NAVAIR K-Max photo release.

A new era in unmanned aviation began earlier this month when Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 operated a K-MAX unmanned helicopter during its historic 90-minute flight, Dec. 17. K-MAX is the Marine's first unmanned helicopter designed for resupplying troops in remote locations. During its maiden flight, K-MAX successfully delivered about 3,500 pounds of food and supplies to troops at a forward operating base in Afghanistan without risk to a pilot.

Check out this funky co-witness system...

I just noticed this setup on this Marine's rifle.  This unit is using the carrying handle as a funky kinda co-witness system.

I like.  Its unusual but I like it.

31st MEU Boat Company...

KIN BLUE TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan-Marine scout swimmers with 1st Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provide security for a beach assault here, Dec. 20. The Marines were practicing their landing techniques in preparation for the MEU’s upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the Nation's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. , Lance Cpl. David J. Adams, 12/20/2011 9:22 AM

KIN BLUE TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan-Marines with 1st Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, get on line to provide security after landing here, Dec. 20. The Marines were practicing their landing techniques in preparation for the MEU’s upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the Nation's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. , Lance Cpl. David J. Adams, 12/20/2011 9:51 AM

KIN BLUE TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan-Lance Cpl. Lance C. Coolidge, a scout swimmer with 1st Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides security for an assault here, Dec. 20. The Marines were practicing their landing techniques in preparation for the MEU’s upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the Nation's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. , Lance Cpl. David J. Adams, 12/20/2011 10:39 AM

KIN BLUE TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan-Marines with 1st Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, get in combat rubber raiding crafts to conduct an assault here, Dec. 20. The Marines were practicing their landing techniques in preparation for the MEU’s upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the Nation's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Lance Cpl. David J. Adams, 12/20/2011 8:26 AM

KIN BLUE TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan-Marines with 1st Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, get in combat rubber raiding craft to conduct an assault here, Dec. 20. The Marines were practicing their landing techniques in preparation for the MEU’s upcoming deployment. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the Nation's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region., Lance Cpl. David J. Adams, 12/20/2011 8:28 AM

And you thought you had a bad day.

Watch the whole thing but the fire works are near the end...



Sorry but I'm feeling a bit ghoulish...don't know why...

BlackFive nails the anti-gun crowd!

A must read from BlackFive (with a major hat tip to National Review)...

Did you know there is a nationwide rampage going on where crazed fanatics with concealed carry permits are slaughtering innocent citizens? Neither did I, but thankfully the NY Times is on the story. With their usual, thoroughly accurate, fact-checked, journalistic professionalism propaganda, they have concocted a faux outrage that simply doesn't add up. National Review Online points out the fallacy.

The only thing I can add to Jimbo's wonderful analysis is this.  A couple of days ago a young man was chased down by a gang of animals (the two legged kind) and stabbed to death in a British mall on 'boxer day'...The UK has some of the most restrictive gun laws on the planet yet murders continue to happen everyday.  Restrictive gun laws placed on law abiding citizens only makes those very same citizens potential victims.

I understand that some are anti-gun.  That's your right but don't impose your false sense of security on me and mine!

How about we get some off the shelf solutions to the JLTV issue.

Marine Corps procurement is becoming slow, cumbersome and costly.  Its time to change gears and get it jump started.  The JLTV program is one that we can get off the table by making a decision at HQMC as to what type of vehicle we need and then picking one thats already on the market to fulfill those requirements.  Stuff a 5 year development timeline for a battlefield utility vehicle...lets get this done.  Potential candidates????

Force Protection Cheetah..


Force Protection Foxhound..(I'm sure doors for drivers and passengers can be added, but supposedly vehicles lose strength when doing so...I don't understand our insistence on that feature)


Iveco LMV Panther...


And those are just a few of the vehicles off the top of my head that fulfill this requirement.  We've been squeezing this for too long...time to make it worth it.

A book that should be on the Commandant's reading list...

If you consider yourself a warrior then reading books on the subject is simply part of the job. 

Want a book that covers the warrior mindset?  Want a book to explain the preparation necessary to fight and win?  Then the book "The Five Rings" is definitely for you.

