CH-53K video...observations...

Just a few points that I missed and others picked up on and a few things i saw on the second running...

1.  Deep penetration mission with Special Ops.
2.  Same mission set as V-22 which was  also flashed in the vid.
3.  Sneak peek at the armed X-2 supporting the CH-53K.
4.  Resupply of an outpost under attack (revised view of our outposts that were overrun in Afghanistan)...if only we had the CH-53K...
5.  It appears that the defensive arms were used in an offensive role.
6.  Interservice operations...from an Air Force base to an LHD.

Did I miss anything?

Australian Armor in Afghanistan.

A variety of photos from the Australian Army website.  Notice how the ASLAV figures prominently in Australian Army operations.

Geez! If a MEU is ony delivering food and painting schools then bring them home!

SUBIC BAY, Republic of the Philippines (Oct. 17, 2010)-Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit unload boxes of clothes, toys and painting supplies during a visit to Gordon Heights Elementary School. The visit was a community relations event during the Amphibious Landing Exercise 2011. , Lance Cpl. Tyler C. Vernaza, 10/15/2010 6:22 AM

Instead of supporting Special Ops that are out in the boonies fighting terrorist ... instead of training with the host countries Marine Corps what is our 31st MEU doing?  Delivering food and painting schools!  Send them to Bridgeport or out to 29 Palms or even out to the NTA if this is all they're going to do on float.  Come on!  Enough of this politically correct garbage!

Meals on ships --- delivered by the US Marine Corps via the US Navy courtesy of our politically correct East/West Coast Bloggers and the Admirals they have drinks with.

Conway on "Don't ask, don't tell"

I have a feeling this guy is going to give some interesting interviews upon his retirement. I would bet a paycheck that political office is in his future.

CH-53K

Notice how they sneak in an armed X-2 into the vid??? Also the use of the 53K in the troop transport mission points to it being touted as a replacement for the MV-22 in that role. The 53K reverting to a medium/heavy lift helo? Interesting.

Airbus tactics won't work for Airbus Military.

The A-400 is, at least to me, the weirdest airplane in existence.  Its marketed as filling a niche position between the C-17 and C-130...but at a cost of only a few million dollars less than a C-130 is it viable?

I personally don't think so.  To be honest if it wasn't a jobs program (a charge that can probably be leveled at the majority of weapon systems in development right now...at least by critics) it would be canceled.

But the business model is most annoying.  Airbus has for years waited for Boeing to develop aircraft and then plus sized them.  They did it with the 767 vs. the A330.  They did it with the 737 vs. the A320 and they're doing it with the 787 vs. the A350.

Fortunately for Lockheed Martin that same thinking isn't working in the competition for military orders.  The A400 will probably force Airbus out of the military aircraft market.  Boeing wins in the end.

You've got a Battalion creating havoc behind enemy lines...

via SLDInfo...

SLD: The ability to triple the lift allows you to more effective insert force using the Osprey as well?
Major Davis: That is true. If you wanted to put a unit in a battalion reinforced, let’s say, in one period of darkness, V-22 obviously moves the personnel, because that’s what it’s designed to do. The 53-K can bring in the armored vehicles, providing that straight-leg infantry with ground mobility. Now they’ve got vehicles that they can bring in, so now they’re mobile.
You do all that in a single period of darkness, go 100 miles off from the shore into the enemy’s backyard in one night, and you’ve got a battalion reinforced in there with armored vehicles so they can wreak havoc all behind enemy lines.