Wednesday, October 20, 2021

25th ID's 2nd Infantry Combat Team on exercise with Navy/Marine aviation

VMM-262, conducted a long-range insertion with 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines

 

France's 2nd Hussar Regiment

This units mission (translated) is -- the regiment specializing in human research of the French land forces.  Is it their experimental regiment that tests new concepts?

 

Trying to run down the source of this Japanese Ministry Of Defense statement on the F-35...

This movement follows the progressive deployment of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth combat jet. "The F-35 is not suitable for emergency takeoff and it will be difficult to maintain the same previous system," the Japanese Ministry of Defense said at the time. 

To compensate for the reduction in systematic visual identification through interceptions, the Japanese military increased the proportion of ground-based long-range radars and early warning aircraft for long-distance monitoring.

Saw this on Tumblr on a site that's aviation centric and usually puts out spot on  info.

My problem.

I can't run it down to verify it.

If true then this is pretty damning.  I'm sure work arounds will be developed (especially since long range combat is being envisioned for future warfare), however we've kinda been down that road before.

If I recall correctly the F-4 and F-14 were both designed to engage enemies beyond visual range and those are just Navy examples.

Fast forward to today and wonder what this means for the Finnish contest?  Has anyone put the F-35 on quick reaction duty? 

Late Open Comment Post. 20 Oct 2021

Pic of the day. Tu-22M3

North Korea releases images of its new submarine-launched ballistic missile test...sub hunting is even a bigger priority now...

 

Sub launched ballistic missiles from the hermit kingdom? Got to get those sub hunting skill on point!

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Riding the lightning!

One to the head, one to the stomach. The bigger the spread between probes the more effective the incapacitation. I’ve watched this video a number of times and it looks like the officer fell back or stepped off the sidewalk ever so slightly while deploying the taser resulting in the head shot and unusually wide spread of the probes. Obviously we’re not taught to aim at the head but this video clearly shows how effective the Taser can be when deployed.
I've been tased (training) and it ain't fun. Hurts. Hurts bad. I'd rather be pepper sprayed!

China's Airpower might not be as formidable as I thought...at least not yet!

Must read gents! The Chinese are getting better but they're not there yet. Read the article but the quick take is this. They can't maintain sortie rate. Again. READ THE ARTICLE!

82nd Airborne's Panther Brigade on exercise...

Turkish BMC ALTUÄž 8x8 IFV

Dutch NH-90 refuels in the rain aboard a Spanish Destroyer

South Korean 'NI-500 VT' (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) UAV

Cruise Dragon 60A loitering munitions and respective launcher.

Promotional video of the new Chinese optional manned ATV family via Dead District Twitter Page

 

NATO Allies visit/observe Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center training facilities.

Open Comment Post. 19 Oct 2021

Monday, October 18, 2021

Open Comment Post. 17 Oct 2021

 

The Ajax IFV is in more trouble than I originally thought.

via RUSI.org 
Following the Integrated Review, it is evident that both of these requirements remain, but it is less clear that Ajax is the best way of meeting them. 

The removal of armoured infantry as a capability within the British Army following the determination to retire Warrior without a replacement Infantry fighting vehicle, as well as the further reduction in heavy armour, means that the enablers to support heavy platforms like Ajax will be scarce and concentrated. 

If grouped within the Heavy Brigade Combat Teams alongside Challenger 3, Ajax cannot deliver infantry to the objective and cannot perform the divisional reconnaissance function. Alternatively, if made part of the Deep Recce Strike Brigade Combat Team, Ajax will struggle to be sustained operating independently. 

Ajax’s inability to peer-to-peer recover also makes it a poor independent unit, while its weight, complexity and size make it hard to deploy with lighter forces, despite the British Army seeking to operate further afield with greater frequency.

Here 

The British Army has gone without Armored Infantry for awhile now.

Ajax was (to be brutally honest) never a real solution for the recon role and in light of vehicles produced since its entered service is now dated.

The focus of the govt/defense establishment has changed from supporting efforts in Europe to working with the US in the Pacific. This along with a distinctly "naval" view taking a prominent role means that not only is it technologically outdated but "role" outdated.

I believe the Ajax will be canned and additional Boxers bought.

Strike Brigade Combat Teams are the future of the British Army. Boxer won, Ajax lost.

2nd LAR conducts Battalion Distributed Operations Course at SLTE 1-22

 

U.S. Marines with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, attached to 3d Marines, drive in a convoy in support of Battalion Distributed Operations Course during Service Level Training Exercise 1-22 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, Oct 13, 2021. BDOC allows 2nd LAR to command and control multiple maneuver elements while integrating ground and aviation delivered ordinance to successfully secure an objective. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alexis Moradian)