Army Airborne is morphing. Are we seeing the rebirth of the 9th Infantry Division (Motorized) under canopy?

via Fayobserver.

The "Airborne FARP" being tested by the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade could help Army helicopters reach the ground forces that train to parachute into enemy territory under the cover of darkness.

A FARP, or forward arming and refueling point, provides fuel and ammunition for helicopter crews.

Often, they are located at forward operating bases or airfields in areas with existing military security.

The 82nd Airborne wants to be able to place them well beyond the reach of those bases and closer to the front lines of battle. To do that, the 82nd is developing procedures to airdrop components of a FARP and the soldiers who would operate it.

That would extend the reach of helicopters, which unlike much of the 82nd Airborne's equipment, cannot be dropped from a plane.

And then this.

Three large packages slid from the back of the plane as massive parachutes filled with air above them. The air drops - which included simulated fuel, a pump system, ammunition and a Humvee - fell silently, punctuated by a reverberating thud upon landing.

Minutes later, the C-17 again flew over the drop zone. This time, it released about 50 paratroopers into the air.

Twenty soldiers, mostly assigned to A Company, 122nd Aviation Support Battalion, worked with little light and virtually no noise, unpacking the pump system, known as an Advanced Aviation Forward Area Refueling System, or AAFARS, and hooking it up to real fuel, delivered to the drop zone via truck to replace the water dropped as part of the exercise.

So let me get this straight.

The 82nd wants to be able to drop paratroopers, JLTVs (for recon), whatever they're calling the "ground mobility vehicle" to transport the paratroops, a new light tank, artillery, prime movers for the artillery and now they want to add an Airborne FARP to the list?

I won't even touch the USAF's ability to provide lift for all that.  I am gonna question what the end goal is.

What the fuck are they trying to do?

Historically the 82nd has been known as some pretty decent light infantry.
 Little Groups of Paratroops was their motto and they did the hard thing and did it well.

Now?

It seems like they're trying to morph into a medium weight force.  I have no problem if that's the goal, but to try and put all that gear under canopy is a fool's errand.  Quite honestly if I didn't know better I'd think that we're looking at the rebirth of the 9th Infantry Division (Motorized/Airborne).

A new twist on Space 1999's Eagle.

A little off topic but I've always been a fan of Space 1999.  The star of the show in my opinion was Carter and the Eagle Space Transporter (the Hawks were cool too).  Well leave it to sci-fi guys to come up with a new twist on a classic.  I'm not sure I like it but it is interesting.

 

US jets painted in Russian colors. A false flag?

Its time to squash this nonsense with a quickness.  I've been getting all kinds of e-mails talking about US jets painted like their Russian counterparts and how this is to do a "false flag" operation in Syria.

This story first appeared on Superstation 95 (never heard of them before) and its gone viral.  Today while looking at my feeds I saw that even Iran's Press TV had picked up the story.

How about using a little common sense people!  First the US has had aggressor squadrons with aircraft painted to represent threat forces for years. Its even done on the ground side at the Army's National Training Center.  Second, how are you gonna do a false flag in Syria?  The radar coverage of that region is INTENSE!  Aircraft are tracked from takeoff to landing to include military airplanes.  Amazingly enough you still have civilian traffic in the area so there is NO WAY it could be pulled off without either the Russians, Syrians, Iranians, Turks or someone that has an axe to grind couldn't detect.

And last but not least there are better ways to do it.  A cruise missile, an information campaign accusing the Russians of bombing a hospital and that lie would be around the world twice before they could properly refute it.

I'm all for conspiracy theories but make them fucking plausible!

CDR Salamander responds to my musing...must read!

I did an earlier blog post (here) and made this closing statement...

 I do wonder though.  CDR Salamander is one of those old skool, cold warriors.  He was playing big boy games in the Atlantic with hard core Russian sub commanders when I was still reading comic books and dreaming of banging my first girl.  Is this nostalgia or an actual thing?  I still hold out hope that we can bring Russia into our camp.

