K-21 105mm Cannon...

Why is Army Aviation trying to cram themselves aboard ship?

US Army Blackhawks Land on USS John C. Stennis off the Coast of Washington
Theater Aviation Command as they land aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during a joint training exercise. Army rotary-wing aviation units stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord are training with John C. Stennis in the Pacific Northwest region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ignacio D. Perez) 150323-N-TC437-094

Question.  Why is Army Aviation trying to cram themselves aboard ship?

Is it doctrine based?  I don't think so.  I can't find any OPEN SOURCE documents that detail a need identified by the Navy or Marine Corps that is fulfilled by putting Army Aviation aboard ship.  Additionally I'm not even sure that Army Aviation meets basic NAVAIR safety guidelines for operation on ships.  Remember the modifications that were deemed necessary, just on the safety and maintenance side to make the Apache, NAVAIR worthy of becoming the Sea Apache?

So if its not doctrine based.  If its not safe or doesn't meet NAVAIR guidelines then what behind this move?

I'm not sure.  I can make a guess though.

The Army is desparate.  They're trying to find a way to make themselves relevant in the Pacific and see themselves getting left on the beach looking slack eyed and silly.

Its really a shame though.  The Army does have a role to play, a supporting role...and if the conflict is big enough, a combat role but it isn't by flying off individual ships and doing photo ops.

If the Army wants to be relevant in the Pacific then they need to push HARD to make the Sea Base a reality, doing the dull and boring work with Military Sealift Command integrating their landing craft and CH-47's with the MLP and Maritime Prepositioned Squadrons, and work out how they're going to operate to make that system fit the needs of forces ashore.  Working to develop the means to ferry soldiers to the Sea Base so that they can marry up with their equipment.  Training their soldiers on LCAC operations.

But no.  They instead push Army Aviation onto already crowded ships.  Amazing.

F-35 News. Is the USMC walking back the IOC date?

via National Defense.

Marine officials recently have somewhat softened their stance on a July IOC, suggesting that it is not a hard deadline.

“We won't declare IOC unless we meet all of our targets,” Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, deputy commandant of the Marine Corps for aviation told the Senate Armed Services Committee March 25.

The F-35B with the current software provides “tremendous capability that we don't have today,” Davis insisted. “I have no fusion in the airplanes I operate today.” The pilots who fly it today “love the F-35B and they wouldn't go back to their original platforms.”
On the software, Davis said he would withhold judgment for now. If the squadron is not ready to declare IOC, he said, the Marine Corps will respect that. “The decision to declare IOC will be event-based and conditions-based, based on us achieving what we have to do to deliver a combat capability to our Marines,” he said. “If conditions are met, I will make a recommendation to [Commandant] General Dunford that we declare our IOC.”

You're getting tired of me saying this, but I seriously wonder why these reporters (and Sandra Erwin is good) keep missing the highlights of the news that's been given to them.

The USMC is giving itself room to back off the IOC date that was once seemingly written in blood.  

While I still believe that the Marine Corps' rush to get this plane into service has to do with the procurement trainwreck and attempting to clear the tracks so that they can get on to the rest of the portfolio, I can't help but feel that those plans are doomed.

BMD-4M vs. Kurganets-25 size comparison pic...

Thanks to Dragon for the link!

Wow.  The Kurganets-25 is substantially larger than the BMD.  I can't wait to get a better look at this vehicle!

Heavy BMP T-15 "Armata" Vid...The Russians are totally redesigning their armored force!

Thanks to Dragon for the link!



These new tanks are a TOTAL departure from what we've seen in the past from the Russians.  We're seeing a total redesign of their armored force/concepts.

2nd Cav Dragoon Ride takes a nasty turn. Civilian vehicle struck.

I would love to read the report on this incident.

Up and at them!....Photos by Sgt. Devin Nichols

Paintball instead of sim rounds?

US and 16 Medical Regiment Medics have been developing and honing 3 PARA soldiers’ casualty drills while under fire from simulated attacks with paint balls. Photographer: Corporal Andy Reddy; Crown copyright

Paintball instead of sim rounds?

I thought the military had moved away from paintball for realistic training.  Is this a Brit thing or is it part of how the "All Americans" do things?

2nd CAV Dragoon Ride. "New" Europe loves us...which is why we love them back....

Note:  From what I've seen the response to the US Army's 2nd Cav has been nothing short of fantastic.  The Dragon Ride is a stunning success.  New Europe loves us,and that matters.  Its so much easier to help those...work with those that want us there instead of dealing with protests, idiotic governors etc...

Politically incorrect question about the German Air pilots. Updated!

Question.

Why haven't we heard the names or seen pics of the German Air pilots?  We've seen pics and names of the victims but nothing about the pilots.

Why?

I'm seriously curious about this.

UPDATE:  More info has come out and I won't go over it.  Lets be actual and factual.  If this guy is a Muslim convert and IF this is a terrorist attack from a person that self radicalized then the world will be forever changed.  You will see govt spying on its citizens in Europe go to new heights.  We'll know soon enough but it bears watching.