The Puma Suit and Elements of Power's take on the F-22 issues.

Elements of Power goes over the issues with the F-22 in one of his blog posts...very informative stuff but what actually blew me away was his short talk about the Puma Suit.

Back during the development of the F-22 the USAF was aware of the altitudes at which the F-22 would be operating and had a decision to make.

Either wave the restrictions on the normal flight suit at those altitudes or develop a new pressure suit to help safeguard its pilots.  The USAF chose to roll the dice on new tech and it MIGHT be coming back to bite them.  Read his entire post but I wonder if it could be as simple as a pressure suit to solve the F-22's woes.

Eurosatory. A complete bust.

Eurosatory was a complete bust.

The industry didn't wow and the military journalist covering the show laid an egg too.  As far as coverage of the show is concerned only Tamir Eshel of Defense Update really shined.

All the old journalistic standbys looked old...stale...and more interested in schmoozing with industry officials instead of getting the news out on happenings in the defense realm.

As far as the industry is concerned...consolidation has to be coming.  The only "new" product that even began to give me the "wow" factor was the CRAB and that appears to be a Fennec repeat (meaning a French version of a German vehicle)...

This show sucked.  The upcoming Paris Air Show probably won't be any better.  Until the crisis in Europe, the Middle East and the economies around the world are in better shape I wouldn't count on much more than product improved vehicles.

What does that mean for the Marine Corps?


It means that the Commandant probably lied when he said that he would be driving the Amphibious Combat Vehicle before his term was over.  The Marine Personnel Carrier might morph into the ACV and the improved AAV might have to soldier on another 20 years.


The US Marine Corps has sold its soul to the aviation side of the house.  It might mean that a swing from a medium weight force to a Commando type force might be in the future.


That would mean a Marine Corps that is more akin to the 101st Airborne than the all purpose, hard charging formation that it is today.

UPDATE:

Sherpard Media also deserves a hat tip on its Eurosatory coverage.  

CARAT Indonesia 2012.

Photos by Cpl. Jacob D. Barber

U.S. and Indonesian Marines rush Banongan Beach during a simulated amphibious assault as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Indonesia 2012. The Marines took part in the assault as the landing force, with the support of 2nd platoon Fox Company, Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) Battalion, and the Indonesian Marine Corps and Navy. The partnering nations are participating in the underway phase of CARAT Indonesia 2012. CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Timor Leste joins CARAT for the first time in 2012. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jacob D. Barber/Released)

U.S Marines rush through Banongan Beach during an amphibious assault as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Indonesia 2012. The Marines took part in the assault as the landing force, with the support of 2nd platoon Fox Company, Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) Battalion, and the Indonesian Marine Corps and Navy. The partnering nations are participating in the underway phase of CARAT Indonesia 2012. CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Timor Leste joins CARAT for the first time in 2012. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jacob D. Barber/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Colin Latham, team leader, 3rd platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, opens a doorway for his Marines before clearing a house in an amphibious assault on Banongan Beach as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Indonesia 2012. The Marines took part in the assault as the landing force, with the support of 2nd platoon Fox Company, Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) Battalion, and the Indonesian Marine Corps and Navy. The partnering nations are participating in the underway phase of CARAT Indonesia 2012. CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Timor Leste joins CARAT for the first time in 2012. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jacob D. Barber/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Travis Bos, squad leader, 3rd platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, shouts orders from a doorway to his Marines after clearing a house in an amphibious assault on Banongan Beach as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Indonesia 2012. The Marines took part in the assault as the landing force with the support of 2nd platoon, Fox Company, Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) Battalion, and the Indonesian Marine Corps and Navy. The partnering nations are participating in the underway phase of CARAT Indonesia 2012. CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Timor Leste joins CARAT for the first time in 2012. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jacob D. Barber/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Daniel Breilh, executive officer, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, gives instructions to an Indonesian Marine in an amphibious assault on Banongan Beach as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Indonesia 2012. The Marines took part in the assault as the landing force with the support of 2nd platoon, Fox Company, Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) Battalion, and the Indonesian Marine Corps and Navy. The partnering nations are participating in the underway phase of CARAT Indonesia 2012. CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Timor Leste joins CARAT for the first time in 2012. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jacob D. Barber/Released)

A Day in the Life of X-47B

Dude....no!

Damn son!  Just stop!

Can you say goofy?

F-35 & American Flag in Flight

Happy Birthday US ARMY!

I tease you guys but luv ya all the same.

Happy birthday little brothers.