Jordan selling its AC-235 Gunships...

via AINOnline.

The Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) has put its two AC-235 gunships up for sale, along with its Sikorsky UH-60L fleet. Separate announcements made on the air force’s official website on December 24 (UH-60s) and 28 (AC-235s) brought the offers into the public domain. They add to a series of declarations in the summer in which a number of other types were made available for purchase as part of a major RJAF fleet rationalization and cost-reduction effort.

In the 2018 releases, a single Lockheed C-130B was offered for sale along with 12 Hawk Mk 63 trainers and 13 Bell UH-1H utility helicopters on July 8, followed by 17 Bell AH-1F Cobras equipped with the NTS (Night Targeting System) and two Airbus C295 medium airlifters on July 12.

Shedding these aircraft makes sense in terms of removing obsolete, aging, and redundant aircraft from the inventory. The RJAF is in the process of receiving 12 AH-1Fs upgraded by SES in the U.S. with new mission suite, cockpit displays, and L3 Wescam MX-15D turrets. The Cobras offered for sale are those that were donated by Israel for anti-Daesh operations. The Hawk trainers were also received as a donation, from the UAE. The recent delivery of the new Pilatus PC-21 basic/advanced trainers has rendered them redundant.

However, the two recent sale offers are more intriguing and may reflect the 2018 reassignment of the assets formerly operated by Jordanian Special Operations Command (JSOC) to the RJAF. The AC-235 gunships, which were developed by ATK in conjunction with the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) and Airbus, were only delivered to JSOC in 2014 and have proven useful in operations along the Syrian border and as part of Jordan’s contribution to the anti-Houthi campaign in Yemen. They are armed with a side-firing 30-mm cannon and have stub pylons for weapons such as AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and laser-guided rockets.

Story here.

THIS CONCEPT NEVER MADE A LICK OF SENSE!!!! 

It was Rummy's all COIN all the TIME along with the Special Ops Mafia that pushed this ridiculous idea.

Think about it.

You have a low density high demand asset like cargo planes and then you second them with the mission of attack?  If you have a special ops dept (and that's what they've turned into) then MAYBE it makes sense but even then it's questionable.

Sanity and fiscal responsibility is the new hotness for some nations.  I hope we join the bandwagon.

Selling these planes is nothing but common sense!

Sidenote.

Yeah.  The idea of the USMC turning KC-130's into Harvest Hawks was stupid on a stick too.  Every platform a shooter can be taken too far and the Harvest Hawk idea was just one example.

EA-18G Growlers at Red Flag....Video by William Lewis

Open Comment Post. 06 Jan 2019

German Army to be fully equipped for combat … in 13 years – Defense Chief

via RT

Germany’s Armed Forces are most likely to stay underequipped for the next decade or so, the German Defense Chief has admitted. Meanwhile, the units are stuck with sharing gear and vehicles.
At least nine brigades in the German Armed Forces, known as Bundeswehr, lack the necessary equipment and arms, the military Inspector General Eberhard Zorn said, adding that they are expected to be “fully equipped” no sooner than in 13 years – by 2031. The lack of spare parts for the military equipment also remains one of the major concerns.

Story here. 

Anyone who says that the US is not subsidizing European defense I present this as exhibit number one.

The most powerful economy in Europe, for all intents head of the European Union, a nation that claims to be a world power is telling us that they essential don't have an army and won't have one for ANOTHER 13 years.

So much for the European Army that Merkel has been touting.  No other European country is positioned to bear that burden.  If the Poles don't step up then maybe The Netherlands?  I see the French turning inward.  The UK are about to take a SERIOUS inward turn too.

Europe is setting itself up for failure...and Germany is leading the charge.

Chinese Leader Tells Army to Prepare for War

via Epoch Times.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping ordered China’s armed forces to step up their preparations for war, in a speech at a meeting of top brass on Jan. 4.

The Chinese communist regime is in the midst of ramping up its armed forces, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), as it seeks to bolster its territorial claims in the South China Sea, increasing pressure on Taiwan and escalating tension with the United States over issues from trade to the status of Taiwan.

In a speech to top military officials from the Central Military Commission (CMC), Xi said China’s armed forces must “prepare for a comprehensive military struggle from a new starting point,” reported the communist regime’s official mouthpiece Xinhua news agency.

“Preparation for war and combat must be deepened to ensure an efficient response in times of emergency,” he is quoted as saying.

Xi, who is also chairman of the CMC, said China faces increasing risks and challenges, and the armed forces must work to secure its security and development needs, according to Xinhua.

He added the armed forces need to be able to respond quickly to emergencies, upgrade their joint operations capabilities, and nurture new types of combat forces.

China is barking up the wrong tree.  Globalists, NeoCons, Internationalist and the like might be scared, but not the majority.  China is like Sheriff Brady.  They've sown the wind, now it's time for them to reap the whirlwind.  Bring it you bastards!



