Rheinmetall introducing a new Light Tank @ Eurosatory?

Thanks to Random Reader for the pic!

Interesting.  It could be a demonstrator, but I don't think so.  I can't quite tell the contours of the vehicle but I get the impression that its sized like the CV90-120.  I'm thinking maybe a new light tank.  Eurosatory will be interesting this year!

F-35 quote of the day....hint it includes the word "inadequacy"!

Thanks to BaneBlade for the link!

via PopSci

If there is anything that defines the Air Force in 2030, it should be the ubiquity and inadequacy of the F-35. Instead of acknowledging that in the Air Superiority 2030 Flight Plan, the document dances around it.

Story here.

I don't know the bubba that wrote this article but he summed it all up in one line.  Well done Atherton!

New 8x8 Wheeled Infantry Fighting Vehicle Concept from Kazakhstan!

Thanks to Galvars for the link!

via Military Informant

Kazakhstan will organize the production of modern wheeled armored vehicle "Barys" of national development.
New wheeled combat vehicle is unique in its kind and was developed on the basis of the project company Paramount Engineering. The new military machine has a completely flat bottom but can withstand a blast capacity of 10 kg of TNT.
In addition, as the main armament of the new wheeled combat vehicle "Barys" serves the combat unit caliber 57 mm AU-220M production of "Uralvagonzavod".
To date, only four large companies in the world can boast of such technologies. Kazakhstan rose to a level with the major powers and manufacturers.

57mm gun.

Damn it.  The Russians are really pushing this armor race by seeming to almost standardize on the 57mm gun!

We're gonna have to at least match it (or hopefully someone from the Armor School House will explain why a 30mm is good enough) or risk being outgunned.

The Pentagon is so focused on the skies that they're missing what's happening on the ground.

Defence Technology Review- June Issue

Click here to read!

In this edition Boxer CRV is covered in detail and later in the mag they explain why the vehicles in the competition are larger than the ones they replace.  Well done Defence Technology Review!  Nice to have someone doing the work of keeping "eyes on" Australian Armor programs!

I have never seen a Gator this big before.

When I saw gifs of this video over on Gizmodo I thought I was being trolled. I've never seen a Gator this big before.  I've heard stories from guys drinking too much about them growing this size and even bigger in the deepest part of the woods or swamps but I thought they were full of shit.

Maybe I should have payed closer attention.

Oh and make no mistake about it.  These guys were filming and taking pics only because they caught it out in the open.

If they were in some deep, dark, swampy woods and saw this monster coming at them, then they'd be in the market for some Depends Adult Diapers.  The real problem is this though.  If you see one get to this size and he's found in the open then waaaay in the back 40 you'll find even bigger ones.

Grandson of HAMAS founder wins stay in the US by playing the gay card.

via Vice News.

A young man groomed since birth to lead Hamas has won the ability to stay in the US, following years of living under the threat of deportation to the West Bank from Canada.
John Calvin believes he'd be killed if he were sent back to Palestine because he's come out as gay, converted to Christianity, and renounced the militant organization that his grandfather co-founded.
Rejected by the Canadian immigration system, he crossed into the US eight months ago, and was immediately placed on an immigration hold until his release, in March. Last month, the 25-year-old learned he'd be able to stay in the US indefinitely, thanks to a deferral of removal granted to him by a Massachusetts immigration court under the Convention Against Torture.

Do you realize the kind of security threat you have to be to get the Canadians to deport you?

This is just my feeling...my sense of things....and I could easily be wrong, but this looks like a blatant example of an illegal immigrant using our laws against us.

No society can survive by being stupid.

Air Dominance is out, "Penetrating CounterAir" is in! The USAF Air Superiority 2030 Plan. UPDATED!!!!!

Thanks to Don for the link!

The USAF Air Superiority 2030 Plan(here).  A new term that you should learn....

Penetrating Counterair (PCA). Capability development efforts for PCA will focus on maximizing tradeoffs between range, payload, survivability, lethality, affordability, and supportability. While PCA capability will certainly have a role in targeting and engaging, it also has a significant role as a node in the network, providing data from its penetrating sensors to enable employment using either stand-off or stand-in weapons. As part of this effort, the Air Force should proceed with a formal AoA in 2017 for a PCA capability. Consistent with an agile acquisition mindset designed to deliver the right capability on the required timeline, this AoA will include options to leverage rapid development and prototyping in order to keep ahead of the threat. 

I don't know what that actually means.  But if you think that's something then check this out...

 The Air Force’s projected force structure in 2030 is not capable of fighting and winning against this array of potential adversary capabilities.

By plan the F-35 will be in full rate production and we will be filling the skies with the airplane.  Yet if we build according to plan the USAF's projected force structure is not capable of fighting and winning?

This document has me reaching out to knowledgeable contacts to get their opinion on what this all means.


UPDATE:  I missed the real headline and news with this.  Check this part of the "Penetrating Counterair" Concept....

Capability development efforts for PCA will focus on maximizing tradeoffs between range, payload, survivability, lethality, affordability, and supportability. 

That sounds like another fighter airplane!  Range, payload, survivability, lethality, affordability and supportability?  Doesn't it sound familiar?????

China publishes sat photos of Philadelphia Navy Yard...warfare in space is a given now.

Thanks to Marius for the link!

pics via bbs.tiexue.net

This really doesn't tell us anything we already didn't know.  The Chinese released these "degraded" images as a message.  They have sat coverage and they can look into our backyard just like we can look into theirs.

The only thing I'm left to wonder is how good is their sea surveillance capabilities?  Can they track a carrier battle group/amphibious ready group from the time it leaves port?  If they can then one thing is obvious.  A war between peer competitors MUST have a space aspect to it....warfare in space is a given....

KC-390 Partner Nations?

Brazil's Air Force posted the above pic of the KC-390 on their Flickr Page and I just noticed the national flags on its fuselage.  I recognize Brazil and Argentina but the other two escape me.  Is this an international program already?

TAM Medium Tank gets massive upgrade via IHS Janes.

via IHS Janes.

The Argentine Army has unveiled a prototype for its TAM medium tank modernisation programme, for which it is working with Israel Military Industries (IMI), Elbit, and Tadiran.
An initial prototype, TAM 2C, was unveiled in March 2013. In 2015, after a proposal by IMI and Elbit, a second prototype called TAM 2IP was developed that added armour to increase the tank's protection (and giving it an appearance similar to that of a small Merkava tank).
The new armour, based on IMI's Iron Wall design, could be added to any TAM tanks, modernised or not, without any modification and includes extra protection for the turret on all sides, as well as the sides and front of the chassis.

I wonder at what point does it become cost prohibitive to upgrade old tanks and instead buy "new" old tanks?

Philippines set to move away from US...the "partnership" scheme to contain China is already falling apart.

via Newsweek

Philippines President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday his country would not rely on long-term security ally the United States, signaling greater independence from Washington in dealing with China and the disputed South China Sea.
The Philippines has traditionally been one of Washington's staunchest supporters in its stand-off with Beijing over the South China Sea, a vital trade route where China has built artificial islands, airstrips and other military facilities.
Duterte, the tough-talking mayor of Davao City who swept to victory in a May 9 election, has backed multilateral talks to settle rows over the South China Sea that would include the United States, Japan and Australia as well as claimant nations.

Partnerships.  I told you that they were a fool's errand and this is just the latest example.  Don't think that the Philippines are alone in this.  Singapore, Japan, S. Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and other Pacific nations don't view (well maybe Japan but not all of their people) China in the same light that we do.

This scheme is falling apart already, but is anyone actually surprised.

#Enlistme...give this one a watch Tribe members!