Friday, March 30, 2012

Whoa! You ever hear of these high speed Air Force guys?????

Airmen of the 820th Base Defense Group jump out of a U.S. Air Force HC-130P/N King cargo aircraft at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., March 21, 2012. There were a total of 30 Airmen who participated in the static line jump. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Douglas Ellis)
820th Base Defense Group.

Ok.  Color me impressed.

First I didn't know that the USAF had established a truly expeditionary Security Force that is able to sortie out, jump in and defend an air strip or base.

The concept itself impresses me.  The curious thing is that they don't advertise the capability.

These jokers have been around since '97!

Amazing.  Between this unit and the Red Horse guys the USAF is doing some things that they should be beating their chests and pounding on tables about.  Check out this passage from Wikipedia....
The 820th is different from other Security Forces Groups in that it is not on a rotational schedule also known as Air Expeditionary Force (AEF). The concept of the 820th BDG is to have a high operations tempo and be ready to deploy to any location at a moment's notice for extended periods of time. Falling under the 820th is the combat operations squadron. Medics, engineers, and communication specialists all fall under the 820th COS.
There are many different Army and non-Army schools 820th airmen may attend, to include: Airborne, Pathfinder, Special Reaction Team, the Close Precision Engagement Course (CPEC), Ranger, Air Assault, Raven, Raven B UAV, Army Sniper, and EMT. Since its activation in 1997, the 820 BDG has deployed in support of Operations Desert Safeside, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Bright Star. It has deployed to locations such as Iraq, Djibouti, Cairo, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Hurricane Katrina (New Orleans), Haiti, and Pakistan.
The highlighted portion indicates that this unit is as close as is possible (within the USAF's force structure) to a version of a combined arms task force.  Of course you add in the fact that these guys are going to be protecting and theoretically receiving support from high performance jet aircraft and you're cooking with gas.

Next question is this.

Are they based at Camp Lemonnier in Africa?  And if not then where are they?

Critics can whine but production is ramping up! F-35B BF-12 First Flight

Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti flew F-35B BF-12 (Navy Bureau Number 168308), on its inaugural flight on 30 March 2012 from NAS Fort Worth JRB. The aircraft will be assigned to VMFAT-501 at Eglin AFB, Florida.
Critics can whine.

Cry.

Stomp their feet.

Twist facts to fit a narrative...but they can't keep production from ramping up!  

First flight of BF-12.  

If you're paying attention you'll note that the STOVL version is apparently receiving most of these production slots.

Can you say training to start this year?

Can you say IOC in 2013?

Can you say winning?

Oh and if you disagree fine.  D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F.?

Fitness in the Field...

via Body Building.com...
I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you're probably not going to get huge if your lifestyle includes sleeping in a different location every day.
The best you can reasonably hope for is maintaining what you have and bulking when you get a chance back at the FOB (Forward Operating Base).

Training - Muscle Gain

So, where's the gym around here? What, there isn't one? What do I do now?!
Make your own gym! You have to make adjustments to your training routine, but creativity can save you. Slow-tempo and plyometric bodyweight exercises may not be ideal for bulking, but can still offer enough stimulus to prevent catabolism for a few weeks.
When you're looking for something heavier or for different movements, there's no requirement that you must lift only a dumbbell or barbell.
If you have a vehicle or aircraft nearby, many have handholds, stowage bars, or horizontal surfaces you can grab. Use these for pull-ups (or partials) and bodyweight rows. If you're lucky enough to have a set of rings, a body suspension system or cargo straps, you can add bodyweight biceps curls, triceps extensions, bodyweight flyes and dips.
Resistance bands are a great investment! They're small, portable and accommodate an array of exercises to keep your sinew occupied.
A full 5-gallon water jug weighs approximately 45 pounds and has a convenient handle at the top. Too heavy? Drink a few gallons! Ammo cans full of sand weigh about 30 pounds. Use these for lateral raises, bent-over rows, biceps curls, overhead extensions, or for just about any exercise a kettlebell works for.
Boulders, logs and sandbags come in just about any weight you can imagine, both standard and metric. Biceps curls and overhead military presses are some obvious exercise choices, but don't limit yourself.

The good Captain pretty much covers all the bases so I recommend you read the entire article yourself.

No.

None of it is ground breaking stuff and its all pretty much standard Marine Corps wide.  Heck its pretty much standard Marine Corps AND Army wide.

But the best part of it is where he covers the nutritional aspects of things.  Unless you're at a big base, you're sucking down more MRE's than anyone could ever want...the key to that is to know what to keep, what to trade for and barring that...what to dispose of.

Oh and Body Building .com has some of the best prices on supplements on the net...Check his article out and the store...you won't be sorry.

SIDENOTE:

What I would like to know is if SOCOM does different workout routines while deployed than the conventional forces....hmmm.  Gotta find someone to ask...maybe Black Five has the skinny...

UPDATE:
Your body is an engine.  Stop putting bad gas in its tank...one month of clean eating will see you make more gains than over exercising ever will.  Fitness is 80% nutrition, 10% exercise and 10% rest/recovery.

Micro Protected vehicle for In Building Special Operations.

Man!

Just give me body armor and I'll take my chances.

