Sikorsky S-97 RAIDER coming 10.2.14!

About the murder of Steven Sotloff.

First, if you don't know the details check out this article.

Next time for a little reality boys and girls.

This guy was dead when he showed up in the first video with the other journalist that was killed.

That's the sad fact.

Even if we weren't bombing them, they would have found another excuse to kill him.  That's the way evil works.  It attempts to shock, scare and freeze the actions of good men and women.  They have approx 28 other Americans and we can expect them all to be killed...unless we're willing to throw away the lives of SOCOM on rescue attempts (attempts that just became ALOT more difficult because the White House disclosed that an attempt had already been made).

Steel yourselves (those of you that need to) to the fact that these bastards will kill any American that they lay their hands on.  Resolve yourself to the fact that they can't be reasoned with and the only thing that can be done is to kill them where ever they're found.  Accept the fact that lives will be lost (that doesn't mean to throw them away, simply acknowledging that bad shit happens) while bringing these rabid dogs to heel and understand that some fellow "so called" Americans are hooked in with these fools.  Between this ISIS mess, Ukraine, terrorist in Libya that want to destabilize Egypt, the widespread craziness with terrorist in Africa (along with the Ebola epidemic) and the German economy suddenly going into the red, I SEE NOTHING BUT GLOBAL TROUBLE AHEAD.

KMW's new Air-transportable Special Operation Vehicle

Pic and article via Army Recognition...

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann showed interest in the Bremach chassis in the mid-2000s, as German Special Forces had a requirement for a compact, CH-47-airliftable long-range patrol vehicle. In 2008-09 the Italian company carried out an 11-month test and qualification phase at the WTD 41 proving ground in Meppen, during which the vehicle covered over 10,000 km and demonstrated its capacity to cope with 100% slopes and 58% side slopes, 900 mm fords without preparation and turn in less than 13 metres.
Bremach engineers have since worked closely with KMW designers, and the result is now showcased at MSPO 2014. An open top vehicle, capable to be quickly reconfigured according to the mission, it will be capable to fit inside the principal transport helicopters. The KMW special operations vehicle based on the Bremach chassis should be the first of a family of vehicles based on that particular chassis.
KMW’s Special Operation Vehicle is a new modular system for Special Forces. Air-transportable, the SOV is feated for long-range reconnaissance and special operations. Thanks to the innovative folding roll-bar cuts, the preparation time for internal transport in CH47/53 helicopters downs to under 2 minutes.
With its IVECO 3.0 liter diesel engine (125kW, 400Nm), its heavy-duty chassis and a well-balanced power-to-weight ratio, the SOV combines outstanding mobility with maximum off-road performance, great operation range (900km) and extreme combat power. The chassis provides ballistic protection and a mine protected underside.
KMW’s SOV allows a high firepower level with three different gun mounts, permitting the use of a 12.7mm MG or 40 mm GMW, a 5.56/7.62 mm MG on pedestal mount (commander), a second 5.56/7.62 mm MG on pedestal (rear gunner) and a Wegmann 76/40 mm multi-purpose launcher.

First I owe Shas a punch in the gut.  Why didn't you tell me that MPSO was going on in Poland (oh, thats a military trade-show...they hope to grow it rival other big events)?

Second, this is turning into a hot market.  I like this offering.  Read more by following the above link and you can follow show highlights by going to Army Recognition here. 

How much is the F-35 engine fix costing?

via Naval Today.

This modification provides for support equipment for the F135 propulsion systems to include handling, testing, and maintenance equipment and parts required to keep systems operational such as borescope inspection kits, main engine inlet covers, lift nozzle module slings, lift gearbox adapters, and water wash cart systems.
Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut (90 percent), and Indianapolis, Indiana (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2015.
Fiscal 2012 aircraft procurement (Marine Corps and Air Force) and international partner funds in the amount of $9,468,406 will be obligated at time of award, $8,139,299 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

Ok I admit it.

Budgets and finances at the govt level are not my thing, but it appears that they just short fused $8 million dollars to be spent before Oct.

Not only is that fast but that's very fucking fast!  What did they find?  Why are they pushing this into THIS fiscal year instead of waiting an additional month and rolling it into the next?

