ST Kinetics outlines Bronco 3 capability

Thanks to Jonathan for the link!

via Janes

ST Kinetics' (STK's) Bronco 3 is the logical evolution of the Bronco 2 (Warthog in British Army service) and factors in many lessons gained from more than 15 years of service of the Bronco 1 with Singapore's ground forces, as well as operational experience of the Warthog in Afghanistan, Dominic Phoon, head of business development with the company's Design and Manufacturing Group, told IHS Jane's.

Development of Bronco 3 commenced in 2010 and Phoon explained that based on its predecessors' survivability records a key design aim was to provide at least Warthog levels of protection, but at no more than Bronco 1's base design gross vehicle weight of 16 tonnes, and not Warthog's ultimate operational weight, which peaked at 21 tonnes. An amphibious capability comparable to that of the original Bronco 1 was also desired. These aims have been achieved with Bronco 3 attaining 5 km/h in the water, and tipping the scales at around 10.2 tonnes unladen.

Phoon disclosed that throughout its use in Afghanistan the UK's fleet of 115 Warthogs survived around 30 direct improvised explosive device strikes, with no crew fatalities, the relatively low strike rate part-attributable to the design's ability to traverse terrain inaccessible to other vehicles, wheeled or tracked.
Actual protection levels for Bronco 3 remain classified beyond basic hull protection of up to Level 4 ballistic. However, both modules have been redesigned and now feature blast deflecting V-shaped hulls suspended from a redesigned and stiffened chassis by four rubber isolators. Additional benefits of this isolator interface include the ability to swap the rear module in less than 30 minutes, and a reduction (when compared to Bronco 2) in noise, vibration, and harshness levels of 50%.

Individual crew seats are an in-house blast-attenuating design and are suspended from the cabin roof. Bronco 3 normally seats 12, the four front cabin seats located as close to the vehicle centreline as possible.

"America first" is racist signalling? I reject that thinking!

Let's go on and have this debate.  The talking point from the left is that "America first" is racist...that its signalling to the KKK and other white supremacists groups.

I reject that.

Note that this line of argument first appeared (at least this is the first place I heard it) on MSNBC on the night of the election and has been shouted from the rooftops on the Rachel Maddow show.

The initial argument was historically accurate.  Certain anti-semitic, anti-war and isolationist groups back during the late 1930's used the slogan America first to fight calls for us to enter the upcoming war.

But the meaning of words and phrases changes over time and I might be naive but I believe that this slogan doesn't have any racist, isolationist or even anti-war meaning to it.

It means what it means.  Start putting America first.  It's a call from the citizenry for the govt to start acting in the interests of the people and not other nations or corporations.  Its not anti-trade, but instead a call for free AND fair trade.  It's not isolationist but it is a call to avoid foreign entanglements.  It does mean that we will fight wars for national survival and win unconditionally.

That's my take.  What's yours?

British Army to acquire JLTVs?

Thanks to Jonathan for the link!

via Defense News.

The British Army is preparing to buy the Oshkosh-built Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) but must first seek approval from the US government to move the deal forward.

"We are working through the Foreign Military Sales process. A letter of request has been sent ‎to our American colleagues, and we expect a response in the next few months," according to Maj. Gen. Robert Talbot Rice, the director of land equipment at the Defence Equipment and Support arm of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The MoD confirmed last June that it had held early discussions about purchasing the vehicle, but this is the first acknowledgement that an official request has been lodged with the United States.

Talbot Rice told an audience of industry executives and military personnel at the International Armoured Vehicles conference in London on Tuesday that the Army had opted for the single-source purchase due to its ability to meet UK requirements and its value for money.

"The price point the Pentagon had achieved for a (US) production run of up to 55,000‎ was not going to be matched by other contenders. On the basis of the assessment on price and value for money, we made the case to go the FMS route," he said.

Subject to final approval of the deal from both sides of the Atlantic, a sale will mark the first export success for the Oshkosh Defense-designed vehicle destined to replace the Humvee in US Army and US Marine Corps service starting in 2019‎.

The British purchase is part of the Multi-Role Vehicle-Protected (MRV-P) program. JTLV will meet a requirement for troop-carrying and other light duties.

The second part of the MRV-P requirement — a larger troop carrier and a battlefield ambulance variant — is being competed by the British.