I heard about this earlier this week and have been desperately searching for pics.  Luckily, Tamir Eshel of Defense Updates has the one available and the story...
Tata Motors unveiled at DefExpo 2012 the Micro Bullet-Proof Vehicle (MBPV), a small vehicle jointly developed by VRDE-DRDO and Tata
Motors, responding to new requirements set by the Indian elite commando forces (NSG, Marine Commandos, Para Battalions & Force One). The vehicle provides assault teams with protected mobility solutions, assisting operations indoors.
According to Tata Motors, commando units that have fought insurgents, terrorists and engaged in hostage situations in urban areas have raised the need for gaining protected mobility. Tata designed the MBPV for such indoor combat in mind, offering width, wheelbase and four-wheel steering enabling access and maneuvering indoors. High power-to-weight ratio enables fast and agile movement across obstacles, including climbing stairs. Ballistic protection panels and armored transparent windows provide protection for the combat teams, while firing ports enable effective retaliatory action.
It remains to be seen if elite units will actually ‘buy’ this solution…
I don't know if this is innovative or just plain crazy.  Either way its interesting.

UPDATE:

Phil recommended this offering from the Howe Brothers as a better vehicle...not for transport but to break down interior barriers etc.  The remote 50 cal weapon system is a bit much though.
 

Helicopters as strike assets at sea....

Thanks for the article Grand Logistics...

via the Grey Lynx.com
Some twenty-seven Lynx from No. 815 Squadron ‘went south’ where they operated in the ASW, ASV, VERTical-REPlenishment (VERTREP) and Special Operations insertion role. Many of the Lynx were hastily fitted with Sea Skua missiles, even though the missiles had not completed their full acceptance trials within the Fleet Air Arm (FAA). It was not only the Sea Skua’s use which was hasty, many of the HAS Mk 2s heading south with the Task Force were not uniformly equipped - not all had Sea Skua, while Electronic-Counter Measures (ECM), thermal imagers and MAD were only carried by a handful of aircraft. Many Lynx were fitted with door-mounted GPMGs for Close-Air-Support (CAS) operations and, though unofficial, the installation proved popular with crews.
        One of the most celebrated actions involved two Lynx from HMS Brilliant, which attacked the Argentine submarine Santa Fe on the 25th April 1982, during Operation Corporate. One launched a Mk 46 torpedo, expecting the vessel to submerge, which it didn’t. The sub was then unable lo submerge due to the circling torpedo beneath it; the Lynx attacked with their 7.62mm machine-guns eventually putting the submarine out of action.
        Further action on the night of the 3rd May 1982 saw HMS Coventry’s Lynx ripple fire two Sea Skuas at the enemy patrol boat, Alferez Sorbal. Two direct hits were scored from a range of 13km. In the confusion of the attack the vessel was struck again by a further two Sea Skuas from a Lynx attached to HMS Glasgow. On May 23rd the Argentine supply ship Rio Caracana received two direct hits courtesy of a Lynx from HMS Antelope. The Sea Skua was gaining itself an impressive reputation, leaving a succession of enemy vessels burning and sinking following Lynx attacks. By the end of the Falklands Conflict Lynx HAS Mk 2s of the RN had an impressive combat record, with one example even having a lucky escape when attacked by a pair of Argentine Daggers. Three Lynx were lost when the ships Ardent, Atlantic Conveyer and Coventry were sunk. A further example lost its nose when an unexploded bomb bounced off the side of HMS Broadsword - however no Lynx were shot down or lost in flying accidents despite the atrocious weather conditions encountered in the region.

Impressive...and a war record I was unaware of.

If you think about it, the one hole in US naval aviation is the lack of thought given to the armed helo in the attack mission.

Correction.

The anti-ship mission.

That's extremely unfortunate and extremely hard to understand.  The S-3 once had this mission set and with its retirement I assume that its been passed to F-18's.  That makes sense if you can successfully keep all ships at 150 or more miles away from your task force but that's an impossibility in any area in which we might operate in the future.  The straits of Hormuz are crowded and the same can be said of shipping lanes in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

A properly armed MH-60 should be as successful in this role as the British Lynx's were.  We have comparable weapons...the Hell Fire acting as a Sea Skua surrogate.  And the Harpoon acting as an Exocet clone.

We have the capability but not the will.  Time to get it done.

Too Funny.

Sorry Army...couldn't help myself.  via Military Photos...


Brit Apache's...

Two Army Air Corps Apache attack helicopters are pictured at the Army Aviation Centre Middle Wallop.
Designed to hunt and destroy tanks, the Apache attack helicopter has significantly improved the Army's operational capability.
Apache can operate in all weathers, day or night and detect, classify and prioritise up to 256 potential targets in a matter of seconds. It carries a mix of weapons including rockets, Hellfire missiles and a 30mm chain gun.Photographer: Peter Davies

Take a look at that potential load out.

19 shot rocket pods times four.

Theoretical mission....defense against small boats....

Loaded with 2.75 guided rockets....armor piercing and you have the capability to take out 76 small craft??!!

Helos.  Guided rockets.  Equal the ultimate in small boat killers.

Awesome! Norways Defense Dept makes a vid for the F-35!

 Many thanks to Endre for the link!  Keep'em coming Bud!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 12.2

A Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force in Africa.  11th MEU floating in the CENTCOM area of operations.  24th MEU soon to join them...Special Forces has at least a battalions worth of ODA's operating on the continent.  Force Recon has come home to the MEU and SPMAGTF....Rangers are all over the place...including Africa.  The USAF has C-130's flying all over the place and they also have a squadron of F-15E's in the area.  And they've suddenly frozen the sat image out of Camp Lemonnier.

Pure speculation on my part but something is happening.  What?  I just don't know but something juicy is brewing....Oh and I haven't even talked about the Brits, French, Italians and others.  And the EU just approved strikes on pirate land bases.

