Friday, July 02, 2010

A subtle attack on the F-35. Kopp's take on the Chinese Air Force.

Air Power Australia's Carlo Kopp has an interesting (though overblown) article in The Diplomat...I ordinarily dismiss whatever comes out of that shop without a second thought, but this section of Kopp's article caused me to raise an eyebrow and to do a number of Google searches to verify its accuracy...
For those that are interested though, a more accurate picture can be gleaned from the fact that about 5 years ago, China planned to field well in excess of 500 Russian designed Sukhoi Flanker fighters, a size comparable to the now declining United States Air Force fleet of around 600 Boeing F-15 Eagle fighters. The Flanker was designed to be a direct equivalent (in some respects superior) to the F-15, which is also the backbone of the Japanese and Singaporean fighter fleets.
Indeed, with an ongoing modernisation plan that will see all legacy aircraft types replaced by modern and much longer ranging replacements, the PLAAF will in numerical terms become the strongest air force in Asia, with the largest fleet of ‘tier one’ fighter aircraft globally, should the United States pursue its current plan to downsize and reduce the capabilities of its tactical air forces. In terms of air power alone, this will result in the single largest swing in the strategic balance in Asia since the 1940s.

The operative words are "planning"  --they haven't achieved parity but they're trying hard.  If for no other reason than the entertainment value and the pure hair raising "the Chinese are coming" tone to the article, I count it as a must read.

EFV..."We took a few shortcuts...that probably didn't pan out..."

Hat tip to Johnathan for sending the bad news (just kidding..keep'em coming).

Johnathan sent me this article from BusinessWeek.  Suffice it to say that the long knives are out and still aiming for the EFV.  Of all the programs under development or about to be developed, only two have me seriously questioning Marine Corps leadership.  The first is the Infantry Automatic Rifle.  Who the hell needs a fully automatic M16A4?  A modern day Browning Automatic Rifle?  We're asking our Marines to give up their suppressive fire at the squad level?  Who's brilliant idea was that?  Oh and don't tell me its going to fixed when the Corps fields 150 round drum magazines for it...then you're halfway back to the SAW.  Dumb move.  Show some chops by canceling that pigeon now.

The next of course is the EFV.  I really like what I see of the vehicle.  I love the rapid ship to shore speed it has, its ability to keep up with M1 Abrams and the massive firepower it'll bring with its 30mm cannon.

What I don't like are all the missteps in development.

What also irks me is the statement by Colonel Moore.  This from KFMB-Tv Channel 8 in San Diego.




Did you notice the phrase?  "We took some shortcuts to save money that probably didn't pan out...?"

The most important weapon system for the Ground Combat Element and you're taking shortcuts?

Seriously?

Really?

What The Fuck Sir!

To be honest, as much as I like this vehicle.  As much as I think its necessary.  The Marine Corps screwed the pooch on this one.

There was no sense of urgency by either the manufacturer or the USMC.

Costs were allowed to balloon.

Justification for its mission hasn't been consistently defended.

We should have done better.

Last minute pushes to get needed systems across the finish line won't cut it anymore.

Thursday, July 01, 2010

HNLMS Johan de Witt's landing craft in action off the coast of Somalia.

GvG of Information Dissemination provided this vid.  I wonder if this is the future for the Marine Corps.  Yes, I know its a return to our naval roots but so is being Shock Troops.  I fear that this new operating doctrine might cause us to lose that part of our heritage.

As a side note how are we going to justify the EFV if our new operating doctrine is for Distributed Operations with the Company as the smallest unit of maneuver, a move to make our units vehicle independent and for us to start having detachments aboard even frigate sized ships?  How do we justify any of the weapon systems coming down the pike?  CH-53E?  Why?  We operate in penny packets.  More M-777?  Why not just disband artillery?  The more I read of this new doctrine (and I haven't finished it yet) the more it leaves me scratching my head. Just my two cents.

For the Concealed Carry Crowd.


Teotwawki Blog pointed to an excellent article for those of us who carry concealed.  Its over at Warrior Talk News and is a great read.  Check it out.

More on the CSI Mountain Lion-1.

Ok.  I get it.  Obviously I was the only person on the planet not to know who CSI is or what they do.  Apologizes to all.

But if you haven't seen the Mountain Lion-1...here are the vehicles specs.

