Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Is India's battle plan going off the rails?




Forget main stream news.  Twitter is the place to get what little facts we have on the fighting.

Having said that did you check out the post above?  It appears that their MOD has a communication problem at the very least and are shell shocked themselves at the loss of aircraft.

This is instructive.

Putting all your eggs in the aviation basket means that you will lose personnel and material.  That's just the way it is.

But has India been misled?

I almost (not quite there but getting close) get the impression that the Indian MOD thought that they would be able to conduct these strikes, claim victory and go back to the status quo.

Pakistan's response seems to have them on their back foot.  I'm cheering for India in this fight but I have to wonder if Pakistan doesn't have a better grasp of the social media game.  I wonder if the Pakis can somehow win even though they might lose on the battlefield due to public perception?




Posted by at 0 comments

The Royal Marines in action at Trafalgar.

Pic via Historical Times...


Hmm.  So is this where the saying "if you die first we're splitting your gear" came from?

What is that bag they're digging thru?  Appears much more robust than I imagined. 

This all brings me back to the Marine/Soldier load.  How much of it is snivel gear?  Is the increase in weight due to how our operations are conducted? If you're not rucking all day and operating out FOBS, mechanized vehicles or being flown in for a day or two operations then that would make you go heavier than REAL light fighters would deem acceptable.

Just wondering out loud.
Posted by at 0 comments

Open Comment Post. 27 Feb 2019


Posted by at 0 comments

MV-22s being escorted by A-10s...





Posted by at 0 comments

Things in Iran just got goofy!




WTF!  Never seen that before.  Dude wants to resign and you say NOPE!  Ain't happening!  Stick around?

Either he is much loved or they're lining him up to be hanged on national TV.  I'm not guessing there is much love in Iran for him right now...Quite honestly this sounds like some type of internal power struggle and someone wants the sides more or less balanced.

Just a guess but I can't come up with anything better...
Posted by at 0 comments

Things are getting a bit interesting in the fight between India and Pakistan...




A couple of things...

1.  The fact that US mainstream news is barely covering this is telling.  It's all Trump all the time despite important, life altering events are happening all over the world.  The mainstream news is no longer valid.

2.  Did you catch the wording?  Pakistan ARRESTED instead of captured the Indian pilot?  I'm not a War Lawyer but that jumps out at me.  Does that have any implications on how he will be treated?

3.  Are there any systems to put the brakes on this thing?  Are we headed toward a cycle of increased escalation?

Just a few thoughts.  This thing bears watching. I'll be posting additional Tweets of interest below...





Posted by at 0 comments

Boeing Airpower Teaming Mockup Looks Like a BEAST! Touted specs are impressive too...


From the Boeing Website...
The Boeing Airpower Teaming System will:
-- Provide fighter-like performance, measuring 38 feet long (11.7 metres) and able to fly more than 2,000 nautical miles
-- Integrate sensor packages onboard to support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions and electronic warfare
-- Use artificial intelligence to fly independently or in support of manned aircraft while maintaining safe distance between other aircraft.
Wow.  This thing sounds like a hybrid between the "quarterback" role and doing independent deep strike missions.

In short it sounds like it does 75% of the F-35's missions without needing a pilot!

Website with info here.
Posted by at 0 comments

Bandria Auto displays armored R2F buggy....SOCOM just found their next test vehicle...



via Army Recognition.
Among the uncommon vehicles displayed at IDEX 2019, the Saudi company Bandria Auto drew a significant attention thanks to the two version of its R2F, a 4x2 buggy (also available in 4x4 version) in armored and unarmored version.

Bandria Auto is an engineering and consulting company specialized in designing and manufacturing advanced off-road vehicles. Its R&D team has an extensive expertise in providing solutions to complicated engineering issues for off-road vehicles, such as altering system designs and upgrading parts. It reinvented the functioning of suspension systems in a unique way for better dynamics. The use of light and strong aerospace materials to overcome off-road abuse and rough terrain. The company has offered solutions to many well reputed companies around the world, including the NASA.

The armored version of the R2F is motorized with a V8 LS developing 400 hp that can be upgraded to 1,200 hp on customer’s request. The torque range can be set between 500 and 1,000. The buggy can reach 240 km/h. The tank capacity is 180 liters. While the unarmored version (designated “race”) of the R2F weighs 2.3 tons, the armored one is naturally heavier: 2.8 tons with composite armor BR6 level, or 3.1 tons with Nasser advanced steel BR6 level. Various armoring solutions are available.

The armored version can be configured in fast attack, patrol or ambulance variant.
Wow.  The need for speed is really catching fire when it comes to small vehicles.

I'm sure SOCOM will buy a few or maybe even a few dozen to play with.  As far as actually seeing combat, I kinda doubt it.
Posted by at 0 comments

Stryker Upgrades continue but its the weak link in Army modernization plans...





Not at all impressed.  The concept is good.  The vehicle is elderly.  The interim Stryker has served too long and is NOT worthy of continued upgrades.

I've been so focused on shortfalls in the Marines, Navy and Air Force that I failed to realize the terrible spot the Army is in.

In essence they need to replace everyone of their Cold War/Desert Storm era vehicles and the money is just not there.

Tough choices are having to be made and it appears that one tough pill to swallow will be the Stryker continuing on into the 2030's.

That's tragic.

Want to see the weak link in the US Army force structure?  It's the Stryker Brigades.  

They won't hold up to even tribals much less a peer.
Posted by at 0 comments

Prevail Unveils Proposal For Royal Navy’s Future Littoral Strike Ship via Naval News..



via NN.
In a short statement, Prevail Partners says that its Prevail Multirole Vessel (MRV) is being offered as a wet-lease using an international maritime industry time-charter framework. As a highly mobile logistic and helicopter base, the ship « enables nations to project power, carrying out the most time-sensitive Special Forces missions and managing threats at range with swift and decisive action ». The first ship could be ready for operations in 2020, the company adds.

On Feb. 11, Williamson announced a concept and development phase for the vessels – called littoral strike ships. It represents part of the Royal Navy’s vision for the future of amphibious warfare, alongside plans for the future of the Royal Marines. These ships would form the backbone of a littoral strike group, a scalable force made up of different elements of the fleet and the future commando force.

With an operational range of over 10,000 nautical miles and speed in excess of 20 kts, the Prevail MRV is capable to moving from one operation to another at pace, the company says in its proposal. Tailored for a various range of missions, such as amphibious operations, counter-terrorism, humanitarian and disaster relief, and hospital ship, the MRV is offered as « a turnkey solution for 300 operational days a year ».
Story here.

Sorry.  I'm to the point of not believing the Royal Navy on this one.  The Army is small.  The Carriers are suppose to be able to flex into Commando Carriers as well as F-35 platforms.  The Albion and company are suppose to continue in service and they're also suppose to be looking at a LHD in the future?

Too much capacity for too small a force.

This looks like a bid to get low cost, low function ships into service while they do away with higher cost but higher functioning ships.

In short this is a cost savings move being dressed up as an increase in lethality.

I'm not impressed.
Posted by at 0 comments
Subscribe to: Comments ( Atom )