Photo by Cpl. Jad Sleiman A force reconnaissance Marine goes over threat detection methods with a group of Ugandan soldiers, Feb. 28. Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 12 sent a small team of Marines into Uganda, Feb. 3, to train Ugandan forces for the fight against al-Shabaab in Somalia and the hunt for Joseph Kony and the Lord’s resistance army.
 Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 12.2 stand on line with AK-47 assault rifles preparing to conduct a live fire exercise during foreign weapons familiarization training near Crawfordsville, Ark., Jan. 23, 2012. The Marines and sailors of SPMAGTF 12.2 are deploying to Africa to advise host nation militaries on various military tactics.  Photo by Lance Cpl. Adwin Esters  
Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 12.2 Marines receive a class from Instructor Phil Aldredge on the destructive effects of the 7.62x39mm round on various mediums during foreign weapons familiarization training near Crawfordsville, Ark., Jan. 23, 2012. The Marines and sailors of SPMAGTF 12.2 are deploying to Africa to advise host nation militaries on various military tactics.  Photo by Lance Cpl. Adwin Esters
Landing support specialist Sgt. Geoffrey Dubie, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 12.2 watches over Cpl. Stefan Tunstall, a field radio operator, as he takes aim on his target during foreign weapons familiarization training near Crawfordsville, Ark., Jan. 23, 2012. The Marines and sailors of SPMAGTF 12.2 are deploying to Africa to advise host nation militaries on various military tactics.  Photo by Lance Cpl. Adwin Esters

Battalion Landing Team 3/1 Live Fire.

Thank God!  I am so tired of seeing the Raid Force!  Photos by Cpl Ryan Carpenter.

Lance Cpl. Shane Lee fires a rifle during a live-fire exercise aboard the amphibious transport dock New Orleans here March 28. The 19-year-old mortarman hails from Torrance, Calif., and serves with Company L, one of three rifle companies with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.
Marines with Company L fire at training targets aboard USS New Orleans, March 28. The company is one of three rifle companies in Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet area of responsibility.
Marines with Company L fire at training targets aboard USS New Orleans here March 28. The company is one of three rifle companies in Battalion Landing Team 3/1, the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit is deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force. The group is providing support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

The F-35 will be one Helluva fighter!

Testimony about the F-35 given to the Australian Parliament...via F-16.net (thanks Spudman)
Quotable Quotes
(Page numbers given are in reference to the PDF page, not the printed page number of the document)

Pg.6 Tom Burbage wrote:
The F35 configuration that Australia will take delivery of in 2014 is identical to the configuration of the US Air Force.
Can we finally put this "export model" BS to bed?

Pg.6 Tom Burbage wrote:
More than 80 per cent of all of our airborne software is flying today and all of our sensors are demonstrating the required performance. The implementation of the multilevel security design did in fact require approximately three more months than originally planned; however, recovery plans have been developed and implemented. We expect to recover two of those three months by mid-year and all three by the end of the year.


Pg.7 Tom Burbage wrote:
By September of this year, we expect to have block 2B, as we refer to its software, which is the software that marines will take as their initial operational capability to be flying in our test aircraft.


Pg.9 Mr Liberson wrote:
Our current assessment that we speak of is: greater than six to one relative loss exchange ratio against in four versus eight engagement scenarios—four blue at 35s versus eight advanced red threats in the 2015 to 2020 time frame.


Pg.10 Mr Liberson wrote:
And it is very important to note that our constructed simulations that Mr Burbage talks about without the pilot in the loop are the lowest number that we talk about—the greater than six to one. When we include the pilot in the loop activities, they even do better when we include all of that in our partner—


Pg.10 wrote:
ACTING CHAIR: Post 2015 and 2020 you have stealth on stealth. How are you going to kill either PAC FA or J20?

Air Cdre Bentley: We cannot answer that question, just as we cannot answer the threat question, because we get into classified areas very, very quickly.
ACTING CHAIR: It seems to be a very convenient excuse.

Air Cdre Bentley: No, it is not an excuse. All of the defence officials who are appropriately cleared in all of the nations that are participating in this country know exactly what we have briefed, what those briefings entail and what the analysis entails, and they have chosen F35. If you are purporting to be a huge—

ACTING CHAIR: So what you are saying is, 'Believe us; we've got all the classified data in a brown paper bag'—

Air Cdre Bentley: Believe the nine best air forces in the world as far as their operators and their analysts are concerned and I think that you will come to realise that it is not us telling the story; it is them telling the story to their governments and their governments making a decision to go forward with this aeroplane.


Pg.11 Tom Burbage wrote:
If you look at the STOVL jet and you look at our weight charts, which you are more than welcome to see, we have now gone two years without any weight increase on the STOVL jet, and that is while accommodating engineering changes to the doors, which we have replaced with heavier doors, and other changes that were made to the airplane. We manage the weight very tightly on that airplane—for good reasons, because it needs to be. The other two airplanes are not as sensitive to weight. We are actually probably several thousand pounds away from the first compromise of the performance requirements of those two airplanes.
So much for no growth margin

Quote:
Senator FAWCETT: I have one last question, if I can. Speaking of the key performance indicators, obviously for the overall program they are cost, schedule and performance. In cost and schedule we have seen a number of changes and rebaselining to allow for things that have happened. In terms of the KPIs against your original ops requirement document—you do not have to disclose which ones have not been met—but at this point in time have all of the original essential requirements from the ORD been met?

