#Russia: The "invasion stripes" have started to pop up across the Western and Southern Military districts and the Black Sea Fleet. Either it's a change of doctrine or preparation for something. These are from Moscow and Crimea (#Ukraine) 1/3 pic.twitter.com/lHIRzDVWNj
The Chinese have built 9 Burke class style destroyers this year. Let that sink in.
They're building more destroyers in one year (and the year isn't over) than some navies have in their entire inventory.
If we're honest about the Chinese threat then we probably need to go on and case the colors of the 2nd Fleet and homeport a few more ships to the West coast.
1. This lady would take some extreme verbal judo and mental discipline to keep from simply punching in the face except for number 2.
2. Reading the story (here) its obvious that she's just one of the millions of mentally ill people on the streets of America...or she's drugged or both. The crazy thing is that I've recently learned that prescribed medication could cause an interaction unforeseen by their doctor that could cause this type of erratic behavior.
And of course all of the above could be true and she could still be a freaking racists.
I'm going to gently (and I hope correctly) wade into the Trump impeachment hearing.
I haven't been following the story but from what I gather a whistleblower (obviously an anti-Trumper) informed whoever and now an impeachment hearing is going on.
Ok.
Cool.
We'll see what we'll see.
What has me spinning is how the Acting DNI is getting savaged by the Dems in an effort to destroy Trump.
It's not supposed to be this way. I've monitored Twitter and seen never Trumpers trying to walk a fine line. They've been cheering on the Dems at every turn but now are trying at the sametime to call back the beasts that are attempting to ravage the name and character of a good man that's once again serving his nation (he was a Navy SEAL Officer) as DNI.
This is ugly. It seems (from my chair and I admit that I don't know the details cause I haven't been following it) contrived and made up.
Time will tell but I would caution ANYONE about working for ANY ADMINISTRATION for at least the next decade or two.
DC is out of control and the news media aren't providing the public the information we need.
S300V4 first alerted me to this incident but I was getting slammed at work so couldn't latch onto it. I was reminded by RokuRO and can dig into it a little.
I can't and won't jeer, pester, mock or make fun of this incident. Military training is inherently dangerous. Additionally we've all called for it but some seem to be a bit miffed now that they're delivering.
The Russians were open about this. That's a diplomatic win (small but worth noting). We asked them to be open and they're doing it.
Back on task.
Simply put? Shit happens. No one was hurt so it was still a good day.
Sidenote. What are these things constructed of? The vehicle appears to have almost micro fragmented. Wouldn't expect that of an armored vehicle even dropped from height.
Wow. They have an UNUSUALLY HIGH opinion of the Rafale. I kinda shy away from lists like this but they really do love the Russian stuff and adore the new Chinese model. Check it out here.
-Science Applications International Corp. (NYSE: SAIC) won a contract valued at $20.5 million, if all options are exercised, to deliver an advanced, high-technology Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle technology demonstrator for the Office of Naval Research and the U.S. Marine Corps.
“This state-of-the-art ground vehicle development program leverages our strengths and aligns well with our current strategy,” said Jim Scanlon, executive vice president and general manager of SAIC’s Defense Systems Group. “As a technology integrator with expertise and capabilities in leveraging open architecture and advanced technologies, SAIC is ready to deliver the best options for the Marine Corps’ requirements on this new reconnaissance combat vehicle.”
SAIC’s advanced technology demonstrator will be designed to push the envelope in terms of combat capabilities. SAIC’s “at the edge” variant will “fight for information” by balancing competing capability demands to sense, shoot, move and communicate while remaining transportable as part of the Naval expeditionary force. Some of the capabilities will include self-healing, cyber-secure power and information distribution architectures; an integrated Unmanned Aerial Vehicle capability; and modular electronics packages to enable plug and play, multi-mission options including integration with robotics and artificial intelligence.
The ARV advanced technology demonstrator will also have robust cross-country and water mobility. It will have both passive and active force protection and a drive-by-wire capability. The SAIC demonstrator will also deliver direct fires, both kinetic and non-kinetic (e.g., electronic and/or cyber) fires. In short, it will show the full spectrum of possible, 5th generation/21st-Century warfighting survivability and capability. The vehicle is to be delivered in October 2020.
