This vid explains why the Pentagon is so scared shitless about Russia's Hybrid War concept...

Thanks to Ryan for the link!



Ok.

I've been wondering about the statements from the incoming Chairman of the Joint Chiefs about Russia being the most dangerous opponent we face in the near term.

Now I know.

It isn't about facing them in conventional combat because they will invade a nation....no....its about how they've cracked the playbook with regard to using all elements of national power to overcome a weak opponent.

They fear that what's been done in Ukraine, can be done elsewhere.

Russia could beat US in conventional war?

via Daily Beast...

“Against an adversary like Russia, we can’t take the kind of air dominance we’ve had in conflicts since 9/11 for granted,” a second defense official explained. “Any conflict of significant magnitude against an adversary like Russia means we’d need to commit airmen and resources that are now operating in other parts of the world at a rate that minimizes their ability to train for that kind of fight.”
The official added, “We may very well be able to provide the airpower that would allow us and our allies to prevail in a high-end fight, but the current state of our air forces definitely doesn’t make that a sure bet.”
Around the time of that TTX, in June, the U.S. military also conducted four major field exercises with its NATO counterparts, called Allied Shield, consisting of 15,000 troops and 19 member countries. In March, Russia conducted its own exercises, at one point deploying as many as 80,000 personnel.

Here.

I've been beating this drum for awhile now.

The USMC is reorganizing to chase terrorists but SPMAGTF-CR's and Distributed Operations have NO PLACE in fighting the real threats that our nation is facing.  Additionally that disease has spread to the US Army and Air Force.

Everyone is optimizing toward fighting small wars...but those days have passed.

If a table top demonstrates that we would "eek" out a win against Russia then you can bet the reality is far more stark.  The reality is that Russia could move against our allies and there would be little that we could do.  A tabletop exercise is a perfect world of timely decisions, political unity across the board and a fight in a vacuum without others taking advantage of the chaos.  Real life will have hesitation, political maneuvers and an inability to sortie troops quickly to where they are needed.

This generation of leaders has given the nation the worst gift ever.  Military and political weakness.  I thought only China was trying to drink our milkshake...seems like Russia is too.

When gun control groups realize the power of shotguns....

I was watching TNT Outdoors review of his new Mossberg shotgun and it dawned on me.

Everyone is so focused on AR's that they're forgetting the power of the simple shotgun...especially in an urban setting.  Body armor will almost be irrelevant when it comes to a functional shotgun loaded with decent slugs.  You're talking about body ripping firepower...and its not getting any attention simply because it lacks a "cool factor".  When gun control groups eventually realize the power of shotguns they're gonna freak out.

Meanwhile in Puerto Rico...life is cheap...(WARNING. Might be disturbing)

NOTE: A comment by William on my YouTube page made me realize a little info needs to be provided. While cruising the internet trying to find things of interests I sometimes go toward what I would call the "grey areas". In that part of the internet world this video is trending. When I first saw it I thought I'd see a simple argument turn into a fist fight. That is so 1980's. I forgot this is 2015 and nothing is settled with a punch. Is this real? Did we witness a murder and a teenage girl seriously injured? I have no idea. I have enough Law Enforcement readers so we'll all know soon enough. Oh and one other thing...comments say this happened either in Puerto Rico or the Bronx. Where doesn't matter if this is real. Human life has suddenly become very cheap in the modern age.

Drone Aircraft Concepts by Matthieu (Deviant Art Page)

Check out this guys work here.  He's obviously a young guy and has moved from photomanipulation to some pretty good photography on his FaceBook Page. Most interesting to me was the idea of a large cargo aircraft being converted to a "remotely piloted vehicle"....if C-17's are simply carrying cargo and not passengers then we could eliminate pilot fatigue as a factor in transport.  The same should apply to aerial refueling aircraft (if they're using the drogue method).  How much extra tonnage could a C-17 or KC-46 carry in cargo or fuel if life support systems were eliminated?  Would it be worth the experiment?

A robotic C-17 that is only used to carry cargo and not personnel?  Sign me up!

F-35's don't need to get in the weeds to deliver CAS?  If that's the case then why not robotic AH-1Z's?

BREAKING >>>ISIS ATTACKS KURDS WITH MUSTARD GAS ROCKETS....

More to come.

Once this is verified, ISIS becomes the West's biggest threat.  A terrorist group with chemical weapons and a demonstrated desire to use them?  That makes them target number one for every nation on earth.  Time to unite with enemies/frienemies/allies and stomp the bastards.

