United States Tanker

Ok this is pure propaganda but it has historical flashes none-the-less. Follow the link.


United States Tanker

Stalker UAS

Nice Product, Weird Company.

I just found another of those weird little businesses that provides specialized military equipment but does it behind a veil of serving the needs of residential consumers.  Check out NetStar Technologies.

Tactical-Life.com's review of the Kel-Tec PMR-30 Sub Gun...

Sweet.

They're flubbing the sales effort with these delays but it looks like alot of fun!

Thanks Tactical-Life.com~(you too Anonymous for pointing this out)!

Hey SecDef, you want to save money? How about killing the Navy's new uniform!

The Navy has appropriated the Marine Corps Charlie Uniform but is attempting to field a brand new set of digital cammies?  Wow.

What a waste!

And on top of all that they have a new website AND FaceBook page!  Check it out here.  Oh and if you're curious, this is the press release...

Navy Working Uniform Type II/III Website Launched

By Naval Facilities Engineering Command Expeditionary Programs Office and NAVFAC Headquarters Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) launched a Web site for the Navy Working Uniform (NWU) Type II/III Aug. 9.

The website is intended to provide detailed information about the new uniforms, including development history, conformance testing data, frequently asked questions and answers, news and updates, photographs, and contact information.

"We want to provide the best Web site possible to inform our expeditionary Sailors about the new uniforms," said Andy Hu, NAVFAC NWU Type II/III program manager.

NAVFAC also has a Facebook page so the program manager can receive additional feedback, and visitors are encouraged to join or start a dialogue about the NWU Type II/III.

These new tactical uniforms are undergoing conformance testing this summer and are scheduled to be issued to the expeditionary Navy in spring 2011.

Visit the NWU Type II/III website at http://www.navfac.navy.mil/nwu, and the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/NWU-Type-II-II/147583515252522?v=wall.

The real war? Between the Army and the Air Force...the Marines and Navy are bit players.

Scoop Deck has a story on the New York Times editorial which recommends cutting the Air Force and Navy.  Beautiful.  Read it here.  Also note the spirited defense by McGrath.  Amazing but predictable.  The war in Afghanistan isn't even won yet he's ready to gut land forces!  Wow.

Why do I still hear the whispers of Rumsfeld's "Transformation" in the Air-Sea Battle concept?  Is it because certain think tankers are deluding themselves about the type of combat we'll see in the future?  Insurgents...Internal Defense Missions...Training of Foreign Military....the classic 3-block war...that's the future.  Push button combat using UAV's, hi-tech bombers and such is a fantasy.  

Update on the Kel-Tec PMR-30.

I did a story on this new gun here.  The long story short is that I wanted to add this weapon to my arsenal, the end of the story is that Kel-Tec is botching its release.

After all the drama and speculation, I'll be sticking to Ruger.

If you want a primer on how not to do business then look up Kel-Tec.

Gates to retire, Marines to win.

via Reuters.

(Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a driving force behind both the Afghan war plan and in overhauling the Pentagon's finances, said in an interview published on Monday he aims to retire next year.

So what does this mean?

1.  It means that the F-35 will most definitely survive.  Gates retirement should be near initial operational capability for the F-35 into Marine Corps service.
2.  It means that the Marines will get the EFV.  Gates can kill programs but with a Republican House on the horizon (and possibly Senate) then you can bet that the defense industry will get a boost.
3.  It means that the developing Air-Sea Battle is officially in danger.  Gates is the biggest driver behind this new concept.  With his departure and with a focus on ongoing combat in Afghanistan, you can bet that extra expenditures for expensive new airplanes (looking at you next gen bomber) will be tough to swallow.
4.  Lastly, it means that the next SecDef will be almost powerless.  With Gates retirement close to the start of the next presidential election cycle this person will have almost no sway over the services.  He/She will be able to tinker at the edges but thats about it.

EFV wins, EFV wins, EFV wins....