Sal responded on the blog in the comments section and its too good to leave there and needed to be "popped out" so that everyone could drink it in...

Actually, I have no desire to have any possibility for conflict with Russia, or even getting close to it. (I cover this thread more on twitter than my homeblog). We used to have Soviet SSBN between the E. Coast and Bermuda, 15-min SLBM flight from nuclear war. No thank you. I lived through that once, no desire to live through it again. If we could be smart about it, we have more to gain by working with the Russians in certain areas - such as Syria - than giving them reasons to want to restart rivalry. But, if they want to dance, then we have to dance. It didn't have to be this way, but it is. We have done a lot of Russia shows on Midrats if you'd like to get more detail on some of my thoughts.

Just taking a look around the military blogosphere, it seems that everyone is in agreement.  No one wants a fight with Russia.  It will be nasty beyond imagination.  But the part that I highlighted from Sal's response is important.

"If they want to dance, then we have to dance."

Policy wonks and politicians are driving us to a point that the military would rather avoid, but if they want to dance then we have no choice.

Saddle up boys and girls.  Looks like the Cold War is back on.

About the Houthis supposedly firing on our ship...

I'm sure you all have heard about the Houthis firing anti-ship missiles at our vessels.

I can't get excited because the story is changing and I personally think we're getting a messaging campaign instead of the truth.

Remember when this first came out?  First we heard that the missiles fell short and crashed into the sea.  Next we heard that they were simply RPGs or some other type of rocket and they were never really a threat.

Now we hear that the ships were actually fighting for survival and they expended 3(?) missiles against threatening incoming anti-ship missiles?

I'm not a ship guy but that don't sound right.

I was always told (maybe it's bro science) that for every incoming anti-ship missile the defending ship would fire two anti-missile missiles.  The Houthis fired two missiles.  By bro science they should have had at least 4 missiles in the air and if I was running the ship I'd have at least 6, if not more in order to safeguard my ship.

From my chair this don't sound right.  I stand ready to be corrected but my bullshit meter is spiking on this.

British "Strike" Brigades?

Think Defence has a must read and all I can say is wow!

Do you occasionally have a feeling of "what the fuck is Marine Corps leadership thinking"?  Have you ever thought "Army leadership must do some serious drugs at those power point clusterfucks they love so much"...then weep for what the Brits are batting around.  Don't get it confused.  The author of the Think Defence article is doing his best to make lemons out of lemonade but it's obvious that while they're trying hard, the Brits are in procurement hell.

CDR Salamander lays out the best case to be worried about Russia that I've heard...

Everyone that has visited these pages knows that I feel one of the great misses of the last three decades is how we handled Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In my opinion they were ripe for integration into greater Europe and we could have EASILY guaranteed a safe and prosperous continent for at least a century.

It was not to be and the Russia Hawks (Condi Rice, George Will, Kristol and others) held sway, kept up the drumbeat of them being a threat and successfully led us back to a cold war type stand off.

While I still believe we could move forward with Russia and help lower tensions by working together on the big international issue of the day (terrorism) and a few joint projects (like space travel and alternate energy), its also obvious that the cards have been played and we MIGHT be headed toward bad times.

Salamander lays out the case for why we should be worried here. Unfortunately he's damn convincing.

Side note:  I do wonder though.  CDR Salamander is one of those old skool, cold warriors.  He was playing big boy games in the Atlantic with hard core Russian sub commanders when I was still reading comic books and dreaming of banging my first girl.  Is this nostalgia or an actual thing?  I still hold out hope that we can bring Russia into our camp.

Open Comment Post. Oct 11, 2016.

I'm still thinking about the election.

If you think Trump is bad then hold on for what comes next.  The "powers that be" are so focused on getting Hillary elected that they're failing to properly gauge the anger of the American people.  Washington is about to become irrelevant.  If you thought "nothing" got done then watch what happens in the new Congress.

Fitness Talk.

Are you that kind of man?  Well it ain't too late to start!  Pick your course, set your sail and do work.  The fitness talk part of this is to make sure you're mentally and physically capable of dealing with inevitable setbacks.

