1st Protolab 6x6 Protected Multi-Purpose Vehicles (PMPV) delivered to the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF).

via Press Release.

Protolab Oy is pleased to announce the delivery of the first Protolab 6x6 Protected Multi-Purpose Vehicles (PMPV) to the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF). Protolab is delivering four PMPVs to the FDF under a contract signed in 2018. The vehicles are being put through operational testing by the FDF as part of a wider modernisation programme to upgrade and enhance its armoured vehicle fleet.

The Protolab PMPV is exceptionally manoeuvrable and agile and can perform a range of mission roles including patrol, passenger and cargo transport, and command post. Amphibious and MEDIVAC variants are also available. The Protolab PMPV is a first of its kind 6x6 armoured personnel carrier developed to meet the mobility, protection and communication requirements of Special Operations Forces and paramilitary security forces.

The PMPV is designed from the ground up with integrated high level mine protection and ballistic protection according to customer-specified blast protection levels of STANAG 4569. The vehicle can be equipped with various customer required weapon systems.

The vehicle can carry two crew and ten fully-equipped troops, or a cargo payload of up to 10,000kg. Narrower than standard fighting vehicles, the vehicle’s 2.55m width makes it suitable for urban operations, with advanced mobility both on and off-road. Powered by a Cummins 6.7l multifuel engine and meeting Euro 3 emission levels, the vehicle meets EU truck road regulations qualifying it for registration as a N3G class truck (off-road).

These design features make it an ideal fit for the challenges being faced by modern armies.

“We designed the Protolab PMPV 6x6 to meet the requirements of today’s soldier and today’s asymmetric battlefield,” Juha Moisio, Business Development Director, Protolab Oy commented. “With a design approach based around the use of COTS parts with a small proportion of custom-made components, the Protolab PMPV is a cost-effective solution for the range of tasks faced by special operations, security and crisis management forces in the field.

“We are pleased to see the vehicle progressing well through field trials with the FDF and are getting positive feedback from the customer. We are confident that the Protolab PMPV will become the vehicle of choice for customers looking to replace their existing 6x6 vehicle fleets with a modern, protected and flexible solution.”

Turkish Aerospace Heavy Attack Helicopter CGI Video...

Australian Navy LCM-1E transports an M1A1 from ship to shore...that myth is busted! (UPDATED with additional pics)

If you've been arounding military blogging for a bit you've heard that the Aussie Navy's landing craft supposedly couldn't transport an M1 ashore.  The Chief of Australia's Navy was kind enough to bust that myth today.

Good on them.  Instructive too.  With a dispersed amphibious force aboard smaller ships then we can re-examine landing craft.  Is it time to flex back toward a boat of this type?  I'm thinking so.  I'm a fan of the thing and believe that with properly designed smaller amphibs it could be a winner.

As we draw closer to achieving Final Operational Capability for Australia's Amphibious Task Group, Thursday marked the first time LHD Landing Craft embarked @AustralianArmy M1A1 Main Battle Tank. Our amphibious capability stands ready to defend Australia & our national interests pic.twitter.com/gR3EgOslPE

— Chief of Navy Australia (@CN_Australia) July 27, 2019

But let's think about this for a moment.  If we're going with smaller amphibs while still being aviation centric but with credible forces to put ashore can you think of a better vessel than the Mistral?  Pair this with some affordable LCM-1E's, and the dream can be realized.

UPDATE!  Check out pics of the M1A1 coming off the ramp of the LCM-1E when it hits the beach.  The weight of the tank is obvious!  Consider this.  The M1A2C weighs EVEN MORE!

Open Comment Post. 27 July 2019

The new Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps says...The Corps exists for “a singular purpose” the round hitting the target. The Corps is about warfighting.”

Meet the 19th @USMCSgtMaj, Sgt. Maj. Troy E. Black. pic.twitter.com/sYOeQ5wbrB

— U.S. Marines (@USMC) July 27, 2019

via Marines Times.com

There’s a new sergeant major of the Marine Corps in town as of Friday, but don’t expect a whirlwind of changes anytime soon.

If the mantra of Sgt. Maj. Troy Black, the 19th sergeant major of the Marine Corps, could be summed up, it’s in the popular 1970s Marine Corps recruiting ad: “We don’t promise you a rose garden."

Black told Marine Corps Times in an exclusive interview that Marines shouldn’t expect significant changes to tattoo policies, grooming standards, uniform regulations or re-enlistment incentives: What he’s focused on is the foundation of the Corps and its Marines.

The Corps exists for “a singular purpose” Black said. “The round hitting the target. The Corps is about warfighting.”

And there are certain non-negotiables that make up the identity of the Corps. He said he’s focused on reinforcing those.

Story here. 

Hmm.  Were you paying attention this week?  We got a news alert that a SEAL Team had been kicked out of theater and that same day we saw some Marines arrested (in MASS) out at Pendleton for gross stupidity.

News of the SEAL alleged misconduct vanished in a flash.  The idea of that elite outfit being involved in behavior so gross....the fact that they refused to cooperate in the investigation, didn't spark any additional questions.  Didn't send defense journalist into a frenzy to see what was actually behind all that.

It simply disappeared.

Not the same with the story on Marines out at Pendleton.  That story has legs.

Why?

Because despite all the publicity.  Despite what I consider the obscenity of actually chasing the spotlight, the SEALs still don't have the imagination and love and interest that the Marine Corps has with the American people.

We have problems.  We have issues.  But we're still America's Praetorian Guard.

It's refreshing, damn near hardon producing to see the new Sergeant Major Of The Marine Corps walking in talking this way.

Hopefully he climbs out of the fighting hole this office has had for the past few years and gets out and about, pushing the views expressed in this article.

