Amphibious Assault Exercise-Dawn Blitz.

NAVAIR developing infrastructure for FireScout.

NAVAIR press release.

In the future, FRC East will repair approximately 60 of the Fire Scout’s components. Artisans are receiving hands-on training by working with the FST and Northrup Grumman engineers.
The Navy will field 121 Fire Scouts, once the platform is fully deployed. The inventory currently stands at seven – one trainer, two at Northrup Grumman for developmental testing, and four the Navy flies during operational evaluations.
The two MQ-8B’s at FRC East should be back in the Fleet about mid-June.

I wonder if this is a done deal.  I had thought that the other UAV helicopter types might have a chance to bump the FireScout out of Navy service.  This article indicates that is not the case.

Germany retires half its sub force?!

Defense News.com is reporting...

The German Navy abruptly decommissioned more than half of its submarine fleet on June 1, well ahead of the planned 2016 retirement of the six 500-ton U-206A-class diesel submarines.

One word.  Wow.  Expect more drastic cuts in the Army and Air Force.  This is stunning.  Follow the link for the entire story.

Australian Maritime Doctrine.

The US Navy just released another in a series of 'papers' on its operating philosophy and now...here is the Australian version.

Amd 2010

CV90 Armadillo.

Defense News is reporting that the CV90 will be at Eurosatory.

"This is a concept of a flexible family of vehicles of modular type built around the CV90 platform," said Hakan Karlsson, vice president of marketing communications for BAE Global Combat Systems in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden.
An ideal armored combat vehicle, Karlsson said, offers a balance between high mobility, high payload and extremely high protection; should have a practical and effective interface for digitally equipped soldiers and the digital battlespace; should be reliable and affordable; and above all, offer a low logistics footprint. This has been the ethos behind the development of the Armadillo build standard, Karlsson told journalists May 27 in a London briefing.

This is an exciting vehicle that should easily fulfill a number of needs.  The US Army is looking for a Bradley replacement in the GCV concept.  The US Marine Corps is looking for a Marine Personnel Carrier.

The CV90 Armadillo looks capable of filling both roles.  Lets be honest.  The idea of whether or not you want your personnel carrier engaging in duels with other fighting vehicles is dubious at best.  Carried Infantry is the weapon of choice and providing covering fire and transporting them safely is the main role of these vehicles.  Mobility and speed count for far more.  Mobility comes in several different forms.  Strategic---does it fit on ships and aircraft---Tactical---can it keep up with the M1 Abrams in all environments...Those are the questions that the Army and Marines need to be asking.  The GCV won't and as currently spec'ed the MPC can't.

The CV90 Armadillo will.

BAE provided the above pics and stats are to follow shortly.

Hopefully they'll also provide visibility on any work being done to the legacy AAV.  If the EFV is canceled then a crash upgrade program will need to be conducted (to probably include new build vehicles) to maintain them for another 15 to 20 years.  I'm hoping for engine, weapon and even hull upgrades ---with an eye toward increased sea speed---but we'll see.

Note.  BAE has stated that they don't plan on offering this vehicle for the GCV program.  The idea to do so originates here.

Information on this vehicle is practically nill.  But from a visual look-see it has.

1.  RWS.  Its mounting a 50 caliber machine gun but I imagine its scalable.  BAE has done mock-ups with RWS' as large as 35mm cannons.  I doubt that this could handle that but a compact ATK 25mm cannon seems within the realm of possible options.
2.  Trophy?  I don't know if those 'items' at the corners of the vehicle are a version of Trophy or another system but it appears that they're making it known that some type of anti-missile system is available...or at the very least, room is made for it.
3.  Grenade launchers.  Steerable?  I found this very interesting.  Some have proposed that the ubiquitous grenade launcher can be used in an anti-personnel role.  Not sure it thats the case here or if its just part of the vehicle defense system.
4.  Vehicle Commander sitting directly behind the driver.  Nicely done and a benefit that few outside the tracked community fully realize.

Questions  left to be answered.

1.  How many troops does it carry?
2.  Any allowance made for IED protection?  I know that it does, but they can say it to keep the critics at bay.
3.  Why does it ride so low?  Can its suspension be adjusted?
4.  There was a system developed and tested on the SEP to defeat anti-tank missiles...is that available on this?

Hmm.  I do believe I'm in love.

1st Battalion 6th Marines and DEA Agents bust drug kingpin.

*Note* All photos courtesy I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD) by Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Butler 

An Afghan Counter Narcotic National policeman holds the Afghan government's primary drug kingpin in Marjah, Afghanistan, May 18. The mission, a team effort between the Marines, Drug Enforcement Administration and Counter Narcotic Police of Afghanistan, nabbed high-level drug traffickers.

A Drug Enforcement Administration special agent and Cpl. Michael Zarate, 22, from Chula Vista, Calif., and his patrol drug-detection dog, Roy, search a building for drugs and anyone evading arrest at the compound of a known Taliban commander and drug trafficker in Marjah, Afghanistan, May 18.

Counter Narcotic Police of Afghanistan, Drug Enforcement Administration and Marines make final plans before executing an arrest-and-search warrant on the Afghan government?s primary drug and terrorist target in Marjah, Afghanistan, May 18. The team got their man, who is facing a 10-year sentence in the Afghan judicial system for drug trafficking.

Sgt. Patrick Main, (left) squad leader, 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, makes final checks with his Marines, as a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent checks his watch, minutes before serving an arrest warrant on the Afghan government's primary drug and terrorist target in Marjah, Afghanistan, May 18. Main's squad caught the drug trafficker as he attempted to escape the compound after the Counter Narcotic Police of Afghanistan, DEA and a Marine with his patrol drug detection canine forced their way into the compound.

Counter Narcotic Police of Afghanistan, a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent and Marines prepare to enter a compound of a known Taliban commander and drug trafficker to serve an arrest warrant for him in Marjah, Afghanistan, May 18. The team successfully arrested the Afghan governments primary drug and terrorist target in Marjah.

Captured Video of "peace activist" preparing for violence.