Latest F-35 porn.

F-35B test aircraft BF-3 flies with the weapon bay doors open on Dec. 19, 2011

F-35B test aircraft BF-5 completes its first vertical landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., on Jan 5, 2012.

F-35B test aircraft BF-1 flight in short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) mode on Jan. 5, 2012.

F-35B test aircraft BF-3 flies with the weapon bay doors open on Dec. 19, 2011.

Bell Helicopter makes an idiot move.

How stupid can a company be?

One of your products that's sold to the US Marine Corps is highlighted in a very popular game.

Instead of saying "glory...glory..glory" and pass the beer, they instead launch a law suit and demand that the game remove the depiction from the video game.

Read the insanity here.

Army NG leads half the way.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment, Arizona Army National Guard, participate in wartime operation exercises at the Florence Military Reservation, Jan. 7.

This soldier is halfway there.

Camo firearm.  Check.

Camo mags.   Check.

Black slings and other gear.  Big no-go.

Someday, somehow, you'll see the Infantry Branch of the US Army and Marine Corps get the brilliant idea to outlaw black equipment and accessories.

Until then we have effective camouflage that's defeated by our weapons and accessories.

The GCV is dead. Long live the Bradley Family of Vehicles?

The Army is facing a reduction in manpower and since the justification for a Ground Combat Vehicle(GCV) was always weak sauce, it looks like BAE is properly positioned to capitalize on this by moving forward with the Bradley Family of Vehicles.

Looks like upgrades instead of new builds will be the order of the day for Ground Vehicles and Ground Forces.



Informative video but they glossed over the General Purpose Carrier.  I'm digging for more info now.

F-35C scratched? Wouldn't that be ironic!

ELP has an article up in which he talks about the F-35C and comes to the conclusion that the F-35C might get cancelled.  I don't know if that's entirely true and you can read the article for yourself...but wouldn't that be ironic?

Several months ago, everyone and their mothers were talking about the B model being cancelled.  I always disagreed with that thinking and always thought that the C model was in the danger zone.

What makes me say that?

*the US Navy basically shoved the F-35C down the throats of Marine Air...
*even if full production was done the only customers for the C would be the USN, USMC and RN...
*and lastly, the USN doesn't and never has appeared enthusiastic about the F-35C...to be honest they appear fired up about growth variants of the Super Hornet and they're not even warm about the X-47B.

Having said all that the B should have a longer production run than the C and as much as me and ELP disagree (he has a hard on for the Corps that I'll never understand) he MIGHT...just MIGHT...have a point.

Failure captured in a picture.

Take a look at the above pic.  If that doesn't illustrate the failure of the JIEDDO.  Two Marines are dismounted sweeping a road for mines.

Meanwhile behind them are Force Protection Cougar(?) and Oshkosh M-ATV MRAPs.

No protection.

Nothing.

Just two brave Marines walking the ground because some bureaucrats didn't do the job.

Pathetic.

Rationalizing Special Ops. A look at roles.

The SecDef and the President have all called for expanding the number of Special Operations Units that we have.  Question that no one wants to face is this.

Why and how will you employ those units?

Looking at the lineup of Special Operations Units you will see nothing but overlap in roles and mission sets.

*US Army Rangers-  Raid specialist.  Provide backup to other Special Ops Units.
*US Army Special Forces- They used to be trainers of indigenous forces and would lead those forces in actions against the enemy.  Thats changed.  Training indigenous forces is now a conventional skill set and Special Forces is a raid unit.
*US Navy SEALs- Raid specialist that operate from the sea.  I don't know if they've given up the mission of recon, but its painfully apparent that its raiding thats a primary focus.
*USAF Combat Controllers- Provide terminal guidance for air forces.  Act as pathfinders for air assaults.
*USAF Combat Weathermen- Provide weather information at the site of a raid, air assault or bombing mission.
*USAF Para-rescue- Recovery of downed personnel or Special Ops and provide medical treatment.
*USMC Special Ops- Raid specialist that operate from the sea.  All indications are that recon is a distant second mission set.
*US Navy SWCC- Provide transport to Navy SEAL teams or other Special Ops units.
*160th Night Stalkers- Provide transport to Special Ops units.
*USAF Special Ops Air Wing- Provide transport to Special Ops units.

Do you get the drift?

Every one of our special ops trigger pulling units is now focused on raiding.  Everyone.  Even US Army Special Forces that once had language requirements and areas of specialization have given that up to focus on raids.  All of them train for ship boarding ops.  All train for hostage rescue.

But the main focus is raids.

Ideally, we would rationalize Special Ops into fewer units.

Raids- US Army Rangers

Maritime Ops- US Navy SEALs/Force Recon

Special Ops full spectrum missions- US Army Special Forces

That would stream line Special Ops, remove it from being a separate service and would push these units back underneath the custody of their parent service.

Or more precisely under the command of the secretary of each service.

