No supersonic flight for the USN/USMC F-35s...

Thanks to Nuno for the link!

via Defense News.

The deficiency, first reported by Defense News in 2019, means that at extremely high altitudes, the U.S. Navy’s and Marine Corps’ versions of the F-35 jet can only fly at supersonic speeds for short bursts of time before there is a risk of structural damage and loss of stealth capability.

The problem may make it impossible for the Navy’s F-35C to conduct supersonic intercepts.

“This issue was closed on December 17, 2019 with no further actions and concurrence from the U.S. services,” the F-35 JPO statement read. “The [deficiency report] was closed under the category of ‘no plan to correct,’ which is used by the F-35 team when the operator value provided by a complete fix does not justify the estimated cost of that fix.

Here.

So in essence the US Navy and Marine Corps are fielding a subsonic fighter.

Simply freaking amazing.

One of you aviation geeks tell me something.  How is the F-35 gonna do fleet defense against high performance Chinese aircraft if it can't even get up to meet them?

This is actually happening and no one is ringing the alarm bells?  Something is seriously broken in the Marine Corps.

Forget the fighter attack mission.

The F-35 can do attack but it can't do the fighter portion.  So instead of a multirole fighter we have a vertical take off A-6 that can sorta do deep strike missions.

Yeah.

It's time to call Boeing and buy some Block III Super Hornets.

Navy takes delivery of final Block II Super Hornet, looks ahead to Block III

via Press Release.

Since 2005, F/A-18 Super Hornet Block II aircraft have been rolling off Boeing’s production line and serving as the U.S. Navy’s multi-mission capable workhorse. The service took delivery of the final Block II Super Hornet, closing out a run of 322 one-seater F/A-18Es and 286 two-seated F/A-18Fs, on April 17.
“Aircraft E322 will leave Boeing’s production line and head straight to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34 based in [Naval Air Station] Oceana,” explained Cmdr. Tyler Tennille, of Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), who oversees Acceptance Testing.

“When the Super Hornets first came online, they were a game changer,” he explained, pointing to the Block II’s Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar as well as larger displays, upgraded sensors and avionics, and increased range and capability to employ an arsenal of precision weapons that delivered advanced lethality and mission flexibility for the service.

The robust airframe was built with an open mission systems architecture, which has enabled easy integration of new weapons and technologies. The Block II Super Hornet serves as the Navy’s responsive aircraft, fully capable across the full mission spectrum which includes: air superiority, fighter escort, reconnaissance, aerial refueling, close air support, air defense suppression, and day/night precision strike.

This aircraft has stood strong as the backbone of the Navy’s carrier air wing, and has proven itself repeatedly during numerous operations where it has been the preeminent platform performing multiple missions, sometimes rapidly reconfiguring on the fly.

Even though it is substantially larger – roughly 7,000 pounds heavier and a 50 percent higher range, the Super Hornet delivered with fewer parts and lower maintenance demands than its predecessor, the Hornet.

“Delivery of this last production Block II Super Hornet is hardly the end of an era, but rather a stepping stone along the path to continuously evolving our platforms to meet the Navy’s ever-evolving needs,” said Capt. Jason Denney, Program Manager of the F/A-18 and EA-18 Program Office (PMA-265). “Block III delivery is just steps behind and the production lines won’t miss a beat, with the first two U.S. Navy Block III test jets delivering in the next two months, followed by delivery of 24 E/F aircraft over the next year for our international customer, Kuwait,” Denney said.

Following the delivery of these aircraft, Tennille said he expects the transition from Block IIs to Block IIIs to be seamless.

This is the low hanging fruit that's available to the Marine Corps to better integrate with the Navy that's being overlooked.

Wouldn't it make nothing but sense for the Marine Corps to accomplish its carrier mission using Super Hornets?

With the limited production run of F-35Cs, it would be most cost effective (at least in my mind) for the Marine Corps to piggy back off the Super Hornet AND the refueling/ISR unmanned UAV that the Navy is developing.