Mr Burbage: We have 16 key performance parameters on this airplane. Half are logistics and sustainment-related, half are aeroperformance-related and one or two are in classified areas. We have an oversight body called the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, the JROC, that looks at those requirements every year and makes decisions on them—'Are we going to meet them, are we not going to meet them? If we are not going to meet them, what is the impact of that?' We have one this year which was the range of the Air Force airplane which had a specific set of ground rules associated with how that range is calculated which is not similar to either of the other two airplanes. The airplane flies a large part of its mission at a non-optimised altitude in the original calculation. The JROC agreed to change the ground rules to fly that airplane as the other two were flown and, when that happened, the airplane had excess margin to the range requirement. For any performance-related requirements, we artificially penalise the engine by five per cent fuel flow and two per cent thrust. Those margins are given back as we mature the design and get more and more solid on exactly what it is going to do. They are there for conservative estimation up front. We have not taken back any of those margins yet so, when those margins are taken back, the airplane will continue to be well in excess of its basic requirement. The airplane is meeting all of the other requirements today.

Senator FAWCETT: So have those requirements like schedule and cost been rebaselined, or are they are still the original ORD?

Mr Burbage: Schedule and cost are not KPPs. I thought you were talking about performance.

Senator FAWCETT: No, I recognise that. You have rebaselined schedule and cost as you have gone along. What I am asking is have the KPIs been rebaselined and does the statement you just made apply to today's KPIs or does it also apply to the original ones?

Mr Burbage: To the original set. Today, all the KPPs are green because that ground rule was changed to be common across all three airplanes on the range. But we have not taken back the margins that are being withheld to make sure those performance predictions are conservative. We are not going to have degraded engines. We basically measure our performance characteristics with a highly-degraded engine capability. Our actual flight test information coming back from the engine is better than nominal. These calculations are not done using actual airplane test data. They are done using an artificial penalty that gets paid back as the design matures.


Pg. 15 Dr JENSEN wrote:
What is interesting with this is that the USAF test facility for measuring radar cross-sections and so on is S-band and higher frequencies. So you do not have a test facility for L-band, VHF and so on.
A quick check on the net shows that LM's Helendale RCS test facility has two systems that can test down in the VHF range (Mark Ve and BuleMax).
Stunning isn't it.

YOU DON'T GET THIS NEWS FROM THE AVIATION MEDIA.

Can we say compromised?

Can we say agenda filled?

Can we say that they're showing lemming like behavior?

I don't know how this entire industry became so sheepish in its behavior but the theme that the F-35 is an ineffective fighter has been allowed to fester and bloom---YET ITS ALL BULLSHIT!

We should see news organizations shut down because of the piss poor work that they've done on this subject.

We should see news organizations fire staff because of the stupidity they've exhibited.  We should see certain arrogant ass bloggers shut down their blogs or else stick to subjects they know about instead of following the crowd.

Oh and if you're one of the individuals that feel "pinged" ... I dedicate the following vid to you dumbasses....(thanks Joe)....
 

Pumping out....

Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to board the USS Gunston Hall March 28, 2012. The 24th MEU, partnered with the Navy's Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is deploying to the European and Central Command theaters of operation to serve as a theater reserve and crisis response force capable of a variety of missions from full-scale combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Photo ByLine: Sgt. Richard Blumenstein

V-2 found in the UK

After all these years, the UK is still dealing with V-2 rockets.  Amazing.  via the Royal Navy.
Royal Navy bomb disposal experts are making safe a World War 2 German missile unearthed in the mud off Harwich.
A six-strong team from Portsmouth was called out to Essex to deal with the V2 missile – fired at Britain from the continent in 1944 or 1945 as part of Hitler’s revenge for the bombing of Germany.

The wartime weapon – fired from the European mainland in 1944 or early 1945 – is submerged nose-down in coastal mud flats on the River Stour between Felixstowe and Harwich.
Local fishermen are understood to have known about the missile for decades and even used to moor their boats to it.
A six-man team from Southern Diving Unit 2, based at Horsea Island, Portsmouth was called out yesterday afternoon. A 40-metre exclusion zone has been set up.
Lt Dan Herridge, Officer-in-Command of SDU 2 said: “This is not going to be a job that’s done overnight. People don’t think they’ve ever found a V-2 intact like this before but due to the nature of the beast we don’t know whether this one is definitely intact.
“Our guys have never seen anything like this before and probably never will again. It’s a very unusual beast indeed.”
At first the RN team was sceptical because the missiles plunged to earth at more than twice the speed of sound having reached heights of up to 128 miles above the earth’s surface – so normally there was nothing left of them.
But on closer inspection it was identified as a V2. It is submerged nose down and is projecting about two feet out of the mud, around 300ft from the Harwich shoreline. It is not known whether the explosive is still present.

The bomb team led by Lt Herridge is expected to remain at the scene for some time and may need to bring in a barge and dredging gear to get the missile out of the mud.
The V2 rocket was developed by pioneering scientist Werner von Braun – who went on to be a key figure behind the American effort to put a man on the moon.
Built by concentration camp prisoners, more than 3,000 V-2s were launched from the continent at London, South-east England and the Belgian port of Antwerp – with the aim of demoralising the civilian populace.
The missile attacks resulted in the death of an estimated 7,250 people, mostly civilians. Of these, more than 2,750 were killed in London – and another 6,523 injured.
By contrast, however, perhaps as many 20,000 prisoners forced to build the weapons died as a result of the inhuman conditions in which the Nazis made them live and work at the Dora-Mittelbau camp in Germany’s Harz mountains.
This has got to be some kind of evil omen.

Weapons from WW2 are still being found, still having to be dealt with and its been decades after the conflict ended and we're talking about technologically advanced societies where this is happening.

Unexploded ordinance.  The new menace.

Exercise Balikatan 2012



Ok.

I understand WHY they're doing it but it still annoys.  The USMC is not a meals on wheels organization.  We are NOT the Salvation Army with guns/jets and armored vehicles.

We are a war fighting organization.

Time to emphasize that fact.

Aviation Week must be pissed.

