"Who is Eric L. Palmer?" That question was the subject of a recent F-16.net discussion, and for good reason. The former US Air Force photographer now working in Australia has become a prolific blogger on defense technology issues, and a leading blogosphere critic of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
TDL: Why did you start blogging about defens(c)e technology?
ELP: Many reasons I guess....
In part to fill in the blanks for anyone that cares to read. The mainstream news don't know a lot about defense issues and get them wrong more times than not. Ditto with government officials--especially those that have never put on a uniform. Just as important though is to entertain. While some may look at blogs for information, many look at them for entertainment value. If a blog doesn't in some way entertain you (in the broad sense), maybe it is time to change the channel. Especially important; my writings are my opinion. Everyone has an opinion. It is fun to cast one out on the water and see what you reel in.
TDL: If your answer to number 1 doesn't already cover it, what are your thoughts about how defense technology is covered in the 'mainstream' and 'trade' press?
TDL: Why did you start blogging about defens(c)e technology?
ELP: Many reasons I guess....
In part to fill in the blanks for anyone that cares to read. The mainstream news don't know a lot about defense issues and get them wrong more times than not. Ditto with government officials--especially those that have never put on a uniform. Just as important though is to entertain. While some may look at blogs for information, many look at them for entertainment value. If a blog doesn't in some way entertain you (in the broad sense), maybe it is time to change the channel. Especially important; my writings are my opinion. Everyone has an opinion. It is fun to cast one out on the water and see what you reel in.
TDL: If your answer to number 1 doesn't already cover it, what are your thoughts about how defense technology is covered in the 'mainstream' and 'trade' press?
ELP: The mainstream press has to focus more on their core values
covered in journalism school. Unfortunately, the 'If it bleeds, it
leads' mentality of the local nightly TV news has invaded the more
stalwart news services. At the business end, you can't blame them. Big
news organizations that have been around for years are shutting their
doors in part due to the 'dead-tree-media' syndrome. The big bosses
have to generate more advertising revenue. We are seeing the results of
those that don't. They die. This conflicts with the core values of
journalism. This isn't just a writing-about-defense issue thing but
almost any issue.
For the trade press one has to be a bit more sympathetic. They need specific defense contractor (and in some cases government) advertising dollars. It has become even more brutal since the end of the Cold War with industry mergers and a lot less advert dollars to follow. This is continuing as less defense spending happens. The trade press are outstanding at writing about defense issues by getting more detail on specific gadgets. Just like sports or automotive writers, they know their topic. Again though, this has to be done within the limits of who is paying for advert space. One would be silly to think there is traditional objectivity on project x when you see a a huge advert for project x on the same page or issue. It is rare to see some kind of "pure" writing on a defense issues. That goes for blogs too.
TDL: What impact or influence would you like your blog to have? A corollary to this question is what impact do you think blogs in general have in the discussion about defense technology?
ELP: If one is to be so bold as to think it has influence, all that I could say would be that I hope it makes the viewer think. Not how to think, but to look at alternatives to what is being stated by government, industry and so-on about defense programs. Most people that are paying for big defense programs with their hard earned tax dollars are not getting the full story. I am not here to say I have the full story, but only to make someone consider additional thoughts on the topic. Just as important though is someone should find the reading entertaining when it merits it.
As for defense blogs in general. They are important. Industry and government can't control them. That bothers them when their perfect little happy-face press release or PowerPoint slide based on groupthink nonsense, gets a cold dose of reality splattered on it.
TDL: If you were named US Secretary of Defense for one hour, how would you use your time?
ELP: Gee Stephen, only one hour? I'd enjoy that executive office furniture and coffee and doughnuts provided to the DOD royalty. I would find Admiral Rickover's old BS stamp with the red ink. And then find some particularly annoying high-profile Defense reports that are nothing but a joke and stamp them. Then I would call a press conference and present a very entertaining, yet informative monologue stating how the tax payer is being had. Including the point that service secretaries have out-lived their usefulness--if they ever had any. After that I would order lunch.
TDL: I know you're an F-22-man. In a fourth-gen fighter dogfight (F-15, F-16, F/A-18E/F, Typhoon, Gripen, Rafale, SU-30/35, MiG-29), which plane are you flying?
ELP: But I'm really not an 'F-22 man'. I just follow the more sane air power advocates from USAF past that have stated that the U.S. does not play a parity game. Gross overmatch equals less casualties and faster mission success. I also believe in the USAF air expeditionary force (AEF). AEF is a solid way to plan for and task contingencies that are in the safe. It is composed of a wide variety of USAF skills and not just fighter aircraft. I also believe that 10 AEFs need 10 groupings of F-22 assets. AEF is a cycle. A numbered AEF goes through many phases; training, deployment, theater operations, deployment back home, rest, and then it starts the cycle again. It has been proven for some time now and it works. It is the best way to plug in assets for all kinds of contingencies from peace keeping to hard war.