Something is off, I just don't know what it is.

GruntWorks gives your "ISIS Battalion Briefing"!

via GruntWorks...

Everyone! Around me! NOW!
Listen very fucking closely:

The usual shitbaggery stops TODAY. Platoon Sergeants, Squad Leaders, start getting your people squared away: dime-washer drills, night land-nav, body-armor runs, full-tactical road marches, call for fire classes, middle-eastern culture classes, etc.
Everyone gearing for Pre-Ranger go now. Everyone else get out to the ranges and start putting in work.
It's time to start cutting all loose ends and cleaning up personal shit. This ISIS shit has the potential to get even uglier and that means real shit, real fast. Don't wait for orders, start anticipating and get to work training like these guys are training to kill you and everyone you know, love and care about.
If you're PT deficient, unfuck yourself. If you have girl problems, dial 1-800-dumpahoe and get your mind straight. Train and start acting like your teammate's life depends on you.
Veterans, remember your Oath never expired. Take appropriate measures.
Drink moderately.
Stay away from Ho-Shacks from now on.
Clean up your finances.
Hydrate.
No drugs.
TA-50....get it together. ALL OF IT.
Get current on your jumps.
Square your families away and teach your wives and older kids how to protect hearth and person with firearms and with extreme predjudice. Don't fuck around.
Platoon Sergeants, take charge.

Well I thought it was a mixture of true and funny at the same time.  But this is real in one sense.  This ISIS shit if going to get serious whether we like it or not. 

Republic of Korea Army 26th Mechanized Infantry

NOTE:  Is it just my imagination or are many of the major players in the Pacific a bit cannon heavy when compared to what the USMC and US Army would consider standard?  The S. Koreans and Singapore in particular seem to put a greater emphasis on organic fires when it comes to their mechanized forces than we do.  What do they know that we don't?

Russia's 331st Parachute Regiment (Infantry) takes serious combat hit.

via New Republic.com

Fourteen soldiers have been confirmed dead after two Ukrainian troops blew themselves up to prevent capture by Russian forces.
The two soldiers, majors Alexander Kadesjuk and Alexei Shepeljuk, had been seriously wounded and used grenades to kill themselves during the fierce fighting in the tumultuous border region of Donetsk.
The explosion also killed 12 Russian paratroopers, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence reported today [29 August].
According to witnesses, Kandesyuk and Shepelyuk, members of the 51st brigade of the Ukrainian army, were initially wounded while trying to escape encirclement by a much larger Russian force.
One anonymous witness told Ukraine's defence ministry "there was practically no chance to survive in such hell, so it was decided [by the Ukrainian troops] to break through the encircling forces.
"The majors Olexander Kandesyuk and Olexiy Shepelyuk, who was the commander of an anti-aircraft missiles battery, headed the advanced guard of the breakthrough group. [However] the advanced guard was caught in an ambush."
Kandesyuk was wounded by a machine gun, while Shepelyuk was also hit as he tried to help his comrade.
The Russian soldiers, members of the 331st paratroopers' regiment, then surrounded the Ukrainian troops and tried to take them prisoner.
As the Russian troops edged closer, the injured Ukrainians stood up and raised their hands. Shortly afterwards, witnesses claim one of the soldiers released their grenade, causing a huge explosion.
It is thought that the incident took place on 25 August.

I consider this an ominous turn.

Think about it.  During WW2 on the Western front, allied and German soldiers fought hard but capture while unpleasant, was still better than death and fair treatment could be expected...until the German SS committed war crimes, then the fighting turned even more savage.

The savagery made the fighting on the Eastern front extremely barbaric from day one, and we don't even need to talk about the situation in the Pacific against fanatical Japanese resistance.

The combat in Vietnam had the same hallmarks.  Any and everything was preferable to capture.  I consider what we're seeing in the Middle East against ISIS to be an anomaly.  Whether its cultural or we're just not getting reports to dogged resistance to the end...I just don't know...but to see a couple of Ukrainian officer decide to blow themselves up instead of being captured  indicates to me that what we've seen before is a walk in the park compared to whats about to come.

I say it too much but this shit is getting real.

Major Hat Tip to Predator Intelligence Blog for the story link.