On a personal note I luv this talk from their Chairman.  It shows two things.  First it demonstrates that those sanctions that the news media is screaming doesn't hurt China is actually hurting them badly and second it illustrates that China IS THE EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO THE US that I've claimed it to be.

If this was an ordinary country then I'd say that diplomacy must given a chance but China isn't an ordinary country.  We've called Iraq, Syria and Iran outlaw nations but they PALE IN COMPARISON to China.  If there is a country worth unsheathing our sword against then it's China.

Stress Range.... video by Cpl. Kristiana Montanez

Small Update...

Gotta give an explanation and not an excuse.  Body betrays again.  Nothing serious (hope) but I'm dragging ass and hurting a bit.  Gonna do like an old dog and crawl into a corner for a bit.  Blogging is gonna be lite while I sort myself out.

Bear with me.  Hope you hang around.  Hope you have some interesting discussions in open comments but I gotta slow down for a bit.  Pick up my pack and help me keep it moving.

No worries.  Just taking a beat to reorient.  Not getting in the broke dick truck yet.

Open Comment Post. 05 Jan 2019

Helicopter Rope Suspension Techniques Master Course... video by Lance Cpl. Dalton S. Swanbeck

Ok. You integrated Male & Female Boot Camp. Are you done fucking with our culture now?

Thanks to AL Z for this gut punching news...

via Drudge Report.

For the first time in its history, the Marine Corps will integrate female and male platoons during boot camp.
Unlike the other services, the Marine Corps has not fully integrated women and men during recruit training. Instead, at Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina, the first three battalions are all-male, while the fourth battalion is all-female.
"On January 5, 2019, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, will start their training cycle with one female platoon and five male platoons," the Marine Corps said in a statement Friday, first reported by ABC News.
While the change is not permanent, a Marine Corps spokesman told ABC News that the service "will certainly look at how the company performs in this model as we continually evaluate how we make Marines."
The Marine Corps, which has the lowest percentage of women among the services at just under 9 percent, decided to incorporate the 50 female recruits into the historically all-male battalion because the recruiting classes are typically much smaller in the winter months. The integration allowed Parris Island to not activate 4th Recruit Training Battalion staff for a single female platoon.
"The decision was made by Marine Corps leadership in support of training efficiency and is a first in the history of Marine Corps recruit training," the statement said.
The female recruits will still be led by female Drill Instructors, but will live in barracks co-inhabited by their male counterparts.
"This training cycle of about 300 recruits will provide Recruit Depot staff a unique opportunity to assess outcomes, achievements and challenges in training, logistics and resource impacts of this company training model," the Marine Corps said.

Fucking awesome.

Question to the feminist, Senate and House critters and weird ass Officers that happened to make it to General like Amos.

Are we done yet?

Is this the last thing for you to do to Marine Culture before you decide enough is enough?

You do know that you just added another stressor for both men and women trying to earn the title Marine don't you?

You do know that this does NOTHING to push forward women's rights don't you?

I know you don't care but please answer this.  Are you done fucking with us?

Marine Corps Inspiration...vid by Sgt. Jamie Arzola

Open Comment Post. 04 Jan 2019NO

NORTH AMERICAN ALLIGATOR LIZARD!!!!

What is the reason behind the new Army Combat Fitness Test? Has crossfit taken over the service?

I was spooling thru the interweb and saw this shit you see above.  What the fuck is that madness?

They're taking unit PT and making it into a fitness test now?

I remember when a couple of Captains in the Marine Corps that got hit with the crossfit bug tugged on Amos' ear and the dude went in on it.

The problem?

You can't tell me that you can run this type of fitness test anywhere at anytime!  You can't tell me that this doesn't add to the logistics burden of small units when they deploy (yeah...ounces count so you set up and have to devote even this amount of gear means something else is getting left).

Long short?

It doesn't make sense.  What I can't figure is why did they go in this direction.  A unit leader knows exactly what each of his Marines/Soldiers is weak in.  They don't need a formalized test to work on those weaknesses.  If for promotion then this just adds fluff to an already weird exercise that promotes some that are undeserving and doesn't to those that are worthy.

I just don't understand this...and I like working out!

Brit Army Recruiting Campaign has active duty Brit Army Dudes creating some funny memes!

Don't know if you've seen the new Brit Army Recruiting Campaign but the active duty side is going bonkers.  They're so pissed they're coming up with their own memes.

How bad is it for the Brits?

They're actually running a campaign calling for the Me, Me, Me Generation, Snowflakes, Marathon Gamers etc...to service.

It's way too progressive for my taste but that's where they're at.

It seriously sucks to be them.