Talbot Rice declined to discuss possible delivery timings for the JLTV beyond saying they would be "slightly behind" first US deliveries.

The Brits have lost their minds!  How is a force this small expected to operate so many different combat vehicles?  Why are they pushing to have a fleet this diverse?  Maintenance, training and even differing performance levels will make this type of fleet a downright nightmare in the field.

I just don't get the thinking.   One last thing.  What is the Ocelot Foxhound suppose to be now?

T-100 out of the trainer contest?

Thanks to Jonathan for the link!

via Raytheon Press Release.

Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and Leonardo have decided not to jointly pursue the U.S. Air Force Advanced Pilot Training program, known as T-X. The companies released the following
statement:
"In February 2016, Raytheon and Leonardo announced their intent to team on the T-X pursuit. While we remain confident that the T-100 is a strong solution, our companies were unable to reach a business agreement that is in the best interest of the U.S. Air Force," said B.J. Boling, Raytheon spokesperson. "Consequently, Raytheon and Leonardo will not jointly pursue the T-X competition."

Too bad.  This was my favorite to provide the USAF with a trainer, homeland defense fighter and light attack platform going into the future.

The F-35 vs. A-10 Fly Off and CAS in denied airspace...

via DoD Buzz.

“It’ll be a very interesting test,” said Pleus, a former F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot who directs the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program’s integration office for the service.
“The A-10 was built to deal with tanks in Europe,” he said. “A low, slow, big cannon on the front of it meant to destroy tanks and assist troops in contacts and do [close-air support]” a mission the aircraft has flown more recently in the Middle East against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS.
Pleus added, “CAS is a mission, not an airplane.”

Then this

“The A-10 is a great CAS platform in a no-threat environment,” Pleus said, adding it was never meant to be a fast, high-flying aircraft that could maneuver in a contested environment — like in current parts of Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The test between the A-10 and F-35 will be structured and certified by the Defense Department’s Operational Test and Evaluation Office, Pleus said. “That plan is something they are still developing” for the comparison testing “to start undergoing in 2018,” he said.
Citing his F-16 experience, Pleus said he would bet the A-10 comes out “as the better CAS platform” in a no-threat environment against the F-35, which performs similarly to the Fighting Falcon. But “as you now start to built the threat up, the A-10s won’t even enter the airspace before they get shot down — not even within 20 miles within the target.”

Story here.

Pleus is spouting the USAF party line.  "CAS is a mission not an airplane"...and then pivoting to providing CAS in denied airspace.

WTF is he talking about?  How does he define denied airspace?  Is he talking about helicopter traps that the Viet Cong would set up when they somehow got word of an offensive and the US Army Air Cav Div would fly into a meat grinder?

Is he talking about the traps setup by the N. Vietnamese Army when they lucked up and shot down one of our fliers?  Is he talking about one of those missions that would see rescue helicopters, Sandy close air support airplanes and every fast mover available trying to keep heads down while Jolly Green Giants would HOPEFULLY swoop in and rescue our guy?

Pleus and the USAF are once again being deceitful.  Any conversation about the F-35 is a non-starter with its supporters because they are willing to twist facts to such an extent that it is a waste of time.

Even better?  We know that the A-10 will win.  The F-35 doesn't even have its already obsolete aviation suite installed.  The Sniper Pod that the A-10 carries is far more advanced than what the F-35 carries so it will be able to deliver precision munitions more precisely.  We won't even get into gun runs and demonstrations of power.

Israel's Eitan 8x8 APC completes first round of tests!

via Ynet News.

The Ministry of Defense's new wheeled armored personnel carrier (APC), known as the 'Eitan,' has finished its first round of operational testing with the Nahal Infantry Brigade, which will be the first IDF combat unit to make use of the new vehicle.
The Eitan is slated to replace the aging M113 APC, which has been in service since the 1970s.

Story here. 

Point of annoyance?  The Israeli's have designed a new 8x8, are testing it and apparently will get it into service before the Marine Corps even starts buying OFF THE SHELF models.

Blast from the past....Panzer 68 ET

pics via Bmashina Tumblr Page.

Panzer 68 ET - version of the modernization of the Pz 68 of the third series (AA3). Modernization was the installation of additional modular armor and 120mm gun L/44. In 1984, were built and tested a prototype, but adopted this variant and was not accepted.