So...get off your ass and go work out.  One consistent month makes a habit.  Three consistent months makes a lifestyle.  8 or 80 the benefits from exercise will change your life.

SO DO WORK!

I wondered why we didn't see clowns in the hood. Now I know! WARNING POLITICALLY INCORRECT & LANGUAGE

 

http://spoopy-shermayne.tumblr.com/post/151641760524

 

This clown definitely picked the wrong neighborhood!

Ukrainian Otaman 6x6

Thanks to MicMac 80 for the link!

According to Ukraine Today, the 6x6 is a mortar carrier and the 8x8 is the infantry fighting vehicle version.  I find the Ukrainian approach to armored vehicles frustrating.  They're pushing mostly MRAP type trucks as IFVs, modifying Russian designed vehicles to sell overseas and have an approach of throwing everything against the wall and seeing if it sticks.  I don't see a strategy coming from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry regarding procurement.  During a time of war that seems wrong headed at best and plain stupid at worst.

Open Comment Post. Oct 10, 2016. Post debate talk...

Trump did as Trump does.

Instead of spending just 2 fucking minutes studying the issues and putting forth a few (not many...no deep detail...just a broad outline) ideas of things that matter to the American people.  I'm talking Immigration, these trade deals that are FUCKED BEYOND RECOGNITION, jobs, idiotic foreign wars and security at home (to include the over reach of the Federal Govt into the private lives of the people), he instead climbed in the swamp pit with that harpy called Hillary.

The sad thing.

We're seeing "establishment" Republicans and Democrats line up against him.  They're trying to shape this as a contest between those who "know" and the unwashed masses.

It's not.

This is a battle between the elite and the common folks.

What has me stumped is the ignorance of the so called educated class.  I'm talking about the college educated, middle management people that are so politically correct that they're moving in Hillary's direction.

They fail to realize that the next big wave of offshoring will affect them directly.  When that hits (and they'll pass TPP in the lame duck session) is when you're gonna see this nation pop.  They see what's happening to the rest of the country but since they haven't suffered the effects yet they're willing to play the game.

Side note:  Workers that build the CH-53K in Conn took a PAY CUT in order to keep the manufacturing plant there.  We supposedly have 5% unemployment and yet there isn't enough wage pressure to force Sikorsky/Lockheed to increase the salaries of high tech workers?

Long story short.  The elite on both sides will celebrate defeating Trump, but they're missing the real issue.  What comes after Trump will be smarter, more media savy and more disciplined.  What comes after Trump will probably be more radical.l

They think they dodged a bullet with Trump?  Bullshit!  They primed a bomb!

Jordan Armed Forces - Main Battle Tanks, IFVs & Infantry

This is pure propaganda but "fun" to watch.  Who knew that the Jordanians still used the Challenger?  That won't last, and I can't see what the replacement will be.  My bet is they pick up Leopard's on a German fire sale...

Open Comment Post. Oct 8, 2016. Trump Locker Room Talk Edition...

Hmm.  Today I've been tuning into a bit of MSNBC News and they're all in arms over some "locker room" talk that Trump engaged in on a bus that was captured by some reality talk show.  It was a bad open mike thing but I personally can't get too excited about it.

What has me wondering is that we're seeing the establishment ... and I mean the Republicans and Democrats ... both working overtime to get people excited about this.

The dude made off color remarks more than 10 years ago, the country is in shit state and that's what they're trying to push?

If Hillary wins we deserve the drama that she will bring.  This is pathetic.  If Trump wasn't such an ego maniac he would be winning this thing easily.  The only good thing is that if he wins he'll blow up the system...and that's why I'm rooting for this flawed, jacked up little man.  He's far from perfect but from my seat our only hope at this point.  That's my opinion...what's yours?

Offensive Air Support 5.....photos by Lance Cpl. Andrew Huff

Open Comment Post. Oct 7, 2016.

A Brief Overview of the 112th Mechanised Infantry Division of the People's Liberation Army (must read article)

Thanks to Gerald for the link!

