Pic of the day. Nov 13, 2011.

Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward, a machine-gunner with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, patrols next to a small canal. Woodward has enjoyed a sense of camaraderie shared with Marines form his platoon that one can only attain though combat. "Being (an infantryman) has its ups and downs," said Woodward. "(The best part is) you get to spend time with your brothers."

Chris Costa talks about his custom S&W...

Seems like this trend toward electronic sights on pistols is really starting to take off.  Might be time to take a good look at it. 

I wonder if this is another civilian started move that the military will adopt?

US Marines and Australian Navy's LHD.

Thinking more and more about the USMC's move to northern Australia and the training opportunities that provides.

One thing everyone seems to be overlooking is the opportunity to network with not only the Australian Army but also its Navy.  Imagine the shock in China if they ever see a USMC MEU partially embarked aboard an Australian Navy LHD?

What's going on with the BAE/Iveco Defense SuperAV 8x8???

Ok.

I need your help.

I'm ready to declare the BAE/Iveco SuperAV 8x8 vapor ware.

I see plenty of nice mock ups....I see it at exhibits and shows....but I haven't seen it anywhere.

Have you?  I heard a rumor that it was at Pendleton doing tests but haven't been able to run it down.  Sent a letter to BAE but they ignore/don't respond.  I even asked Sean over at Aviation Week to hook me up with one of his European reporters to see if he heard anything.  Nothing.  No news.  No sightings...nothing.

Is this vehicle still in play or has Iveco packed its bags and stepped away from the competition?

1st Serial HAD French Tigre Attack Helicopter

Beware of Imposters.

Beware of imposters!

Imposters.

Never thought that it would happen on military focused blogs.  But this F-35 discussion seems to bring out the troll in the worst of people.

Fellow Blogger SMSgt Mac faced an imposter over at Defense Tech.  SMSgt Mac has been pretty much neutral on the issue of the F-35.  What he has done that's brought this attention is the fact that he's been able to reliably and effectively call bullshit when false statements are made.

You can't switch between different accounting systems with this guy and get his eyes rolling with madness at the minutiae of it all.  He's able to easily keep up and refute the bastards at every turn.

So consider this an official apology to SMSgt Mac at Elements of Power.  I should have known better.

Hey Aussies!..the US Marines are coming!

via Defense News.

SYDNEY - U.S. President Barack Obama will use a visit to Australia next week to announce that America will begin stationing Marines at a base in Darwin, reports said on Nov. 11.
In a front page exclusive, the Sydney Morning Herald said the new permanent military presence was a sign of heightened concern about the rise of China.

This has been a long time in coming but if I remember my geography correctly, it seems like the Marines have found a 29 Palms west....only with a bunch of critters that can kill ya.

But seriously, it would appear that the move toward the Pacific has begun in earnest...next step?  Get outta Japan so we don't have to hear the nationals crying about us being there.

Happy Birthday Marines!

Happy Birthday Marine Corps!


Happy Birthday Marines!

RAF Chinook Helicopters Take Off on a Mission Over Helmand, Afghanistan

Photograph shows Royal Air Force Chinook Mk2 helicopters from 1310 Flight taking off from Camp Bastion airfield in Helmand, Afghanistan, while a US Air Force Blackhawk helicopter waits to land.

The Joint Helicopter Force (AFGHANISTAN) or JHF (A) is a deployed tri-Service unit from the Joint Helicopter Command. Its primary purpose is to facilitate tactical mobility, reconnaissance and Aviation Fires support to the UK task force in Helmand Province and to the multi-national force of Regional Command (South). Photographer: POA(Phot) Mez Merri

Photograph shows Royal Air Force Chinook Mk2 helicopters from 1310 Flight taking off from Camp Bastion airfield in Helmand, Afghanistan.

The Joint Helicopter Force (AFGHANISTAN) or JHF (A) is a deployed tri-Service unit from the Joint Helicopter Command. Its primary purpose is to facilitate tactical mobility, reconnaissance and Aviation Fires support to the UK task force in Helmand Province and to the multi-national force of Regional Command (South). Photographer: POA(Phot) Mez Merrill

 

 

 

 

Photograph shows Royal Air Force Chinook Mk2 helicopters from 1310 Flight taking off from Camp Bastion airfield in Helmand, Afghanistan.

The Joint Helicopter Force (AFGHANISTAN) or JHF (A) is a deployed tri-Service unit from the Joint Helicopter Command. Its primary purpose is to facilitate tactical mobility, reconnaissance and Aviation Fires support to the UK task force in Helmand Province and to the multi-national force of Regional Command (South). Photographer: POA(Phot) Mez Merrill

Photograph shows a Royal Air Force Chinook Mk2 from 1310 flight taking off on a dawn mission from Camp Bastion airfield in Helmand, Afghanistan.