Eastern Mosul liberated? That was the relatively easy part...across the river is where it'll be a meat grinder!

via DoD Buzz.

The U.S. military on Tuesday backed up Iraqi claims that eastern Mosul has been liberated after 100 days of urban combat marked by incessant ISIS counterattacks, more than 550 U.S. airstrikes, lulls in the fighting and tactical resets.
After a meeting Monday in Baghdad with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Sheikh Humam Hamoudi, the deputy speaker of Parliament, said, “We completed the total liberation of the left bank of Mosul and this is a gift to the Iraqi people.”
In statements Tuesday, Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, said that clearing operations are still underway in the eastern half of the city, which is split by the Tigris River, and warned of tougher fighting ahead in the more densely populated western sector.
However, the progress thus far is “a monumental achievement for not only the Iraqi Security Forces and sovereign government of Iraq, but all Iraqi people,” he said.
“This would have been a difficult task for any army in the world,” Townsend said of the Mosul offensive to oust the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria that began Oct. 17.
“And to see how far the Iraqis have come since 2014, not only militarily, but in their ability to put their differences aside and focus on a common enemy, gives real hope to the people of Iraq that — after years of fighting and instability — peace and security are attainable,” he said.
Townsend cautioned that there is a “long way to go” before Mosul is fully liberated. “The fight for western Mosul is likely to be even tougher than the eastern side,” he said.
The first few weeks of the Mosul offensive focused on clearing the outskirts and isolating the city, with the ISF pushing from the south and Kurdish Peshmerga forces from the east and north.
Elite Iraqi Counter Terror Services units then passed through Kurdish lines to make the first attacks into the city, but the drive frequently stalled as ISIS attacked with car bombs, or Vehicle Borne Improvised Exploding Devices. The VBIED attacks averaged five per day, the U.S. said.
U.S. officials also said that ISIS has mounted what was described as a “three-dimensional defense — from rooftops, from the streets, and from a maze of tunnels.

Story here.

Unless we're seeing pics then I have a hard time getting excited about this conflict.  We're so deep into  a propaganda campaign when it comes to information about the fighting that its anyone's guess as to what's what.

But I can tell you this.  If they're claiming to have captured Eastern Mosul then that's just the beginning of the beginning.  Cross the Tigrus and enter the Western part of the city.

That's where the fanatical fight will happen.

That's when that 3d war becomes even more hellish (this type fight was predicted over 20 years ago by General Krulak...the only difference is that the Iraqis aren't trying to deal with refugees on the way in like US forces would be forced to by either the news media or the new camp followers the NGOs).

What am I looking for?  I want to see if the Iraqi Golden Brigade will lead the fight or if they're going to have to be replaced in the line.  They predicted that unit would be destroyed in this fight and everything I've read seems to indicate they're inches away from being combat ineffective.

We'll see what we'll see.

Blast from the past. Showtime 100...Cunningham & Driscoll vs N. Vietnamese Air Defense Complex (Fighters and Surface-To-Air Missiles)

Many point to the Congressman's conviction and jail sentence.  I don't care.  This guy had big brass, fury balls.  Cunningham  & Driscoll will always be pure studs to me.

Below is Showtime 100 the plane flown during this mission...

What I wonder is what would happen today.  The F-4's requirements look eerily similar to the F-35's.  Unfortunately the F-35 doesn't have the same advantages.  Its single engined.  It doesn't have a RIO to assist the pilot in fighting the airplane properly.  Its slower.  In the same scenario would a F-35 win the matchup and get its pilots "feet wet" so that they could be safely recovered?

Open Comment Post. Jan 25, 2017

One Punch Man vs The Incredible Hulk (anime illustration)

The Maxims of General George S. Patton

via The Art Of Manliness.

With the confirmation of General James Mattis as Secretary of Defense, the “Mad Dog’s” no-holds-barred quotes have been making their way around, and he’s been compared to another eminently quotable officer: General George S. Patton. But with all due respect to Mattis, there’s no one truly like the original.

Story here. 

Why am I so enthused about the possibilities with Trump?  Because he has cracked the code.  He seems to realize like few other "elites" that the actions he takes means more than "soaring rhetoric".  Additionally during the first two working days of his administration he is doing what others haven't....He's delivering on his campaign promises.