I still don't see a need for USAF Combat Controllers, Weathermen or Para-rescue.  Each one of these units have Pathfinder qualified personnel and SEAL/Force Recon/Ranger/Special Forces trained Corpsmen/Medics.

I see a need to keep the 160th as currently composed but will need to learn more about the "Best Kept Secret" in the Navy (SWCC).  Not sure about the USAF Special Ops Air Wing either but need to learn more.

As a sidenote, I would think that if the USMC is forced to go below 175,000 boatspaces then any idea of expanding USMC Special Ops is probably a non-starter.

Additionally, the USMC still needs deep recon and since Force is gone, I highly recommend that our SNIPER platoons be tasked with the mission.  No raiding, just recon and shooting.

Time to rationalize Special Ops. SWCC's as an example.

Curious.

With the call to increase the number of Special Ops Forces, I wonder why we don't see them engaging in some of the issues that are facing the nation and the world.

I'll use SWCC's as an example.

I realize that SWCC's are Navy SEALs and other Special Ops waterborne insertion force but what about other issues like anti-piracy ops?  It would make more sense to use them against the pirates than a DDG-51.

Additionally if there role expanded then would it make sense to combine Riverines with SWCC?  I know I'm talking blasphemy to the SWCC community but we've seen Special Ops and Regular forces with similar skill sets combined before...most notably UDT and SEALs. As a sidenote, I still don't understand the differences between Navy EOD (which was once part of SOCOM) and SEALs especially in light of the fact that UDT and EOD perform the same mission.

Its time to rationalize Special Operations if we're going to expand them.  We have too many units performing the same mission sets.  Throwing more bodies at a problem is NOT suppose to be how its done.  It seems like that's where we're headed though.

Too funny..Getting dusted...

Commentary from the YouTube'er but check out the guy next to the airplane...and his dog...

I was sitting at the Ocotillo Wells Airport on 1640 05Jan2012 watching the U.S.M.C performing some touch and goes with a couple of V-22 Ospreys when a local old guy went onto the make shift flight line to tell the Pilot and his crew how he felt about the dust storm they were causing when the Pilot decided he wasn't going to hear it... I'm sure he took off for the safety of the old dude however it looked REAL BAD... That dog was shitting it's self for about 30min...

UK's defense centered on carrier aviation???

Check out this story from Defence Tech but check out this blurb...

“We are committed to purchasing the carrier-variant and the regeneration of our carrier strike force is at the heart of our defense strategy. We believe it will bring a big gain for NATO and potentially be a big relief to U.S. efforts in the European sphere. We’ve worked with the French to ensure that we will have a European carrier capability [that’s] always available. But of course, we are concerned that any slippage in production or any reduction in U.S. numbers will have an impact [on cost] and with budgets very tight, we’ll be watching very close any movement in the predicted unit costs.”

My take away's...

1.  The UK is solidly behind the F-35C despite public pressure.
2.  The UK appears to be going back to its maritime roots.
3.  The costs of the F-35 is a concern on both sides of the Atlantic and the Pacific...probably less in the Pacific but a concern none the less.
4.  Delays are going to be fought by partner nations.  This will become a sticking point.
5.  Looks like Loren was right.  Weapon sales are part of the new diplomacy.

Pics of the day...

F-35 delayed again.

Delayed.

Again.

Looks like we're going to get an all STOVL force regardless now.  The F/A-18A/C/D's and the EA-6's are all going to run out of airframe time.  Those spares from the UK will definitely come in handy.  Read the expected news here.  But as always a tidbit below.  I wonder why they dribble this info out instead of just laying it on the table?

The Pentagon is gearing up to restructure Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program for a third time in three years, sources said, with production of more than 120 more planes to be postponed to save money and allow more time for development.
The latest changes should save the Pentagon about $15 billion from fiscal 2013 through 2017 and will be part of the fiscal 2013 budget plan to be sent to Congress in February, according to three sources familiar with planning for the Pentagon's largest weapons program.
President Barack Obama will join Defense Secretary Leon Panetta at the Pentagon on Thursday to discuss overall defense budget cuts and a revamped military strategy.
They are expected to mention the F-35 fighter plane and reiterate continued support for the program, but details of the restructuring plan and plans for other big weapons programs may not emerge until later this month, the sources said. The sources declined to be identified because they were not authorized to discuss the plans publicly ahead of the official release of the president's budget.

I wonder when Black Friday for weapons programs is going to occur.  My prediction for cuts...

1.  Ground Combat Vehicle.
2.  JLTV.
3.  Marine Personnel Carrier.
4.  DDG-51

Reduced buys...

1.  MV-22
2.  F-35
3.  LCS
4.  CSAR replacement


And probably a bunch more that I just can't recall.  The boom times for defense is over.  The lean times are here.  Funny thing.  The ending of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are the drivers behind this move.  In all actuality a smaller defense budget has been in the making since the Bush Administration, only the 9/11 attacks destroyed the groundwork that they were laying.  Don't think cutbacks.  Think Revolution of Military Affairs (RMA) or Transformation.