Article here.  I haven't been keeping up with the way that information is migrating on the net.  This overview was posted on Imgur.  I've always viewed that site as mostly pics (with many of them questionable even for a porn hound) but I've discovered that Imgur along with Reddit are both posting information of interest to readers of this blog.

Make sure you read the run down of vehicles in the 112th.  The Chinese are embarked on a complete mechanization of their forces that has escaped the notice of most western militaries.

This is what happens when you let MANPADS loose in the ME.

Thanks to Gregory for the link!


via Kurdish Daily

One of Turkish F-16 fighter jets bombarding Qandil region in South Kurdistan was shot down by Kurdish forces at around 20.30 pm local time on Thursday, Kurdish sources said.
Local sources also confirmed the downing of the jet in Pişta Şanê area Thursday evening while conducting airstrikes against Kurdish forces.
On September 27, a Turkish fighter jet was downed over Gare region near Turkish-South Kurdistan border at around 20.30 pm local time. Although local journalist published footage of the wreckage of the downed Turkish jet, Turkey’s Islamist government claimed all its jets returned to their base ‘safely’.

Small Rant.

This is what happens when you let MANPADS loose in the ME!  I don't know who the rocket scientist in the State Dept, Pentagon, CIA and National Security council are, or what they're thinking but this is stupid on a stick.

How long before a US plane is targeted?  Do you think that the so called moderate rebels will hesitate to shoot down one of our planes in the hopes that they can use the life of a pilot as a propaganda tool in one of their horrific snuff videos or as a quick way to raise money for their crooked leaders?

I won't even take it to the worse case scenario of them plotting out the courses that our MV-22s take to the various firebases in Iraq and do the dirty deed against one of our birds filled with Marines.

A few of the obvious things that the news media has let slide that we've raised on these pages and been called conspiracy nuts for pointing out.

1.  There has been no "war against ISIS".  It is theoretically impossible for a force numbering less than 40K fighters to keep the US, NATO, Russia, Iran and others at bay.  Supposedly almost the entire world has been aligned against ISIS but they still continue as a fighting force for more than  3 years?  THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE!

2.  Its beyond obvious that the real goal is regime change in Syria.  Everything points to it and its clear that both civilian and military leaders have lied about it.

We are caught in the land of mirrors.  Those we should be able to trust are untrustworthy.  Those we should be suspicious of tell us comfortable truths.

For the ultra-patriots in my readership, I recommend you look away.  This is a nasty episode that will shake you to your core.  If you're not ready for the truth, this is the kind of thing that will make you question many of your allegiances, actions and faith in institutions.

Iveco SuperAV (ACV 1.1) already in service with Italian Marines...PICS!

Thanks to Meriv for the link!

Remember that LAV at Modern Day Marine? Its actually the Armatec Survivability Technology Demonstrator!

Remember the above pic taken at Modern Day Marine?  I was stoked about two things.  The first was the RWiP from Moog and the second was the platform it was mounted on.  I thought it was a radically upgraded LAV from General Dynamics.

I WAS WRONG!

It's the Armatec Survivability Technology Demonstrator!

So who are these guys?  Full disclosure.  I thought I kept up with the goings on in the armored vehicle space.  I'm so outside the loop its stunning.  Armatec is a player and they're attached to many ongoing projects, at the forefront of armor development and for those that are actually in the know, one of those key cogs in the survivability game.

Armatec website is here, but information on this tech demonstrator is sparse to non-existent and I was able to crop another view of the vehicle from their opening page banner but you get the idea.

This is a guess but I would imagine that the talk of upgrading Marine Corps LAV is further along than I thought.  This had to be done with that project in mind (and gobbling up Saudi orders for the same...they're a big operator of this vehicle class).  I like it.  I want to know more, but the little birdy that landed in my in-box was rather tight lipped.

Side note:  You remember SAIC's Survivability Upgrade for the AAV?  Armatec worked with them to put together that package.  Yeah.  These people bear watching.