Oshkosh. Is trouble ahead?

L-ATV

M-ATV

M-ATV Special Forces

TAPV

MTT

MTVR

OSHKOSH had the most to gain and the most to lose in the Canadian TAPV contest.  The problem is that its own vehicles are eating each other.  The only other manufacturer in the defense realm that has a similar problem is maybe...maybe BAE but their portfolio is so much larger that it really just lets them customize vehicles to the needs of the user.

Take the M-ATV.  It has spawned numerous clones but probably most disturbing is that I see nothing in the pipeline once the JLTV is chosen.  Unless OSHKOSH wins they're gonna be in trouble.  Tamir of Defense Update posted a story that they're looking to win orders in Africa and the Middle East but that's a longshot...

On the big truck side its not much better.  The MTT and MTVR eat each others sales and it even flows further up the line.

OSHKOSH is ripe for someone to swoop in, separate the Defense from the Commercial line....buy the Defense line and then pare down the number of vehicles it has in production.

At the end of the day, the MTVR, FMTV and one of the heavy trucks LVSR or HEMT will survive.  OSHKOSH Defense is in trouble.

USS New York (LPD 21) and USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (June 9, 2012) The amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), left, transits alongside the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). New York was commissioned in November 2009 and is currently on its maiden deployment, while Enterprise was commissioned in November 1961 and is on its 22nd and final deployment after more than 50 years of service. Both ships are currently deployed to the region in support of maritime security operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Scott Pittman/Released) 120609-N-FI736-409

Marine Week---Cleveland....

Photos by Cpl. Marcin Platek

Two new Marder models...

Tamir over at Defense Update has about the best coverage of Eurosatory 2012.

To be honest, I've been a bit UNDERWHELMED by the offerings this year.   Go to Tamir's site to read more on these unusual Marder concepts.

Other vehicles at the show this year are below......

General Dynamics Europe has "civilianized" the EAGLE...You can bet they want to do the same in the US...especially if they win the JLTV contract.

Iveco wants to build on the VBTR's win in Brazil...Argentina just procured some a few months ago and it will probably be offered as competition against the Piranha III...especially since the bigger and heavier Piranha V has yet to gain traction

More to come hopefully but as I said.  The vehicle makers are cautious as hell.  I forgot where I read it but they even place rocks and such underneath their vehicles not to make them appear to be in a desert or forest environment but to keep "spies" from crawling underneath photographing the underbodies gaining a competitive edge.

Big boy procurement indeed.

IBD and Singapore develop the most powerful tank in Asia.

Which company was a bigger winner in the Canadian Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicle contest than Textron?  I would say IBD.

This company has been operating in the background but has amassed some impressive wins and tech.  Its armor designs and concepts have challenged PLASAN to the point that they can arguably called the most dynamic and cutting edge armor corporation on the planet.

Proof positive is the package that they assembled for Singapore.

The Leopard 2A4 by itself is a formidable tank.  In Asia...doubly so.  But add the Evolution Armor Concept to the vehicle and you have a tank that is more heavily armored (in my opinion) than a M1A1 and given the terrain found in that theater, more survivable too.  In jungle and urban fighting with armor, close in fights will be the norm...multiple hits from multiple quadrants will be the norm...and the ability to get hit and keep in the fight will be essential.

The Leopard 2A4 Evo has that in spades.  Singapore has a winner and so does IBD.  Read more about the company and their concepts here.

NOTE:
Can anyone name a more powerful armor force than the one that Singapore is assembling in Asia?  China?  The Type 99 is a joke in comparison.  The S. Korean K2?  Nice as a M1A1 light but I don't think so.  The Japanese Type 90?  Nope, they better hope the MBT-X proves out.  Australia's M1's?  Again, nice but I don't think so.

British Army cut to the size of SOCOM.

I don't know whether this is ironic or sad.

The British Army will soon number a bit over 80,000 troops after the budget cuts have hit.  SOCOM after its plus ups will equal about 75,000.

Our special operations branch will equal the size of the British Army....have more helicopters available to it than the British Armed Forces and will probably have a bigger budget.

Like I said...ironic or sad.  via the Mirror...read it and weep for our British friends.

Mercenaries and foreign fighters could replace British soldiers when Army numbers are slashed by 20,000, it was announced yesterday.
Legendary infantry units could also disappear as Defence Secretary Philip Hammond admitted yesterday that ­“difficult decisions” will have to be made.
He warned: “Some units inevitably will be lost or will merge.”
As the Army prepares to reduce from 102,000 soldiers to just 82,000, the Mirror understands 5 Rifles, The Coldstream Guards, 3 Mercian and 2 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers are among those facing the axe.
All have recently lost men in battle against the Taliban or Iraqi insurgents and have played key military roles since 9/11.
Mr Hammond yesterday conceded that cuts would mean greater use of reserves and private contractors.
And he said Britain would have to look to its Nato allies to provide future military support.
But last night Shadow Defence ­Secretary Jim Murphy branded the moves “perverse” and “self-defeating.”
He said: “Mr Hammond has increased uncertainty where clarity was needed

Those are some pretty good units too.

Read the whole thing but the Brits want to help make up for the lack of forces through Partnerships, procurement reform and personnel reform.  Sound familiar?

When does it stop being edgy and just becomes sad?

Just sad.

3d Marine Special Operations Battalion train in S.C.

Marines with 3d Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, conduct predeployment training in South Carolina., May 22 to 24. During the training the Marines conducted counterinsurgency (COIN) operations.