Sunday, May 21, 2017
Matsimus Gaming talks Japanese Type 10 MBT.
This guy's video series is rather enjoyable. Like many I simply made note of the Type 10 but never dug into the rationale of the vehicle. Never really thought about why the Japanese would have the Type 90 and the Type 10 in service together, much less why the Type 74 remains in service (remained?).
But if a quick and dirty history wasn't enough of an eye opener the weight of the vehicle did. Around 50 tons? Uh wow!
Definitely need to dig into this vehicle. More interesting than I thought. Maybe I've been looking West for too long and need to look East a bit more!
Rafale Solo Display Team pics...
A reader said this after seeing the Canadian bird yesterday but after seeing this one I have to agree. I wonder why the USMC doesn't dress up it's solo display Harrier or AH-1Z in some scarlet and gold or red, white and blue and send it on the display circuit? If done right it would get as many or more 'ooohs' and 'aaahs' than the Thunderbirds for sure and maybe even the Blue Angels (just kidding thunder turkeys...you guys are cool too)!
Saturday, May 20, 2017
China has dismantled CIA operations in their country by killing 18-20 informants between 2010-2012...
Thanks to JW for this startling news!
via New York Times.
WASHINGTON — The Chinese government systematically dismantled C.I.A. spying operations in the country starting in 2010, killing or imprisoning more than a dozen sources over two years and crippling intelligence gathering there for years afterward.Story here.
Current and former American officials described the intelligence breach as one of the worst in decades. It set off a scramble in Washington’s intelligence and law enforcement agencies to contain the fallout, but investigators were bitterly divided over the cause. Some were convinced that a mole within the C.I.A. had betrayed the United States. Others believed that the Chinese had hacked the covert system the C.I.A. used to communicate with its foreign sources. Years later, that debate remains unresolved.
But there was no disagreement about the damage. From the final weeks of 2010 through the end of 2012, according to former American officials, the Chinese killed at least a dozen of the C.I.A.’s sources. According to three of the officials, one was shot in front of his colleagues in the courtyard of a government building — a message to others who might have been working for the C.I.A.
Still others were put in jail. All told, the Chinese killed or imprisoned 18 to 20 of the C.I.A.’s sources in China, according to two former senior American officials, effectively unraveling a network that had taken years to build.
Two things.
1. Everyone wants to relieve the cold war with Russia as the big bad. They're not. Culturally we can come to an understanding and maybe even be friends. I don't mean to sound racists but I don't believe the same can be said for China. They are a threat. My belief is that Russia simply seeks to be treated as an equal with respect while China wants to see our bones ground into dust.
2. This happened during the Obama watch but its remained secret till now? Could we be seeing the Trump supporters fighting back against the Anti-Trump cabal? If it is as I'm suspecting then the dangers of this fight is about to get beyond nasty. Consider this an unintended consequence of the fight.
Either way this is terrible news.
The message has been received in China. No one will lay it on the line for us. Somehow the Chinese have penetrated our intel networks and can be assumed to have us by the family jewels.
China is drinking our milkshake.
Radical solution but a necessary one? Expel Chinese students and start extreme vetting of Chinese coming to America. Our open society cannot compete on this playing field until we get tough.
NOTE:
You know who is to blame for the threat that is China? The American people, our representatives, and our corporations. Russia has sold China weapons? Big deal, we gave them the industrial capacity to become a 1st rate power almost overnight. Boeing, Sikorsky, Lockheed, Pratt and Whitney and many others didn't actually sell weapons but they DID sell dual use gear that they stole, reverse engineered and used to develop their own kit. You like shopping at WalMart? Those low prices for widgets that you don't need and have to replace in a year (assuming you use them as intended in the first place) fueled their industry. The low prices that you got from China caused you to turn your nose up at US produced products that accelerated the offshoring of manufacturing that the govt supported. Only now when its way too late is anyone screaming. Instead of getting pissed what do most of us do? Listen to nonsense that it can't be reversed. That its the modern age. That robotics will take over and that whole industries have to die. I find that amazing. They said the same thing about the oil industry and the lie about peak oil caused an artificial spike in the price that killed everyone's pocket books. So instead of getting pissed we listen to the experts that continue the lie that "free trade" is good for America while at the same time offering nothing but more pain to the American worker/citizen that is fueling everyone's economy but our own. You say Russia is the enemy? Look in the mirror! Look at your Congress Critters, your govt and the so called experts. We've all been lied to. I only hope a day of reckoning finally arrives.
