Monday, May 11, 2020
Marine Corps Light Armored Vehicle Replacement
via Military Times.
The novel coronavirus pandemic has forced the Marine Corps to postpone the industry day it had scheduled this month for its new reconnaissance vehicle effort. But the service still plans to invite industry to submit ideas for vehicle prototypes next spring.I'm a bit stunned and confused. Reading the 2030 Force Concept, the Commandant stated that he was not convinced that a ground based replacement was viable.
The Corps announced plans in April 2019 to begin replacing its legacy Light Armored Vehicle with the Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle, or ARV, in the late 2020s. Since then, officials managing the Light Armored Vehicles program have been talking with the defense industry to see which firms are capable of building the new vehicle, which will feature enhanced vision technologies for increased situational awareness and advanced target tracking and weapon systems.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the industry day, at which officials had planned to answer questions about the request for information the Corps released last year.
"We still want to hold an industry day, so we can have an open discussion with industry, provide more clarification and answer any questions from our industry partners," Maryann Lawson, Marine Corp Systems Command's project lead for the ARV effort, said in a recent announcement.
The event is now scheduled for the fourth quarter of this fiscal year.
The Marine Corps also plans to release a draft request for prototypes for the ARV base variant before the end of this fiscal year, according to the release. The Corps wants feedback from defense firms to help shape the requirement for the final prototypes request, which is scheduled for publication in spring 2021.
The Army is also working on its Next Generation Combat Vehicle, an effort to replace the Cold War-era Bradley fighting vehicle. Part of the effort will be to field an Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle, or OMFV.
In late January, Army officials announced that the service would restart the high-priority OMFV effort after receiving only one valid bid for the $45 billion program.
Marine ARV program officials are coordinating with Army OMFV officials, recognizing the commonalities that exist between the two programs, the release states.
In 2019, the Office of Naval Research selected two defense companies to design, build and test full-scale technology-demonstration vehicles, an ARV science and technology effort which is part of the Navy's Future Naval Capabilities program, according to a September release.
General Dynamics Land Systems is building a vehicle that will incorporate advanced technologies available today for the "base vehicle" approach, the release states.
The Virginia-based IT company SAIC is building an "at-the-edge" vehicle designed around technologies that currently may not be fully mature but could be incorporated into the ARV as new capabilities, when threats and missions evolve, the release adds.
Both vehicles are expected to be ready for evaluation in the fourth quarter of this fiscal year, Marine Corps Systems Command officials said.
Last year, the Corps conducted a capability-based assessment that focused on armored reconnaissance, according to the release, which described how the assessment pitted Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions against a peer threat, and identified shortfalls and gaps in capability.
Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Combat Development and Integration produced an initial capabilities document -- which was validated by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council in 2019.
"As the core-manned, next-generation system, ARV must possess transformational capabilities to enable LAR Battalions to gain contact with and collect on peer-threat forces," Marine Corps Systems Command officials said. "It must accomplish this goal without becoming decisively engaged, while also successfully waging the counter-reconnaissance fight."
As the effort evolves, the Marine Corps has begun to view the ARV as more than just a replacement for the LAV, the release states.
"Over time, officials began to view the ARV as a vehicle platform equipped with a suite of advanced reconnaissance capabilities, with an open-system architecture that can sense, shoot, move, communicate and remain transportable as part of the Naval Expeditionary Force," it adds.
Additionally he seemed to push for ANOTHER aviation based solution.
To see the Marine Corps getting ready to spin up industry to propose a replacement seems strange to me.
We're heading into a time of economic constraint for both the DoD and private industry. Much trust will be lost if HQMC asks for participation and then these corporations later discover that it was just a waste of time and money.
Interesting pic of Piranha III at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq via Joseph Trevithick @FranticGoat (WarZone)
Open note to Joseph. Hey bro didn't mean to stick you out there. I love your content and the variety of it. I saw your Tweet and didn't think twice. I put your pic up on the blog just cause I wanted to share it with my readers. Unfortunately many love to play "little Hitler" when it comes to info so instead of appreciating this pic (don't know how you found it...well done!) you're getting jammed on vehicle identification. My bad. I should have simply sent you a direct message instead of this minor thing getting highlighted. I know you're like me and doing 1,000 things at the same time. Most don't realize that fact. Stay up bro. Solomon....
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Friday, May 08, 2020
China's PLA Airborne Corps displays new 4x4...
How impressive! PLA revealed a video on the 70th anniversary of the founding of its Airborne forces, which showcases the new wheeled armored vehicles! pic.twitter.com/r4NAD5WilL— People's Daily, China (@PDChina) May 8, 2020
Can anyone identify this vehicle? Is it new or simply a rework of something they already have?
Army Futures Command is all in on Future Vertical Lift...
.@FVLCFT is shaping the @USArmy’s helicopter fleet of the future that will increase battlefield advantages. Whether it's a pilot, mechanic, operations specialist, or unmanned vehicle operator - you can join the Army Aviation team. Visit https://t.co/c8EuE7uj4P! #WhatsYourWarrior pic.twitter.com/dDh4oH6H7L— Army Futures Command (@armyfutures) May 8, 2020
Blast from the past. US Marines @ The Battle Of Alcatraz, 1946...
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| U.S. Marines (circled left) hurls grenades at armed convicts during the Battle of Alcatraz. They are commanded by WW2 Pacific War veterans WO Charles L. Buckner (who himself led the assault) and Generals Joseph Stilwell and Frank Merrill (of the famed "Merrill's Marauders"). [May 4, 1946] {1024x719} |
Amazing. I never heard of this incident.
Thursday, May 07, 2020
Japan gears up. Buys additional Tanks & Tank Destroyers...
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Turkish Navy LHD TCG Anadolu L-400 Amphibious Assault Ship
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Coming along nicely. Additionally that new AAV they're working on will be a good match. Since they're out of the F-35 program I guess they'll be stuck using attack helicopters and assault helicopters for their missions.
That might have dodged a bullet with that the more I think about it. Not another ramble about the F-35 but more about this type of ship.
They were designed as helicopter carriers with a surface attack capability. Only later did they pick up the fast mover role. In hindsight I think doing so was a mistake. The better option in my mind is a Cavour type solution of a real deal light carrier, not a hybrid.
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