HIMARS Rapid Insertion (HIRAIN) on the Decimomannu Air Base in Sardinia Italy.

 

@USMC Marines and @usairforce Airmen execute a HIMARS Rapid Insertion (HIRAIN) on the Decimomannu Air Base in Sardinia Italy. We operate as a Total Force, harnessing the unique skills resident in our Reserve and @AirNatlGuard to bolster warfighting readiness.

@136AW pic.twitter.com/zILRFgmdkM

— USTRANSCOM (@US_TRANSCOM) April 28, 2023

So this EABO, SIF concept is going worldwide for the Corps. Makes twisted sense. The divestment has been so severe that it should have been obvious that this would be the only role that the Marine Corps could undertake. Hate to say it but this is an extremely limited capability to expend all the money and resources on for an entire service. The public might want the Marine Corps, the old Marine Corps, but the New Marine Corps just doesn't make sense and is probably too expensive to keep around.

Performance of HIMARS at SINKEX questioned.

 via Naval News

The performance of the Army HIMARS was also questionable, with it being reported on the SINKEX’s live stream that the system missed all six of its shots at the World War II-era corvette. In previous SINKEXs, such as those held at RIMPAC exercises, targets were relatively static which allowed for munitions that struggle or cannot hit moving targets to participate. One of these systems that cannot hit moving targets is HIMARS with its current set of rockets. Due to unknown circumstances, BRP Pangasinan developed a drift that threw off the HIMARS’ targeting.

Yet, even with these difficulties, the SINKEX was deemed to be “amazing” by both forces. Lt. Col. Nick Mannweiler, Communications Strategy Planner for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, told Naval News the actual purpose of the exercise. 

Here 

Press Release: EOS secures another Ukraine contract for Remote Weapon Systems

 

EOS SECURES SECOND UKRAINE REMOTE WEAPON SYSTEMS CONTRACT

26 April 2023, Canberra -- Electro Optic Systems (EOS) today announced that its EOS Defence Systems business has secured a second conditional contract to supply up to fifty Remote Weapon Systems (RWS) to Ukraine, including ammunition, spares, and related services.

This contract, valued at up to US$41m (approximately A$61m), envisages the supply of the RWS to Ukraine during 2023 and 2024. It is in addition to the previously announced contract for up to one hundred EOS RWS units, valued at up to US$80m (approximately A$120m), announced on 3 April 2023.

The contract allows for conditional early termination rights in favour of the customer, which is typical in wartime contract arrangements.

Andreas Schwer, Chief Executive Officer of EOS, said, "EOS is proud to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the people of Ukraine by providing the country with the lifesaving utility of its Remote Weapon System. This will contribute to its critical security and defence needs.”

EOS will draw upon its support network and supply chain consisting of over one hundred suppliers located across Australia, and others internationally.

The EOS RWS product portfolio is designed to provide the highest firepower for lowest weight, delivering superior accuracy and reliability compared to competitor systems.  Over 2,500 units have been sold and are currently in use with several military services in Australia, North America, Europe, and South-East Asia.

 

EOS continues to work on other opportunities relating to Ukraine, including opportunities for direct supply to Ukraine, and to other countries providing support.

I personally think this is one of the best systems on the market and I've been disappointed that this compact offering isn't being placed on every JLTV in USMC service.

Regardless this is gonna be a welcome addition to Ukraine's vehicle fleet.  Too many guys are riding around with their heads sticking on on both sides.

Oh and I love their viewpoint.

Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy! 

11th Airborne Div press release on the air to air collision between to Apache Attack Helicopters

 

"This is an incredible loss for these soldiers' families, their fellow soldiers, and for the division. Our hearts and prayers go out to their families, friends and loved ones, and we are making the full resources of the Army available to support them." -MG Brian Eifler pic.twitter.com/IEw6jzus4R

— Eleventh Airborne (@11thAirborneDiv) April 28, 2023

Open Comment Post. 28 Apr 23

 

Taking away a child from a Muslim family because they teach that it isn't acceptable in Islam faith?

 

German police reportedly took away this child from his Muslim family after his school reported that the family was teaching the child that transgenderism and LGBT stuff isn’t accepted in Islam.

The thread has other examples of this happening in Sweden and Netherlands. https://t.co/9ZM1YCspEE

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) April 28, 2023

This issue is the biggest threat to democracy, a real threat, that I've ever seen. To take a child from their family because they disagree with the state? Just wow. I have thoughts but would be sanctioned and probably get a knock on the door if I posted them, but suffice it to say that this is truly obscene.

Oh and for the haters in this community make no mistake.  If they do this to a Muslim family then you're fair game too.

Been thinking about this for awhile now. If there is outrage about transwomen competing against biological women in sports then what about close combat?

 I don't know why anyone isn't hitting on this and I've been thinking about it for awhile but if people are finally rallying to the idea (to include feminists) that transwomen shouldn't be allowed to compete in sports reserved for biological women then what about close combat/infantry?

It shows how batshit crazy our leadership is.

We setup different sports leagues for women because we acknowledge the physical differences between men and women yet we are willing to toss women into the meat grinder of close combat?

Do you think that enemy infantryman is gonna give a damn?  After seeing what's happened to the population in Ukraine do you think that a female Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine isn't gonna get gang raped to death (probably most forces that we'll see on the battlefield will do that).

Make it make sense!

Even worse.

Every Marine leader of worth knows this.  Many Army leaders do too yet none have spoken out.

The blood of female servicemembers will be on their hands.  The only fair thing will be if there daughters suffer along with a few misguided women from the middle and lower class that bought into the lies.

Open Comment Post. 27 Apr 23

Ukraine Defense Minister says expectations for the counteroffensive are "overheated"

 

Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov believes that expectations from the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Ukrainian society are overheated

He stated this when answering a question about agreeing that the expectations in society from the… pic.twitter.com/H7qfiDADFn

— Lew Anno Suport #Ukraine 24/2-22 (@anno1540) April 27, 2023

Suddenly Egypt because of supreme importance in the Sudan evacuation...

 

During a phone call with their Egyptian counterpart, Foreign Ministers of India and the Netherlands have requested from Egypt coordination in providing protection for their nationals in Sudan. pic.twitter.com/0eBGJu5qJQ

— Mahmoud Gamal (@mahmouedgamal44) April 20, 2023

Government of Nigeria will evacuate 5,000 Nigerian citizens, including 3,500 students to Egypt through land borders and in coordination with the Egyptian authorities, where they will be airlifted from Egypt to Abuja via Air Peace Nigerian airline.https://t.co/YyKNO6tzv6

— Mahmoud Gamal (@mahmouedgamal44) April 25, 2023

Egypt is important now and govts all over the world better make note. Africa is about to become the new "gold rush" or rather it will be the new strategic mineral rush of the world. While I expect the US to continue to play worn out imperial games, the French have learned recently and the Chinese always knew (although they have made more than few missteps with their approach) that the key is thru economic partnerships, not military partnerships.

I believe, not sure at all, but I believe that Bush Jr pushed the idea of using the military as a "diplomat" and that's when we got the view that the US military also served as a quasi state dept.

Bush Jr was wrong and the Pentagon was wrong for not pushing back on the idea.

Class assignment.  Name the last REAL SecOfState.  By that I mean someone that actually performed the job and did not pursue an agenda of regime change, economic blackmail etc... (just had a realization .. what if that IS the job!).

List here.  I look forward to your answers.