The Joint Helicopter Force (AFGHANISTAN) or JHF (A) is a deployed tri-Service unit from the Joint Helicopter Command. Its primary purpose is to facilitate tactical mobility, reconnaissance and Aviation Fires support to the UK task force in Helmand Province and to the multi-national force of Regional Command (South). Photographer: POA(Phot) Mez Merrill

The True Heroes...thanks Vets! Where ever you are!

Courtesy mabryusmc and 1 Battalion 6th Marines...Turn your speakers up...BUT.... NSFW...

A worthwhile charity I support and hope you will too...

BlackFive is supporting a charity that I think is worthwhile and I'm definitely supporting and hope that you will too.  Check out the vid below...



Unless you've been there and done that then you don't realize what a difference something as simple as this can make...I'm especially thinking about the first termers...the guys just out of boot camp and SOI that are away from home for the holidays...some for the first time..and then my heart aches for the guys that got busted up and came home and didn't have a strong family to come back to..or no family.

But do what you think is right.  If you're like me then you'll help....

Marines go 'green' for helicopter support training

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.-Marines from Landing Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, rig a 1,000-pound cement block to the bottom of an MV-22 Osprey during a training exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Nov. 8. The training allowed both the landing support specialists on the ground and pilots in the air to train for night helicopter support operations., Pfc. Timothy Childers, 11/8/2011 1:27 PM

Photo release: First F-35C catapult launch at NAS Patuxent River

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – Navy test pilot Lt. Chris Tabert flies F-35C test aircraft CF-3 off the TC-7 steam catapult at NAS Patuxent River Nov. 4. The launch was the first time the test catapult here launched an F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. Previous catapult testing occurred in Lakehurst, N.J. The F-35C carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter is distinct from the F-35A and F-35B variants with its larger wing surfaces and reinforced landing gear to withstand catapult launches and deck landing impacts associated with the demanding aircraft carrier environment. Initial carrier trials for the F-35C are scheduled for 2013. The F-35C is undergoing test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River before delivery to the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo)

Out fucking standing!

I bet the asshats doing all that laughing in the background shit themselves!

Too awesome!

The American Jackal...courtesy Supacat and LM!

Looks like Supacat and Lockheed Martin are teaming up to bring the Jackal Fast Attack Vehicle to US shores.  I personally will not be surprised to see it in a Special Ops compound in the near future.  Awesome vehicle.

First F-35C catapult launch at NAS Patuxent River

Wow. The US has an even more advanced stealth helicopter!

Read this article from Sean Meade at Aviation Week here, but this caught my attention...

initially planned to use Ghost Hawks, highly classified helicopters nicknamed "Jedi rides" that emit zero electromagnetic radiation and are invisible to radar.

However they were replaced with older Stealth Hawks after the White House abandoned plans to have F-18 "hornet" jets fly patrols over the helicopters and it was deemed too much of a risk that the Ghost technology would fall into enemy hands.

Wow.

So much for the lack of progress in US helicopter development.  Something tells me that all we're seeing is a whole bunch of old tech flying over the battlefields.  Time to take a trip to Ft. Campbell with my night vision devices to see whats really flying.

Williams Foundation supports F-35B's for Australia's LHD's!

Thanks Phil!

Awesome article and I don't know how I missed it but suffice it to say that some in Australia (in positions of influence) are already aiming toward converting some of those F-35's that the Aussies are about to buy into F-35B's for their LHD's.

Great move.  Smart move.  A no brains move.  Read it for yourself below.

Big Ships Big Challenge Oct 2011

Red Arrows pilot dies in ground mishap.

A terrible tragedy. 

Via SkyNews...

A Red Arrows pilot has become the second team member to die in a matter of weeks after he was ejected from his aircraft while it was on the ground.

Pictures from the scene at RAF Scampton, in Lincolnshire, shows part of the canopy of the Hawk T1 jet is missing.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said an investigation was under way and confirmed the plane was not airborne when the tragedy happened at 11am on Tuesday.
The pilot was airlifted to Lincoln County Hospital, but his injuries were so severe he could not be saved. His family have been informed and he is due to be named on Wednesday.

Read it all here.

Modest Proposal...C-27 as the next carrier on board delivery plane!

My modest proposal.

Lets consider the C-27 as the next carrier on board delivery plane.  Radical you say?  I say why not!  We've conducted tests with the C-130 on board carriers and unless NAVAIR has destroyed those test results then we already know the issues facing us when it comes to making this work.

Consider this.
1.  The C-27 is supposedly rated for rough field landings.  Modification to make it carrier capable shouldn't be too challenging.
2.  Its heavy, but with heavier aircraft arriving on board our carriers everyday, the added capacity that the C-27 brings over the current airplane become readily apparent.  We need an airplane that can carry F-35 engines and the current airplane is having difficulty. 
3.  Its already in the supply chain due to the work that the USAF and Army have done.  Just like the X-47B, all we have to do is pick up on the work that others have done and carry it across the goal line.

Yeah, it might seem radical but we've done it before but with much bigger.