Is the Trump trip to Mexico really their president being worried about Southern Command's warning?

Everyone is trying to figure out why the President of Mexico invited Trump (and Hillary) to Mexico to discuss border issues.

MSNBC is spinning themselves in knots and the rest of the left is losing their minds.

I can't help but remember the news story about Southern Command warning that terrorists were coming thru the southern border.  This is pure speculation on my part but what if you got word that an attack was imminent?  What if you knew that Trump was about to basically call for sealing the border?  What if you knew that the terrorists would be tracked back to crossing the Mexico-US border?

If you were President of Mexico you would want to get out ahead of the story.  You would want to show a willingness to cooperate with the future president on securing the border while at the same time bolstering economic ties.

Like I said its pure speculation but I haven't heard a better theory.

USMC experimenting with Squad configuration. They're wrecking the ACV plan before its even selected!

Thanks to Joe for the link!

via Janes.

The US Marine Corps (USMC) is experimenting with new structures and equipment sets for infantry squads and will trial various designs with an operational unit over the coming year.
"We're going to be redesigning the squad make up down at the lowest level to see what the squad should look like as we experiment," Lieutenant General Robert Walsh, head of Marine Corps Combat Development Command, told reporters during a 30 August breakfast meeting.
Squads in 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, will be reconfigured in a variety organisational constructs that include "different sizes, different make up, different fire team make up", and more, he explained.

Anyone want to place a bet that the Squad will go smaller?  Do you really believe that they will roll out a 9 man squad?

The point is stark.

If the Marine Corps jacks around with the size of the Squad...if it grows to 15 or even 20 Marines then you can basically throw out the ACV.

Why?

Because the ACV was built around the 13 man squad.  If the Squad grows then the number of vehicles required grows.  Additionally you're not only adding Marines but equipment.  We don't know what the "futurists" are thinking but I keep hearing about UAVs and Cyber at the Squad level.

That's gonna increase the amount of gear carried.  Which means that the Marine Corps is making the ACV obsolete before it even enters service.

So what is the game?

I have no idea.  My thinking is that the Survivability Upgrade for the AAV made no sense if the ACV was ACTUALLY a priority program for the Marine Corps (why waste the money?).  If you make the Squad larger then all of a sudden the ACV is no longer viable and the AAV gets pushed toward that 60 plus years of service.  The excuse will be that Squad integrity is important, that the ACV doesn't meet that need due to the changing battlefield and they get to upgrade more AAVs on the cheap while they lavishly buy every toy under the sun for the Wing.

Marine Corps Ground Component Officers need to sack the fuck up.  Neller is obviously ball-less, Dunford quit before he even had the job long enough to put up his "I love me" wall and the stench of Amos lingers because his little buddy Davis still has a job after his continued fuck ups (how hasn't he been fired after the crashes, the poor availability rate of the F-18s and the CH-53s falling apart?).

The Marine Corps needs an Alfred Grey for the 21st Century...a reformer to return it to its warrior roots.

"Every Marine is, first and foremost, a rifleman. All other conditions are secondary".

USAF wants next generation fighter by late 2020s? The timetable tells it all...

via Defense News.

WASHINGTON — After undergoing a yearlong effort that explored the tactics and technologies needed to control the skies in the future, the Air Force is taking its first steps toward making its next fighter jet a reality.

The service has already begun preliminary work ahead of a 2017 analysis of alternatives that will shape the requirements and acquisition strategy for the F-35 follow on, which the Air Force been termed Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) or Penetrating Counter Air (PCA).

But Brig. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who led the Air Superiority 2030 enterprise capability collaboration team (ECCT), emphasized that there are two major differences between the NGAD effort and its that of legacy fighter jets. The first is the relatively rapid method of acquiring it.

“We need to have something by the late 2020s,” he said in an interview with Defense News. “I think a realistic timeline is somewhere around 2028 with key investments in some key technology areas, you’d be able to have some initial operational capability of a penetrating counter air capability.”

The second difference relates to the recently concluded Air Superiority 2030 study, which made the case that the Air Force’s future dominance will rest not on a single platform, such as a sixth generation fighter jet, but on an integrated, networked family of systems. That combination of penetrating and stand-off capabilities includes a fighter plane, but also a number of space, cyber and electronic warfare assets.

So let me get this straight.  The F-35 MIGHT achieve full operational capability in 2021 (that's a huge MIGHT according to the GAO) yet they're already looking at a follow on fighter?  A service life of 8 years?

Oh and make no mistake about it.  The guy said F-35 follow on.

My prediction isn't popular on F-16.net or at HQMC but its spot on.  The F-35 is not only obsolete before it enters service, is not only caught up in a death spiral that will see the numbers purchased sliced beyond recognition but they're finally admitting it.  Its not a full throated "we fucked up" but more like a series of news articles telling the tale.  Missile/Arsenal planes?  The idea of buying more F-16s and F-15s for the USAF?  The USN stating flat out that they need more Super Hornets?

The only outlier is the USMC.  HQMC has sold their soul for this airplane and the ramifications of this decision will be felt for generations.

