Saturday, December 12, 2020

Open Comment Post. 12 Dec 2020

 




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French Army Jaguar : qualification tests of its mobility in muddy terrain & fire function test campaign at DGA Land Techniques

 



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According to this John Hopkins Covid-19 Risk Test (Online) I have a .05% chance of death from the disease...

Or if you don't want to mess with Twitter just click here! 

The funny thing?  I'm not a health nut.  I AM health aware but don't take it to extremes and according to this calculator this thing isn't the big bad that the media would have us think.

Just going off what was asked it all goes down to pre-existing conditions. I cleared the bar easily.

I'm kinda curious how my readers fare so be bold and take it yourself!

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Friday, December 11, 2020

A 4 year old in Italy contracted the coronavirus in Nov 2019? When did this thing get out???

Something is seriously off here.

When did this virus pop up on the radar screens? Did any authority know that it was out and about in the fall of last year?

I remember one thing.

We were talking about this thing at the end of Dec/Jan on this blog.  It didn't hit the mainstream until Feb-Mar.

I thought I was early but maybe I was late as hell.  I'm going off open source materials but the CIA/DIA had to have MUCH better visibility.  When did they know?  Who did they tell?

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FENNEK SWP (Stinger Weapon Platform)

 

Designed by Turkey...




More info here

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MQ25 is looking good. If the Navy was smart they'd make the America Class LHAs unmanned combat aircraft carriers @ leave Marine Air on the pier!

Want a quick way to boost numbers in the Pacific and make the Chinese think twice?

Make the America Class LHAs into unmanned combat aircraft carriers.  Even if the entire complement was made up of refuelers/attack/ISR variants (no fighters...we're not there yet...I THINK!), it would be a combat multiplier.  We could get our big decks back up to 100 plus Super Hornets and additional UCAVs, I have no idea how many UCAVs you could actually fit on the America Class and you'd have a POTENT strike force.

If the Navy was smart and was really about winning the war at sea then they'd leave Marine Air on the pier and follow this little bit of advice! 

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Open Comment Post. 11 Dec 2020

 


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Surprising as hell. U.S. Marine Corps awards $184 million contract for full-rate production of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle following IOC declaration

 


via Press Release.

BAE Systems’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle Family of Vehicles (ACV FOV) program has achieved its most significant milestone to date with the Marine Corps’ decision to move into full-rate production and award a $184 million contract for 36 vehicles.

The ACV is an advanced, next generation vehicle for conducting ship-to-shore operations and effectively getting Marines into the fight.

The full-rate production milestone comes shortly after the Marine Corps declared the ACV ready to conduct missions around the world under Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on November 13. The IOC declaration is also a significant milestone for the program and demonstrates the Marine Corps’ confidence in the vehicle.

“As the ACV enters into service it will provide highly advanced solutions for conducting maritime-based warfare operations and will play a vital role in the Marine Corps’ complex and challenging missions,” said John Swift, director of amphibious programs at BAE Systems. “For BAE Systems, full-rate production validates years of dedication and teamwork in partnership with the Marines to introduce this capability to the warfighter and leave our adversaries on the battlefield at a marked disadvantage. We are proud of our role in the program.”

The ACV is a highly mobile, survivable, and adaptable platform for conducting full spectrum ship-to-shore operations and brings enhanced combat power to the battlefield. Developed with teammate IVECO Defence Vehicles, the ACV represents the optimum balance of sea and land mobility, survivability, and future growth potential. With a force protection capability three times greater than the Assault Amphibious Vehicle, the ACV is designed so Marines can complete their missions successfully. It provides substantially increased horsepower, with its six-cylinder, 690 horsepower engine, making it capable of land speeds exceeding 55 mph. Its modular design will also provide Marines the flexibility to address additional mission roles and future technologies as they evolve.

This first lot of full-rate production is planned to grow to 72 vehicles in early 2021, with the options calling for 80 vehicles annually over five years.

BAE Systems is currently under a $67 million contract modification awarded in June 2019 to develop new variants for the ACV Family of Vehicles to enhance battlefield situational awareness and firepower. The contract calls for the design and development of the command (ACV-C) and the 30mm medium caliber cannon (ACV-30) variants, which are underway.

ACV production and support is taking place at BAE Systems locations in Stafford, Virginia; San Jose, California; Sterling Heights, Michigan; Aiken, South Carolina; and York, Pennsylvania.

I've read the Planning Guidance.  I've followed speeches, testimony, heard from his camp followers etc...

Everything I've read and heard screams that he should cancel this vehicle.

His very actions indicate it!

It just doesn't make sense.  You're going to have Amphibious Combat Vehicles but Tanks/ABVs are out?  You're cutting AH-1Z squadrons.  You're cutting cannons but you're still buying ACVs?

The USMC always was a bit on the light side of armored forces but now you're lighter with no direct fire capability and limited artillery (most of it optimized to sink ships not suppress enemy ground?).

Someone somewhere make sense of this for me cause I can't figure it out.  Notice that we have this announcement but nothing about LAR and its future. Take LAR out of the mix and this thing turns batshit crazy.  Nope.  This makes no sense at all!

In sum?  Surprising as hell.  Weird as hell too (with the information we have).

 

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Is EABO about warfighting or deterrence?


From the 2019 USMC Aviation Plan 

EABO is a future naval operational concept that mitigates peer competitors’ anti-access/area-denial capability by creating a more survivable, resilient, and persistent forward-postured force. The EABO concept is designed to re-establish the force credibility required to have a deterrent effect. Using key maritime terrain in the vicinity of close and confined seas, EABO provides decision-makers with sea denial options that are coercive, but not escalatory

Have we all missed something?

Is this plan all about deterrence and not actual combat?  Is the Commandant of the Marine Corps actually designing a force that isn't designed to fight and win but rather to act as a trip wire...a modern day Maginot Line in the Pacific? 

Question.

What happens to Fleet Marine Forces if the Chinese decide they're NOT going to be deterred?


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2S42 Lotos self-propelled gun (SPG) has completed acceptance trials and the system is on track to begin preliminary trials in 2021

Story here

I thought this thing was up and running, not stuck in development hell.  Lots of great kit but they take as long to get it into production as we do!  Thought the Russians were more efficient in that respect than us but I thought wrong. Everyone is a slave to military industrial complex!
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Greek Army reportedly to acquire 1,200 M1117 armored vehicles from US Army

 

Looks like Army MP's are about to lose their combat rides.  Are they switching over to JLTVs?
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2nd CAV is kinda taking this Army vs Navy game seriously...

On second thought if you're gonna have a training event and expending munitions anyway.... might as well have some fun with it!

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