F-35 Death Spiral. More evidence its here...

via Investors.com

Navy may have to lower its expected orders of Lockheed Martin's (NYSE:LMT) F-35 amid budget pressure, as the entire program's buying plan is under review.
The Navy may only order as few as 12 of the F-35C variants each year vs. the current plan to order 20 of the stealth jets annually during the 2020s.
"I think the current realities of the budget and other priories inside the Navy may drive something between those two numbers, but we're still on the path to (initial operational capability) for our first squadron in 2018," said Naval Air Forces Commander Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, at the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies on Wednesday, according to Flightglobal.

Here.

I've talked about this long enough that many are bored by it, but the facts are the facts.

The US Navy has to fund a new ballistic missile sub, buy ships, upgrade aircraft, deal with staffing realities...there just isn't room for a fantasy buy of F-35's.

Oh and did you notice the wording?

"The Navy may only order as few as 12...each year vs. the current plan...."

That's classic death spiral talk.  You buy less or at a reduced rate and the price spikes.  That means you can buy fewer than programmed which means that the price rises for everyone.

Of course General Dunford already signalled this....via Breaking Defense....

“Given the evolving defense strategy and the latest Defense Planning Guidance, we are presently taking the newest strategic foundation and analyzing whether 2,443 aircraft is the correct number..."

So yeah boys and girls.

The death spiral is here.  They just haven't told you yet (directly).

So what should you expect?

Expect the USMC to attempt to do accelerated buys of the airplane NOW!  You're probably going to see the UK piggy back off those buys to try and force down the cost NOW!

It won't work, the budget won't allow it...but it will be fun watching all the "Game of Thrones" intrigue. 

More proof that the Ground Combat Element needs an advocate!

via AOL...

The head of Marine aviation is talking with Boeing about costs and ways to upgrade more than half of the service’s 239 V-22 Ospreys to improve readiness.
The basic plan would be to improve all 131 of the A and B models of the V-22 to the C level, Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, told me in an interview at his Pentagon office. Davis, who has madeimproving readiness his top priority, told me Monday he was heading to Boeing “to see how much it would cost to upgrade all our aircraft.” This would not take place right away, Davis made clear. It would take years to accomplish.

And then this...

Davis also discussed the F-35B fleet, which outgoing Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford, just declared ready for Initial Operating Capability. As he has made clear for much of this year, Davis’ greatest worry about the Marines’ new war planes is keeping them ready to fly. Currently the fleet is budgeted to maintain a 70-74 percent readiness rate. Congress has approved enough money to buy spares to maintain that rate. But Davis said he’s been hitting the Hill, asking for more money to boost the readiness rates.

Here.

Are you seeing the force of connection here?  Aviation has an Assistant Commandant that is busting down doors, bending ears and heading to Congress to lobby for more money for the Wing.

Meanwhile the Amphibious Combat Vehicle is 10 or more years away, we're upgrading only a third of our AAVs, need to make a upgrade decision on Tanks and we need to reset our MTVRs etc...yet its getting no attention.

The Commandant is concerned about the entire Marine Corps.  Assistants just worry about their part of the Kingdom.

Its past time we had a four star pounding down doors, bending ears and heading to Congress to lobby for the Ground Combat Element.  The current setup isn't working for the ground side of the house and gives aviation an unfair advantage in tight budget times.

Sobchak Security Blog has an awesome spread on the XV-5A Vertifan

Much more here.  Check him out!

The guys that designed the PL-01 Direct Fire Support Concept Vehicle are now working on a 6x6 APC...

Thanks to Jonathan for the link!

Remember the PL-01?  The vehicle that had armor experts and enthusiast in its spell for months?  Well the guys that designed that vehicle are joining an effort to build a 6x6 APC for the Polish Defense Forces.  via Janes...

The polish “Armament Group”, together with the OBRUM Company, has signed an agreement with the German Rheinmetall Man Military Vehicles company, regarding a joint program for the development of a wheeled, 6×6, amphibious armored personnel carrier.
The new vehicle is planned to be lighter than 20 tones and capable of transporting loads of at least 3500 kg. The agreement includes joint design works and development of the prototype.
Polish Armament Group states that the vehicle is going to be developed on the basis of the experience gathered during the asymmetric warfare operations, and is will have a high level of protection for its interior. The project is being realized in order to deliver a potential successor of the soviet-made BRDM-2 carriers.
The Polish-German vehicle will have amphibious capabilities. It is going to be manufactured within the territory of Poland, and it is to have a capacity of being used as a reconnaissance vehicle.
In recent years, many armors in the world have begun to replace old armored personnel carrier with new designs.
Some Israeli companies have such designs and are trying to compete in the international market.

This is .... interesting.  Light.  Amphibious.  Relatively large cargo carrying.  No talk about protection levels.  Little said about mobility requirements.

I've got to keep an eye on this to see what they come up with.  I do seem to remember a 6x6 Patria AMV from way back when though....