Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Marine Tanks in Afghanistan!
Five M1A1 tanks have arrived to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, and another dozen or so are expected to arrive in the coming weeks. The tanks will undergo maintenance inspections before being assigned missions elsewhere in Helmand province as another tool in waging counterinsurgency operations. In addition to increased maneuverability and precision firepower, M1A1 tanks will provide superior optics and night vision capability, allowing coalition forces to spot improvised explosive devices being emplaced by the Taliban.
AH-1Z approved for full rate production.
via NAVAIR.
AH-1Z approved for full rate production
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- The U.S. Marine
Corps’ AH-1Z Cobra was approved for full rate production Nov. 28.
The H-1 program office received official word on the milestone III approval decision from Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics, Dr. Ashton B. Carter through an acquisition decision memorandum.
"This is the culmination of a lot of focused hard work by a lot of dedicated professionals," said Col. Harry Hewson, the Marines' program manager for light and attack helicopter programs. "We spent the past two years executing a very detailed risk reduction program that tested every part of the weapons and fire control system on the AH-1Z. It performed very well in operational test last spring and I am confident that it will do as well in combat as the UH-1Y is doing right now in Afghanistan. The next phase of this program is getting the Zulu into the hands of the fleet and into combat. The Zulu is going to give the Marines on the ground a whole new level of long range targeting and precision firepower for close air support."
After completing operational testing this summer, the AH-1Z was determined to be operationally effective and suitable, a finding that is a prerequisite to the full rate production decision.
"Getting the Zulu into full rate production is very important for the Marines and for our Nation," said Rear Adm. Steve Eastburg, Program Executive Officer for Air, Assault and Special Mission Programs. "Both the UH-1Y and AH-1Z deliver superb combat effectiveness to the Marine warfighter. We continue to build in production cost efficiencies to ensure that the taxpayer is getting the most for every dollar spent."
The AH-1Z Cobra helicopters are part of the Marine Corps’ H-1 Upgrade Program. The program’s goal is to replace AH-1W helicopters with new and remanufactured AH-1Z which provide significantly greater performance, supportability and growth potential over their predecessors.
A total of 189 new and remanufactured AH-1Z helicopters are anticipated, with deliveries expected to be complete by the end of 2021.
The AH-1Z is expected to achieve initial operating capability and embark on its first deployment in 2011.
The AH-1Z and the UH-1Y, the Marine Corps’ combat utility helicopter, are 84 percent identical. The UH-1Y was approved for full rate production in 2008.
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The H-1 program office received official word on the milestone III approval decision from Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics, Dr. Ashton B. Carter through an acquisition decision memorandum.
"This is the culmination of a lot of focused hard work by a lot of dedicated professionals," said Col. Harry Hewson, the Marines' program manager for light and attack helicopter programs. "We spent the past two years executing a very detailed risk reduction program that tested every part of the weapons and fire control system on the AH-1Z. It performed very well in operational test last spring and I am confident that it will do as well in combat as the UH-1Y is doing right now in Afghanistan. The next phase of this program is getting the Zulu into the hands of the fleet and into combat. The Zulu is going to give the Marines on the ground a whole new level of long range targeting and precision firepower for close air support."
After completing operational testing this summer, the AH-1Z was determined to be operationally effective and suitable, a finding that is a prerequisite to the full rate production decision.
"Getting the Zulu into full rate production is very important for the Marines and for our Nation," said Rear Adm. Steve Eastburg, Program Executive Officer for Air, Assault and Special Mission Programs. "Both the UH-1Y and AH-1Z deliver superb combat effectiveness to the Marine warfighter. We continue to build in production cost efficiencies to ensure that the taxpayer is getting the most for every dollar spent."
The AH-1Z Cobra helicopters are part of the Marine Corps’ H-1 Upgrade Program. The program’s goal is to replace AH-1W helicopters with new and remanufactured AH-1Z which provide significantly greater performance, supportability and growth potential over their predecessors.
A total of 189 new and remanufactured AH-1Z helicopters are anticipated, with deliveries expected to be complete by the end of 2021.
The AH-1Z is expected to achieve initial operating capability and embark on its first deployment in 2011.
The AH-1Z and the UH-1Y, the Marine Corps’ combat utility helicopter, are 84 percent identical. The UH-1Y was approved for full rate production in 2008.
-30-
Sunday, November 28, 2010
China seeks a way out.
It appears that China and N. Korea are looking for a face saving way out of this mess. I guess the actions of the 'little' people in S. Korea calling for retaliation are starting to pay off. Via Fox News.
China calls for urgent talks on North Korea
Published November 28, 2010
Associated Press
China's nuclear envoy is calling for an emergency meeting of North Korean disarmament talks to discuss the tensions on the Korean peninsula. Wu Dawei says chief negotiators at the six-nation nuclear talks are being asked to come to Beijing in early December for the emergency session. He said in a statement Sunday that the international community, particularly members of the six-party talks, are deeply concerned about recent developments on the peninsula. China was slow at first to react after ally North Korea pummeled a South Korean island with an artillery barrage on Tuesday, but has quickened its diplomatic intervention in recent days.
Looks like relations with China will be entering a new phase. First, this attempt by China and N. Korea to achieve a face saving way out will probably fail. Public passions in the South are running too high. Second, China was unable to 'enforce' their verbal blockade of the Yellow Sea. And lastly, China has buckled to US demands that they become involved.
All in all a bad week for the Communist.
Small Unit Space Transport and Insertion Technology Forum.
Did you know that the National Security Space Office held a technology conference on the Small Unit Space Transport and Insertion Concept (SUSTAIN) on 24-26 Feb 2009?
I didn't and I don't recall any coverage of it either. It appears that work had been conducted on a couple of concepts and one that seems rather well thought out (better said is that they had glossy power points) is the K2. More to come....I can't find out whether this is ongoing or has been swallowed up by the Air Force's X-37 project.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Hmmm, we're worried about WW3 in Asia when the real news is happening in Europe.
Sometime I wonder if we're not being caught up in a massive shell game. While everyone is focusing on the crisis in Asia between the two Korea's, the really big news that could plunge the world into the 2nd great depression is occurring in Europe. Specifically Ireland and how Germany's people react to another bailout.
Read more here...and here....and here....
I hope you've participated in the "new" fashion trend of being frugal. But if you splurged then be careful. Something appears to be brewing in Europe and few seem to be paying attention.
While America was shopping and eating turkey, her military was at war...
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