Australian Navy's "Minor War Vessel Concentration Period (MWVCP)"

I believe that the US Navy would consider this a type of combined Amphibious - Littoral Ops type operation.  From the Royal Australian Navy website...

The Minor War Vessel Concentration Period (MWVCP) sea phase has commenced in waters off Darwin, with five Royal Australian Navy ships practising general mariner, surface and amphibious warfare skills.

Interesting.  Since they practice amphibious warfare I wonder if the Canberra Class LHD's will be allowed to participate once they come online.

Chinese are stealing F-35 weapons?

This photo is from the China Defense Blog.

I looked at the pic and to be honest the first thought that crossed my mind was that the weapons under the aircraft look like they were taken straight from the original F-35 brochure.  The author disagrees (he was quite polite...this is no flame war or an "intervention" just a couple of blogger with differing opinions)...having said all that, am I right or are these actually Chinese weapon systems that I've misidentified?

Pics of the day. June 9, 2010.

Joe Stremph's photo of an F/A-18D and a CH-53D

 no caption provided............

 1/1 Marines secure the LZ while a CH-53D Sea Stallion from HMH-363 "Lucky Red Lions" lands to offload more Marines during a noncombatant evacuation exercise in Yuma, Arizona. WTI 2-10.

AFSOC Para-rescue Vehicle.

Its been months since an undisclosed (well I won't give his name without permission) sent me the Request For Information regarding a new Para-rescue vehicle for the AFSOC.  Well, I found another vehicle--besides Force Protection's Jamma---that fits the bill.



Wired.com ran a story back in 2007 that covers the vehicle in the video above.  Follow the link for the story from back then but this part of it stands out...

The CERV incorporates the latest technology to improve weight trade off and battery capability, both in materials and in software management, to further increase performance and range. The hybrid vehicle will be compatible with current and future renewable recharging methods and can be modified to add a generator/fuel cell technology to remotely recharge in the event that commercial power is not available. The CERV will also meet size requirements to be air-transported on AFSOC’s CV-22. Vehicle will carry up to 4 personnel.

That my friends is the exact requirements of the vehicle that para-rescue is searching for today.   What's even more surprising is that the USAF actually expended research and development dollars to get this vehicle ready.

But don't despair if you're worried that the money's been wasted...it hasn't.  A refined version was on display recently.

F-35 1st Quarter Update.

Military-Today Firearms E-book rebroadcast.

I've posted this before but for those that missed it, I decided to post it again.  Military-Today.com has a nice catalog of modern weaponry that they work to update on a daily basis.  Highly recommended.

Firearms E-Book © Military-Today.com 2010 All Rights

Style over Substance.

U.S. Air Force pararescuemen transport a simulated casualty to a Marine Corps MH-53 Super Stallion helicopter while conducting a combat search and rescue exercise outside of Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, June 1, 2010. DoD photo by Master Sgt. Jeremiah Erickson, U.S. Air Force


I've been monitoring a conversation occurring on Kit-Up Blogspot.  You can read the articles here, here and here.  But instead of adding just my voice to the debate, I think a pic is worth a thousand words.  Click on the picture and blow it up.  What do you see.  I'm talking gear wise, nothing else.

I see multi-cam, pro-tec helmets, what looks like 3 different types of packs, a soft cover, some type of civilian high speed pants and 4 different sets of boots.

Kit-Up has taken the position that a soldier with the 101st should be allowed to wear the multicam gear that he purchased.  This NCO, in my opinion, is seeking style over substance.  In small units ... read SOCOM...they can get away with dissimilar uniforms.  The average Soldier, Sailor, Marine or Airmen is older, more mature and to be quite honest is supervised at a much closer ratio of Officer and SNCO to troop ratio.  Conventional forces are not.  Unit cohesion and discipline will be put in jeopardy by lax uniform standards.

But to add fuel to the fire we have this item from SoldierSystems.net.

On Monday, LGEN A.B. LESLIE, Chief of the Land Staff for Canada, released a message entitled, “Prohibition on Acquisition of Soldier Personal Equipment, Clothing and Camp Stores.” The point of the message was to remind units that they cannot use Operations and Maintenance monies to procure Soldier Systems items. Specifically, guidance was issued that, “THE LF CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT REMAIN WORLD CLASS. AS SUCH LOCAL PURCHASE OF CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT WITH O AND M FUNDS BY LF UNITS IS PROHIBITED.” The list of equipment units CANNOT use O&M to purchase is pretty extensive and includes basically everything that is covered on SSD.