This new Commandant and SMMC could possibly lead to a much needed revival and a refocusing on Marine Corps principles.  We can hope can't we???

French have plans for miniature sats armed with lasers...the space warfare is becoming an OPEN reality...

The French have plans for a constellation of laser-armed miniature satellites:https://t.co/oGiXNnjfc3

— Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) July 26, 2019

We've heard stories since the Cold War of sats being weaponized by the US and Soviet Union.

We've heard that China has also deployed some types of orbital weapons.

Now?

Now the French are openly talking about following suit.  Space Warfare is coming out of the shadows and becoming an OPEN reality.

What are the ramifications?

Militarily I have no idea.  I do know that millions of individuals around the world could be adversely affected by even a minor skirmish in space.

Bear in mind that I'm talking about rumors and open source info.  What's being done in the black budget is beyond my imagination but I can bet that everyone is working overtime on defense and offense against what the certain nation state considers a threat capability.

We are entering a brave new age and I don't think we'll be able to avoid going...Rods From God, to nukes and back to the stone age even if we see an accidental encounter...how do you keep from escalating if a city is damn near vaporized because a malfunctioning sat sent telephone pole sized titanium rods at 10 times the speed of sound into a major city?

Saber Guardian: Joint exercise with Romanian Forces

FBI Director says that China is our nation's most dire counter intel threat!

Thanks to Filippo Neri for the link!

via Epoch Times

The FBI has more than 1,000 active investigations into theft of U.S. intellectual property, “almost all leading back to China,” as the communist regime is waging a “generational fight” to achieve economic dominance, FBI Director Christopher Wray told a Senate committee on July 23.

“There is no country that poses a more severe counterintelligence threat to this country right now than China,” Wray told the Senate Judiciary Committee, reiterating previous warnings he made about the Chinese regime.

Beijing is using both state and non-state actors to “steal their way up the economic ladder at our expense,” he said.

“It is a threat that’s deep and diverse and wide and vexing in terms of the kinds of actors that are used, the kinds of techniques used, or the kind of targets that are used,” Wray said. “It affects basically every industry in this country.”

Story here. 

A few things...

1.  I told ya so.

2.  It's about time leadership woke up to this threat. 

3.  Apparently the previous couple of years of Russia, Russia, Russia is behind us and we're now focusing on the real threat and not the one that was politically fashionable.

But do we have time to get focused and working on defeating this real threat to our Republic?

I don't know.  Too many refuse to see the danger.  Too many want the status quo no matter how fleeting it is and ignore the reality right before their eyes.

There are glimmers of hope though.

via Fox News.

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said China is the No. 1 threat to U.S. security. 

----------

 “China is a threat economically and diplomatically. I think it's time we address some of these issues -- militarization of the South China Sea, the Communist Chinese Party launching cyberattacks against the U.S., theft of intellectual property, and a significant expansion of military capability.”

Story here. 

via Bloomberg

 Mark Esper, President Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, said the U.S. needs more bases “throughout the Indo-Pacific region” to counter China’s “significant technological advancements.”

“Alternate operating locations” will be sought as the Pentagon works “to develop new concepts, build a distributed and resilient force posture and field new capabilities to counter these threats,” Esper, who had been serving as Army secretary and then as acting defense secretary, said in written answers to questions from lawmakers ahead of a Senate confirmation hearing that convened on Tuesday morning.

----------

 “China has made significant technological advancements in weapons systems designed to defeat, or drastically reduce the effectiveness of U.S. forces, including in the range and accuracy of its missile forces,” Esper said. “China is also developing sophisticated on-orbit capabilities, such as satellite inspection and repair, some of which could also function as a weapon.”

Story here. 

Yeah.  They're waking up to the threat.  The question really becomes.  Is it coming too late?  Do we have time to reorient ourselves to this threat?  Do we have the national will to emerge victorious?

Royal Marines PTIs...

Thanks to Noble for the link!



I had one occasion to do PT with these dudes and trust me.  They'll leave you in a puddle of sweat, fear, hatred and evil intent!

Quite honestly I don't know why every Marine Corps Battalion doesn't have a PT Instructor trained the Royal Marines way.

Notice that they still do it old skool style.

No military reinterpreting of crossfit.  None of the idiocy with extraneous equipment that supposedly helps measure fitness.

Naw.  They keep it simple and effective.

My opinion?

Scrap the Combat Fitness Test.  Go back to old skool training in the Royal Marine way (old USMC way too!) and put away the toys.

All the equipment that is now needed to assess fitness is just wrong.  Simple is effective.  Practice makes perfect.  Training properly will lessen injuries. The CFT is crossfit and crossfit is a fad.

Note.  If we're going smaller then we need to increase the number of subject matter experts!  I've called for Mountain/Arctic Leaders, Jungle Experts, Desert Patrollers etc...across all our Battalions. This is where PARTNERSHIPS would actually serve a purpose.  Use the Brits jungle school (even the French one) and run our MEUs thru them while on float.  Same with our trips to Northern Europe so we can get some of that Mountain Leader/Arctic Warfare stuff the Royal Marines do.  Team up with the dudes that run desert schools...hell even get up with the Brit Desert Rats for our mechanized forces.  Too often partnerships have been about exercises of dubious quality or watching aviation land on each others ships.  How about we start taking advantage of some excellent training programs that our allies run?  I highlight the Brits cause I'm more familiar with what they're doing but I'd bet everyone would be willing to teach us their speciality/allow us to utilize their schools/trainers,  if we simply asked.

Exercise Talisman Saber 2019...Video by Sgt. 1st Class John Etheridge

Vipers and Venoms of Summer Fury 19....Video by Sgt. Charles Plouffe

Open Comment Post. 26 July 2019