Thanks for the link SFERRIN.

via Spudman over at F-16.net  read the whole thing but check out these tidbits...
Here are the transcripts of the proceedings and a few nuggets of gold.

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bus ... arings.htm

The transcripts for the LM presentation have not been put up yet, but here is some info from the Defense Department's reply to the APA/RepSIM info:

1. A lot of classified info could not be discussed.

2. 11k pages of data is shared with Partner nations PER MONTH about the JSF.

3. The "fuel leak" from the first Eglin AFG flight was rainwater that has seeped into the panels.

4. The F-35 has been tested up to 9.88G

5. Up to 650 parameters use to ID a potential threat. For comparison's sake, the F-22 has a third of that. Talk about Situational Awareness.


 A few more things between the lines in that transcript:

- AIM-120 PK is significantly higher than the 50% when fired by the F-35 during simulations
- F-35 consistently wipes the floor with Su-35's in high detail simulation even with expert pilots on the red team
- The 2 missile (1xIR , 1xRadar) combo touted by APA so often does not work as well as APA "guesses" it does due to F-35's signature reduction measures (IR and Radar)
- Confirmation that even though you know F-35's are in the area (low band radar), you can't engage them which is the whole issue when fighting stealth aircraft
- F-35's MADL automatically routes the datalink between aircraft so as to not fire the beam directly at the enemy when connecting to the aircraft up front

You know they're banging their heads against walls over at Aviation Week...begging mommy to make the mean ole' airplane stop.  I have never in my life seen such a concerted effort to kill a US military project in my life.  We might be seeing the first signs of industrial espionage by a domestic publication, via Information Warfare to favor foreign competitors over our own domestic production base.


Israel keeping tabs on the CH-53K


Two of the best air arms in the world are keeping a close watch on the CH-53K...the first of course is the USMC.

The second is the Israeli AF.  via Israeli Defense.

Israel is closely following the development of the Sikorsky CH-53K heavy helicopter, which will replace the Yasur CH-53 helicopter used by the Israeli Air Force (IAF).
While the IAF continues to upgrade the Yasur helicopters, which are planned to fly at least until 2025, there are those in the air force that are thinking of the future. For the moment, it seems that the helicopter’s only substitute is the new Sikorsky model.
This week the US Navy, the first client of the heavy helicopter, examined a proposal by Sikorsky to construct four pilot models for testing purposes. According to the original plan, the new helicopter is intended to enter operational use in 2019. The US Marine Corps has already committed to procuring 200 CH-53K helicopters.
The tri-engine helicopter will be extremely advanced. Its flight system will be a fly-by-wire (FBW) model, and it will be equipped with the most advanced systems. The helicopter is designed to carry payloads at a total weight of more than 12 tons when taking-off from areas with a height of 1800 metes.
As previously stated, the IAF is following the program and is hoping that its test pilots will already be able to perform test flights in the US in 2015.
I've always been amazed at the success of the CH-47.  Don't get me wrong, its a fine airplane and has unique capabilities but pound for pound I always considered the CH-53 better.

The Israeli's seem to agree with my assessment.  Which leaves me with only one question.  Will the USAF decide to purchase a few for SOCOM and its rescue force?  It would make perfect sense and would fill a gaping hole in their capabilities.

Time will tell.

F-35 Airstart Testing


Pic of the day.

A U.S. Navy SEAL with Naval Special Warfare Group 1 fast ropes from an Army MH-47 Chinook helicopter onto the aft deck of the fast combat support ship ROKS Hwacheon (AOE 59) March 20, 2012, in Jinhae Harbor, South Korea, during Foal Eagle 2012. Foal Eagle is a combined U.S.-South Korea field training exercise held annually in South Korea to ensure the operational readiness of air, space and cyberspace operations in the Korean theater of operations. (DoD photo by Sgt. Aaron Rognstad, U.S. Army/Released)

F-35A Flight with External Stores

11th MEU

Photos by Sgt. Elyssa Quesada


 Following photos by Cpl Chad Pulliam


Internally Transportable Vehicle vs. Arctic Cat


Arctic Cat Stats

DIMENSIONS
Overall Length (in./cm) 129/327.7
Overall Width (in./cm) 60/152.4
Overall Height (in./cm) 79/200.6
Wheelbase (in./cm) 85/215.9
Ground Clearance (in./cm) 10/25.4
Dry Weight (lbs./kg) 1363/619.55

TOWING/HAULING
Rear Box Storage Capacity
(lbs./kg)
1000/454.5
Towing Capacity (lbs./kg) 1500/680.4
Underhood/Side Storage
Capacity (lbs./kg)
25/11.34 — NA

ENGINE
Displacement (cc) 695
Engine Type SOHC, 4-stroke, 4-valve w/EFI
Bore & Stroke (mm) 102x85
Cooling System Liquid with fan
Fuel Capacity (gal./liters) 8.2/31
Alternator Capacity (amps) 25
Speedometer Analog
Odometer Digital

ITV Stats

Weight curb 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) MGW: 3,800 kg (8,400 lb)
Length 4.080 m (160.6 in)
Width 1.512 m (59.5 in)
Height 1.940 m (76.4 in) reducible to 1.40 m (55 in)
Crew 1

Engine diesel
Payload capacity 900 kg (2,000 lb) cross country
Suspension 4x4
Fuel capacity 75 litres (20 US gal) fuel: diesel/JP MPG: 17
Speed max 105 km/h (65 mph)
Steering
system
four wheel

Simple question.