Equip the Marine, don't man the equipment.
This is a golden opportunity for the Marine Corps to make LAR born again hard!
What do I mean?
With a properly equipped vehicle, they can do more than "fight for information". If they are able to SLIGHTLY push the tech envelope, get around the idea of a "compact" rig and decide that capability trumps size constraints (while gaining modularity) then we can get an awesome and unique capability within the US ground force stable.
What do I propose?
First dump the idea of a lightweight vehicle. I'm talking about toting Scouts, Geeks, Sensors, UAVs and UGVs...add in a mast and its obvious that a lightweight vehicle is out the window.
In short. We need to base this vehicle on the ACV.
You need probably two Geeks in each vehicle. One each to control the UAVs and UGVs respectively. Of course that sensor mast is gonna be a huge addition to the job that we're looking to get done so a decision needs to be made on if that's part of the Vehicle Commander's job or if you want an additional Geek whose sole purpose is to use it to designate targets, relay info back to whoever etc...
We're gonna need a proper turret on this beast. Preferably something that can kill anything smaller than a tank with its main gun (and proper ammo) and a couple of anti-tank missiles ready to go when the steel beast from the south side of hell rolls up.
Built in APS will be desirable as will the ability to identify and destroy targets at long range without use of the mast that I previously mentioned.
In my mind the T2000 by EOS fits the bill but I'll leave that particular to HQMC.
Last but not least the guys on the ground. I believe they're rolling with 3 man Scout Teams. We need to bump that up to 6 per vehicle, maybe 7 in a pinch so that a couple of vehicles will bring us up to the new Expeditionary Infantry Squad standard. That way they can be an effective force against enemy infantry, work in concert with their vehicles and even act independently if their rides are needed elsewhere in an emergency.
Long story short?
We need a bigger vehicle than the LAV-A2.
Uniquely equipping an ACV to fulfill the ARV role will standardize our ground fleet and neck down the different vehicles that we have in the Corps AND will provide savings in maintenance/supply.
It'll also allow LAR to (as I said earlier) be born again hard. In addition to fighting for information, flanking our offensive/defensive formations, it'll also be able to swim ashore if needed. It will be able to shape the battlefield due to its upgraded firepower.
It should be able to operate not only at the forward edge of the battlefield, but in a fast moving operation a bit beyond.
In keeping with changing USMC concepts of operations imagine this. You have a small island nation that has for some reason descended into chaos (let's say economic instability). US citizens are trapped in hotels while on vacation but rampant violence is reported in the streets.
We have the 11th MEU on float but they're a couple of days away. Luckily we have a Recon Team, along with an LAR Platoon onboard an Austal LCS modified into an Amphibious Support Ship just a few hours away.
The USS Solomon Stud Ship steams at high speed toward the island nation and launches its CH-53K at distance so that they can begin sorting our people stuck there, securing the location and providing intel on what's going on.
Due to the limited aviation assets carried it will be impossible to conduct a total evacuation by air, but luckily we have that LAR platoon ready to swim ashore and bring our citizens home.
The rest I'll leave to your imagination but we are talking about the USMC so the force is scalable to whatever threat we're facing.
My point is simple.
We have the rig we need. We should add to it to build what we need instead of striving for a new, cramped and all too soon antiquated vehicle.
The LAV-A2 (LAV-25) has served us well. It's form factor is limiting. The ACV has a bright future, has been tested and deemed suitable and will easily fulfill this role.
We can add to our capabilities by subtracting the different number of vehicles in our inventory. The ACV can do this job if we add what it needs to get the work done.
Looking forward to seeing how they decide to man it. My guess? They'll go old skool USMC. No fast jets, about 20-30 helicopters, around 1500 Marines (or paratroops) and probably 10 plus tanks, 20 Chinese version AAV and probably a metric shit ton of artillery.
I expect operations to be based mostly in the Pacific, not far from home and quite a few sorties out to Africa to bolster their investments there. Might see a few show the flag moments in S. America and the Middle East too.
Exciting times for the Chinese. Alot of "oh shit" we wasted valuable time and resources in the Pentagon.
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.
“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.
