Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Army Makes $13M Order of Federal’s MK311 Mod 3 Frangible Ammo
via Tactical Life.
The 5.56mm MK311 Frangible Ammo, better known by its ordnance code, “AA40,” features a 50-grain frangible bullet. That bullet is comprised of a non-toxic, copper and tungsten powder matrix in a gilding metal jacket, according to Federal. The frangible ammunition disintegrates into small fragments upon impact, minimizing over-penetration and ricochet hazards. The polymer compound round produces limited splash back, which vastly decreases ricochets, making it ideal for training applications, according to Federal.Story here.
“This latest order continues our long history of supplying only the highest quality, most reliable ammunition,” said Federal Ammunition President Jason Vanderbrink, “at Federal we use innovative technology, with industry-leading components to produce specialized products for training and the battlefield. The ammunition we produce serves the U.S. military, and we are humbled to do so.”
In December 2018, Federal announced a $41 million contract with the U.S. Navy. That contract called for Federal to produce 62-grain, MK 318 Mod 0 cartridges, with ammo bound for Navy and Marine Corps units.
Interesting. I get the training application but it would make an ideal round to be fired by law enforcement/security forces. Most civilians don't own body armor and a frangible 5.56 round in the 50 grain range would probably be extremely effective in urban environments.
Just saying, not speculating.
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
We're building ground based SKYNET robots that will eventually be faster, stronger and more agile than any human...
This robot can do an entire gymnastics routine 😳— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 24, 2019
(via @WIRED, @BostonDynamics) pic.twitter.com/EyimhVQCTx
We're building SKYNET ground today.
Do you see the little gymnastics routine that thing did? Give it twenty years and you'll see bipedal robots that are faster, stronger and more agile than any human could ever be.
Add in a computers "relentless" desire to work a problem and you better have your shit stacked deep.
Based on the development that I've seen in the last 5-10 years I think we can honestly say that we could EASILY special ops units formed from robots and commanded by Geeks by 2050.
Forget lasers. EMP weapons will replace anti-tank weapons as the must have big stick against the new breed of enemy 'armor'.
An innovative product from the UK that the USMC/USN should take a look at....
Thanks to THINK DEFENCE for the link!
I keep thinking about the "long range" mission sets that the Marine Corps is talking about in the future.
I keep worrying that if an enemy has a missile complex advanced enough to threaten our amphibious ships then they'll have a complex advanced enough to threaten our rotary aviation.
I keep thinking that we're gonna need to get small units ashore from further out than we do currently and a single point of failure (aviation) shouldn't be a show stopper.
We could use tech like this to launch small units from far away (two hundred miles) and have them arrive at the beach ready to go instead of beat up, cold and wet as they would be today in our current rigs.
I keep thinking about the "long range" mission sets that the Marine Corps is talking about in the future.
I keep worrying that if an enemy has a missile complex advanced enough to threaten our amphibious ships then they'll have a complex advanced enough to threaten our rotary aviation.
I keep thinking that we're gonna need to get small units ashore from further out than we do currently and a single point of failure (aviation) shouldn't be a show stopper.
We could use tech like this to launch small units from far away (two hundred miles) and have them arrive at the beach ready to go instead of beat up, cold and wet as they would be today in our current rigs.
Rethinking using the Austal LCS as a possible Offshore Support Vessel for the USN/USMC amphibious fleet...
Thanks to Ogden for doing the leg work on my initial idea...
I did a post (here) where I mused about using the Austal LCS, with a plug in module to give it a bit more capacity, as the OSV that was talked about at a Modern Day Marine briefing.
Ogden did the legwork and this is what he came up with (I'm personally impressed)...
Do you get the force of connection in the above graphics?
Ok, that was perhaps unfair to ask. Let me be clear. I wanted a cheap, quick fix for this requirement. The Austal LCS seemed like the most likely candidate.
But the USMC is aviation centric (for better or worse). We need more flight deck space.
The question becomes this. What will give us the necessary deck space to fulfill this requirement.
My first thought was to revive the old lust for the Absalon Class.
Before the USMC started down the aviation centric side of things this ship could have been almost perfect for what's being asked. The problem? In my opinion while it would provide a very capable multi-role capability it just doesn't give us enough aviation facilities to support the "new" Corps.
So what do I think they're actually looking for? How about a blast from the past but with a twist.
Imagine a modern day Iwo Jima LPH but in a mini size. The Iwo Jima displaced 18K tons fully loaded. Cut that in half. Ditto with the aviation carried. Triple the same with troop carriage. Supposedly the Iwo Jima carried up to 2K Marines.
So what ship in existence gives us about half the Iwo Jima's displacement, aviation capabilities and troop carriage?
None.
We could replicate it's ability with the Mistral BPC class from France (that ship is remarkably similar to our LPH from years gone by in all specifications), but we're not needing that much capacity.