CSI Mountain Lion-1                                                            

Critical Solutions International. Who are these guys?

Browsing the internet I came across an interesting little company in Carrolton, Texas called Critical Solutions International.

No big deal, there are plenty of startups out there, but what caught my attention is their connection to South African mine clearing companies (I can't figure out which ones) but they seem to have been supplying the US military with vehicles under this US subsidiary and even seem posed to provide an MRAP alternative.



But the flagship vehicle in their lineup is the Vehicle Mounted Mine Detector.  I can't wait to learn more about what these guys are doing but it should be interesting.


Pic of the Day. July 1, 2010.

via Joe Stremph's Flickr page.


Wednesday, June 30, 2010

First flight of the Euro-Hawk.

Exercise High Sierra 2010.

Exercise High Sierra 2010
Exercise High Sierra conducted from 14 June to 2 July represents the last three weeks of the F/A-18 operational conversion course, which converts fighter pilots from the Hawk Mk127 Lead-in-fighter aircraft to the F/A-18 Hornet.
Eight pilots from No. 2 Operational Conversion Squadron, part of the RAAF’s Air Combat Group at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales, are put through their paces during the Exercise prior to graduation. More than 150 Air Force personnel, F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, PC9 forward air control support aircraft and Mk127 Hawk lead-in fighters will be at RAAF Base Townsville supporting the Exercise.

An F/A-18 Hornet takes off for a sortie during Exercise High Sierra as another F/A-18 Hornet taxis to the runway for its turn to head for the skies.

An F/A-18 Hornet attached to 2 Operational Conversion Unit taxis toward the runway as a PC9 Forward Air Control aircraft takes to the skies for a mission during Exercise High Sierra.

An F/A-18 Hornet from 2 Operational Conversion Unit prepares to leave the ordinance loading area to conduct a mission during Exercise High Sierra.

More on the Merlin TRAP mission.

ThinkDefence ties the final pieces of this story together. 

Digital Camo on the EFV?

http://news.yahoo.com/video/sandiego-channel8-15751279/new-assault-vehicle-storms-the-beach-at-camp-pendleton-20637266

Follow the link to watch a local news report on the EFV.  Watch carefully and you'll see the first US vehicle (I believe) outfitted in digital camo!  Pretty wild.

UPDATE!
Marcase found some screen captures from a Defense News video on the EFV.  You get a better view of the digital camo...

EFV at Pendleton. The info war continues.


Reports are everywhere that the EFV will be canceled in upcoming budget cuts.  But it would appear that the Marine Corps disagrees.

A full scale public relations effort is underway, and the what is the best tool in the toolbox to get the word out that this vehicle is a winner?

The press!  This from the OC Register.

"Similarly to the current vehicle you launch the vehicle from a ship ... it's our forcible entry to get on to the beachhead," said Maj. Shaun Doheney, the deputy director of the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch at Pendleton, as he and other Marines highlighted the qualities of the new war fighting machine to the media.
The EFV is faster in the water than its predecessor -- traveling at 20 to 25 knots at sea compared with five to seven knots – and its abilities on land will help today's Marines stay safer plus give them more firepower, officials said.
"It's the same fighting concept with this vehicle, but it is the capabilities that this vehicle brings that are significantly more advanced," Doheney said.
The new vehicle's lethality is another aspect Marine officials pushed on Tuesday, saying the 17 Marines it can carry along with three operators won't necessarily have to dismount to defeat every threat they encounter in battle.
"The more I can keep them buttoned up, the more mobile that I can keep them, the less susceptible the Marines are to getting killed by bad guys," said EFV program manager Col. Keith Moore.
Read the entire article and look carefully at the attached photos on their site.  Several design changes have occurred.  I don't know if they're simply cosmetic or if they actually enhance performance but the differences between the EFV and the legacy AAV are startling.

All this leads to a nagging question.  If the EFV doesn't make it across the finish line, how far along are BAE and the Marine Corps with an upgrade package for the AAV?

If canceled will the advances found in the EFV flow to the AAV?

The next few months are going to be interesting.  More than any other weapon system, the EFV/AAV represent the core amphibious assault mission that  is the hallmark of the Marines.  If the EFV is canceled and the AAV allowed to retire without replacement then that will signify a serious change in the way that the Marines conduct operations.