Dogfight of the future. Helo vs. Helo.

Everyone talks about future warfare.  That's understandable and to be applauded but one part of it has been overlooked and quite honestly I can't wait to see how it plays out.

The dogfight of the future is helo vs. helo.  Or helo vs. UAV.  But however you label it, its going to harken back to World War One combat.  Up close and personal, fought in a phone booth and its gonna be a mostly guns affair.

I picked this video because it gives a good view of the size difference between the AH-64 and the AH-6 Little Bird.  The AH-64 is not only going to be dog food in the future fight but I'm not even sure the pilots are training for this type of combat.

Of all the services, only the Marine Corps to my knowledge is prepping its helicopter pilots to fight other helicopters or fighters.  In US service only the AH-1W/Z are equipped with AIM-9's.  Everyone else slams Stinger missiles on their airframes.  That's just not taking the threat seriously.

A fighter will lock on outside of the Stingers pathetic range and get a kill at distance.  Only the AIM-9 gives adequate standoff distance...but that's against airplanes.  Against helicopters it wil be small, fast, hard to see, hard to lock on, able to fly nap of the earth one second and zoom  to the top of a mountain top the next and still be able to keep track of your advesary that will win the day.

The Night Stalkers have the aggressiveness and experience to win that fight.  Marine helo drivers train to win that fight.  Everyone else?

I just don't know.

Russian Carrier meets US Destroyer.

SEVEROMORSK, Russian Federation (Aug. 26, 2012) The guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) arrives in Severomorsk for a two-day visit after completing exercise Northern Eagle 2012. (Russian Federation navy photo by Capt. 1st rank Anatoly Romanko/Released)

If you look in the background you can see the Russian carrier I referenced in the title.  Of all the bases I thought that I would never see an American Destroyer ever visit, I think that Severomorsk would be on the top of that list.  Ain't peaceful, military to military relations grand?  Right until Russian paratroopers drop into Colorado later this year that is!  I can't wait to hear the invasion USA stories then!

Tuesday Funny.

Courtesy of Bjørnar Bolsøy.  Good stuff ... thanks buddy!

North Sea Boats X3k Trimaran formally launches

via Defense Studies Blog...

The new 63 metre long vessel is a cutting edge trimaran design that it cosidered to be the most advanced naval vessel of its type ever built in South East Asia. It incorporates a radical wave piercing hull form for improved seaworthiness and stability, and has been built from full carbon fibre composite materials, utilising the vacuum infusion process and vinylester resin. This method results in a structure that has increased strength, but also offers the benefits of lower operating, maintenance, and lifecycle costs.

In 2009 PT Lundin signed a contract to build a one of the most advanced “stealth” warship for TNI-AL (Indonesian Navy). This was the result of an intensive Research and Development programme conducted by PT Lundin Industry Invest (North Sea Boats) and TNI-AL that commenced in 2007. Construction commenced in early 2010, but due to the advanced design and construction methods, the project has been kept largely confidential until now.

Members of the press are invited to attend this significant event. The launching ceremony will be held on Friday 31st August, 2012 at PT Lundin’s shipyard facility in Banuwangi, East Java. The ceremony will be attended by dignitaries and senior officers of TNI-AL during which a briefing and Press Conference and interviews will be conducted.

I wonder about this ship.

I wonder about its seakeeping....its armament...its endurance and its overall combat effectiveness.

I don't wonder about its looks. 

It looks cool. 

But it doesn't look right.  So while its certainly futuristic it doesn't meet the standard --- if it looks right it is right.

Mi-38 Impresses.

The Mi-38 impresses me.  The latest feat should have traditional Russian helicopter customers swarming them for new builds.  While its been a long time coming the Mi-38 really does look like worthy successor to the Mi-17.

via Russian Helicopters.

Russian Helicopters, part of Russian state defence holding Oboronprom and a leading global designer and manufacturer of helicopters, is proud to announce that a Mi-38 set a new world altitude record on the final day of the 14th FAI World Helicopter Championship.

The Mi-38, one of the latest Russian models designed for cargo and passenger transportation, climbed to above 8,600 meters, setting a new world record in the E1h class (the FAI category for helicopters weighing 10,000 to 20,000 kg).

The record was set by test pilots from Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, part of Russian Helicopters. The team was led by captain Vladimir Kutanin, and also included Salavat Sadriev (second pilot), Oleg Repitilo (navigator) and Igor Klevantsev (Air Force chief flight test engineer).