With much cheaper vehicles available that provided the same level of protection (none)...that are capable of towing the exact same mortar system around...that cost MUCH MUCH MUCH less (yes I'm repeating myself...the ITV cost over 100,000 200,000  dollars a piece, the off the shelf ATV around 16 grand...militarize it and you might be up to 40 K)...

How did we end up with the ITV?

Why isn't someone in jail?

And are we still buying these?

SIDENOTE:

Hey Marines, if you happen to be in the UK or training with Royal Marines do yourselves and the USMC a favor and refer to this vehicle as the ITV and NOT the Growler.  Informational video follows.

 

Too Damn Little. Too Fucking Late.

via Fox News.
 U.S. troops in Afghanistan now have far-reaching new protections against rogue killers among their Afghan allies, including assigned "guardian angels," fellow troops who will watch over them as they sleep.
Marine Gen. John Allen, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, ordered the added protections in recent weeks to guard against insider threats, according to a senior military official. They come in the wake of 16 attacks on U.S. and coalition forces by Afghans that now represent nearly one-fifth of all combat deaths this year.
Some of the changes have been subtle, others less so.
In several Afghan ministries, Americans are now allowed to carry weapons. And they have been instructed to rearrange their office desks there to face the door, so they can see who is coming in, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the orders.
Two U.S. military officers working in the Afghan Interior Ministry, one of the most heavily guarded ministry buildings in Kabul, were gunned down at their desks on Feb. 25. While Allen did not detail the new measures in a briefing earlier this week, he acknowledged that changes had been made.
"We have taken steps necessary on our side to protect ourselves with respect to, in fact, sleeping arrangements, internal defenses associated with those small bases in which we operate," Allen said, adding that now someone is "always overwatching our forces."
Wow.

Leadership just doesn't get it.

Troops made this adjustment already.  Interior perimeters are standard and have been for awhile. 

The risk is not when you're sleeping but when you're having to work side by side...when you're on patrol...teaching and leading ....AFGHANS.

It must be great to order your men to do what they're already doing.


Panetta likes big deck amphibs...

via the Patch.com
“The department will continue to prioritize big deck amphibious assault ships such as the Peleliu because of the flexibility they provide commanders to move Marines and supplies ashore,” Little said.
The Peleliu has provided critical support to U.S. Central Command and to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, he said.
“In November 2001, the Peleliu conducted the deepest insertion of ground forces in Marine Corps history to launch the first Marines into Afghanistan,” Little said. “On its most recent deployment, in August 2010, the Peleliu provided relief to victims of flooding in Pakistan.”
Well ain't that something.

The guy knows a bit about the utility of Marines and the necessity of amphibs.

But....words are cheap.  Actions speak much louder.  Time to see if his actions match his word.  Military and Civilian leadership in the DoD has been beyond piss poor.  I'm at the point where if you have a star on your uniform you're not to be trusted.  


Blast from the past...Kitty Hawk as a Special Ops carrier.

Thanks for the article Joe.

The US military has conducted some real life "experiments" with carriers. The 10th Mountain Division conducted a heliborne assault during Operation Uphold Democracy and deployed 54 helicopters along with 2000 troops.

An acceptable performance under adhoc conditions...a situation that really wasn't called for but the Army (US inter service politics) had to get its boys into action.  Interestingly enough, they haven't sought to do it again.  Being an outsider looking in I would bet body parts that it had to do a bit with troop berthing, a bit with helo maintenance and a realization that Army helicopters are not marinized and are not suited to operating at sea.  I bet the bird bath got a workout on that cruise.

Regardless, SOCOM is still trying to get a big deck ship and have laid there eyes on a retiring amphib to make there dreams come true of being a full fledged service unto itself.

There first attempt is the subject of the article that Joe sent.  via the LA Times.
Specially trained forces and elite light infantry units are expected to be instrumental in the effort to locate and strike Saudi-born extremist Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda terror network. Some units have already been reported deployed to the region, and others are believed to be on their way.
The dispatch of the half-empty Kitty Hawk "is a little unusual, but this war is a little unusual too," said a defense official who asked to remain unidentified.
Another official noted, however, that aircraft carriers were used for a similar purpose in the 1994 U.S. military intervention in Haiti. In that operation, one carrier transported members of the Army's 10th Mountain Division, and a second carried special operations personnel.
The Kitty Hawk is the fourth carrier heading to, or already in, the region, marking the largest concentration of carrier force since the Persian Gulf War 10 years ago.
Based in Yokosuka, Japan, the Kitty Hawk usually carries about half support aircraft and half attack planes. The attack planes are F-14 Tomcats and F/A-18 Hornets; the support aircraft include surveillance planes.
Officials said they left a mix of attack and support planes on the carrier.
Military officials stressed that even without the Kitty Hawk, they had more than enough planes for any strike mission the United States was likely to order soon.
Given the limited number of targets in Afghanistan, and the presence of more than 200 U.S. planes in the region, "it's hard to imagine what we'd need more planes for," said a defense official. "What's the target?"
The Kitty Hawk, which is part of the U.S. 7th Fleet, had recently returned from nine days of exercises in the deep waters off Japan. Some observers speculated that the trip may have been intended to allow sailors and fighter pilots time to refresh their skills before they joined the anti-terrorist operation.
Of the 12 U.S. aircraft carriers, it is the only one permanently deployed outside U.S. territory, and its departure leaves East Asia without an American carrier.
A Navy spokesman said that the Kitty Hawk's official mission was to "support efforts to identify, locate and hold accountable terrorists and those who support and harbor them."
Read the whole thing for yourself, but I continue to think that ideas like this are nothing but bad ideas.  Even lacking their attack aircraft, carriers are just not designed to carry troops.

They'll keep trying and they'll keep failing.