 It seems that the goochie gear craze has spread.

Does anyone remember standing for an inspection and being asked by the inspecting officer...How much did you have to spend to get ready for this inspection??? 

In the Marine Corps if you answer anything more than a few dollars for polish or to replace a broken insignia then you were wrong...and your immediate supervisor was wrong too.

It seems that that type of thinking is not in vogue with certain NCO's in the 101st or with certain members of the Canadian military.  Thank goodness they have Officers and SNCOs that will square this away.

BAE. Holding the cards close when it comes to an upgraded AAV.

BAE is cagey.  They're cagey as hell.

But they have good public relations people.

I put a simple question to them....Are they making plans to upgrade the AAV in case the EFV is canceled and if so what would they include in that upgrade package?

This was the response from their spokesman.

To follow up regarding your AAV question, there isn't a lot of info that I can provide at this time except to say we are watching the situation closely, and as the customer develops the requirements, we will respond with an appropriate course of action that will reflect our long history as the premier AAV development, design, production and fielding authority.

Hmm.  Reading between the lines, I've come to this conclusion.  Yes they are working on a set of upgrades and if the EFV fails they'll be ready...BUT!  I get the feeling that the FMTV contract left a bitter taste and that they're not going to risk going public with anything until the time is right.  That whole once bitten twice shy thing.

Despite their lack of clarity I'm rather pleased.  If my suspicions are correct then defense contractors are working on a fall back position for the USMC. 

Whether we like it or not, there is an option in case of EFV failure.  And options are never a bad thing.

A more hi-resolution F-35C pics.

F-35 and Israel.

via Alert 5 from the Jerusalem Post.

The defense establishment will hold a series of high-level consultations over the next month with the aim of determining, by the end of July, whether it will buy the fifth-generation stealth Joint Strike Fighter.

The first meeting will be held in the coming weeks and be led by IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.- Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi as well as OC Israel Air Force Maj.-Gen. Ido Nehushtan. The second meeting, scheduled for the end of this month, will be led by Defense Ministry director-general Udi Shani. The final meeting, scheduled for July, will be headed by Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

Despite a recent round of JSF-related talks between Israeli and American officials, the parties have yet to reach an agreement regarding the sale of the plane to Israel.

The F-35 will be one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world and, according to the IAF, would significantly boost Israel’s deterrence in the region.

Prediction.  They'll buy the airplane and if my hunch is correct they'll even buy a batch of B models.  Israel is feeling besieged right now.  I imagine that Lockheed Martin might get that vaunted high rate production.  I can easily see the Israeli's buying their airplanes in the less than full capability mode that the Marines will be operating.

PS.
Alert 5 (I love those guys) also dropped this tidbit.  Canada is expected to purchase the F-35....without competition.

Defense Review on the "super mag".

David Crane of Defense Review has an outstanding write up of the next gen magazine for the Infantry Automatic Rifle.

This is a must have if this system is going to work.  I'm still not convinced and STILL believe that this is a boutique purchase to satisfy a small segment of Marine Corps leadership.

The Gunners are getting their way.

PS.    

First.  The drop test that they performed was silly.  If it works then we'll know when its tested out at 29 Palms with the boys from the 7th Marine Regiment.

Second.  I can tell you what's going to happen operationally with this weapon once it hits the fleet.  Officer, SNCO's and Squad leaders are going to scoop them up and take the tracer rounds from their boys.  They're going to use this to mark targets for their Marines or as a way for them to apply suppressive fire themselves at targets of opportunity.  I guarantee SAWs will still be humped and this will be used in ways that are not being thought of at Headquarters Marine Corps.

 

More Info on the IAR can be found here.

Kel-Tec PMR 30. Hitting store shelves soon?

I despise made up "must have" items.  I have a second gen I-pod that I waited to buy and refuse to upgrade as long as this one works.

I make an exception when it comes to firearms though.  Just like not having enough money or being handsome enough, you can't have enough guns.  I want this gun!  This comment was made in a previous post on the SMG version of this weapon (its theoretical so don't expect that one anytime soon).

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Kel-Tec PMR 30 SMG Prototype.":

finally got the skinny on when the pmr-30 will hit stores. my ffl said he ordered five and they told him they will definatly fill his order (that means to his door step ), by june 25th.So i should be shooting my pmr-30 the 26th at the latest...

OOOH  I hope he's right. 

I wonder if there's a waiting list?  I better start calling my FFL buddies today....got to get in the line!