But they're not biting.

I wonder why.  The F-35C is so limited in scope and the Navy is heading with speed toward an advanced tactical fighter in the 2030 timeframe that its an easy move to help them head toward their stated goal.

Chinese Army 62nd Heavy Combined-Arms Brigade, LX14, 76th Group Army, Western Theater Command...Yeah they're propaganda pics but these boys look good...

God has blessed us.  We have a worthy competent foe.  These are propaganda pics but these boys look good.  My advice to the US military?  Stop trying to find ways to fight easy.  Against a tough opponent there is no easy way.  Work hard, get faster, become more proficient.  That is the only way.  THERE IS NO EASY WAY!

Confusing rules are what makes these state closures so controversial...

The above post pretty much says it all.

Confusing rules are what makes these state closures so controversial.  Alot of it just doesn't make ANY SENSE!

If it was about saving the population then fine.  14 days of HARD CORE PAIN with everything being shut down would get it done.

But they didn't do that.

They're trying to find a middle ground that makes it somewhat palatable to the masses.

Imaginary pain (called being a good citizen) instead of really doing the hard work of social distancing to SMASH this epidemic.

My take?

This whole thing was a joke.  We knew who the vulnerable population is.  If its about saving lives then don't shut down the entire economy.  Shut the people that are vulnerable down.  Tell them to stay home. 

But this thing?

This was an exercise in control.  Now they're drunk with power, see a bit of pushback and they're trying to find an exit ramp while still keeping up the illusion of doing all this for the public good.

It has begun. Cuts coming to Special Ops...

via National Defense Magazine.

U.S. Special Operations Command could see reductions in modernization investments in the coming years as the Pentagon focuses on great power competition.

President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2021 budget request included $2.3 billion for procurement for SOCOM, a reduction of about 12 percent compared to the enacted amount for 2020, and 26 percent less than what it was allocated in 2019, according to budget documents.

It also included $732 million for research, development, test and evaluation, about 14 percent less than the $852 million it received in 2020. However, that would still be well above the $613 million it received for RDT&E in 2019, providing more money to develop next-generation systems.

“The FY 2021 budget for [Special Operations Forces] investments procures, modernizes, and/or modifies SOF-peculiar aviation, mobility, and maritime platforms, weapons, ordnance, and communications equipment,” the Pentagon said in its budget overview. “The FY 2021 budget sustains SOF growth and readiness, and increases lethality through modernization and recapitalization, and investing in new technologies.”

Special Operations Command declined to provide topline numbers for projected modernization investments over the course of the future years defense program, saying the information was “pre-decisional.”

Here. 

Open Comment Post 24 Apr 2020

FNSS River Crossing Vehicles...

View this post on Instagram

SAMUR, Türk Kara Savunma Sanayi’nin sözleşmeye bağlanmış ilk özgün tasarım ve geliştirme projesidir. SAMUR Sistemi Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri’nin taktik harekat ihtiyaçlarına uygun olarak, muharebe sahasında sulu açıklıklardan süratle ve emniyetle geçişini sağlayacak bir nakliye takımı ve köprü sistemidir.

A post shared by FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.Ş. (@fnss_savunma) on Apr 24, 2020 at 2:12am PDT

Note.  Kinda rushed so don't have time to dig into the vehicle name (hopefully someone has it) but I find this fascinating.

River crossings are a complex military maneuver and they're a natural danger area.

Being quick is always a plus. 

Unless you have a force that can swim this seems like the best option possible.

The Swiss Army just tested and approved their new 12 cm mortar (Mörser 16).

Thanks to Le Mangeur Vasqué for the pics!

My  wish list keeps expanding but I believe the Marine Corps also needs some HIGHLY mobile, amphibious, indirect firepower that can maneuver on the battlefield AND provide robust fire support.

This fits the bill more than missiles!

General Dynamics MPF/IFV being shown to the SecArmy...

