F-35 makes airshow appearance!

F-35C CF-2 flew over the Andrews Joint Services Open House airshow on 21 May 2011. US Navy Lt. Cdr. Eric Buus was the pilot on this seventh test flight of the aircraft—and the first flight that originated from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. The USAF Thunderbirds can be seen below.

F-35C CF-2 Fly over during the Joint Service Open House at Andrews AFB

OUTRAGEOUS!

This is OUTRAGEOUS!  Thanks MUCH PATRICK for sending me this link.  Read the whole thing.  Medical aid didn't arrive for an hour.  The SWAT Team didn't find a weapon on this Marine.  Nothing.  Save these tactics for use against Drug Cartels not US citizens!







I'm not going to lie to you. I've always considered Police brother in arms. But the behavior of this group of SWAT officers has me re-evaluating that stance. Another problem that I'm having to face is that I've always looked at charges of Police Brutality as issues of criminals attempting to sully the name of the men that are out there to protect society. No more. This is honest to goodness crossing the line.

Pic of the day. May 21, 2011.

Lance Cpl. Marcus Terry fires the M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon through a mock window on an unknown distance course at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., May 18. Terry is an infantryman assigned to the Ground Comabt Element, Marine Barracks Washington. Photo by Sgt. Bobby J. Yarbrough

If you know, then tell me!

I need an answer to two questions.

1.  Why do I see this Sgt Of Marines sporting an Army bayonet on his weapon?  The Marine Corps has its own bayonet and yet it isn't issued to this guy.  Is the supply chain that slow...fractured...jacked up or does the Air Wing roll with different gear?

2.  Whats the deal with P-Mags?  Are they allowed or not?

If you know what gives then hit me up in the comments section or by e-mail.

F-22 Upgrade Taking Too Much Time, Money - Defense News

via DefenseNews.  Click the title to read the whole thing.

Among other improvements, the upgrade will allow the F-22 to carry the AIM-9X infrared-guided air-to-air missile and the AIM-120D medium-range air-to-air missile, and to attack eight ground targets with eight 250-pound Small Diameter Bombs.

Software development appears to be the primary cause of the delay.

Loren Thompson, an analyst at the Lexington Institute, said the F-22's software is written largely in Ada, a programming language that was once a DoD standard but whose use has waned in the past 15 years.

"It tends to impede quick upgrades to the system to which it is the base software," Thompson said.

Moreover, he said, "The affordability of any upgrade becomes debatable when you purchase a relatively small number of upgrades." 

Not slamming the F-22 but if the upgrade to AIM-9X and AIM-120D is behind schedule and even imperiled by budget concerns, then are we really talking about the premier air to air fighter in the world?  Everyone talks about air to air combat but in a "phone booth" type fight, even a legacy fighter should be able to achieve a mutual kill (if it can get a lock on)...one thing is certain.  The F-22 pilot will have to work really hard up close.  Harder than we've been lead to believe.

The “Kevlar coffin.”

That's what US Army Soldiers in one Stryker Unit that deployed to Afghanistan called their vehicles...Kevlar Coffins.

That's either an indictment of the vehicles or the tactics they used.  Since I am a homer, I'll blame the vehicles and it appears that the US Army agrees.  This story from the Stars and Stripes describes how they're about to deploy double hulled vehicles Army wide.  Read the whole thing but here's a juicy tidbit.

The double-V hull design, which went from conception to production in less than a year, will replace conventional, flat-bottomed Strykers that have seen extensive service in Iraq and made an inauspicious debut in Afghanistan in June 2009 with the deployment of the 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division to Kandahar province.

Members of that brigade, which had 37 troops killed in action and 238 wounded during its yearlong mission, reportedly called the vehicles the “Kevlar coffin.” Things got so bad that part way through the deployment, the Stryker unit was diverted away from the main fighting in Kandahar to a “freedom of movement mission” guarding roads on the periphery of where the toughest combat was taking place.

Unfortunately, the strain of repeated combat tours necessitated the Strykers’ deployment to Afghanistan to “take their turn downrange,” said retired Lt. Col. David Johnson, executive director of the Center for Advanced Defense Studies. Stryker brigades’ soldiers — if not their vehicles — need to deploy to Afghanistan so that other units have enough dwell time at home.

But the Stryker vehicle itself might not be the best option in places like Afghanistan, he said. It was designed to be a rapidly deployable, medium-armor vehicle that would fight in a medium- to high-intensity conflict, carry troops to an assault position and dismount the troops.

“[It] isn’t perfectly suited for the environment in Afghanistan or a low-intensity conflict with IEDs,” he said. “The Stryker is a platform. If it doesn’t work, use another tool.”

The Army's got a problem.  They've re-oriented their entire force around the "Stryker" Brigade concept.  If this vehicle isn't adequate across all conflicts then its time to rethink organizational philosophy.

Maybe its time to bring back Light Fighter Divisions?

A website you should check out...a cause you should support.

If you didn't know it ... the wounded warrior games were recently held.  Quite honestly, I was conflicted when it came to posting pics of the events.  Personal, and I won't get into it.  But one thing I a strongly support and you should too is any organization that supports these men and women.  The above banner links to just such an org.  Find time or money or any other thing you can spare to help out.

Rant over.

Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Thailand 2011 (CARAT-2011)

The guided-missile destroyer USS Howard leads a formation of U.S. and Royal Thai Navy ships, flanked by the guided-missile frigate USS Reuben James and HTMS Phuttalertlanapalai and followed by HTMS Taksin, HTMS Khirirat, and HTMS Sukhotai as they transit the Gulf of Thailand during Cooperation Afloat and Readiness Training Thailand 2011. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance force readiness. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Lily Daniels

The Royal Thai Navy medium landing ship HTMS Surin, foreground, and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga, maintain patrol after releasing waves of U.S. and Thai Marine amphibious assault vehicles to the beach during an amphibious landing evolution as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Thailand 2011. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance force readiness. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jose Lopez

A Royal Thai Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicle drives onto the beach during an amphibious assault exercise as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Thailand 2011. The navy medium landing ship HTMS Surin and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga participated in the beach assault. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance force readiness. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jose Lopez

U.S. Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicles launched from the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga, not pictured, prepare to assault a beach during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2011. More than 130 U.S. Marines spent 48 hours training with members of the Royal Thai Marine Corps. (Photo by: Lt. K. Madison Carter)

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Kidd and USS Pinckney are underway in the Pacific Ocean. Kidd and Pinkney are part of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group and are participating in a composite training unit exercise off the coast of Southern California. (Photo by: Seaman Apprentice Carla Ocampo)

Amphibious assault vehicles exit the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga during an amphibious assault exercise as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Thailand 2011. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance force readiness. (Photo by: Petty Officer 2nd Class Katerine Noll)