Don Frye vs. Yoshihiro Takayama

Don Frye vs. Yoshihiro Takayama

Peak fighting sport pic.twitter.com/bvSQjWAzkH

— Golden Beaver (@midasmulligann) May 21, 2023

Brazil's 37th Mechanized Infantry Battalion on exercise

 

O Pelotão de Fuzileiros Mecanizado do 37º Batalhão de Infantaria Mecanizado realizou problemas militares simulados no dia 9 de maio, na 1ª fase da preparação para a Força de Prontidão: https://t.co/wmbFt44Sfl pic.twitter.com/MuH8JnB5OT

— Comando Militar do Sudeste (@cmse_exercito) May 23, 2023

UFO seen over 29 Palms...

 

This supposedly happened in 2021.  As much as Marines talk I'm surprised its been this quiet this long (unless its a reprint and I missed the original).

This one looks credible though.  I wonder what those things really are.  Story here.

Open Comment Post. 24 May 23

 

Battle between a Russian warship and 3 Ukrainian speedboats occurred inside Turkey's EEZ

 

🇹🇷🇺🇦🇷🇺 Ukrayna’nın Türk Münhasır Ekonomik Bölgesi içinde saldırması da Rusya’nın bunu öne çıkarması da 2 ülkenin Türkiye’yi etkileme çabası.

Bölge askeri değil ekonomik ama sembolik açıdan da Türkiye’yi rahatsız eder. 2 ülke de sorunlarını bize taşımamaları yönünde uyarılmalı. pic.twitter.com/x2gf7g3ZHn

— Turan Oguz (@TyrannosurusRex) May 24, 2023

This is my biggest complaint about how Ukraine is prosecuting this war. Despite all the aid flowing their way, despite all the money being sent to prop up their economy (yeah, I'm talking about REAL MONEY, not military gear...how do you think they're paying their soldiers/bureaucrats and pocketing money for retirement) they still do reckless stuff. No reason at all to conduct an attack within Turk waters. This is how things spiral. Biden needs to put a leash on Zelensky.

"Putin's cook" continues to stir the pot...

 

Putin's cook Prigozhin is not abandoning his efforts to stay trendy, participating in a 1h 17m interview published today. As usual, he goes over a huge number of topics, mostly saying truths that resonate with people. He called to not underestimate the Ukrainian army, which is… pic.twitter.com/bHyOWSzGiK

— Dmitri (@wartranslated) May 23, 2023

Long interview and alot of subtitles. My Russian readers keep getting bullied out of chat which is a shame because I would love to get verification on the translation. If its correct then we're either seeing a very impressive psyops campaign or this guy is gonna be hung as a traitor.

Still don't know what to make of this.

The only thing I'm getting more sure of is that NATO/Allies are trying to make a push to get more favorable conditions to MAYBE pause the war this year.

War stocks worldwide have been emptied and replenishment is gonna take years.  

The risk is extreme.

If another war were to pop up at this moment we (the West) would be in a very hard place.

HQMC is coming up with a WEIRD ask from the defense industry with regard to the ACV

 

via InsideDefense

The Marine Corps is looking for additional defense contractors capable of producing two future Amphibious Combat Vehicle variants, although the service cannot share the vehicles' technical data package with prospective builders.

A sources-sought notice published earlier this month makes clear that BAE Systems -- which holds a contract for the ACV and is in the process of delivering the first two variants -- owns the rights to the ACV technical data package.

As a result, prospective builders are required to demonstrate their ability to manufacture, deliver and provide fielding support for two variants that maintain commonality with the existing family of vehicles, without the use of ACV design data.

The government will not provide “vehicles as Government Furnished Equipment to modify an existing vehicle,” the notice adds.

The sources-sought notice applies to two planned vehicle variants in the ACV family of systems: a 30mm gun variant (ACV-30) and a command-and-control variant (ACV-C).

BAE is currently working to deliver command-and-control and personnel variants to the Marine Corps. The service is buying 13 ACV-Cs and 57 ACV-Ps at a total cost of $527 million in fiscal year 2023 and is looking to buy 80 more ACV-Ps in FY-24.

According to the notice, the new ACV-30 and ACV-R variants must maintain commonality with the existing family of vehicles across the drivetrain, powertrain, water propulsion, hull underbody, armor system, suspension system, steering system, braking system, driver’s station and vehicle commander’s station.

Prospective producers must have the ability to deliver ACV-30 and ACV-R vehicles for fielding beginning in the third quarter of FY-26 and ending no later than the fourth quarter of FY-29, the notice states. Desired vehicle quantities are listed as up to 175 ACV-30s and 34 ACV-Rs.

In April, a BAE spokesman told reporters the company had completed design work for the ACV-30 and is transitioning to production with the goal of delivering three “production- representative test cases” to the Marine Corps in early 2024 for test and evaluation. BAE plans to deliver ACV-R prototypes in early 2025.

WHAT IS HQMC SMOKING?

The only company that could possibly fulfill this would be Iveco Defense but BAE has the rights to the vehicle in the US.

How would any company be able to build a licensed product and not run into all kinds of law suits?

Is this an end run to cancel production?  Claim that its too expensive and say that they tried to get the full number but its just not possible because of cost?

I've always wondered how the ACV fits into Force Design 2030.

I don't see how anyone that has looked at that concept can properly explain how it does.

The ARV thing is smoke and mirrors I believe.  As much as it hurts they're just gonna slap a bunch of gear on a few JLTVs and call it a day.

This thing is bogging down before our very eyes.  They tried to push it but the worst case scenario is right in front of us. They've stripped away the legacy force and they can't get the "new" Marine Corps across the finish line. 

Tanks are playing a bigger role in the fighting between Ukraine/Russia than helicopters of all types. CHANGE MY MIND!

 

Many are saying that the tank is obsolete.

I contend that tanks are playing a bigger role in the fighting between Ukraine/Russia than helicopters are of ANY TYPE!

I'm talking attack/recon/utility/lift.

Change my mind.

Also remember that's without either side appearing to use any type of APS (I believe).

The real takeaway?

If you're a totally defensive force then infantry armed with attack tank missile backed by artillery can shred tanks.

IF you want to gain ground though you need combined arms. The same can probably be said for helicopters too.

The propaganda of this war has caused many short term declarations to be made about the power of individual systems.

It's not about the piece its about the whole.  Combined arms is still the war winning piece of the equation.  That applies to effective defense as well as attack.

Tuesday Funny...the things people say!

The ending 💀💀 pic.twitter.com/FIFpyHHGQI

— Karen Clips (@KarenFootage) April 15, 2023

Proposed cuts to US Army Special Ops..10-20% of the force

 

If the US Army is about to cut Special Ops then NOTHING is safe (except more billets for General Officers).

Army Mulls 10-20% Cut to Special Operations Forces https://t.co/favkE2yVcF via @DefenseOne

— Solomon (@SnafuBlogspot) May 23, 2023