I have always been a supporter of STOVL aircraft, but the price the USMC is paying for the F-35 is just way too high.  Maybe the answer will be found in developments by the Army and Navy with the next generation rotor craft.  It might be time for the USMC to give up on fast jets (yeah...I can't believe I'm even entertaining the idea but the Wing is out of control).

Brazilian VBTR-MP 6x6 APC in action (pic heavy...part 2)

NOTE:  When we talk about wheeled APCs we always forget about the Brazilian VBTR-MP.  Why?  I have no idea.  This mini-SuperAV is really one of the most advanced designs placed into service in the past few years.  The fact that IVECO was able to work with the Brazilian Army & Marines, get the vehicle plant setup and production started in less time than its taken the USMC to do a downselect for the final ACV candidates says it all.  Despite their problems, Brazil's military is doing it right.

Brazilian VBTR-MP 6x6 APC in action (pic heavy...part 1)

Altay Main Battle Tank finally going into production.

Geez the more I look at this tank the more I think its just a Turkish K2...I know you guys disagree but dang!

via Military Tech Blog

“Following our initial offer in January, we submitted our final offer early today upon the request by the SSM,” Otokar CEO Serdar Görgüç told MT. “As the maker of the 100% indigenous battle tank, we are ready for the job with our human resources, experience and know-how.”
Görgüç added that the company also looks at meeting similar needs for Turkey’s friendly and allied countries in the future, meaning export. Saying that a number of Otokar products have already been in use by NATO and UN forces, Görgüç explained: “We believe that the ALTAY will attract attention from other countries following the start of its mass production, even paving the way for production possibilities in other countries with the participation of Turkey’s allies in the project.”
The final offer included the mass production of 250 ALTAY MBTs and their integrated logistic support operations, according to the statement made to the SSM.

Interesting.  Quite honestly I'm waiting for the next shoe to drop and all these defense companies become state owned enterprises.  The days of negotiating price might soon come to an end.

Open Comment Post. Aug 31, 2016.

I've been away giving General Flynn of the Trump campaign my two cents on necessary reforms, procurement, manning in the USMC.  How I got their attention is beyond me but trust that a scheduled 10 minute call dragged out to 2 hours plus a 1 hour follow up.

Just bullshitting ya!  My internet went out.  I'm back up.  So gents...what's on your minds?

Chinese Airborne Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Gen 2. via China Defense Blog!

Story here.

3rd ID training Ukrainians.

YAVORIV, Ukraine - Soldiers of 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division train Ukrainians on how to maintain the fundamentals of marksmanship while using individual movement techniques during battle buddy movement live--fire training, August 16, 2016. The Mustangs showed Ukrainians how to move under direct fire using the correct individual tactical fire and movement techniques. Soldiers of 6--8 Cav are here training Ukrainian Soldiers in support of the Joint Multinational Training Group--Ukraine. The training is part of the ongoing efforts to contribute to Ukraine's long term military reform and professionalism and to help improve Ukraine's internal defense capabilities and training capacity. (U.S.Army photo by Spc. John Onuoha)

This is troubling on a number of levels.  First I don't know why we're sending troops to train Ukrainians.  Its not about training, its about the will to fight.  Either they have it or they don't.  The second is they need to get their procurement house in order.  They're building gear for sale to any Tom, Dick or Harry on the planet but they need us to send them equipment?  If this is a real war then they need to get on a war footing.  Next is what about the AZOV (?) Brigade?  I don't like the idea of US forces being allied with FREAKING NEO-NAZIS!

And last.  Who is that female, why is she there and what is going on?  Do the Ukrainians take the camp follower concept to its classic limit?

Kurds are taking Turkish forces apart at the border.

Thanks to Drinas for the link!



Geez.

They didn't stand a chance.  Oh and the vehicle?  Looks like a BMC Kirpi to me.  Website for the manufacturer is here.
The Turks have equipped their Army, Border Guards and Police with these vehicles and they have quite a few in service.

Note:  I'm twisted on these vids.  On one hand they show actual events that we don't see elsewhere and on the other they're just a step above snuff films. Should we continue posting or should we stop?  I want your input.

Germany ramping up Puma IFV production.

via IHS Janes.

Projekt System and Management (PSM) is now ramping up production of the Puma Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV) for the German Army with full rate production of 66 units a year to be achieved in 2017.
The current Puma AIFV contract for the German Army covers the supply of 350 units, which includes 8 in the driver training role from the 2 production lines.
By August 2016, 78 Puma AIFVs plus 5 driver training vehicles had been delivered to the German Army with another 31 AIFV to be delivered by the end of 2016.

Geez.  This vehicle has been around forever and they only have 78 in service? Just plain wow.

Now for the question that's gonna piss off my German readers.  How is the Puma any better than the latest example of the Bradley IFV?  When you take
a step back and get past the "oooh the Puma is German" I don't think it is.

Open Comment Post. Aug 29, 2016

Just a cool pic.

Have at it guys.  What's on your mind?