Five CH-53E Super Stallions with Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302 fly in a formation over Marine Corps Air Station New River..... photo by Sgt. Courtney T. Miner

I'm gonna watch to see if Getty puts their nasty ass watermark on this pic.  The second they do I'm going ape-shit and gonna do my best to get someone, somewhere to smash the bastards...

Coast Guard, Republic of Marshall Islands respond to grounded Ou Ya Leng No. 6....Chinese Fishing Boats (poaching boats) will be the cause of the first naval battles worldwide...

Above you see a Chinese fishing boat grounded on the Marshall Islands.  This my friends will be where the first shots are fired with the Chinese.  Not the SCS dispute.  Not the crazy deals they're making and then stealing property from nations.

No.

It'll be over their fishing boats that they're sending worldwide to poach sovereign nation waters to feed their horde.

Most worrying?

It'll be the Coast Guard that'll face off against these boats and they might be undergunned.  Supposedly this fishing fleet has a role to play in the Chinese military order of battle so we should expect at least a few to be conducting secondary missions.  A few others might even have hidden weapons.

Mark my words.  This is a warning.  Let's hope leadership is paying attention.

"Webb’s an arrogant bastard..."

via Breitbart

However, some who know Webb are skeptical he would be a good fit. While he would have the experience for the job, they say he also has an independent streak.

“There are a lot of advantages out of that, but there is also a big danger,” said Jim Hanson, president of the Security Studies Group. “Webb’s an arrogant bastard. That doesn’t always work. [Rex] Tillerson was also an arrogant bastard.”

“Trump needs an ally. Tillerson and Mattis both didn’t agree with him on his foreign policy agenda. They were almost the opposition to Trump. He needs someone who isn’t going to fight him on things,” he added.

Then this.

 Trump allies are rallying around former Virginia Senator Jim Webb to fill the position of Defense Secretary, after the abrupt departure of retired Marine General Jim Mattis.

The support for Webb may come as somewhat of a surprise, since he is a Democrat and has been largely out of the headlines since the 2016 Democratic presidential primary, when he launched a bid for president.

However, supporters say he aligns with President Trump’s more realist world view — something that was a problem with Mattis, a foreign policy liberalist.

Story here. 

Read the entire article but despite the problems that they warn about with Webb, when I look at other contenders all I see are Neo-Cons/Deep State'rs all around.

The real news from this article from my chair is a solid label of my foreign policy views.  I guess I'm in the camp of Foreign Policy Realists.

I don't mind that one bit.  To be quite honest its a label I can embrace.

Qatar Emiri Land Force variant of VBCI IFV which equipped with CTA 40mm turret....

[VIDEO]: inside Qatar Emiri Land Force variant of VBCI IFV which equipped with CTA 40mm turret .. this variant developed in partnership between Nexter and Barzan Holdings with participation of Qatar Emiri Land Force pic.twitter.com/utW20FGInD

— Abdulmoiz (@abdulmoiz1990) January 3, 2019

How do these guys get rolled when they have such fabulous kit!!!  Gotta dig into the VBCI-2 and see how it's stats lay out.  Firepower and optics look good though...

One thing has me kinda flustered.  I predicted a renaissance in armored warfare but I thought it would be on the tank side, not with IFVs.  As things stand right now I'd say we're looking at the rebirth of the tankette.  It seems that 40mm is now or soon to be the new standard.

I'm not into ballistics so I don't really know the advantages of the bigger round and if it's worth abandoning the 30mm to chase it down but apparently alot of forces around the world are sold or at least taking a hard look.

Trump considering former Senator and Marine Officer Jim Webb for SecDef!!!!

Thanks to AL Z for the link!!!!



Wow!

Be still my heart!

What do I know about Webb?  He's more Republican than Democrat...on social issues this dude is a real conservative.  How does he view our foreign entanglements?  I know he has a problem with our involvement around the world in these backwaters.  Not necessarily with military action but definitely with decades long fighting with no end in sight.  China?  The vid makes it clear but he was outfront on the China threat a long time before.

Additionally he's well read, something of a historian in the same class as Mattis and he's also a writer.

He would make an OUTSTANDING SecDef!

Russian Seismic Survey Submarine for Arctic Operations .... with a wingspan greater than an a A380!!!!

Graphics via HI Sutton.com

Write up on this beast here!

I need to take a moment to point out one thing.  If you remember, not that long ago the US Dept Of Defense asked both Russia and China to be more open about their defense projects.

The Russians have complied in spades. 

While many of my readers aren't happy about it, I'm thrilled.  First it gives us a chance to see what they're thinking of, what they're working on.  Second it helps to illustrate what they view as gaps in our defense posture.  Lastly it gives hope that if not friends, we don't have to be enemies. 

I'm repeating myself but we have mutual interests in a whole host of areas.  If we can cooperate in space to a limited degree then that foundation can expand to other areas.

China?

China has charted a different course, one that will eventual lead to a meeting on a future battlefield.