Shadow 2/25/2026 9:08:33 AM

3

Reply to JCM in 2:

And an Iranian F-4 (based on the picture, which might have not been accurate) crashed while training. I doubt those aircraft are in good condition, since they cannot get parts without smuggling them.

Occasional Reader 2/25/2026 9:56:05 AM

4

Reply to Kosh's Shadow in 3:

Pete Mitchell managed to get that one Iranian F-14 up in the air, anyway. 

JCM 2/25/2026 11:03:27 AM

5

Reply to Kosh's Shadow in 3:

All Iran US and French planes are a question mark. 30% availability on published numbers is optimistic from Iran's POV. Their MiGs and SUs are likely a high availability.

The other issue is training... or for Iran the lack thereof. Just the lack of hours. But virtual zero training in the type of electronic environment the US will create. Their battlespace situational awareness will be extremely limited. Doesn't mean there is no threat from Iranian air defense or aircraft. Iran has no idea what is really coming...if and when it comes.

vxbush 2/25/2026 2:23:51 PM

6

I've been running around today like the Road Runner. Just now got my head up so I could check things here. Insane day, and I'm not the only one complaining about the workload. 

I'm glad to hear Trump did well, but I freely admit I wouldn't have watched the whole thing. I can honestly only take Trump in small doses when he's doing his public persona.