What SOCOM really wants (and they just might get it) is a big deck LHA/LHD.  It goes against what they're suppose to be...what they're suppose to do.

But they insist on pushing the idea and too many fanboys will back it instead of calling them on it.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Questionable decision making.

via Navy Times.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jon Greenert has decided to reverse the looming deactivation of one of the Navy’s 10 carrier air wings, citing “congressional sensitivity” about reducing the service’s force structure.
In a March 20 memo, Greenert said Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.-based Carrier Air Wing 14 will not be deactivated as previously planned. CVW-14 is attached to the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan, which is currently dry-docked at Naval Base Kitsap, Wash., for scheduled maintenance. A CVW includes around 2,000 sailors; Greenert’s decision creates more job security for those positions.
“Effective immediately, deactivation of CVW-14 is disapproved. Restore CVW-14 to an operational status,” the CNO’s memo said.
Greenert’s decision, however, expires in a year unless a new plan takes its place.
The Navy had planned to deactivate a carrier air wing and its squadrons in its fiscal 2012 budget to help meet required cuts in defense spending in last year’s Budget Control Act, cutting the number of carrier air wings from 10 to nine. But Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter later directed the Navy to make funds and manpower available for 10 wings.
Greenert’s memo said the plan was “put on hold by the Office of Legislative Affairs due to congressional sensitivity on pending Navy force structure reductions.”
Absolutely spineless.

Absolutely craven.

No integrity.

No courage.

No guts.  All to please some Congress Critters.

Marine Assault Amphibian Battalion preps for Africa Partnership 2012

All photos by Sgt. Bryan Peterson

Lance Cpl. Kelvin Moore, an amphibious assault vehicle crewman with 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, finishes final water integrity checks before shipping out to the USS Whidbey Island, March 20 at Onslow Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Thirty-six Marines with the platoon conducted reintegration exercises from March 19 – 22 in preparation for their deployment with the Africa Partnership Station 2012 this year.  Photo by Sgt. Bryan Peterson
Staff Sgt. Gerson Vanegas, the First Section leader with 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, waits to let an amphibious assault vehicle ship out to the USS Whidbey Island, March 20 at Onslow Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Thirty-six Marines with the platoon conducted reintegration exercises from March 19 – 22 in preparation for their deployment with the Africa Partnership Station 2012 this year.
Staff Sgt. Gerson Vanegas, the First Section leader with 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, waits to inspect an amphibious assault vehicle before it ships out to the USS Whidbey Island, March 20 at Onslow Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Thirty-six Marines with the platoon conducted reintegration exercises from March 19 – 22 in preparation for their deployment with the Africa Partnership Station 2012 this year.
Staff Sgt. Gerson Vanegas, the First Section leader with 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, clears his section’s amphibious assault vehicle before shipping out to the USS Whidbey Island, March 20 at Onslow Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Thirty-six Marines with the platoon conducted reintegration exercises from March 19 – 22 in preparation for their deployment with the Africa Partnership Station 2012 this year.
An amphibious assault vehicle with 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, moves out to the USS Whidbey Island, March 20 at Onslow Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Thirty-six Marines with the platoon conducted reintegration exercises from March 19 – 22 in preparation for their deployment with the Africa Partnership Station 2012 this year.


NOTE*
With an AAV Battalion now going to Africa Partnership 2012, the US Marine Corps is basically setting  up a SPMAGTF with serious combat capability.

Think about it like this.  If we look at the Africa Partnership as a fully joint operation then you probably have a Special Forces Battalion, an Air Force squadron with F-15E's...a full MEU off shore and unknown number of US Army Rangers, 160th aircraft/personnel, MARSOC and British/French/Dutch/Spanish/Italian Special Forces running all over that continent.

I don't know exactly whats going on there...but something big is brewing...too many personnel moving there at the same time for it to be strictly training.

I wish it was this clean and easy...



I love these vids...

The good guys always win and its always clean and easy.

Reality is a bitch.

Royal Air Force tries to extend its strategic reach....

via AviationNews.eu
Boeing today announced that the UK Ministry of Defence has signed an agreement for the acquisition of one C-17 Globemaster III, bringing the Royal Air Force (RAF) fleet of the world’s most advanced airlifters to a total of eight. Boeing is scheduled to deliver the eighth C-17 later this year.
“The tremendous teamwork of Boeing and U.S. Government officials has made it possible to announce this acquisition so quickly after we determined the need for this additional C-17,” said UK Ministry of Defence Head of Commercial for Air Support Robin Philip. “This C-17 will be a welcome addition to the RAF fleet.”
RAF C-17s had surpassed 50,000 flight hours in December 2009, when the UK announced its intent to purchase a seventh aircraft. By the time the seventh C-17 was delivered in November 2010, the fleet had logged more than 60,000 flight hours. The fleet has now surpassed 74,000 flight hours – a rate 15 percent above planned use.
“We have watched with great pride over the past decade as the RAF, our first international C-17 customer, has supported global peacekeeping missions and responded to the needs of millions affected by natural disasters around the world,” said Bob Ciesla, Boeing vice president and C-17 program manager.
“We understand the need to move quickly to bring this contract to completion,” said Liz Pace, Boeing C-17 UK program manager. “This additional order is a testament to our strong relationship with the UK as well as to the aircraft’s advanced capability, flexibility and reliability.”
The RAF C-17s are operated by 99Squadron at RAF Brize Norton. C-17s are used to support Operation Herrick, the transport of large equipment and troops to Afghanistan. RAF C-17s also delivered relief supplies following devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile and provided humanitarian relief following floods in Pakistan.
As a member of the worldwide C-17 “virtual fleet,” RAF C-17s are supported through the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program, a Performance-Based Logistics agreement. The GISP arrangement provides the highest airlift mission capable rate at one of the lowest costs per flying hour.
Boeing has delivered 241 C-17s worldwide, including 216 to the U.S. Air Force active duty, Guard and Reserve units. A total of 25 C-17s have been delivered to Australia, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations. India has 10 C-17s on order for delivery in 2013 and 2014.
If the Royal Air Force is smart, they'll push hard interoperability with the USAF and try to get a dozen of these.