For the F-22, we have it figured out now. And once it does its work, you don't need a stealth asset. "Legacy" design aircraft can do the rest of the work. Other things that are going to bleed the U.S. debtor economy are not figured out. Yes the F-35, a corvette with a destroyer price tag known as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the Zumwalt class Civil War iron clad, and so on.
But back to the 4 gens. They are all good aircraft for what they are intended to do. I would have to have an existing-proven AESA radar and something that can engage on its own terms. That means no slugs. That means an F-15. Take the fast packs off of the big motor F-15SG or K and you have an animal. Yet you can reconfigure it to be a very long range bomb truck. If you aren't using an aircraft carrier, it is about the only relevant western 4th gen for the Pacific Rim when one has to cross a lot of water.
For the trade press one has to be a bit more sympathetic. They need specific defense contractor (and in some cases government) advertising dollars. It has become even more brutal since the end of the Cold War with industry mergers and a lot less advert dollars to follow. This is continuing as less defense spending happens. The trade press are outstanding at writing about defense issues by getting more detail on specific gadgets. Just like sports or automotive writers, they know their topic. Again though, this has to be done within the limits of who is paying for advert space. One would be silly to think there is traditional objectivity on project x when you see a a huge advert for project x on the same page or issue. It is rare to see some kind of "pure" writing on a defense issues. That goes for blogs too.
TDL: What impact or influence would you like your blog to have? A corollary to this question is what impact do you think blogs in general have in the discussion about defense technology?
ELP: If one is to be so bold as to think it has influence, all that I could say would be that I hope it makes the viewer think. Not how to think, but to look at alternatives to what is being stated by government, industry and so-on about defense programs. Most people that are paying for big defense programs with their hard earned tax dollars are not getting the full story. I am not here to say I have the full story, but only to make someone consider additional thoughts on the topic. Just as important though is someone should find the reading entertaining when it merits it.
As for defense blogs in general. They are important. Industry and government can't control them. That bothers them when their perfect little happy-face press release or PowerPoint slide based on groupthink nonsense, gets a cold dose of reality splattered on it.
TDL: If you were named US Secretary of Defense for one hour, how would you use your time?
ELP: Gee Stephen, only one hour? I'd enjoy that executive office furniture and coffee and doughnuts provided to the DOD royalty. I would find Admiral Rickover's old BS stamp with the red ink. And then find some particularly annoying high-profile Defense reports that are nothing but a joke and stamp them. Then I would call a press conference and present a very entertaining, yet informative monologue stating how the tax payer is being had. Including the point that service secretaries have out-lived their usefulness--if they ever had any. After that I would order lunch.
TDL: I know you're an F-22-man. In a fourth-gen fighter dogfight (F-15, F-16, F/A-18E/F, Typhoon, Gripen, Rafale, SU-30/35, MiG-29), which plane are you flying?
ELP: But I'm really not an 'F-22 man'. I just follow the more sane air power advocates from USAF past that have stated that the U.S. does not play a parity game. Gross overmatch equals less casualties and faster mission success. I also believe in the USAF air expeditionary force (AEF). AEF is a solid way to plan for and task contingencies that are in the safe. It is composed of a wide variety of USAF skills and not just fighter aircraft. I also believe that 10 AEFs need 10 groupings of F-22 assets. AEF is a cycle. A numbered AEF goes through many phases; training, deployment, theater operations, deployment back home, rest, and then it starts the cycle again. It has been proven for some time now and it works. It is the best way to plug in assets for all kinds of contingencies from peace keeping to hard war.
For the F-22, we have it figured out now. And once it does its work, you don't need a stealth asset. "Legacy" design aircraft can do the rest of the work. Other things that are going to bleed the U.S. debtor economy are not figured out. Yes the F-35, a corvette with a destroyer price tag known as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the Zumwalt class Civil War iron clad, and so on.
But back to the 4 gens. They are all good aircraft for what they are intended to do. I would have to have an existing-proven AESA radar and something that can engage on its own terms. That means no slugs. That means an F-15. Take the fast packs off of the big motor F-15SG or K and you have an animal. Yet you can reconfigure it to be a very long range bomb truck. If you aren't using an aircraft carrier, it is about the only relevant western 4th gen for the Pacific Rim when one has to cross a lot of water.
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