Thanks to Dragon for the pics!

My God that's a sweet looking vehicle!

Hey Marine Corps how about we build combined mech battalions with a modernized direct fire capability based on this vehicle, coupled with ACVs (with 30mm cannons) along with JLTVs for the wars you don't see coming?

3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) were presented with 4 ceremonial M17 pistols.

“SIG SAUER is incredibly honored to have a place in a deeply humbling historical event yesterday at the Arlington National Cemetery, where the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) were presented with 4 ceremonial M17 pistols. This ceremony marks the first use of the M17, which will accompany the Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers they stand guard 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.”

(U.S. Army photos by Spc. Gabriel Silva)

Wow.  Can you imagine being assigned to this unit just out of bootcamp? Ok private, your job for the next two years of your life will be spending eight hours a day, seven days a week, three hundred sixty five days a year polishing these pistols!

Good God that would have to suck.

But they sure are pretty!

Sidenote.  Is it possible for that SSgt to be any leaner?  I'm guessing he eats maybe once every two days!

United States and Norway join forces to develop new hypersonic missiles

Thanks to Bjørnar for the link!

via .tu.no

In this arms race, the United States has several times publicly admitted that they are behind. One of the tools to get back on the offensive is a new development project together with Norway.

It is the US Department of Defense that on Monday announced the bilateral cooperation called THOR-ER ("Tactical High-Speed ​​Offensive Ramjet for Extended Range").

FFI and Nammo

The Pentagon report states that the goal of Thor-ER is to develop missile prototypes with ramjet engines where they keep costs down while achieving high speeds and wide ranges. This should culminate in flight testing of the air breathing missiles in operationally relevant conditions.

The project is part of the "Allied Prototyping Initiative", launched last year, which paves the way for the United States to work with its closest allies on research and development to develop cutting-edge weapons technology in a fast and efficient way.

In this case, it has thus resulted in the special that they team up with an ally to develop new engine technology.

Among the players we find on the US side the US Navy's Naval Air Warfare Center, the Weapons Division China Lake in California and on the Norwegian side the Defense Research Institute (FFI) and the industrial partner Nammo. Not many missiles have been developed in China Lake over the years, such as Tomahawk and Sidewinder.

"Together with our Norwegian partners, this is an important step in developing the technologies needed to ensure that we and our allies are militarily superior in hypersonic systems," said Dr. Michael Griffin, Under Secretary for Research and Engineering , would say a kind of technology manager in the US Department of Defense.

Material Director Morten Tiller of the Norwegian Ministry of Defense said in the same report that he has great faith in this agreement. Both because the result can be pioneering capabilities for the Armed Forces, but also because the bilateral cooperation itself is pioneering.

Here. 

Crazy thought. Either the petro-dollar is dead or we're headed back to oil wars in a decade...

'The crisis won’t end. Instead, it will transform as we move from the unsustainable model of cheap-credit-fueled globalism to a new localism based on Hard Money like Gold and Bitcoin.'

- @maxkeiserhttps://t.co/tTONgPjglS

— RT (@RT_com) April 23, 2020

Wow.

Think about it.  We're probably in the midst of a recession that rivals the great depression (unemployment is estimated at 20% and since so many of my fellow countrymen/governors want to see the lockdown continue we'll probably hit 30%) so oil will be down for at least the next two years.

So for now the countries that depend on oil for their survival are in a hurt locker.

That probably means de-stabilization for a whole host of them.

That means bad things especially for the Middle East/North Africa.

But can the global community hold it off?  I'm thinking yeah.  For maybe a few years at the outside (MAYBE).  But sooner or later the top is gonna come off and desperation will lead to even more bad things.

Saudi Arabia is already teetering.  Iran is also in a hurtlocker.  Many others aren't much better.

How long before they haul out their shiny new toys and decide to make a few land grabs to boost their economy and occupy the minds of their citizens.  Even the rumor of war will raise oil prices.  What will an actual war between oil producers do?