Libya showed the weakness of land based air despite the best efforts of air power apologist.  If your target is three hours flying distance away and if it can move then you might just be burning aviation gas.

The modern battlefield is not set.  Targets are mobile and you need the flexibility that being based as close to your targets as possible to give you the response time needed to make a difference on a fluid battle field.

Libya showed that the model used in that conflict just didn't measure up.

This move to increase strategic reach, make the RAF more expeditionary...make the RAF more relevant is nothing but predictable.

But in the end, the RAF just got a new toy.  Lets see what they do with it.

Must every carrier be a super carrier.

Ultimate Ratio Reg has written a FANTASTIC article for the USNI Blog.  It's a  must read and I hope you do.

For some reason, most bloggers (they're all part of a click I guess) have a hate on for the F-35.  In particular the F-35B.  Why this is, I don't know...but they do.

Galrahn wrote an article that shows that blindspot to full effect.  Check this part out.
I know I am in a minority, but I am still very skeptical the US Navy will ever field the F-35C - so I obviously do not believe the Royal Navy should be committed to the platform. The damage the costs of the F-35C program is doing to naval aviation is bigger than anyone in Washington wishes to admit publicly - YET, but when the US Navy starts planning the early retirement of multiple aircraft carriers (potentially as soon as the FY14 budget cycle) I think people are going to wake up pretty quickly to how much damage F-35C is doing to naval aviation, and what the cost of a single strike fighter has been to naval aviation as a whole.

That goes double if a debate ever breaks out regarding the lack of relevance the future CVW has to the 21st century threat environment at sea - because anyone who thinks the CVN is better off with today's CVW with JSFs instead of F-18s is fooling themselves - ignoring the capabilities that aren't being fielded because the cost of the F-35C sucked all the $$ out of the naval aviation community. When considering this is the decade that naval aviation should be innovating the most due to the US Navy enjoying a substantial lead on competitors, I am convinced naval aviators will look back at 2011-2020 as the lost decade of their community.

And for the record, during the next US Presidential term (2013-2016) the safest bet any navalist can make is that the world will observe 2 brand new aircraft carriers being built in China, and I'm not counting Varyag. If you don't expect 5 aircraft carriers in use by China by 2025, then you are the 1936 IJN Admiral who casually dismissed Isoruku Yamamoto's concerns of American industrial capacity.
Galrahn is usually spot on, but on the F-35 the guy has a weak spot.  He's views have been corrupted, his writing makes no sense and the arrogance oozing from every pore of his essence on this subject is beyond understanding.

How he can make such blanket statements and not delve into the real cause of carrier aviation's problems is beyond me, but he does.

Two writers.  Both respected.  Both come to opposite conclusions.

Only one is right and its the guy that isn't part of the anti F-35 cabal.

Trust me bat fans...the e-mails swirl throughout the nite.

Calls are made.

Plans formulated.

Articles are planned in attempts to nullify every press release Lockheed Martin and the Program Office make in order to keep any positive news off the front pages.

The story isn't yet finished but Ultimate Ratio Reg is right.  The F-35 in general and the F-35B WILL be war winners.  It will transform the way that our Navy and Marine Corps do business. 

Leon's fully behind the F-35.

via Dept. Of Defense.

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service
OTTAWA, Ontario, March 28, 2012 – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta yesterday reaffirmed the Defense Department’s commitment to the F-35 joint strike fighter program and to ensuring it remains within the defense strategy’s budget.
The secretary spoke at a news conference following a meeting with Mexican and Canadian defense leaders here.
“As part of the defense strategy that the United States went through and has put in place, we have made very clear that we are 100 percent committed to the development of the F-35,” he said. “It’s a fifth-generation fighter, [and] we absolutely need it for the future.”
Acknowledging that the Defense Department has to be vigilant and provide as much oversight as possible as the aircraft continues to be developed, Panetta said Pentagon officials are confident that “this plane can do everything that it’s being asked to do in terms of performance.
“We’ve been testing it, and we continue to evaluate it as we proceed,” he continued. “And we’ve made very clear to the industries involved in its production that they have to keep it within the cross-confinements that we’ve provided with regards to this plane.”
Panetta noted the price of each aircraft varies from variant to variant, with three types involved in the program’s development. Canada signed on for the project’s production, sustainment and follow-on development phase on Dec. 11, 2006, along with Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay called the F-35 an example of interoperability as his country faces similar challenges with the joint strike fighter program.
“In addition, I would add that this is the aircraft that the Royal Canadian Air Force, after an extensive internal examination of capabilities and what was on the market, came to us and said, ‘This the plane we need. This is the plane we want for a whole number of reasons.’”
MacKay said “due diligence and analysis” are necessary to ensure taxpayers are well-served and their best interests are considered.
“On the aspect of budgets as we go forward, every department of government -- every defense department, certainly all of our NATO partners, our Mexican colleagues [and] our friends around the globe -- are looking to prioritize their defense spending,” he said. “It [should] come as no surprise to anyone here that Canada is going through that exact same process in determining what our defense needs are at home.”
Winning.

Its what the F-35's doing.


Much to the annoyance of that CABAL of writers/bloggers/skeptics...