The crews didn't expect the area around the mission to be hot...

Thanks to the little birdy that sent me this link.

via Defense News.

In response to two of its CV-22 Ospreys being shot up over Juba, South Sudan, in December, critically injuring two service members, the US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has added optional armor to the flooring of the aircraft and may also incorporate forward-firing weapons.
AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold told reporters on Monday that armor panels developed for the bird could add 800 pounds of weight if the full “blanket” is used, but crews have the option to use the armor sheeting or not.
The two CV-22s were so vulnerable in the attack because the crews didn’t expect the area around the mission to be “hot,” so were surprised by the 119 rounds fired at the aircraft.
The optional armor, which is being fielded now, can be put on in pieces to protect only certain parts of the aircraft, but any extra armor will create tradeoffs, Heithold said, either in how many troops can be carried or how far the aircraft can fly before refueling is necessary.
AFSOC is also working with industry to develop a forward-firing gun, he said.

Ignore the issue with the armoring and adding of forward firing guns to the CV-22.  Think about this passage...

The two CV-22s were so vulnerable in the attack because the crews didn’t expect the area around the mission to be “hot,” so were surprised by the 119 rounds fired at the aircraft.

We're not talking about the Air National Guard flying a refueling missions behind the forward edge of the battle space.

We're talking about USAF Special Operations transporting SEALs to a landing zone in a country where fighting is happening.

I FIND THAT ASTOUNDING!

What kind of mindset has developed where worse case planning isn't taking place and intel is trusted to be 100%?

But back to the CV-22/MV-22.

Marine Corps Aviation has been working on a forward firing gun for the thing for more than a decade.  General Jones was pissed that it didn't have one and said this in a Time article (he was retired at the time)...

Retired Gen. James Jones, former commandant of the Marine Corps, told Time he'd always wanted the Osprey to have a forward-mounted gun, a .50-cal. under the nose - something he never pulled off as the Corps' top Marine.
Jones believes all assault support aircraft should have forward-facing weaponry, according to the article. He described it to Time as a fundamental belief stemming from his Vietnam War experience: Biggest and baddest is best.

Yet it still hasn't happened.  I'm looking for the quote but one Commandant even said we weren't gonna get it unless it had a forward firing gun.

My guess?  Ten years from now they'll still be looking for a solution. 

Royal Marines practise amphibious skills on exercise Albanian Lion

The Scotland vote. I hope they break away!

I'm loving this Scottish independence vote.  I hope they're not blowing smoke and will actually break away from the UK.

Why?

Because I've noticed that every "world leader" is against their independence.

To me that's telling.

Additionally I see this as another sign that globalization is breaking down.  The EU is still stagnating economically.  The sanctions against Russia did nothing and will probably be blamed for a recession on that continent.  London is a major hub for this fraudulent world banking system...and it has the added benefit of throwing British defense plans into total chaos, thereby forcing the Brits to stop pretending that they're a world power and to finally deal with the social programs, immigration issues and weird defense spending that has been plaguing them for so long.

Last, a vote for independence will probably have knock on effects around the world.

I say bring on the pain!  Bring on the misery!  Pass the popcorn, if they separate from the UK this will be fun to watch.

RoK Marines commemorate the 64th anniversary of the Landing on Inchon

The reenactment of the situation in the coastal hechimyeo assault wave of Marines landed and armored frigates Cheongju also KAAV the 64 anniversary of Incheon Landing Operation tradition gotta events held in Incheon Wolmido 15.

Something is going on with the F-35.

Something is going on with the F-35.  Why do I say that?  Because I've seen this "bullshit" before.

First.  Have you noticed the whole spat of articles that have come out in support of the F-35?  Then this video hits this morning?  Additionally the articles aren't containing any new information...they're just fluff pieces designed to say that all is well with the program.

Then you have that stealth budget request for additional F-35's that was stuck in the war funding bill...along with Apache helicopters for the Army (a sweetener to keep them from screaming at the top of their lungs).

What is going on?  I have no idea.  I do know that the political winds have shifted and that a Republican takeover of the Senate seems more likely than ever.  I know that budget hawks hold sway over the Republican party...alot more than the Neo-cons.

Then we have the continuing budget drama.  Obama Care is going to cost more than expected.  Sequestration is expected to continue.  And on top of all of that is unexpected spending on an unexpected war.

Budget?  Could it be that they see a fiscal trainwreck coming?  Allies?  Is someone getting cold feet and about to cut orders (I keep hearing that Italy is about to go down to 45...a yellow bird landed on my window sill).

I just don't know but whenever I see a PR blitz I get suspicious.

ISIS shoots down Syrian attack plane.

via Jerusalem Online.

ISIS shot down a Syrian Army battle plane that was implementing attacks in the city of Raqqa, the capital city of ISIS. According to Agence France Presse, the plane crashed into a house and several people were injured.

After the initial reports, ISIS took responsibility for the act. The Syrian plane had implemented five attacks this morning against ISIS positions in Raqqa, before it was shot down by ISIS. In his twitter account, a terrorist by the name of Lions of Islam wrote, “Thank Allah, we can confirm that a military plane was shot down near Raqqa.”
“This is the first downing of a plane since the Syrian regime began to operate from the air last July, after an announcement by the regime in June,” Rami Abdul Rahman, a human rights activist, told AFP.

Well ain't that grand?

You might as well steel yourself to the fact that they WILL get lucky against a US warplane...or transport...or refueler...or recon plane.

Then what will happen after they murder the pilot on YouTube?

Will we waste another 10 years trying to turn around a barbaric and uncivilized section of our planet, while spending ourselves into even worse bankruptcy?  I believe this whole thing will end badly.

A must read from Defense Media Network.

Defense Media Network has a must read on the evolution of amphibious ships from WW2 onward.

Pay close attention to the section on the Newport Class Tank Landing Ship.  Consider what it could do today.  Instead of buying fleets of MLP's, LCACs, LCUs and JHSVs, we would have maybe a dozen or so doing the job of a whole flotilla of smaller boats almost as fast but with a battalion of men and equipment from the MPS ships hovering offshore.