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In the same way that an old palm oil container stuff with AMFO did in AFG... That shift is driven by an opponents use of asymetric tactics in a conflict. We've already seen how even that use has shifted in UKR from FPV racing drones with RPG warheads on to Shahed and the countermeasures that each requires (5Ghz jamming -> fibre optics for example).
UKR pioneered cheap, but "modern" militaries (or at least their suppliers) don't want cheap, they want expensive. They, or at least the people that order the kit, want AI driven flight and target definition, carbon fibre, stealth, you name it and all that takes time (and money) to develop. The result may end up being a solution that is less effective than an FPV drone with an RPG strapped to it, costs 100 times more and comes into play two years too late to be useful, or may even be seen as too expensive to be used in a situation that is not critical enough, until it becomes critical enough and is found not to work properly.
UKR is doing it right, but that's because the evolution and learning they are going through is being paid for in blood.
@blokeuptheroad Crossed over posts there.
My comment on the Twin Otter/AN-24 was about UAE et al using them. That tactic works in UKR (and works well) but may not be a good fit for the more open Gulf area
Add the UK as a partner for drone production. They have a site in Suffolk now, which is good.
I notice on Flight Tracker there are a large number of military Grobs in the air at the moment over the UK. Could those be used in anti-drone operations?
BP diesel has gone up £1 per litre today.
the kurds have entered the war
lol, And who's been selling them cheap weapons again?
I think this it just part of a long term plan to keep the general geographic region in constant conflict, a divided enemy is much more pliable than a united one. It's just basic maths.
No Kurdish forces involved yet.
It's a US consideration and a small number of media outlets ran it as fact.
Chances are that it'd just add to the chaos and cause more issues than it solves, assuming they'd trust the US after being let down in Iraq and Syria
BP diesel has gone up £1 per litre today
Having googled that, I'm seeing rises around 5p a litre not £1 a litre. I mean, I'm expecting prices to rise sharply but I can't find where you've got that from. You have a link/screen shot if it's X?
Edit, highest reference is on Forecourt Trader at 20p a litre.
BP diesel has gone up £1 per litre today.
US gasoline passed the $3 average today.
This will be additional pressure on the mid-terms
The US has started planning for this to last until September, mid-terms in November 🤔
My local BP is 143.9 today
Maybe it’s a Trump thing ie rating is war awesomeness 15/10
Edit, highest reference is on Forecourt Trader at 20p a litre.
Checked online. Nearest BP garage and my usual Shell garage up 7p today.
I rang the garage to query it
The manager confirmed.
I thought a £1 difference could have been a mistake!
I just was topping up and was not concentrating and like you Googled it and could not find it online.
I paid £1 less on A9 yesterday at another BP garage.
Ukrainian military drone operators are already at work in sub-Saharan Africa, tying up Russian mercenaries and uniformed military.
How can the US and the Gulf States combat the thousands of drones being used then, as it seems forces are running out of the tools to combat that? It seems Iran can really hurt the West by hitting fuel facilities and blocking the Straits of Hormuz? How long can that continue?
How can the US and the Gulf States combat the thousands of drones being used then, as it seems forces are running out of the tools to combat that? It seems Iran can really hurt the West by hitting fuel facilities and blocking the Straits of Hormuz? How long can that continue?
And to think Trump had the opportunity to obtain Ukrainian drone tech including their much cheaper interceptor drones, but turned the deal down so he didn't have to tell his Russian chums to pack up and go home.
How can the US and the Gulf States combat the thousands of drones being used then, as it seems forces are running out of the tools to combat that? It seems Iran can really hurt the West by hitting fuel facilities and blocking the Straits of Hormuz? How long can that continue?
Its easy enough to blow up missile launchers, even mobile ones, but a drone can be hidden in a shed and launched from the back of a pickup truck, No idea what Irans reserves of them might be, but Im guessing a lot!
Whats also very worrying is that Iran used an USV- sea drone to blow a hole in a tanker last night, their Navy ships and subs might be all sunk (or not who knows with submarines) but USVs are small cheap and hard to find how many of these they have - could affect global shipping massively and cause inflation for all of us
https://bsky.app/profile/urikikaski.bsky.social/post/3mgcvof427k2u
And Im not sure how the Americans can guarantee the the straight of Hormuz remains open
Because theres already a backlog of oil tankers there, citcial fertilizer shipments blocked off at the start of spring, its going to start hitting everyones pockets nad thats very worrying because the UK government & others will likely have to move to protect shipping, that makes ships vulnerable
Iran knows that sinking a US warship could force trump to back off, but Im sure that Iran will happily sink any warship
That coastline is huge, it wont just take air or sea power to make it safe, It would surely need 'boots on the ground' Irans coast is 2,500km long, even if the straights are only 150km
So we're f##ked basically.
That coastline is huge, it wont just take air or sea power to make it safe, It would surely need 'boots on the ground' Irans coast is 2,500km long, even if the straights are only 150km
And extremely rugged terrain pretty much the entire length of the gulf coastline.
start stockpiling petrol like theres no tomorrow
https://bsky.app/profile/militarynewsua.bsky.social/post/3mgd6nwipvs2o
Trump & Hegseth are a joke https://bsky.app/profile/anneapplebaum.bsky.social/post/3mgcwqebtu22e 
It'a almost as though the American government hasn't fully thought this through. But that can't be so can it?
start stockpiling petrol like theres no tomorrow
I wonder if, one of these days, an international shock like this will prove to be the tipping point that shoves everyone over to EVs
So we're f##ked basically.
With the orange ars*h*le in charge, it feels that way.
Surely now ships will be choosing to head down and round Africa? I know it adds weeks, but why wait when it is all kicking off and will not be ending any time soon.
