BAE pulled a fast one. The Marine Personnel Carrier has been redesigned!

BAE is a slick company.  Slick as in smooth and for those that aren't paying attention they'll fail to notice simple little things.

Like the way they redesigned the vehicle.  Check this out.  The before Marine Day photo...

And now a pic of the vehicle as it was presented at Modern Day Marine (photo is courtesy of DefenseNews)...

Let me tell ya something boys and girls.  That's an entirely new vehicle.  Completely different than the one that they were modeling before.

Lets take it from the front back.  The front end has been totally redesigned.  I'm guessing but I'm betting that it has better water performance now.  Notice the lights have been moved, the front is more raked...now take a look at the suspension.  I don't know whats going on there but its been totally redesigned too.  Additionally and I can't tell because I haven't seen a photo of the top of the vehicle but I would bet its changed too.  Notice the RWS system?

We're looking at the VBTP on roids.  That means a high degree of automotive parts.  That also means they're gonna make this a price war.

The only real question left is this.  The Italian Marine Corps has a requirement for a MPC too.  Are they going to be offered the same vehicle as the USMC or is IVECO doing something unique for them?

Either way all the major defense writers missed the really big news.  BAE made an ass out of them and switched up vehicles and none of them noticed.

Note:
Below you see a pic of the Brazilian VBTP.  If I recall correctly, they are looking at producing an 8x8 version.  I think we're seeing a two-fer here.  IVECO/BAE get to leverage the USMC Marine Personnel Carrier Program with development of the VBTP 8x8.  Brilliant.  But a look at the current VBTP and the model on display indicates that they refined it.  Attention will now turn to the VBTP and see if we see a version 2.0.  This is getting good!

 

24th MEU. Aerial Refueling Training...over Djibouti City

Photos by Cpl. Michael Petersheim

NOTE:
24th MEU seems to be stuck this deployment at the Horn of Africa.  

The ships company form a T45 on the flight deck of HMS Dauntless

S-ATV Special Purpose All-Terrain vehicle

Thanks Xavier for sending me this.  I've been trying to get a look at this vehicle since last week!

Its from Oshkosh and just guessing but it looks like it has a narrow track so that means possibly V-22 internal transport.  The body style seems familiar but I can't place it.  With the gear stowed on the hood I'll also assume some type of mid-engine setup.  I can spot some type of pickup bed and since I'm also guessing that you have the driver seated in the middle with passengers on both sides and behind...maybe one driver with room for 3 others inside and maybe seats for two in the bed.  I can just make out a couple of machineguns from both windows, one up top and another in rear so we're looking at a typical SOCOM gun buggy.

Interesting.  Oshkosh needs to learn how to better advertise their stuff.  This should be on everyone's website by now and all I'm seeing is the announcements.  Only Army Recognition has the pic.

Time for new people in your public relations shop Oshkosh Defence!

Defeat facial recon.

So the government is coming out with facial id cameras?  Want to beat that little irritation if for no other reason than it pisses you off that someone is compiling this kind of database?  Then check out the vid below.

The attack aftermath. Questions must be asked.

Personnel of 51 Squadron RAF Regiment on a security patrol around the perimter of Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.
51 Squadron are the Resident Field Squadron at Camp Bastion who as part of 5 Force Protection Wing protect the troops and aircraft at Camp Bastion

51 Squadron (Sqn) Royal Air Force (RAF) Regiment carry out a routine foot patrol in their area of operation (AO) to the south of Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.
51 Sqn, based at RAF Lossiemouth in the UK are split up into various combat roles including quick reaction force (QRF) and guard posts around the perimeter fence, this particular unit are tasked with patrolling and engaging with local nationals in order to keep up to date with whats going on around Main Operating Base (MOB) Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

A few questions that must be asked about this attack...

1.  How did the enemy get close to the base without being detected.
2.  How were they able to breach walls without being engaged.
3.  How long did it take the Quick Reaction Force to respond to the incident.
4.  Why wasn't intel about an attack issued.


Why are we reading news stories about this incident before we have an official after action.  Why is the RAF Regiment is working so hard to state that this was a successful engagement of the enemy when it was anything but.  

The enemy penetrated the base and destroyed aircraft.  That means RAF Regiment had mission failure.

You can't dress it up any other way.

US Marines can't get away unscathed either.  We're the USMC, not the Army, not the Navy, not the Coast Guard or Air Force.  Since when do we depend on another force to provide security?  Where were our people that were charged with protecting these mission critical, high value aircraft?  You can have all the outer security you want but in my experience you always have internal security...especially if an unfamiliar unit is providing that security!

