15th Airborne corps airdrops in Tibet with Y-9 ...pics via China Defense Blog

More pics here.

What do I see?  Looks more like promotional pics to me.  They're highlighting the Y-9 (which I know nothing about) and their paratroops.

What has me spinning is the oxygen masks.  It looks like they're doing a static line jump "Russian" style but higher than we would consider normal.  I wonder why that is?  Its the only explanation I could come up with for them using oxygen.  Oh and its a Hollywood jump too.  No weapons, no packs, just their main and reserve.

Nick Bare's Back From The Field | Army Training Vlog (I'm enjoying this guys stuff!)

No need to reinvent the wheel but I wish some Jarhead Lt would make a VLOG like this one.  Pretty interesting.

They do "field time" kinda strange though.  I guess the days of 30 days out and not see the barracks are over.

I called it too.  This guy is done.  He's leaving the Army.  Too bad for them but definitely expected.  

US Army to meet with industry to build a light tank

via DoD Buzz

The U.S. Army plans to meet next week with firms to discuss the idea of developing a new light armored vehicle with mobile protected firepower.
The Army plans to hold a so-called industry day on Tuesday at Fort Benning in Georgia to discuss the requirements for such a vehicle, essentially a light tank, in the areas of lethality, mobility, protection, transportability, sustainability, energy and cyber, according to a statement released on Thursday from the service.
The MPF program “will be a lightweight combat vehicle that provides the Infantry Brigade Combat Team long range, precision direct fire capability that ensures freedom of movement and action during joint expeditionary maneuver and joint combined arms operations,” according to the statement.
Speaking at the event will be Maj. Gen. Eric Wesley, commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence; Lt. Gen. John Murray, deputy chief of staff for programs (G8); Brig. Gen. David Bassett, program executive officer for ground combat systems; and Col. William Nuckols, director of the maneuver requirements division, according to the Army.
The service has been experimenting with ways to bring more firepower to soldiers.
Army officials recently conducted at Benning a live-fire demonstration of 30mm cannons mounted on the Light Armored Vehicle (Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle) and Flyer Advanced Light Strike Vehicle, both of which are made by General Dynamics Corp.
The exercise featured the ground mobility vehicle 1.1 prototype firing the M230-LF 30mm cannon and the light armored vehicle combat reconnaissance vehicle prototype with a Kongsberg turret firing an integrated MK44 30mm cannon.
The Army quietly canceled its Light Reconnaissance Vehicle program in June, opting instead to equip cavalry scout units with the more general-purpose Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, designed to replace a third of the Humvee fleet.
That decision came without notice after maneuver leaders held a two-week vehicle assessment at Benning last August involving six companies as part of a platform demonstration to evaluate prototypes from industry. Instead, the Army will equip scout units in infantry brigade combat teams with JLTVs with potential sensor and lethality upgrades, officials maintain.

The Army is playing games.  Do you know how long the Army has been talking about a Light Tank (this time)?  Since at least 2012.  Do you know how the Army handles urgent requirements...even when it comes to vehicles?  They sole source it and dare industry to protest.

My prediction?

This is more fools gold for manufacturers.  They will meet, they will talk and industry will respond.

And at the last minute the Army will cancel the whole thing...again.

Why isn't Australia building a Marine Corps?

Troops of the Royal Australian Regiment disembark from U.S. Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicles during RIMPAC 2012. Department of Defense photo

Much discussion has revolved around the Land 400 Phase 2 contest and while we all have different positions on the vehicles selected the vast majority feel that Australia needs a Marine Corps.

I personally find it stunning that a nation with such a rich maritime history, one that was part of the "empire" doesn't have a Marine Corps.  Its almost obscene!  So why hasn't Australia built a Marine Corps and if they DID what would it look like?

What type force?  Full spectrum or Commando?

This is the building block of the force and will tell us what it should be.  In short should they follow the example of the Royal Marines or the USMC?  If they go in the direction of the Brits then they'll be a lightweight but effective force.  Optimization will be to raiding and other Commando missions but against more capable opponents they will see their utility diminished.  If they follow the USMC example they will build a medium weight force that can flex from low spectrum up to peer state threat level combat.  IT WILL be much more expensive, will require at least another dedicated battalion from the Australian Army and will probably require dedicated squadrons from the Australian Air Force to provide supporting fires in the maritime environment.

What specialized equipment?