The previous record, of 8,500 meters, was also set by Russian pilots during a test flight. The new mark has been officially registered and will go down in global aviation history.

 Go to their website to read the rest...I like this helicopter!

Makassa Class LPD. Indonesian excellence.

You think the Type 71 LPD that China is producing is impressive?  You like the move by Australia to buy used Brit LPDs?  Are you impressed by the Singapore Endeavour Class LPD?

If your answer is the same as mine and you say yes to the above (except for being impressed by the Type 71...poor copy of the San Antonio) then understand something.  They're good but there is better in the region.  And they're not from Japan or Korea.  Check out the Makassa Class that belongs to Indonesia! 

The US is making a late turn to the Pacific.  With the limited research I've done on the subject it really seems like the arms race in that region has been going on for at least 10 years...while we have been in the sand, they've (and I mean all the major players in that region) been gearing up.  We had better be quick.  We're already behind the eight ball when it comes to catching up to events.

Japan really is buying AAVs!

via Hong Kong Times.

Japan's defense department decided to add four amphibious assault vehicle for Ground Self-Defense Force while boosting its defense budget, local meda reports.
The strong stance of China on the disputed Diaoyu islands promtped Japanese government to spend 3 billion yen (HK$295.5 million) to boost defense along islands on southwest of the country by 2013, local media reports, citing government source.
Meanwhile, Tokyo is seeking to buy Diaoyu Islands for 2 billion yen by the end of September, according to the report. Officials are reportedly speeding up the negotiation process with the owner of the isles.

Wow.

When I first heard the news on MarineTV that Japan was looking to buy the AAV I rolled with it but thought that it could be a misunderstanding on the reporters part and that they were perhaps looking to buy LCACs for their amphibs.

Guess I was wrong.

Japanese Naval Infantry really is making a comeback.

Check out this article from early last year from the Japanese Security Watch (again, I dismissed the assertions...I was hopeful that they were true but didn't believe that the pacifist Japanese would actually follow through)

Iron Fist has always been the most controversial (and, until recently, least publicized) of the joint exercises. Since World War II, pacifist Japan has prohibited itself from having marine infantry, labeling them a military asset that, like aircraft carriers and bombers, only has useful applications in wars of aggression. Marine troops are also heavily associated with Japan’s wartime past; the Special Naval Landing Forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy conducted extensive operations across the Pacific Theater, from China to Wake Island. Necessity aside, this sort of association can make certain ambitions of the Self Defense Forces unpopular to a Japanese public with a deep anti-war and anti-military sentiment.
But slowly, like nearly everything about Japanese defense policy, this is changing. In early 2010, Japan’s two major political parties, the DPJ and LDP, both announced support for the establishment of a marine infantry force. The force, it was explained, would be a marine unit charged with a defensive mission: to take back Japanese remote islands seized by an adversary, a capability the Self Defense Forces currently lack.

Its interesting that the Japanese view a Marine Corps as being an almost totally offensive military force.  In my mind at least some of the US Marine Corps finest moments have been in the defense...Guadalcanal and Chosen Reservoir come readily to mind...
The interesting part will be.

Can BAE get this contract?  An initial run of 4 vehicles will certainly lead to many more (it should at least equal the Brazilian buy of 26) so this will be alot more lucrative than it first appears.  Will Samsung make an attempt to get it?  Or will the Japanese wait to see what the ACV will be?

I though armor sales would trail off drastically once the war in Afghanistan wound down.

I was wrong!

Air Assault! Table Salt!

Wolfhounds from Borzoi Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, air assault from a UH-60 and begin their raid on the objective during training in South Korea.

The Air Assault warrior cry by 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Personnel was always given the refrain of "Table Salt" by the Paratroopers of the 82nd  that I shared a course with while at Ft Campbell.  I never did find out what the deal was with the condiment saying but it was funny as hell.  Army smacking on Army.  Priceless.

Namer APC's of the Golani Brigade operating on the Golan Heights

I just had a startling revelation.

The US Army with the Ground Combat Vehicle competition and the vehicles that have been entered into it, is admitting that technologically its behind the Israeli Army..at least when it comes to combat vehicles. 

Watch Experience in Motion

How did BAE lose to the legacy L-ATV?

L-ATV

L-ATV

M-ATV

M-ATV

Take a close look at the pics above.

