My next Combat Folder.

I've been in the market for a Combat Folding Knife and thanks to the Military Times Gear Scout, it looks like my search is over.  The SOG X-Ray Vision XV-71 looks perfect.  Read about it here.

More Lockheed Martin Target Sighting Systems.

Via Lockheed Martin.

Lockheed Martin Receives $44 Million Marine Corps Targeting System Production Contract

ORLANDO, FL, June 21st, 2010 -- The Naval Surface Warfare Center has awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a $44 million follow-on production contract for the Target Sight System (TSS), the fire control system for the U.S. Marine Corps’ AH-1Z Cobra. The agreement authorizes production of 18 additional units.
“I am confident that TSS is exactly the system our Cobra pilots need to put warheads on target,” said Col. Harry Hewson, U.S. Marine Corps Program Manager - Air 276. “TSS provides the eyes and the combat power Marine pilots need to support other Marines on the battlefield.”
The TSS integrates state-of-the-art sensors, providing Cobra pilots with enhanced capabilities to acquire, track and designate targets. The system provides superior imagery through a highly-stabilized sensor suite specifically tailored to the AH-1Z platform. The suite includes a laser designator, color TV and a third-generation, mid-wave, forward-looking infrared sensor with advanced image processing.
“TSS leverages Lockheed Martin’s decades of sensor design and systems integration experience,” said Joseph Butera, senior program manager of Turreted Systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “The system allows pilots to see farther, providing a tactical advantage for today’s and tomorrow’s battlefields.”
Lockheed Martin received the initial TSS production contract for 16 units in March 2008 and delivered the first unit in June 2009. The system is produced at facilities in Ocala and Orlando, FL. Delivery of all systems contracted under Lot 6 and 7 low-rate initial production will be completed in 2011. A contract for full-rate production of 226 total units is expected this fall.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion

This is interesting on a couple of levels.  First why is it being sourced out of the Naval Surface Warfare Center instead of NAVAIR?  Second, this is good news.  The AH-1Z program seems to be hitting its stride.  Plus the Lockheed Martin TSS seems to have become the system of choice not only for helicopters but also UAVs.

McChrystal has to be fired.

McChrystal has to be fired.

The beltway chattering classes seem to be split but with this interview General McChrystal has alienated individuals whose support he must have in order to be successful.

The only people to escape his wrath was State and Defense.  And only parts of those organizations.

He doesn't get along with the Ambassador in Afghanistan.

He doesn't get along with the National Security Adviser.

He doesn't particularly like members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

How can this guy be effective?

How can he succeed in his position?

This is a no-brainer but as usual the chattering bunch isn't putting it together.

Amazing.

If Obama doesn't fire this guy then he's a weaker leader than I imagined.  That just isn't possible.

Pod Guns. A simple solution to the MV-22 firepower problem.

In the above video you notice that the NH-90 has pod guns that are forward firing.  This same system applied to the MV-22 might be a more satisfactory solution to the issue of MV-22 firepower.

The issue that brought the turret system to the airplane is the worry about being able to provide defensive firepower when entering landing zones.

This might be a cheap- low cost-solution to that problem.

Yon, McChrystal and the Bloggers Intervention.

UPDATE*
YOU MUST READ THIS ARTICLE. 
http://www.theusreport.com/the-us-report/2010/6/22/michael-yons-criticism-of-mcchrystal-deemed-prophetic.html


In light of current events, the "Blogger Intervention" with Michael Yon seriously needs to be revisited.  Several Military Bloggers took it upon themselves to correct many of Michael's assertions.  It seems that in the end, Michael has been proven correct.

As have I.  I stated that they had jumped the shark in the effort and this meltdown (including statements made by McChrystal in the article) proves my point.

Have Military Bloggers with access to decision makers, are cozy with the Defense Industry and parrot the Pentagon line Bloggers or are they simply well connected journalist now?

I'm not sure but here's a history of the controversy between Yon, the Military Blogging community and General McChrystal.

These guys have some explaining to do.


http://blog.usni.org/2010/04/19/one-voice-is-a-heads-up-many-voices-are/comment-page-1/

http://www.blackfive.net/main/2010/04/an-open-letter-to-micheal-yon.html

http://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com/2010/04/one-voice-is-heads-up-many-voices-are.html

http://snafu-solomon.blogspot.com/2010/05/blogger-war.html

http://snafu-solomon.blogspot.com/2010/05/weird-timing.html

MEU's should be renamed Marine Amphibious Units.

During the run up to the Marine Corps participation in the Vietnam war a subtle but considered necessary name change was applied to Marine Units.

Instead of being called Expeditionary Units they were renamed Marine Amphibious Units, Marine Amphibious Brigades, and Marine Amphibious Forces.

We should make the name change again.

The reason today isn't to ensure that we don't insult the sensibilities of the local population as was done in Vietnam, no we should do it today to distinguish ourselves from the other services.

The Marine Corps is truly Expeditionary.  There is no doubt about that.  When the Marine Corps does Expeditionary, it does Expeditionary.  Sleeping on the ground, washing your clothes in a stream and eating MRE's for months on end is just a small part of the ethos behind being a Marine.

The problem is....everyone else is calling themselves Expeditionary too.  Whether they are or not is really up to the definition of each service (I would contend that they aren't but that's another discussion)...the point is...the Marine Corps must stand out.

Renaming our forces Amphibious Units, Amphibious Brigades and Amphibious Forces would keep the hallmark of the Marine Corps front and center everytime a unit is being discussed.

Its a simple name change but it would mean alot!

Greg Grant of Defense Tech nails it!

Wow, read the whole thing over at Defense Tech.  Greg nails the real reason behind this melt down.

“He was tired of being the victim of what he believes is a concerted effort on behalf of Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry and others to undermine everything he was given 18 months to do. He was tired of being perceived in the press as a neoconservative killer, Dick Cheney’s hired assassin, or disloyal to President Obama and his staff. He was angry at being blamed for leaking the draft of his report to the President to Bob Woodward. (He did NOT leak the document). He was miffed that a large number of mid-ranking soldiers and battalion commanders and enlisted guys didn’t support his strategy.

Commenter Ran corrected my incorrect attribution of the above statement.  Apologizes to all.  Read the comments section to get the relevant information.