As much as I hate to say it we're being spun.  We need real answers to real questions.

NOTE:
I'm not hating on the RAF Regiment but geez.  Seriously?  Bragging after a successful enemy attack is just wrong.  If they had been caught outside the wire and repulsed then that would be one thing, but these bozos made it onto the base...over to the flightline and created chaos for over 4 hours.  Not good and nothing to be proud of. 

NOTE 1:
A unit that should get some kudos but is playing it low key are the Cannon Dudes from 2/10 (I call you gun bunnies but I'm trying to show love this one time).  They acted as infantry and added their firepower to the attack.  They're getting little mention while we're hearing about RAF Regiment and the Air Wing Marines doing their stuff everyone is ignoring how this unit stood to get the job done.

Notice.

I had planned to be at Modern Day Marine at Quantico but an illness in the family is going to make that impossible. 

Blogging will be spotty until further notice.

Sup

Delta Bravo Sierra

All the hallmarks of Quds Force training.

The more I look at this incident the more it looks like the terrorists had specialized training.  Military raid training.

I'm spitting in the wind but I would guess that the Iranian Quds Force trained these bastards to conduct this attack and that's another of the dirty little secrets that no one wants to talk about.

Its just a guess, but an educated guess.

Japanese soldiers integrate with 31st MEU

Respect.

Marines kneel down beside the battlefield cross to pay their final respects to Sgt. Bradley Atwell during a memorial ceremony, Sept. 20. During the ceremony, Marines paid tribute to Atwell, an aircraft electrical, instrument and flight control systems technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, from Kokomo, Ind. Atwell was killed in action while engaging insurgents during an attack on Camp Bastion, Sept. 14.

General John Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force, pays his final respects to Lt. Col. Christopher Raible during a memorial ceremony, Sept. 19. During the ceremony, Marines paid tribute to Raible, commanding officer of Marine Attack Squadron 211, from Huntingdon, Pa. Raible was killed in action while engaging insurgents during an attack on Camp Bastion, Sept. 14.

An AV-8B Harrier II Plus with Marine Attack Squadron 211, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), awaits its next mission on the tarmac at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Sept. 18, 2012. The aircraft provides air support to the ground units throughout Helmand and Nimroz provinces. Despite a roller coaster week for the squadron, VMA-211 remains fully operational and continues to provide support to ground troops throughout Regional Command Southwest’s area of operations.

NOTE:  The only way this Squadron can be considered fully functional after losing over half its aircraft is if its in cadre status or another Squadron was stripped of its airplanes.  More on this later.

RAF Regiment. This is becoming a bit unseemly.

The Brits are rightfully proud of their RAF Regiment but this is becoming a bit unseemly.  Lets not lose sight of the sad fact that the enemy breached this base.  It was a failure all the way around--by all involved.  The chest pounding is unwarranted.

Recon Marines Jump into Alaska

Wow.

via CDR Salamader from SLDinfo.

