AH-1Z inching toward service.

100802-N-3852A-366 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 2, 2010) An AH-1Z Cobra helicopter assigned to Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Squadron (HX) 21, based in Patuxent River, Md., approaches the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). This upgraded version of the Cobra is not yet available to the fleet. The helicopter features a larger engine and has two more blades than the Cobra's original two, giving it more power and maneuverability. Wasp is conducting test flight operations and was chosen as the platform to evaluate the limits and capabilities of newer models of aircraft. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rebekah Adler/Released)

100802-N-3852A-035 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 2, 2010) An AH-1Z Cobra helicopter assigned to Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Squadron (HX) 21, based in Patuxent River, Md., lands aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). This upgraded version of the Cobra is not yet available to the fleet. The helicopter features a larger engine and has two more blades than the Cobra's original two, giving it more power and maneuverability. Wasp is conducting test flight operations and was chosen as the platform to evaluate the limits and capabilities of newer models of aircraft. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rebekah Adler/Released)

090216-N-1251W-018 GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 16, 2009) Landing signalmen enlisted Aviation Boatswains Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Kevin Bourne, from Brooklyn, NY assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) signals an AH-1Z Super Cobra assigned to the air combat element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) signals an AH-1Z Super Cobra Harpers Ferry and the 31st MEU are taking part in Exercise Cobra Gold, an annual Thailand and U.S. co-sponsored joint coalition multinational military exercise designed to train a Thai, U.S. and Singaporean Coalition Task Force. The exercise will also include humanitarian civic action projects with participating nations from Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and the U.S. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew R. White/Released)

*Note*
Navy social media is probably the best of all the services.  The website is updated constantly, and is beyond easy to navigate.  They do have one problem though.  Aircraft, ship and weapons identification is lacking.  The AH-1W in the last photo is mis-identified as an AH-1Z.  T

Latest from Lexington Institute.

 

 The V-22, Like The Bumble Bee, Successfully Confounded Its Critics Dr. Goure nails it again. 

Read the entire article but check out this snippet... 

Long-time critics of the V-22 program are again trying to go after the program, seeking now not to terminate it but merely truncate the production run and substitute for the Osprey slower and less capable aircraft. This is ironic since both the Marine Corps and the Air Force would like to see production of the V-22 increase.

Substitute the F-35 for the V-22 and you see history repeating itself.  Its funny too.  The same supporters of additional F-22's, the A-330 tanker and cutting the V-22 are all opposed to the F-35.

Amazing.

PEO Soldier's Equipment Piece of the week.

PEO Soldier has been running an "Equipment Piece of the Week" article for a while now.  This is their latest.
SW_IW_M150

Jungle Training.

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan (Aug. 5, 2010) -- -Second Lt. Brett Howard, platoon commander for Combined Anti-Armor Team 1, teaches Marines how to pick alternate positions in case of compromise, August 3. The training prepares Marines for an upcoming deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler C. Vernaza), Lance Cpl. Tyler Vernaza, 8/3/2010 7:25 AM

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan (Aug. 5, 2010) ---Lance Cpl. Vernon Graham, vehicle commander with Combined Anti-Armored Team 1, briefs a plan of approach before conducting a foot patrol, August 3. The training prepares Marines for an upcoming deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler C. Vernaza), Lance Cpl. Tyler C. Vernaza, 8/3/2010 9:53 AM

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan (Aug. 5, 2010) -- -Gunnery Sgt. John Schmuck, platoon sergeant with Combined Anti-Armor Team 1, talks with Marines about different types of ambushes and the best ways to employ them during jungle warfare training, August 3. The two-day exercise taught various techniques to help Marines operate in a jungle environment. The training prepares Marines for an upcoming deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler C. Vernaza), Lance Cpl. Tyler C. Vernaza, 8/3/2010 8:26 AM

Some F-35 news you didn't hear...

This from Defense News.com

U.S. Air Force chief Gen. Norton Schwartz is considerably "more optimistic" than he was this spring about the future of the F-35 Lightning II program given the significant progress being made on the plane's test program
"I am more confident than I was, to be sure," about the F-35A - the Joint Strike Fighter version his service will fly - due to a recent string of testing successes with the jet, Schwartz said during an Aug. 4 meeting with the editorial staff of Defense News and Air Force Times.

Read the whole thing but the Air Force buy is critical.  To hear the Air Force Chief stating such reasoned thought when it comes to the F-35 is a pleasant surprise.

The critics have failed.  This airplane will be placed into full rate production.

Oh and for my boys at Lockheed...go on and destroy the tooling for the F-22...we won't be needing it!

They report, you decide.

This story from FoxNews is...breathtaking.  If the accusations are true then those that state that the Obama administration is weak and apologetic are completely vindicated.

The son of the U.S. Air Force pilot who dropped the first atomic bomb in the history of warfare says the Obama administration's decision to send a U.S. delegation to a ceremony in Japan to mark the 65th anniversary of the attack on Hiroshima is an "unsaid apology" and appears to be an attempt to "rewrite history."

That's just a snippet.  Read the whole thing here.

CH-53K advances.

via Hartford Business.com

The Stratford helicopter maker, a unit of United Technologies Corp. in Hartford, says the new design of the 47-year-old copter has passed muster with military reviewers and is now headed for assembly, testing and evaluation of a K-model prototype of the CH-53.

Hmm.  This re-design seems to either be sliding in under everyone's radar or we're seeing a new trend in future weapons procurement.

Don't go with a clean sheet design, simply upgrade an existing platform to the hilt...If the 53K can escape the bean counters barbs because its "an upgrade" then we should do this across the board in the future.