Besides the basics what type of specialized equipment would the Aussies need?  Again this goes toward what type of force they've building.  If they go the Royal Marine route then the BVS-10 to transport Marines inland toward their raid sites would seem to make sense.  The issue for them isn't armoring but all terrain capability.  Additionally the BVS-10 gives a limited ship to shore capability.  NOTE!  If the Aussies do decide to go the Commando way then I'm sure they'll find that their most important asset is the LCM-1E that they've bought.

What will the 2RAR actually deliver?

Despite all my musing above I think its obvious what the Australians are doing.  They've bought completely into the USMC's Company Landing Team concept and the 2RAR will simply provide a "Ready" Company for emergencies, a Company afloat and then one doing training.  I personally believe that the CLT is biased toward Counter Insurgency and Special Operations Support.

The result?

Australia will once again find itself falling behind other advanced militaries in the region.  Who has Marine Corps (or is building them)?  Japan, S. Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Taiwan and probably a few I've missed.  The bigger question is one I can't answer.  Why would a nation choose not to build a capable,  swing role force?

Army Armored Vehicles Conducts Tactical Water Crossing (vid)...

Halfway thru this video I was screaming at the monitor saying "YOU'RE FUCKING HALF ASSING IT ARMY!".

Then at the very end I saw the VIP tent and realized that its another dog and pony.  Still this is depressing.  River crossings are complex military operations and you don't see maneuver forces...especially mechanized forces doing the work.

I disagree that Russia is a threat.  Maybe not a friend but definitely not a threat.  If those in power believe that they are then stuff like this needs to be getting attention.  "Thunder Runs" around Europe isn't doing work.  Its showing the flag.  If you're actually talking about defending then your Combat Engineers need to get up to speed on creating obstacles/choke points, Maneuver Forces need to practice defense in depth (to include natural barriers/choke points)...If Russia is the threat claimed then we need to see a totally different approach from our forces on the continent...to include our allies.

Question for gun guys. What is your carry ammo?

Quick question for the gun guys.

What is your carry ammo and what grain do you like?  Everyone is biting hard on 115 grain these days (single stack 9's have seen to that) and 147 seems to be out of style....a few stick to the 124 as a good compromise and then you see manufacturers like Hornady coming out with 135 now.

The reason why I ask is because I'm currently rocking Critical Defense 115 grain and while its soft shooting out of my Glock 26...while I like to prioritize shot placement....I'm really wondering if its expansion is enough to put down a drugged up dude with decent size.

I know I'm contradicting myself but while shot placement is king, shock/blood loss has a place too.

Should I reconsider and move back to 147 grain?  What is the best on the market in that size that's available to civilians?

Side note:  I am not interested in the hybrid bullets that are hitting the market today that promise dramatic penetration.  Over penetration is as big an issue as anything.  Shooting thru the assaulter, thru barriers and then hitting grandma minding her own business is NOT my idea of a good day. So no offense to Ruger Polycase or Lehigh Extreme I'm just not interested.

General Dynamics! What were you guys thinking!!! Defence Technology Review was right.

I know you guys are getting tired of this but I have to beat this drum one more time.  What the fuck was General Dynamics thinking by entering the LAV 6.0 instead of the Piranha 5 for the Land 400 contest?

The latest news that has me spinning?

MikeKiloPapa a reader that serves in the Danish military informs us that the Piranha 5 as delivered to their forces has STANAG lvl 5 out the box!  Defence Technology Review was right.  They really did pick the wrong vehicle to enter into that program.

Aermacchi M-346FT (pics)

Increase in wheeled 8x8 size (pics)

Thanks to Kinetics for the pic.

How far has 8x8 development come in the past two decades?  Consider the above pic.  You're looking at the Piranha 5 on the right and the LAV 6.0 on the left (as you look at the pic).  The size difference is readily apparent.  Consider the LAV 6.0 the vehicle that everyone always screams about.  A dramatically upgraded version of something we already have in service.

During ordinary times that would be more than enough, but we're not living in ordinary times and the state of the art is advancing rapidly.

How far have we come?  The above pic is from STRATEGY PAGE and you can see the LAV-25 (an upgraded version still serves in the USMC) next to the LAV-III (Stryker in US Army service).

The Styker/LAV-III/LAV 6.0 is a toy next to the Piranha 5 and that vehicle is dwarfed by the Eitan, Terrex 3 and Super AV.

Is bigger always better?

No.  Not at all.  But bigger does give an indication of advancing technology.  It does give growth potential and the ability to carry larger caliber weapons and to flex into other roles (family of vehicles).