10,000 crunches in 30 days! How many of you got the fortitude to take up the challenge?
Original PDF here.
Ok you beasts. Summertime is coming and I know you've done your "curls for the girls", did your leg work to keep your gym bros from talking shit and nailed down that diet so you look right.
But core strength is essential.
So how many of you are gonna do this little bitty, wimpy, weak ass challenge I found?
No excuses. Don't care how old you are, how long its been since you've worked out (if you haven't), or if you feel harried in your normal life. We (you and I) need to do this!
So check in, let me know who's in and we start on the first of June...of course you can start warming up now but we start check in's on 1st in the Open Comment Post every now and then to see who's still with the program.
One last thing. You're on the honor system. You fall out or don't do the full number required then you're out. No prizes, no harassment, just the knowledge that you let yourself down.
So who's with me on this little bitty, wimpy, weak ass challenge that some soccer mom with six kids came up with?
Review ACV 1.1 Amphibious Combat Vehicle BAE Systems and IVECO for U.S. Marine Corps
Thanks to Tasso for the link!
First.
What the fuck Defense Web! You usually send me notes when you put up new stuff!
Second.
Is it my imagination or have they streamlined the vehicle drastically from when we first saw it? If I remember correctly they had some type of something between the wheels and now it's gone.
Third.
I probably haven't pushed that H-Drive concept hard enough as a survivability feature of the BAE/IVECO offering. I wonder how SAIC/ST Kinetics will counter that advantage?
Last.
We can't lose. Both look like solid vehicles. I wonder if one or the other is deemed as being marginally better, will it then come down to a price shootout? I wonder who is more desperate for the win...IVECO or ST Kinetics?
Sidenote: That little complaint that CoffeeJoeJava had about this program keeps creeping up in the back of my mind. If these vehicles aren't substantially better than the AAV-SU then why buy them? Are they? I don't believe anyone has asked the PEO-Land that burning question. What are we getting with the ACV program that we won't get with the AAV-SU!
First.
What the fuck Defense Web! You usually send me notes when you put up new stuff!
Second.
Is it my imagination or have they streamlined the vehicle drastically from when we first saw it? If I remember correctly they had some type of something between the wheels and now it's gone.
Third.
I probably haven't pushed that H-Drive concept hard enough as a survivability feature of the BAE/IVECO offering. I wonder how SAIC/ST Kinetics will counter that advantage?
Last.
We can't lose. Both look like solid vehicles. I wonder if one or the other is deemed as being marginally better, will it then come down to a price shootout? I wonder who is more desperate for the win...IVECO or ST Kinetics?
Sidenote: That little complaint that CoffeeJoeJava had about this program keeps creeping up in the back of my mind. If these vehicles aren't substantially better than the AAV-SU then why buy them? Are they? I don't believe anyone has asked the PEO-Land that burning question. What are we getting with the ACV program that we won't get with the AAV-SU!
The US Army is ramping up its outreach...now it's targeting individual units for highlights!
Wow.
Are you seeing that? The US Army is cooking with gas. 100% fucking octane! I don't know who's running their social media effort but it's killing the other services to include the Marine Corps.
Small rant.
What do you see on most USMC social media sites? Messages back home, the local dependent announcements, and road closures.
What is the US Army doing?
What the USMC once did!
But they're doing it in a distinctly Army way. Once the Marine Corps highlighted the Marine Corps. It might be 2/7, 3/11 or 1st Tanks or the Wing but it didn't matter. It was the Marine Corps.
So how is the Army doing the Marine Corps thing in an Army way? The Army is recognized by its individual units more than it is as a whole. A Marine identifies with the Corps, a soldier identifies with his unit.
