Digital Camo F/A-18.

Its just a matter of time before our ships, tanks, and airplanes are all in digital camo.

USMC digs in on the EFV?! You damn right!

Michael Fabey has an article on the EFV over at Aviation Week.  Here is the punch line but read the whole thing...

But the Marines also make sound counter-arguments. True, the military really hasn’t needed to storm enemy shores with a vehicle like this since World War II, but that doesn’t mean the capability — or the threat of one — isn’t needed.
The U.S. hasn’t used an atomic or nuclear weapon since the World War II either, but few would argue the country needs to scrap all major programs dedicated to keeping that capability.
Further, the Marines point out, the proper Pentagon officials have already reviewed and blessed the EFV from a requirements and capability perspective. Of course, the Air Force also had made that argument for its CSAR-X program, which the service said was its second-highest priority procurement effort.
But when it comes to saving programs, no group is better than the Marines. No one need look any further than the V-22 Osprey for proof of that.

You damn right the Marines are digging in on the EFV and I need to repeat a couple of points.

1.  The AAV was first fielded in 1970's.  Its beyond time for a replacement.
2.  Forcible Entry is a necessary tool in the American Arsenal.  Just as the article points out, we haven't used nuclear weapons since 1945 yet we still have them.  Our Airborne forces have been allowed to atrophy, Air Assault is problematic...we need to be able to conduct Amphibious Assaults.
3.  The US Army will have gone through 4 generations of armored vehicles...the M-113, Bradley, Stryker and the upcoming GCV.

The Marines will win, it'll be nasty but we'll get the EFV. 

As a side note.  If a program manager needed wall to wall counseling, its the guys that have run this program.  If they get promoted after the missteps in this program then Officer selection is truly broken.

Israel should be nervous. Very nervous.

If a repeat of the 1973 war were to occur today there is every possibility that the Israeli nation could be defeated.  With Arab nations obtaining Typhoons, F-15s, F-16s, M1 Abrams, high speed anti-shipping missiles, MLRS, high tech attack helicopters and other advanced weaponry the technological advantage once enjoyed by the Jewish state has all but disappeared.

This latest sale to Saudi Arabia is troubling.  Who are they arming up to fight exactly and how many airplanes do they actually need for their air force?  Via FoxNews.

WASHINGTON—The Obama administration plans to sell advanced F-15 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia but won't equip them with long-range weapons systems and other arms whose inclusion was strongly opposed by Israel, diplomats and officials said.
The proposed $30 billion, 10-year arms package, which would be one of the biggest single deals of its kind, has been a source of behind-the-scenes tension during months of negotiations. Israeli officials have repeatedly conveyed their concerns in private that the U.S. risks undermining its military advantage by equipping regional rivals with top-flight technologies.

Another Joe Stremph Special.

If you haven't already checked out his Flickr page then you're missing a treat.

Have you noticed it???

Blogging here has been light due to extra demands at work...but have you noticed it?

The military "social networking sites"...those places that I go to for daily updates on the war in Afghanistan and the situation in Iraq have virtually embargoed news of what's happening.

Marine Corps News has been running stories non-stop on the partnership mission in Africa.  Navy News is all atwitter about the various partnerships in S. America.  Army news is focused on tech advancements and dependent matters...the Air Force?  Don't know and don't care.

But for some reason, the Afghan war is off the radar screen of those closest to it.

No one seems to have noticed.

Have you?

US Marines train Mozambique Troops.

I've watched the stories coming out of a current US Marine Corps deployment to Africa.  I wonder if this is what our military should be doing.  These countries have poverty rates that are absolutely breath taking.  They have a history of instability...and yet the highest profile contact that they have with the US is our warriors training their military.  I'm not sure this is the way to go.  I'm not convinced that this is the way to counter the Chinese.  Nevertheless here are a few pics.

BOANE, Mozambique-A Marine with 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, demonstrates the uses of the M203 grenade launcher ahead of a live fire exercise with Mozambican troops Aug. 5 in Boane, Mozambique, as part of Exercise SHARED ACCORD 2010. The exercise which is coordinated by U.S. Africa Command’s Marine component, U.S. Marine Forces Africa, brings together more than 700 U.S. service members and Mozambican soldiers for the purpose of increasing Mozambique’s capacity to carry out peace and stability operations., Lance Cpl. Jad Sleiman, 8/4/2010 10:49 PM

BOANE, Mozambique-Mozambican soldiers practice martial arts during a break from a live fire exercise with U.S. Marines Aug. 5, in Boane, Mozambique, as part of Exercise SHARED ACCORD 2010. The exercise, which is coordinated by U.S. Africa Command’s Marine component, U.S. Marine Forces Africa, brings together more than 700 U.S. service members and Mozambican soldiers for the purpose of increasing Mozambique’s capacity to carry out peace and stability operations., Lance Cpl. Jad Sleiman, 8/5/2010 10:47 PM

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