I've had my doubts about wheels but I've seen the MTVR go places a HUMVEE couldn't.  The USMC Land Systems Office believes that a 8x8 can do the job that the tracked AAV does today while offering better protection, easier maintenance  and still be able to swim from ship to shore.

Sometimes you just have to accept the innovation that is coming.  IEDs are a threat and force survival requires that our APC/IFV provide protection against that threat.  For at least the time being...wheels are king.

Deputy Commandant for Aviation calls for a 24 hour pause...

via Marine Corps Times

The head of Marine Aviation has ordered all non-deployed aircraft to stand down for 24 hours following three recent crashes of F/A-18s, two of which were fatal.
Lt. Gen. Jon Davis told wing commanders on Wednesday that non-deployed squadrons must take "an operational pause" within the next seven business days, said Marine Corps spokeswoman Capt. Sarah Burns. The move is different than grounding aircraft, she said.
Commanders can decide which day to take the pause, during which aircraft are typically inspected, Burns said on Wednesday.

Marines are stubborn.  They choose a direction and they will continue on despite evidence to the contrary because the teaching is that you "power thru" obstacles...that one more push could be the difference between victory and defeat...that one more step could carry you to your objective.

So Davis calling for an operational pause is a sign that alarm bells are finally ringing at HQMC.

The procurement train wreck has gone from being theory...gone from simply affecting the ground side of the house to now affecting the wing too.

The solution is simple but no one wants to accept it.  Either you tell Congress that you're unable to carry out the mission with the funds available.  You redo your financial/procurement planning to take into account reality and not wishful thinking.  Or you do nothing and watch more aircraft fall out of the sky.

The solutions are obvious.  The choosing is what's hard.

Land 400 Phase 2...the Australians will be behind the rest of the world...

Kiloflight made a comment that deserves to be debated...check out what he said below.

The endgame for Land 400 Phase 2 is going to be really interesting. As Australia moves forward with two last century designed vehicles (which is actually what combat proven means) the rest of the world is to continue with the development of new generation armour platforms designed to maximise modern advances in active and passive protection, automated target selection and engagement as well as the integration of autonomous support capabilities. The Russians are well on the way, the Chinese right behind them, with the Israelis well advanced and Europeans and US in catch up mode (although the USMC has a chance to be in the game if the ACV integration is finished right). Around the time Australia will be making decisions to buy and manufacture, the global 8x8 capability game will have changed quite a lot. If there arent any changes to the current choices it will be clear that Australia will likely go into 2030 and beyond with yet another out of date under scoped capability. Wouldn't be the first time.

So what's on the horizon for the rest of the world?

Eitan.  We've talked about this vehicle to death.  I think its setting a new standard in armored vehicle development.

Patria XP.  The Patria AMV has garnered a specatular reputation but its getting long in the tooth.  The growth potential is limited and the tech has moved on.  The Patria XP remedies all that and breaths new life into the design.

Japanese Maneuver Combat Vehicle.  Why did I include this?  Simple.  I believe that it will fill the same role as the Land 400 winner.  Everyone looks west when it comes to armored vehicle development but they're doing things in the east that bears watching.

VBCI 2.  This vehicle is another drastic update of a war going chariot that earned praise.  The VBCI 2 is HIGHLY networked, has a very punchy 40mm cannon and has proven itself to be IED resistant.  Its a good ride.

Boomerang.  This vehicle caught me by surprise.  The Russians have developed a thoroughly modern western style 8x8.  Expect this vehicle to show up in the Australian sphere of influence sooner rather than later.

Norinco something...This vehicle is a mystery to me.  I have no knowledge of it except that it mounts a big gun.  What I do know is that they have a APC/IFV version and would seem to be developing a family of vehicles.

There are many other vehicles that are getting massive upgrades as we speak or in development.  Left off the list of note is one of my favorites the Terrex 3 and of course the S. Korean offering.

Additionally the US Army Stryker has served longer than desired and is due for a replacement as we speak.

The Australians have locked themselves into buying old tech while the rest of the world is already heading toward more capable vehicles.  Land 400 went from being a contest that showed great promise to being a tragedy.  Pity.  Australia deserves better.

BREAKING! KNIFE ATTACK IN LONDON!

London Police are reporting a knife attack in Central London.  One dead and six injured.  POLICE "TASED(?)" THE ATTACKER!  That is pure insanity.  Either they have incredibly brave police or they're incredibly stupid and don't understand the realities of a knife attack.  21 feet.  Expect to be cut so give up your non-firing arm to defend.  Shoot to stop because a skilled knife wielder can strike you several times in seconds if they get within range.  Oh and expect to be cut.