Its beyond obvious that the L-ATV and the M-ATV share MANY similarities.  I would go so far to say that the L-ATV is simply a revamped M-ATV...a vehicle that we allready have plenty of.

And that brings me to this disturbing question.  If the L-ATV is simply a revamped M-ATV then how did it beat out the BAE Valanx?

The US Army (lets be honest, the Marine Corps has been a reluctant partner in this program) first wanted cutting edge designs.  BAE provided one.  They wanted MRAP type protection.  The Valanx did that.  They wanted power production...again the Valanx came through....off road ability...yes....

The Valanx.  A new design that provided everything the Army wanted lost out to the L-ATV?  From the outside looking in it just doesn't make sense.  OSHKOSH is extremely vague in their brochures about vehicle specifics but I just don't see any area where it would outshine the Valanx.

This contest should be protested.   I HOPE BAE mans up and does just that.  Seemingly inferior products winning production contest leads helps reinforce the impression that these contests are rigged.

This one I will keep an eye on.  I look forward to reading the rationale for this decision.  Just for comparison sake, below is a picture of the BAE Valanx.  How this clean sheet modern design lost to the legacy L-ATV is beyond me but something is wrong with our system.

AMAZING! McRaven tells Special Ops to shut up.

Thanks for this story John!

via Marine Corps Times.

WASHINGTON — Special operations chief Adm. Bill McRaven warned his troops, current and former, that he would take legal action against anyone found to have exposed sensitive information that could cause fellow forces harm.
"We will pursue every option available to hold members accountable, including criminal prosecution where appropriate," the four-star commander wrote, in an open, unclassified letter emailed to the active-duty special operations community Thursday, and obtained by The Associated Press.
The warning came a day after a retired Navy commando revealed he is publishing a first-hand account of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Pentagon officials say they have not been given a chance to review the book, but Pentagon spokesman George Little said Friday officials expect to receive a copy "very shortly."

I'm laughing my ass off.....

I'm thinking that he's callling the kettle black....

I think this guy is full of shit.

I hate to keep brining this up but a retired Special Forces General spoke up and told the good Admiral to get out of the press.  McRaven laughed in the retired Special Forces General's face along with some idiotic journalist.  I hope the General (whose name I forgot) is pouring himself a double shot of Jack Daniels, calling this son of a bitch up and telling him I told ya so.

NOTE:  He should be directing this message to SEAL teams.  The problem isn't SOCOM wide.

Marines agree with the Air Force and the Navy is screwed.

I don't know how I missed this but its good and it shows a rift between what should be the two closest services.

The Navy forced the Marines to buy the F-35C model and while I howled at the travesty of that, it didn't change the most important dynamic...the Marine Corps is following the US Air Force and going to an all stealth fighter force.

The Navy is still deciding the issue and it appears from the outside looking in that many would like to continue to build non-stealthy high performance fighters...depending on electronic jamming and superior avionics to make up for the lack of stealth.  Well the Marines not only aren't buying the non-stealth argument but are again following the US Air Force's lead in abandoning the electronic jamming role.  Check out this from Defense Tech.

The Marine Corps has no plans to pursue an Electronic Warfare variant of the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, said Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos at a Pentagon roundtable Thursday.
Amos said the AN/APG-81 Active Electronically Scanned Array radar installed on the F-35 already sets the fifth generation fighter apart as an electronic warfare platform.
“The airplane itself … with the AESA radar and sensors and information sharing capability is a pretty significant EW platform right now,” said Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos at a roundtable meeting with reporters in the Pentagon Aug. 23.
Aviation analysts have questioned why the Air Force and Navy have not focused more heavily on modernizing their electronic warfare capabilities. The Navy has started to phase out the EA-6B Prowler with the addition of the FA-18 Growler as the military’s pre-eminent electronic warfare platform to take suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) missions.

What does that mean?  It means that Navy electronic warfare wings are going to be worked even harder than they already are.  The Navy and Marine wings are already supporting Air Force and NATO ops and now they're going to be worked even harder!

NAVAIR is gonna have to make up for the shortfall...I would bet that Super Hornets might make an appearance in Marine Corps colors after all.

The tale of CAPT Rogers. A warning from the past.

Do you remember Capt Rogers?

Do you remember the pain and worry that his family had to face after he was forced to act on one fateful day.  A day that would see innocent people killed...not because Capt Rogers was a blood thirsty maniac, but because a couple of pilots flew into restricted airspace during a cold conflict turned hot between the US and Iran.

