Wasp

A 1000 yard stare

A soldier from A Company, 1 Rifles looks on wearily following an engagement with the enemy during a joint helicopter assault with the Afghan Uniformed Police (AUP) in Helmand, Afghanistan.

Photographer: Sergeant Alison Baskerville RLC

A Rifleman puts down covering fire over a wall as his patrol from A Company 1 Rifles comes under heavy fire during a joint helicopter assault with the Afghan Uniformed Police (AUP) in Helmand.

Photographer: Sergeant Alison Baskerville RLC

AAVs and LCACs conduct landings during Dawn Blitz

Former Australin Naval Aviator speaks about cross decking F-35B's...

*Note*
During a conversation with Phil, he hit me with the thought that soon after the F-35B is introduced into USMC service, that we'll see them cross decked on Royal Australian Navy Amphibs.  I was so intrigued by the thought that I requested to post his response.  It follows...

“BZ F-35B & USS Wasp. Now that the RAN has been out of the carrier business for almost 3 decades the imminent arrival in service 2014-5 of 2 LHDs means the possibility of at least USMC F-35Bs (and AV-8Bs) cross decking during exercises at the very least. The news reports then, if not now, will put the idea back in some Australian minds about 'why does not the RAN/RAAF get a bunch of F-35Bs' for use not only on our RAN LHDs but also as 'far north Australia' as bare base aircraft that can be easily transported via LHD to a Pacific trouble spot (we have a fractious Fiji for example where HMAS Melbourne used to visit at least once a year to remind them about stuff). Today the Fijian PM ‘dictator’ does as he pleases - not concerned by any local/regional response. A few years ago the Fijian Military Dictator “Voreqe Bainimarama, also called Frank 'Barney' Bainimarama” 'PM' of Fiji, threatened Australian/New Zealand citizens there. Australia & New Zealand started to put together a rescue mission that ultimately was not needed. A big flat deck on the horizon always gives 'pause for thought' IMHO.”

Phil.

I guess that answers the question on why the Australian Navy needs the F-35B!

UPDATE:  Shortly after my e-mail exchange with Phil, I ran across this photo of the 11th MEU preparing for its upcoming deployment.  Who do we see on deck observing MV-22 ops?  Australian service members!  I've been so focused on the Aussies acquiring  F-35's that we might be missing other bits of gear they might have an interest in.  Emphasize might.

More...

Too Sweet.

Thanks Mr. P!!!!

F-35 at sea

You can take it huh big man???

Bill (known as Apocalypse for the purposes of the above video) ran head long into Timperlake (aka Superman) in a furball that I somehow missed.

Follow the links for the juicy parts.

Man, you focus in on your workouts for a couple of weeks and the whole world passes right in front of you.  Read it here and here...

Israeli helicopters

An Israeli Air Force Apache helicopter lands across from a Greek mountain range during a joint Israel-Greece exercise with the Hellenic Air Force. These types of exercises are a central aspect of the Israel-Greece military cooperation.

Its unique abilities and precision weapons have led the Israel Air Force to use the Cobra helicopter to fight wars and hit targets during military operations. A difficult target for enemy fire, the Cobra is primarily used as an attack helicopter. Manufactured in the US, Israel has used the Cobra since the 1970's.

F-35B confounds its critics again.

Photoshop by Elements of Power Blogspot.

Well details are sparse but Marine Corps Times and Aviation Week are both reporting that the F-35B has again confounded its critics and has done what many hoped it wouldn't. It successfully started its sea trials.

Awesome.

Can't wait to read the comments from the haters!

Major league tip of the hat to Bjornar Bolsoy for the heads up.

Did a piece of shit Beretta cost this USAF Captain his life?

This is straight from Air Force Times.  Emphasis mine.

Captain posthumously awarded Silver Star

Scott Fontaine - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Oct 1, 2011 9:07:32 EDT

An officer who traded gunfire with a rampaging Afghan pilot earlier this year and was killed during the shootout was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.
Miriam Nylander accepted the honor on behalf of her husband, Capt. Nathan Nylander, who was killed during an attack that claimed the lives of eight other Americans. Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz presented the medal Sept. 24 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., where Nylander served as a meteorologist with the 25th Operational Weather Squadron.
Nylander was deployed as an adviser with the NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan on April 27, when an Afghan Air Force pilot entered the air command and control center at Kabul International Airport and opened fire. Seven airmen and one American contractor were hit. Nylander was one of 12 people in an adjoining conference room; when he heard the gunshots, he moved to the door connecting the two rooms and helped evacuate everyone inside.
The officer had an opportunity to run to safety but chose to help his fellow airmen. He and another officer took up a firing position and shot at the gunman when he exited the air command and control center. The Afghan pilot was shot once and possibly twice, according to the narration that accompanied the Silver Star presentation.
Nylander stayed behind as the other airman left. Nylander and the gunman exchanged fire; the American was shot in the left thigh and received a grazing wound to his right thigh. He began bleeding heavily but continued to fire at the gunman.

Nylander’s 9mm pistol jammed. He managed to clear two rounds in his weapon, and the pistol’s final round was found jammed in the chamber. He tried to flee the building but was fatally shot.

“Of his own volition, Capt. Nylander chose to return to an extremely dangerous and unknown tactical situation and engage an attacker who had taken the lives of eight fellow Americans,” the narration reads. “After an initial exchange of gunfire, Capt. Nylander again chose to stay, with the likely intent of aiding the fallen. Capt. Nylander’s brave actions degraded the gunman’s capability and likely prevented further loss of life, including that of other U.S. personnel who remained in the AAF Headquarters.”

Just plain wow.

I never liked the Beretta's...just personal preference I guess.  But isn't it time to start buying new handguns?  Or how about we finally get on the ball and start issuing PDW's to all non-grunts instead of pistols.

Challis UAV's. Interesting and weird.

I wonder if they'll be able to make these work (check them out here)?  Posted on them previously but it looks like they're expanding the line to the Little Bird....be nice if they could make a manned version for Special Ops.