Unfortunately from my reading we're gonna need a new, clean sheet design to achieve what I think they're looking for.
In other words can US shipbuilders design and float a modern mini-LPH at an affordable price in a quick time frame? I'm really not sure.
I did a post (here) where I mused about using the Austal LCS, with a plug in module to give it a bit more capacity, as the OSV that was talked about at a Modern Day Marine briefing.
Ogden did the legwork and this is what he came up with (I'm personally impressed)...
Do you get the force of connection in the above graphics?
Ok, that was perhaps unfair to ask. Let me be clear. I wanted a cheap, quick fix for this requirement. The Austal LCS seemed like the most likely candidate.
But the USMC is aviation centric (for better or worse). We need more flight deck space.
The question becomes this. What will give us the necessary deck space to fulfill this requirement.
My first thought was to revive the old lust for the Absalon Class.
Before the USMC started down the aviation centric side of things this ship could have been almost perfect for what's being asked. The problem? In my opinion while it would provide a very capable multi-role capability it just doesn't give us enough aviation facilities to support the "new" Corps.
So what do I think they're actually looking for? How about a blast from the past but with a twist.
Imagine a modern day Iwo Jima LPH but in a mini size. The Iwo Jima displaced 18K tons fully loaded. Cut that in half. Ditto with the aviation carried. Triple the same with troop carriage. Supposedly the Iwo Jima carried up to 2K Marines.
So what ship in existence gives us about half the Iwo Jima's displacement, aviation capabilities and troop carriage?
None.
We could replicate it's ability with the Mistral BPC class from France (that ship is remarkably similar to our LPH from years gone by in all specifications), but we're not needing that much capacity.
Unfortunately from my reading we're gonna need a new, clean sheet design to achieve what I think they're looking for.
In other words can US shipbuilders design and float a modern mini-LPH at an affordable price in a quick time frame? I'm really not sure.
Airbus A400M performs first helicopter air-to-air dry contacts
Press Release.
The Airbus A400M new generation airlifter has successfully achieved its first helicopter air-to-air refueling contacts with an H225M. Over the course of 4 flights, operated in day conditions over the south of France, the A400M performed 51 dry contacts marking a decisive milestone towards its full capability as a tanker. These tests were performed under the coordination of the French “DGA Essais en vol” flight test centre.
The tests, involving no fuel and performed between 1,000 ft and 10,000 ft at flight speeds as low as 105 knots, confirmed the positive results of previous proximity flights conducted at the beginning of 2019. The next step in the flight test program will involve wet contact operations scheduled to take place before the end of 2019 ahead of final certification in 2021.
The flight test campaign also included the first proximity trials between the A400M and an H160 helicopter requested by the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) in the frame of the feasibility study for the Guépard (future military multirole helicopter for the French armed forces). Tests were performed successfully.
The Airbus #A400M new generation airlifter has successfully achieved its first helicopter air-to-air dry contacts with an #H225M.@DGA @AirbusHelihttps://t.co/TZ22GYHltp pic.twitter.com/yFuynMMgUx— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) September 24, 2019
Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific tests remote control AAV (pics)...
Caption to pics...
The Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific tests there autonomy software system on an Amphibious Assault Vehicle provided by the Amphibious Vehicle Testing Branch at the Del Mar Boat Basin on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 23, 2019. The autonomy software system allows for AAV’s to be remotely guided or navigate themselves into different terrain, to create a route and clear the way for troops on the ground. This testing has been going on for two years, and continues to be developed to assist Marines in accomplishing the mission. (U.S. Marine Corps pics by Lance Cpl. Andrew Cortez)
Australian Army receives first batch of BOXER IFVs according to DTR Magazine...
Rheinmetall this morning handed over the first Block 1 Boxer vehicle under the Australian Army's Land 400 Phase 2 CRV program (MPV variant). Just 13 months after contract signature - an outstanding result!@AustralianArmy @RheinmetallAus @Defence_CASG pic.twitter.com/Edi4XuxTif— DTR Magazine (@DTRmag) September 24, 2019
Wow. Congrats to the Australian Army and Rheinmetall.
Is it just me or is this remarkably quick for a major defense procurement?
Monday, September 23, 2019
Stunning result...Netanyahu won majority of votes to head new Israeli Government ...we were told he lost!
Netanyahu won majority of votes to head new Israeli Government – reportshttps://t.co/18DUt4C4v6— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) September 23, 2019
Pretty stunned to see this and as usual Sputnik is the one reporting it not mainstream news in the US.
This is stunning.
Netanyahu won.
I don't know the implications of this but there certainly must be a few. Additionally while the Iranians have released the Brit tanker, nervousness about their intentions must have played a role in his victory.
The Middle East continues to burn.
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