Iran knows that sinking a US warship could force trump to back off, but Im sure that Iran will happily sink any warship
You think trump would back off if they sank a ship with probably a significant loss of US lives and PR embarrassment? Like a bear will back off if you poke it with a stick?
Its not really the Red Sea that the problem - its the next corner roundSurely now ships will be choosing to head down and round Africa? I know it adds weeks, but why wait when it is all kicking off and will not be ending any time soon.
I've never felt much towards politics in my life, as growing up in 80's Belfast made me feel a certain way towards them. It's a bit like that internal anger and rage has returned, seeing what the US Government is doing to the world.
There is a small degree of comfort in the majority of allies seeing them for what they have become.
It seems Iran can really hurt the West by hitting fuel facilities and blocking the Straits of Hormuz?
Apparently not.much of the oil that goes through the straights is destined for Europe and mostly goes to Asia.
Flying mopeds.
I laughed.
“ill-thought-out war, with unclear aims and an uncertain chance of success for any of the myriad of aims stated so far”
Sounds exactly like Brexit to me……
I wonder if, one of these days, an international shock like this will prove to be the tipping point that shoves everyone over to EVs
How would that work?
I wonder if, one of these days, an international shock like this will prove to be the tipping point that shoves everyone over to EVs
I don't know, but a) decarbonisation is a national security issue and this is exactly why, and b) pandemic-style pop-up cycle lanes would probably do a lot to help with cost of living issues resulting from an oil shock, but won't happen due to gammonly screaming on Facebook.
if petrol hits £2/L+ for a sustained period of time you might see more people seeing electric as a cheaper option - of course that does rather depend on (a) the government not having to move mileage taxes significantly up on EVs to compensate for people buring less dutied fued, and (b) the cost of electricity not being impaced by the same issue - which currently is probably the case as everything is tied to gas price.I wonder if, one of these days, an international shock like this will prove to be the tipping point that shoves everyone over to EVs
How would that work?
Considering that Iran are Twelver Shia and believe that they need the end of times to happen so the 12th iman can return and save them all, and that they were developing nuclear weapons, and considering what's currently happening in this war, it is probably best that it happens now rather than later when the consequences could have been a lot worse.
Also considering that everything that happens is by the will of Allah, and believers (such as them) are "encouraged to trust in Allah's wisdom and plan, knowing that even challenging situations are part of a divine decree, fostering patience and acceptance", then they have nothing to complain about and should accept any ass-whipping that occurs.
I keep wondering if you keep your human age when you are martyred and go to receive your perpetual pool of 72 virgins in paradise, because if that is so then Ali the Mouse has left it a bit late I would have thought. 72 virgins is also the minimum reward, so would someone in that position actually receive more? (ok, 72 virgins is a Sunni belief, so maybe not applicable here...)
It an indirect effect though - if you take out the straights and Asia can't get its fuel from the usual place the price of the oil Europe usually buys goes up and Europe and Asia are squabbling over the same stock.It seems Iran can really hurt the West by hitting fuel facilities and blocking the Straits of Hormuz?
Apparently not.much of the oil that goes through the straights is destined for Europe and mostly goes to Asia.
How would that work?
Oil price shock from some conflict or other disaster, then petrol prices go up high enough, for long enough, that a significant proportion of the EV-sceptical go "sod paying this much for fuel, i'm getting an electric car".
Just an idle thought really. But it could be a significant push factor anyway.
Personally I get through less than a tank of fuel per month so I won't be rushing to the petrol station. But people who do 25k miles a year could start considering their situation a bit.
https://bsky.app/profile/tendar.bsky.social/post/3mgd7wdr3pk25
This statement is widely reported. It is quite the eye opener, especially as they can supposedly only make about 600/year.
the cost of electricity not being impaced by the same issue - which currently is probably the case as everything is tied to gas price.I wonder if, one of these days, an international shock like this will prove to be the tipping point that shoves everyone over to EVs
How would that work?
Don't worry - plenty of old coal fired power plants ready to be fired up. No nuclear ones, though. 🙁
Apparently Trump says “Spain is a loser”.
😬
Fuel in Sweden, diesel at least, has gone from 16.54SEK to 19.something SEK.
Looks likes I am going to have to suck up that extra 20% at some point in the next 500km.
Apparently Ukraine holds the cards.
This must have hurt the WH, I hope they remember to say, "Thank you" to President Zelensky
We received a request from the United States for specific support in protection against "shaheds" in the Middle East region. I gave instructions to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security. Ukraine helps partners who help ensure our security and protect the lives of our people. Glory to Ukraine! (TwitterX 1735hrs 5/3/2025)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr5llg0e9g9o
Fresh from War Dept sniping at his pension (again, on appeal) Senator Mark Kelly had this comment on the Iran war,
“I’m thinking, you could pick a random group of people off the street tonight here in Washington, D.C. — just a random group — and they could probably do a better job than our government is doing right now with this,” Kelly told MS NOW’s Jen Psaki.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5768779-mark-kelly-donald-trump-administration-iran-efforts/
The Gulf States are still trading heavily with Russia. Would be great if the price of Ukraine's technical support was choking Russia's financial, tourism and trade flows from the Middle East. Even better if they can swap their expertise for the energy and supplies they need to beat back Russia.
Just catching up on Question Time and everyone seems to be unanimous in that Starmer has got this right in distancing himself (and us) from this.
Jimmy Dimly was on for the Tories saying we should be getting stuck in alongside the Americans, going along with Kemi Badanochs insane ramblings over the last few days.
Fiona Bruce asked for a show of hands in the audience for those who think we should be going along with Trump in attacking Iran. There was literally 2 or 3 people sheepishly rased their hands
Reform and the Tories have seriously failed to read the room on this. The vast majority of the population of this country don’t want us tagging along with the US and being dragged into another mindless crusade in the Middle East