Which brings us back to the 82nd "dropping in" on social media. If I'm right then we'll see 3rd ID, 101st, 10th Mountain etc...over the next few months.
Meanwhile we're trying to push recruitment of females while they're promoting the idea of them (the Army) being warriors...race, gender, nationality being irrelevant.
The Marine Corps once had the secret sauce to messaging. Now the Army is drinking our milkshake.
Australia's two new LHD's suffer propulsion problems requiring a dry dock stay...
Thanks to Benjamin for the link!
via Defense Studies Blog
Propulsion problems on two new warships which cost taxpayers $3 billion could be the consequence of fundamental design flaws, navy chiefs have revealed, as they confirmed at least one of the vessels will miss major drills with the US next month.Well that sucks.
One of the two ships, the HMAS Adelaide, has been dry-docked at Garden Island in Sydney Harbour so naval engineers and the manufacturers can open up the propeller system and examine whether the problems are as simple as parts being poorly fitted or something deeper.
Chief of Navy Tim Barrett and Rear Admiral Adam Grunsell, head of maritime systems at Defence's capability and sustainment group, acknowledged there could be a design problem, though they stressed it was still being investigated.
Such a fundamental problem would raise the likelihood the ship's overseas manufacturers would bear the cost under warranty.
"Am I disappointed? Yes. We were not expecting to find this," Vice Admiral Barrett said in a briefing in Canberra on Friday.
Saudi Navy getting the LCS that we need...
via USNI News.
The primary difference between the Freedom-class and the Saudi-variant is the lack of modular mission space found in the U.S. version of the Littoral Combat Ship.This is beyond interesting. The problems with the LCS are well documented so this isn't about buying capable ships.
The frigate will be built around an 8-cell Mk-41 vertical launch system and a 4D air search radar. At about 4,000-tons, the frigate can field a crew of 100 to 130. It runs on a power plant of two Rolls Royce MT-30 gas turbines and two Colt-Pielstick diesel engines. The ship will field eight RGM-84 Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles (ASM), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) sonar suites, and torpedoes.
“This acquisition will enhance the stability and maritime security in the sea areas around the Arabian Peninsula and support strategic objectives of the United States,” read the notification. “The proposed sale will provide Saudi Arabia with an increased ability to meet current and future maritime threats from enemy weapon systems. The Multi-Mission Surface Combatant ships will provide protection-in-depth for critical industrial infrastructure and for the sea lines of communication,” reads a U.S. State Department notification for a $11.25 billion foreign military sales case
Saudi Arabia initially “balked at the price tag for the [four ship] package – thought to be more than $3 billion but less than $4 billion – and were unhappy with the time it would take to complete detail design of the ships, carry out systems integration, build the vessels, deliver them and install infrastructure improvements in the kingdom,” reported Defense News.
What made them choose the LCS instead of German, Italian, Japanese, S. Korean, Singaporean or Nordic options (to name a few)?
Boeing/USN planning upgrades beyond Block 3
via UPI
The U.S. Navy and Boeing are considering future upgrades beyond the Block 3 enhancement that is already being planned for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.Interesting.
If approved, the upgrades are anticipated to keep the aircraft in service until as far as the 2040's.The Block 3 is expected to start production in 2020.
"When you look at flight plan for the future of the aircraft, there could well be lots of new capabilities added after Block 3. The Block 3 is built around a new processor that is a hundred times more powerful than today's," Larry Burt, Directer of Sales & Marketing for the Global Strike division, said in a press release.
"This processor resides outside of the aircraft's Operational Flight Program, and so is not tied to its five-year software development cycle. It is truly open architecture that allows for plug and play of weapons, sensors, and systems," Burt said.
The Super Hornet is an upgraded version of the original F-18 Hornet fighter jet. It is a twin-engine, supersonic, multi-role fighter that is one of the primary assets of U.S. naval aviation. The EF-18G Growler, a variant of the Super Hornet, is an airborne electronic attack platform designed to jam enemy radars, missiles and communications.
The Block 3 doesn't start till 2020? Further upgrades will keep the plane flying till 2040?
I'd really like to see a revised aviation plan.
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