From: Commanding Officer, Marine Attack Squadron 211
To: Squadron Attack Pilots
Subj: COMMANDER’S GUIDANCE FOR SQUADRON ATTACK PILOTS
1. Professional hunger.
My goal is to identify those Officers who want to be professional attack pilots and dedicate the resources required to build them into the flight leaders and instructors that are required for the long-term health of our community. This is not a socialist organization. We will not all be equal in terms of quals and flight hours. Some will advance faster than others, and because this is not a union, your rate of advancement will have nothing to do with seniority. Your rate of advancement will instead be determined by your hunger, professionalism, work ethic, and performance.
If flying jets and supporting Marines is your passion and your profession, you are in the right squadron.
If these things are viewed simply as your job, please understand that I must invest for the future in others. Your time in a gun squadron might be limited, so it is up to you to make the most of the opportunities that are presented.
2. Professional focus.
Our approach to aviation is based upon the absolute requirement to be “brilliant in the basics.”
Over the last few years Marine TACAIR has not punted the tactical nearly so often as the admin. Sound understanding of NATOPS, aircraft systems, and SOPs is therefore every bit as important as your understanding of the ANTTP and TOPGUN. With this in mind, ensure the admin portions of your plan are solid before you move onto objective area planning. Once you begin tactical planning, remember that keeping things “simple and easy to execute” will usually be your surest path to success. If the plan is not safe, it is not tactically sound.
3. Attitude.
I firmly believe in the phrase “hire for attitude, train for skill.”
Work ethic, willingness to accept constructive criticism, and a professional approach to planning, briefing, and debriefing will get you 90% of the way towards any qualification or certification you are pursuing. The other 10% is comprised of in-flight judgment and performance, and that will often come as a result of the first 90%. Seek to learn from your own mistakes and the mistakes of others. Just as a championship football team debriefs their game film, we are going to analyze our tapes and conduct thorough flight debriefs. It has often been said that the success of a sortie is directly proportional to the caliber of the plan and brief. The other side of this coin is that the amount of learning that takes place as a result of a sortie is directly proportional to the caliber of the debrief.
4. Moral courage.
Speak up if something seems wrong or unsafe.
We all know what the standards are supposed to be in Naval Aviation and in the Corps. Enforce them! When we fail to enforce the existing standards, we are actually setting and enforcing a new standard that is lower.
5. Dedication.
If you average one hour per workday studying, 6 months from now you will be brilliant. That is all it takes; one hour per day. As you start to notice the difference between yourself and those who are unable to find 60 minutes, I want you to know that I will have already taken note.
Then, I want you to ask yourself this question: “How good could I be if I really gave this my all?”
6. When all else fades away, attack pilots have one mission: provide offensive air support for Marines.
The Harrier community needs professional attack pilots who can meet this calling.
It does not require you to abandon your family. It does not require you to work 16 hours per day, six days per week. It requires only a few simple commitments to meet this calling: be efficient with your time at work so that you can study one hour per day; be fully prepared for your sorties and get the maximum learning possible out of every debrief; have thick skin and be willing to take constructive criticism; find one weekend per month to go on cross country. When you are given the opportunity to advance, for those few days go to the mat and give it your all, 100%, at the expense of every other thing in your life.
To quote Roger Staubach, “there are no traffic jams on the extra mile.”
If you can be efficient during the workweek, give an Olympian effort for check rides and certifications, and are a team player, the sky will literally be the limit for you in this squadron.
C. K. RAIBLE

Just plain wow.

I can think of a certain writer on USNI Blog that wouldn't last 10 minutes in this guys Squadron.  We lost a great one.

F-22 and F-35 Over Mount Whitney

Nice find Sferrin!  Thanks for sharing.

F-35 and F-22 fly together for the first time

A new version of the RG35 from BAE.

via ADS.

BAE Systems today launched the latest 6x6 variant of the RG35 family of vehicles – the RG35 multi-purpose blast protected fighting vehicle – at the 2012 Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition (AAD).
“The RG35 family of vehicles incorporates 30 years of experience in tactical mobility and protection,” said Johan Steyn, managing director, Land Systems South Africa.
The RG35 6x6 has an 8.5 ton payload, a 12 cubic meters volume under armor, can seat up to 14 crew members, and carry light and medium remote controlled weapon stations. Like the 4x4 variant, the latest 6x6 variant includes independent suspension and a side mounted powerpack that can be replaced in less than one hour.
The RG35 family of vehicles can be deployed in many different roles and offers a choice of variants and configurations while maintaining 80 percent vehicle commonality. RG35 combines the high levels of survivability of the RG31 Mine Protected Vehicle with the tactical capability of an infantry fighting vehicle.
Integrated onto the vehicle at AAD will be the TRT-B25 (Tactical Remote Turret) also from Land Systems South Africa.

Interesting.

With the way that some police forces are gearing up I wouldn't be surprised to see this being used in that role.  As usual though, BAE comes up with some nice designs but no one seems to be buying them. Instead they stick to old stale, semi-improved models.

They ran TOWARDS the sounds of gunfire...

via BlackFive...

I hope that these two sheepdogs made those Arab hill-billy, Stone Age, ass-pirates pay dearly for every inch of territory between them and the ambassador before they were overrun.  God Bless them, their families, and may they find peace now that they have been called home.

Well said BlackFive!

This is beyond hardcore.  These guys could have E&E'ed and probably made it out alive.  I can imagine they were in an overwatch position and could see the numbers against them...

But they went anyway.

Fucking hardcore man.  Hard as woodpecker lips.  Read the whole thing at B5.

Another victory lap. RAF Regiment on display.

The Brits are currently smitten with their RAF Regiment.  The photos below are from a photo dump by their Ministry of Defense highlighting not only the Regiment but also their primary combat vehicle...the Foxhound.

Marine Jets Destroyed, Damaged in Insurgent Attack

Something screwy is going on.  I've been monitoring this shit closely and now suddenly I see this vid and supposedly it was out on the 17th?  Hmmm.