Open Comment Post. July 15, 2018

M1A1 Vehicle Protection System...

Thanks to Dragon for the link!

via Marines.mil

Program Status

The M1A1 Trophy TD phase is complete. The USMC project is partially funded to procure (48) of (56) systems as a special mission kit for four tank companies. This project will transition with the US Army into the next phase of developmental and operational testing. It is currently scheduled to procure an initial system set in FY21, but efforts to accelerate the program to begin fielding in FY19 are currently being evaluated to ensure our continued alignment with the Army. The Initial Operational Capability (IOC) of (14) systems is planned for fourth quarter, FY21 and Full Operational Capability (FOC) for fourth quarter, FY23.

Procurement Profile:

FY21 - QTY 14
FY22 - QTY 18
FY23 - QTY 24

Developer/Manufacturer:

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Haifa, Israel

Open Comment Post. July 14, 2018

5 Ways to Conquer Procrastination

via Truth and Strength.

On this road, we are well served to arm ourselves with discipline and focus. Yet sometimes one lapse of judgement can leave us lost in a labyrinth of laziness. That labyrinth is procrastination.

Procrastination literally sucks.

It is the taker of clock ticks and the devourer of hours. If success is a habit, then procrastination is the anti-habit.

Story here. 

US Army steals the spotlight at RIMPAC by sinking a retired Navy ship!

via Naval News.

RIMPAC units participate in sinking exercise

Live fire from aircraft, a submarine, and land assets participating in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise sank the decommissioned ex-USS Racine (LST 1191) in waters 15,000 feet deep 55 nautical miles north of Kauai, Hawaii, July 12.

Units from Australia, Japan, and the U.S. participated in the sinking exercise (SINKEX), which provided them the opportunity to gain proficiency in tactics, targeting and live firing against a surface target at sea.

The SINKEX featured live firing of surface-to-ship missiles by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) from a launcher on the back of a Palletized Load System (PLS) by the U.S. Army. This marks the first time a land-based unit has participated in the live-fire event during RIMPAC.

This year was also the first time a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft has participated in a SINKEX during RIMPAC.

Former U.S. Navy vessels used in SINKEXs, referred to as hulks, are prepared in strict compliance with regulations prescribed and enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency under a general permit the U.S. Navy holds pursuant to the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act.

Ex-Racine was the second ship to bear the name of the Wisconsin city. The ship was the 13th of 20 ships of the improved Newport-class of Landing Ship, Tank (LST) built to replace the traditional LSTs of World War II. Throughout Racine’s 22 years of service, the ship conducted several Western Pacific deployments including one during the Vietnam War where Racine provided troop and material transport.

Bundeswehr @ Mountain Lion 2018 (pics)

Japan seeking to buy newest US-made unmanned helicopter

via Naval News.

Japan seeking to buy newest US-made unmanned helicopter

Japan is considering an acquisition of MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter developed by the Northrop Grumman to operate from its new Izumo-class amphibious assault ships.

MQ-8C is a combat proven, autonomous helicopter system that provides real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Target-acquisition (ISR&T), laser designation, and battle management to tactical users without relying on manned aircraft or space-based assets. 

Akka's futuristic concept

Catamaran 2018: Large Scale French-British Amphibious Exercise

NATO's spending problem and the US complaint in one graph...

graphy via AOL Breaking Defense...their article is of course favorable to our allies but this graph is damning!

Want to know why allied spending in NATO has been an ongoing problem for over 40 years?  Want to know why only liberals that hate or globalist that insist on being in any and EVERY ridiculous unfair treaty or organization despise Trump for pointing this out yet the majority of Americans are either in favor of his rants or are ambivalent?

Just look at the above graph.

Added together the other nations don't spend EVEN HALF of the bill that's racked up by NATO!

Yet its indispensable?  Necessary for US defense?

Sorry I just don't buy it.

NATO is a money pit with few returns.  We can achieve everything we need to do without NATO.

That's just a fact.