Read the Wiki page for yourself but here's a tidbit.

Nine months after the downing of Iran Air Flight 655, on March 10, 1989, Rogers' wife Sharon escaped with her life when a pipe bomb attached to her minivan exploded, while she was driving.^[5] The van was recorded in the name of Will Rogers III, and many people jumped to a conclusion and suspected that terrorism was involved. Five months later, the Associated Press reported that the most likely suspect had a personal vendetta against Capt. Rogers and that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had ruled out terrorist activity.^[15] At that time pipe bombs were a common occurrence (over 200 each year) in San Diego County and a largely homegrown threat according to the local sheriff's department.^[16] As of 2007, the bombing of Rogers' van remains an unsolved case, despite a major investigation involving at some time up to 300 police men and FBI agents.^[17] On February 17, 1993, the case was featured on the TV show Unsolved Mysteries, but no additional information was uncovered.

The story of Capt Rogers isn't widely known or told these days.  Its forgotten been forgotten by most and only the dedicated people in historical society probably even talk about it.  Forget reading about his story at USNI blog or on Proceedings...they're stuck on stupid about insignificant and unimportant personal issues or advocating for rights.

But they should.

Its a warning to all that when you fight certain enemies today, the battle doesn't necessarily end when you get back home.  If you're part of a noteworthy battle, or extremely critical mission these bastards will hunt you AND your family down.

That's where my outrage toward this Navy SEAL comes from.  Its ok to put your own life on the line and I salute him for doing that.  But by penning this book he's painted bullseyes on the backs of his and teammates loved ones.

This book is unacceptable.  The sad part of it though is this.  If the Pentagon allows it to be published I'll read it...and so will every bad guy that SEAL Team has ever gone after.

 

Blast from the past. Comanche Recon Helicopter.

The Comanche Helicopter.

A flying marvel that was perhaps ahead of its time when it was developed but probably right on time today.

Have you ever wondered why the military doesn't dust off the designs that didn't work when they came out but might work today.  The Comanche obviously contributed to the design of the stealth helicopter that crashed in Pakistan but instead of using that tech to work up a new helicopter, the Army and Sikorsky appear to have abandoned it for conventional forces.

Too bad.  The Comanche is something our forces could use.

Arrogance on display. Courtesy USNI Blog.

I'm not a fan of the USNI Blog.  Some of the writers yes.  The majority of them?  NOT AT ALL!

They vast majority of them represent the very worst values to be found in individuals in the military...they're self serving, self important, believe the world revolves around them and they think that the military owes them something.

The latest example of this comes from a YN2.  Read the whole thing but check this out.

Get through ‘A’ School, and through a duty station, probably in/around DC.  Then apply for the sabbatical program in the Navy, and finish whatever schooling I have left.

But, even with this plan, I don’t want to leave SHAPE.  I doubt that anyone who reads this blog dislikes my Boss, ADM Stavridis.  But, I also doubt many people who read this blog have worked for him.  Trust me, he’s even better to work for than his reputation lets on.  I know that anywhere else I go in the Navy, the ideas will not be as good, the drive to bring good ideas forward will not be as earnest, and I will miss all of this so terribly much–Please, all of you out there, prove me wrong in that, let me know who next to go work for as a CTR, I beg you.

I don’t care that I will become just another CTR2 out there in the Fleet–in fact I miss the Fleet.  But, I do care about not being around ideas.  And that is why I want to get out, because in a very real sense, I know that in four years I’ve worked in that once-in-a-generation Command.

I don't know how USNI came to a point where its allowing its authors to pen articles that are this self serving.  This selfish.  This limited in its scope.

But they have.

I just wonder where the trustees are.  Where is the leadership that says this is bullshit.

And if you're sitting there saying "hey the guy is making a decision and he's sharing it with the world" then consider this.

Thousands of Marines are making this very decision right now without whining.

Thousands of Marines are facing the very tough situation of wanting to remain in the Corps but will be forced out anyway.

Thousands of Marines are making a decision and dealing with the consequences.

But not this sailor.  Not this guy.  He's important.  He's the only one that's going through this.  He's special.

He makes me fucking sick.

SOCOM is operating in Mexico.

Read between the line on this one.  Check out this tidbit and read the rest for yourself.