It was written by Miyamoto Musashi, probably the greatest swordsman of feudal Japan.  If you have the time I highly recommend it.  If you don't then place it on your list of books to read for the new year.  You can find an online version here.  Enjoy!

Merry Christmas.

Marine cargo UAV in Afghanistan...

12/23/2011 By Cpl. Justin M. Boling
A detachment of Marines from Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 in Afghanistan completed their first unmanned aerial system cargo delivery in a combat zone, Dec. 17. The unmanned helicopter moved about 3,500 pounds of food and supplies from Camp Dwyer to troops at Combat Outpost Payne. The helicopter, an unmanned variant of the K-MAX, completed the delivery in about an hour and a half.

BF-7 first flight in school house markings!

The latest production F-35B (Navy Bureau Number 168058, called BF-7) was flown from NAS Fort Worth JRB on 21 December 2011.  Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti was the pilot for aircraft's first flight.

Australia's Army to be amphibious in nature.

Phil sent me this article(thanks!) regarding the Australian Army's plan to become amphibious in culture throughout.  In other words a Marine Corps in everything except name!  Read the whole thing here but...

Lieutenant General Morrison said, "the Army's Deployable Joint Force Headquarters will foster and develop an amphibious culture across Army, but it will take some time to master. The important point is that the Army is committed to developing this aspect of its operations."

To reinforce Army's commitment, the Chief of Army has designated the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR) to form the core of Army's contribution to a future amphibious force as this developmental work is done.

"2RAR will work on a day to day basis with Navy and Air Force on the LHDs and other amphibious platforms to further develop this joint capability."
In his inaugural year as Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Morrison expressed his confidence in Plan BEERSHEBA to deliver an Army that is robust, relevant and capable for the tasks directed by Government.

"Our modern Army is moving into the future with a new perspective and a smarter way of doing business and delivering capability within the resources we have," Lieutenant General Morrison said.

"Plan BEERSHEBA will ensure that Army can continue to contribute forces to operations including Afghanistan, until the mission is complete, and will successfully transition to a force that maintains high levels of readiness to react to the range of Australia's Defence needs as they arise.

"On operations and at home, it means we will derive the full value from our Army."

Wow.

UPDATE:
With the Australian Army making a move in this direction and with the Canberra Class having a well deck, does it make sense for them to move toward either an LCAC type landing craft or an AAV type IFV?  I think so but time will tell.  Either way its crystal clear why the Marine Corps was invited to establish a base in Northern Australia and not a US Army unit. 

Best explanation of F-35 capabilities that I've read.

Joe sent me this article (thanks guy!) where the author outlines the case for the F-35 as the ultimate multi-role/air superiority fighter of its generation (to include the F-22...if he's right then that explains why the former SecDef canceled it)

He's an unashamed supporter of the program and he gives the best explanation of the F-35's capabilities that I've read.  Read the whole thing but a snippet.

The F-35 is the first aircraft in history with a 360 degree field of vision out to 800 miles, managed by an integrated combat system. Make no mistake -- the F-35 is a full combat system, not just a platform. The beauty of a combat system is the maintenance, upgrades, deployment readiness, development synergies provided by common software for upgrades and development.

The F-35 will revolutionize air combat operations, especially in the Pacific. Fifth generation aircraft like the F-35 are at the heart of a potential new air combat system enterprise. The F-22s may have been the harbinger, but it lacks the essential air combat systems present on the F-35. Deployed as a force, the JSF enables distributed air operations that are crucial to the survival of our pilots in the period ahead. Distributed operations are the cultural shift that fifth generation aircraft, along with investments in new weapons, remotely piloted aircraft and the crafting of simultaneous rather than sequential operations, bring to the fight.

The Japanese understand the opportunities to leverage the F-35 combat system enterprise and that is why they chose the aircraft.

Before the JSF, military leaders would have to tack on additional systems to legacy aircraft to provide new capabilities. The pilot would be forced to manage each new system. The F-35's five major combat systems are already integrated and interact with each other to provide capabilities. The functional capabilities that emerge from that interaction are done by the machine and are not simply correlated with a single system. For example, jamming can be done by several systems aboard the JSF but the machine decides which one to use. And the entire system rests on a common architecture with broadband capabilities.

Interesting.