MH-60R pics.

via Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky.

Defence Helicopter.

Defence Helicopter has an excellent write up on USMC helicopter modernization efforts.  Read it here.

26th MEU does ship boarding training.

Marines and sailors with Reconnaissance Platoon, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, maneuver along the deck of HNS Aris during a simulated Maritime Interdiction Operation at Souda Bay, Crete, Greece, Sept. 13, 2010. The 26th MEU deployed aboard the ships of Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group in late August responding to an order by the Secretary of Defense to support Pakistan flood relief efforts. (Official USMC photo by Lance Cpl. Tammy K. Hineline/ Released)

Marines and sailors with Reconnaissance Platoon, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, provide security aboard HNS Aris during a simulated Maritime Interdiction Operation at Souda Bay, Crete, Greece, Sept. 13, 2010. The 26th MEU deployed aboard the ships of Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group in late August responding to an order by the Secretary of Defense to support Pakistan flood relief efforts. (Official USMC photo by Lance Cpl. Tammy K. Hineline/ Released)

Cpl. Andrew Simich, a radio operator with Reconnaissance Platoon, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, mans the helm while other Marines search the area aboard HNS Aris during a simulated Maritime Interdiction Operation at Souda Bay, Crete, Greece, Sept. 13, 2010. The 26th MEU deployed aboard the ships of Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group in late August responding to an order by the Secretary of Defense to support Pakistan flood relief efforts. (Official USMC photo by Lance Cpl. Tammy K. Hineline/ Released)

Sgt. Ruben Rodriguez, a radio operator with Reconnaissance Platoon, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, checks a boat for enemy personnel aboard HNS Aris during a simulated Maritime Interdiction Operation at Souda Bay, Crete, Greece, Sept. 13, 2010. The 26th MEU deployed aboard the ships of Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group in late August responding to an order by the Secretary of Defense to support Pakistan flood relief efforts. (Official USMC photo by Lance Cpl. Tammy K. Hineline/ Released)

Marines and sailors with Reconnaissance Platoon, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, maneuver along the deck of HNS Aris during a simulated Maritime Interdiction Operation at Souda Bay, Crete, Greece, Sept. 13, 2010. The 26th MEU deployed aboard the ships of Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group in late August responding to an order by the Secretary of Defense to support Pakistan flood relief efforts. (Official USMC photo by Lance Cpl. Tammy K. Hineline/ Released)

CH-53K Brochure.

M-037 CH53K Prochure Final Web

Jim Strock on "Augmenting the SeaBase".

I think what the nation needs to know about amphibious ships and amphibious forces is number one; that out of all the ships in the fleet — all the ships in the fleet — the only ships that can truly extend the full range of seapower ashore are amphibious ships. Aircraft carriers and surface warfare ships have tremendous strike capabilities, and the upcoming Littoral Combat Ships will provide enhancements to our surface combat, anti-submarine warfare, and mine warfare capabilities. But amphibious ships are armed with operationally ready Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs). Those ships can project and sustain those forces ashore, and can recover them to the seabase when and where required. That’s a degree of operational flexibility that significantly the range of options available to the Combatant Commander. That’s very important in today’s security environment. 

A must read.  Get it all here at the SLD Info website.

Australian DMO...say it ain't so.

via ELP Defens(c)e Blog...

"They are Lockheed Martin’s bitch."

Too funny. 

Watching the critics is just too funny! 

Pass the popcorn.

SNCO motivating the troops.

A repeat but worth definitely worth it.

EC725...Saturday Photo Fix.

The latest from EuroCopter...the EC725.

Done Deal. Israel to buy F-35's.

A ministerial panel headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak made a final decision Thursday to purchase 20 new F-35 fighter jets, despite opposition from a number of senior defense officials over the high cost of the deal.
Barak gave his go-ahead last month to purchase the jets in a deal valued at around $2.75 billion. The first planes are expected to arrive in 2015.

Read more here.

I luv it!  You know Sweetman is reaching into the back of his cabinet pulling out the real strong stuff after hearing this news.

Pic of the day Sep. 17, 2010. Battalion Commander gettin' some.

U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Chris S. Richie, commanding officer of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Continuing Promise 2010, performs live-fire drills with his Marines and Sailors, aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), Sept. 14. Service members and civilians are deployed in support of CP providing humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and subject-matter exchanges to the Caribbean, Central and South America.

A U.S. Airman directs an F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 18th Aggressor Squadron for takeoff during Valiant Shield at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Sept. 16, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamie Powell/Released)

A line of MV-22 Osprey aircraft from Marine Medium Tilt-Rotor Squadron 266 (Reinforced) arrives at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, Sept. 10, 2010. The squadron is deployed aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), which is en route to provide relief to flood-stricken regions of Pakistan. (DoD photo by Lt. Cmdr. Dean Sears, U.S. Navy/Released)

U.S. Sailors deployed aboard high speed vessel Swift (HSV-2) demonstrate proper techniques for maneuvering a rigid-hull inflatable boat during a small-boat operations subject matter expert exchange with Dominican service members in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Sept. 14, 2010. Swift is deployed in support of Southern Partnership Station 2010, which is designed to promote information-sharing with navies, coast guards and civilian services throughout the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rachael L. Leslie, U.S. Navy/Released)