ISIS infographic (propaganda)

Thanks Dustin for the link!

Of note?  Kills of the Textron Commando, Abrams and T-72.  Quite honestly the losses are much lighter than I expected.

Snafu Podcast.

Gonna be doing a YouTube type podcast type "thing" later this week (Weds or Thurs).  More details to come but it'll cover topical military issues.  I'll be teaming with Eric from ELP Blog for the first broadcast but will hopefully add other bloggers soon.  Eyes open for updates during the week.  Subscribe to my YT page if you can't catch it live.

Sorry guys...I forgot to put the link to the page...click here.  Should have day and time solidified with ELP shortly!

Exchange between Kirsten Gillibrand and & General Robert Neller

The Marine Corps tribe is pissed about the above video.

Ignore the fact that the blog "Task and Purpose" obviously have an agenda.  Forget the fact that even though I surf  the web constantly I never heard of the site that is at the center of the alleged infractions.

Forget the fact that apparently the "victims" never reported the incidents up thru the chain of command.

The fact that a Congress Critter talked to the Commandant of the Marine Corps like a dog has many Marines wanting to punch walls.  That he bowed his head and took it like a whipped little boy is too much is too much for many to bear.

We're jumping thru massive hoops to deal with 10% of the Marine Corps population.  Is it really worth the headache?  Just askin!  Regardless we need more than a bowed head from the leader of the nation's premier  war fighting organization.  We need fire.  Fix the bullshit and move on but don't dare bow your head.  Even to a female Congress Critter trying to showboat!

Open Comment Post. March 19, 20, 2017

Open Comment Post. March 18, 2017

ST Kinetics tosses its hat in the ring for the US Army's Mobile Protected Firepower Vehicle

via Monch.com

At 2017 AUSA Global Force, ST Kinetics is offering its Next Gen Armored Fighting Vehicle (NGAFV) to the US Army for the service's Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF). In concept, the MPF is seen as a highly mobile vehicle that is able to accompany and support Infantry Brigade Combat Teams, and aid reconnaissance-in-force missions. The MPF will be a fully tracked armored vehicle light and small enough to negotiate urban areas, and traverse poor roads and bridges in underdeveloped regions of the globe.

Although still in the early stages, the US Army hopes to field an MPF vehicle by the mid-2020s.

The NGAFV has been developed by ST Kinetics and its demonstrator includes the company's HMX3000 fully automatic transmission and CMI's COCKERILL 3000 series turret.

Fully digitised and with the option of drive by wire, the NGAFV is to replace the Singapore Armed Forces' M113A ULTRAs.

Wing In Ground Effect Amphibious Assault Concepts

Thanks to RougeTech for the pics!

Next Generation Fighter gets massive budget boost. What does Trump know that our allies don't?

Thanks to Anthony 256 for the link!

via Popular Mechanics

With the F-35 barely out the front door, the U.S. military is already trying to figure out what America's next-generation fighter jet will look like. The U.S. Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program is conducting research and development work that will ultimately lead to an air superiority fighter to take the place of the F-22. The program is due for a large increase in funding, as the Trump administration suggested an eight-fold increase for the NGAD program, up to $168 million from just $21 million.

The request comes in the form of the White House's supplemental budget plan for 2017. As Aviation Week points out, the full increase is highly unlikely to be approved as it would require lifting Budget Control Act (BCA) caps, something that takes 60 votes in the Senate. Still, the request for such a sharp increase indicates that the White House will be pumping more resources into the NGAD program, and the Air Force will likely move forward with the program more quickly than anticipated.

Interesting.

This is one of two things...or even both.

1.  The F-35 has been in development for almost 20 years.  It is the natural course of events for the next generation fighter to be under development now...IF THE F-35 HAD ENTERED SERVICE AS SCHEDULED!  Under a normal growth plan we should already be on F-35E, F-35F, F-35G etc...but we're still stuck at take off.

2.  The F-35 could be the Turkey that I believe it to be and the President/Pentagon is acting to try and get the next gen model into service asap so that we MIGHT have a chance to maintain air superiority.

3.  It could also be both!

Regardless, this is telling.  The funny thing is that the allies will be paying attention.  What does Trump know that the allies don't?   Trump has an attitude of America first (which I agree with 100%), so would he sell the allies planes knowing that the US needs something better?

US Army shows Laser equipped Stryker ICV!

via UPI

 U.S. Army personnel demonstrated combat capabilities using a Stryker armored vehicle integrated with a MEHEL laser weapon.

The weapon tested was the MEHEL 2.0, an upgraded version of the original 2kW device. The newer variant is able to produce 5kW beams.

The demonstration was conducted by a team of members from the Army Space and Missile Defense Command and the Army Forces Strategic Command. During the event, the laser-equipped Stryker showcased its ability to defend against unmanned aircraft systems.

"The purpose of the JIDO UAS Hard-Kill Challenge was to assess and look at technology... to do a 'hard-kill' shoot down of Group 1 [unmanned aircraft systems] and inform decision-makers on the current state of technology and how it can deal with single and multiple targets," demonstration lead Adam Aberle explained in a press release.

Aberle went on to praise the platform's successful performance in repelling UAV threats, and discussed how the test revealed system limitations as a result of the MEHEL's upgrade from a 2kW to a 5kW capability.

"We learned from the event, and we have plans to correct those deficiencies for future activities," he added. "We learned the 5kW laser was able to defeat the targets. We were able to verify and show that we could put a radar and a laser on a platform so it could self-cue to targets and that was very successful."

Boxer CRV undergoing testing in Australian outback...(pics)

Forgive the gaudy watermark on these pics.  I'm searching for some that don't have it so you can add them to your files.

Build your own Royal Air Force via Hush Kit Blog...

Hush Kit Blog had a think tank bubba "build" the Royal Air Force (pre-BREXIT) and the choices seem a bit odd to me.  Check it out here and let me know what you think.

Preview?  Dude wants to re-engine Rafale M's and build the Queen Elizabeth class with cats/traps.  According to the blog the Sea Typhoon was a non-starter and would result in a sluggish and slow airplane.  Who knew!  Anyway check it out.

Houthi Rebels shoot down a Saudi Attack Helicopter...

Thanks to Overwatch DVA for the link!

via SouthFront

Houthi forces have shot down an Apache helicopter belonging to Saudi Arabia in the Yemeni province of Hudaydah, the pro-Houthi al-Masirah television network reported.

The incident allegedly took place in the Hudaydah’s Bayt al-Faqih district on March 16.

On January 25, Houthi forces downed another Apache helicopter belonging to the Saudi-led coalition in the Dhubab district of the province of Ta’izz.

Not surprising.  Quite honestly I'm surprised we haven't seen more of this.  Which makes me spin back to the Marine Corps' aviation centric concept. Remember the helo raid by Army AH-64s at the start of the 2nd Gulf War? Those birds got chewed up and if I recall that unit was basically rendered combat ineffective till they could get replacement helicopters in.

The crash of the MV-22 during the raid in Yemen and the turn back of the SEAL reinforcement in Central Africa also come to mind.

Even terrorists are taking not of our reliance on helicopters/tilt rotors.  Switching from landing 2/3rds of the landing force by air instead of sea will bring a whole new set of issues that I don't think anyone is realistically looking at.  If they have anti-ship missiles that will keep us 100 miles out to sea then they will have anti-air missiles that will shred our helicopters/tilt rotors almost as soon as they leave deck!