The U.S. Embassy did not release the names of the injured workers, who it said were heading to a military training base south of Mexico City. Its statement said the employees and a Mexican naval captain traveling with them were fired on by a group of men, and were chased when they tried to escape. The naval officer was not seriously injured.

Mexico's federal police agency acknowledged that its own officers fired on the embassy's SUV, which appeared to be armored and has diplomatic plates. It said the officers were in the area looking for criminals, but it did not explain what happened.

Its statement said at least four vehicles fired at the embassy vehicle on a road south of the capital, but it did not clarify whether any or all of them were federal police units. Federal police spokesmen did not respond to The Associated Press requesting further comment.

A U.S. official who was briefed on the shooting said later that all the shots were fired by federal police.

Yeah.

A diplomatic vehicle?

US govt. workers?

Traveling with a Mexican Naval Officer?

You heard it here first.  SOCOM is operating just South of the border.

When did Laron Landry hulk out?

I remember seeing this guy play at LSU (when we won another Championship...not counting the one we'll win this year) and he was NEVER this big.  I'm not saying he's juicing but damn, he must have added almost 50 pounds of pure muscle in two years!

JLTV is a mistake.

I'm parsing this from the Commandant's latest interview.  via Reuters.

After the new ACV enters into production, the Marines also plan to start work on a cheaper new personnel carrier that would be used to transport troops on the ground. Amos said the service would also maintain some undefined number of existing vehicles and keep them running to save money.
He underscored the importance of a Humvee replacement program, and said the Marines could expand their plans to buy 5,000 of the new trucks in later years.

I'm just not understanding the rationale.

The Marine Corps just necked down aviation to save money yet at the same time we're going to buy 5,000 JLTV's to replace only a portion of the 20,000 odd HUMVEEs we have in service?

Two supply chains.  One for the new JLTV the other for the legacy Hummers.

But wait it gets better.  The ACV (unless he misspoke) is going to be in production before the MPC?  Yet the ACV is suppose to be affordable, have greater carrying capacity and yet we're still going forward with the MPC?

And while we're getting the ACV and the MPC we're going to upgrade the AAV?

You heard it here first.

This is bullshit.  It ain't gonna work, Congress won't go for it and they're spinning wheels because they're unsure of which direction they want to go.

One thing I'm sure of.  The only reason why the Marine Corps is going forward with the JLTV is because of US Army pressure.  Reports I got are that the upgraded HUMVEE shown to Marines at Pendleton got nothing but RAVE REVIEWS.  Those reports surely got up the chain because high ranking Marines were there to see it.

The Army does good work but its time to make the turn back to the sea and understand that we fall under the Dept of the Navy.

Standardization with the Army at a budget busting cost is just not acceptable.  First things first.  Dump the JLTV.

Marine Corps Muleskinners

Sgt. Justin D. Head, animal packing course chief instructor, exercises his mustang, Hondo, shortly after grazing. The animal packing course is the only one of its kind in the department of defense and teaches Marines and other military personnel how to effectively and efficiently work with beast of burden to transport munitions, supplies and wounded personnel to and from areas inaccessible to mechanized and air transportation. The course, offered at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, teaches an introduction to animal packing, an anatomy of pack animals, animal packing techniques, casualty evacuation techniques, animal first aid and bivouac considerations.

Sgt. Warren Sparks, Mountain Warfare Animal Packer Instructor, leads a group of Marines across the Sierra Nevada mountain range on his mule, Trigger. The Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center trains Marines and other service members to move across various terrains at altitudes between 8,000 to 11,000 feet. The animal packer course is one of several classes taught at the MWTC.

The bond established between Marine and animal are important to the success of every packing mission. "You put a horse in certain circumstances, he has to be able to trust you," said Sgt. Warren Head, animal packer course chief instructor. "They see we feed them and take care of them, and over time, that builds the trust between us."

Capt. Anthony F. Reynolds, maintenance management officer at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, rest his mule, Herman, following a supply transport to a training area. Marines are taught to tend to the needs of their packing animals before taking care of their own, which includes brushing, grazing and resting the animals once they arrive to their destination.

The Marine Corps animal packing course is designed to aid Marine Corps units in alternative methods of transporting crew served weapons, ammunition, supplies and wounded personnel to and from areas inaccessible to mechanized and air mobile transportation. Students are taught the necessary skills to enable them to plan, organize, and conduct animal packing, and/or provide advice to senior commanders and staffs.