Tailhook Tells It Like It Is.

You want to hear about future threats? You have to leave Washington DC, where high-intensity warfare is deader than disco. Warnings about tough adversaries were all over last weekend’s Tailhook convention of Navy carrier aviators in Reno, Nevada.

That’s because top Navy leaders like Admiral Pat Walsh are starting to realize what they may be up against in the Pacific one day. Walsh (a former Blue Angels fighter demonstration pilot who also has a PhD from Tufts) just left the job of Vice Chief of Naval Operations in Washington and is en route to take over Pacific Fleet.

Walsh chose, in front of about 1300 people, to quote a very blunt remark made a year ago at Tailhook 2008 by Admiral Robert “Rat” Willard, who’s taking over at PACOM later this month. Since Walsh thought Willard’s remarks worth repeating, you might want to know what he told the carrier aviators:

“You will face an adversary who believes he can beat you, your airplane, your tactics and your sensors.”

Nice to hear the carrier aviators telling it like it is and making plans to strengthen deterrence in the Pacific.