Friday, August 17, 2018

BMP-T-15, the Infantry Combat Vehicle on the Armata platform looks BEASTLY with its 57mm Cannon~!

Thanks to Pitch Black Universe for the pics!




Russia's Poseidon Nuclear Powered, Nuclear Torpedo is being taken EXTREMELY seriously...


via Popular Mechanics.
The world is still processing the sheer awfulness of Russia’s new Poseidon long range torpedo. The multi-megaton weapon, like something from a science fiction film, is designed to attack coastal targets, creating radioactive tsunamis and rendering entire regions uninhabitable. Once thought a possible hoax, we now know Poseidon is very real, prompting the question: How do you stop it?
Story here. 

I've been monitoring open source on this weapon for a couple of weeks and every story becomes a bit more dire.

A few things...

1.  I predicted and have stated over and over that Russia is not the THREAT! As "awful" as this weapon is it's still defensive in nature.  Not a Russia lover but a fact teller.  This is in response to our anti-ballistic missile work. Only a fool would think that competitors would not come up with viable solutions to the problem presented by our work in that field.

2.  Russia has a DEFENSIVE conventional military and a "stay the fuck back" nuclear force.  This weapon should not cause alarm.  It should be looked at maturely and without alarm.

Having said that this thing does have me thinking back to the old Star Trek TV show (the original).  Who remembers this episode?  Doomsday Machine...yeah it was a planet eating monster machine but the similarity are KINDA there!




Sequestration due to return next year. The Pentagon will be back in the hurt locker...those good times didn't last long!

via Washington Examiner.
President Trump was in a triumphant mood on Monday when he signed the $717 billion National Defense Authorization Act in front of a crowd of cheering soldiers in Fort Drum, N.Y. "We are the most powerful. We are the best funded. We are the biggest, we are the strongest, [and] we are the smartest," the president said.

But a new assessment by the Congressional Budget Office is tossing a bucket of cold water on Trump’s budget victory. After two years of spending hikes, the much-maligned Budget Control Act caps are set to snap back into place next year and could force a $71 billion reduction in total defense spending. The cap for the Defense Department will fall from $647 billion in fiscal 2019 to $576 billion, the CBO said. The Pentagon’s fiscal 2019 budget set by the NDAA is $639 billion, though no final defense appropriations bill has been passed yet. Some defense spending happens outside the Pentagon and the caps do not cover overseas contingency operations, which will run about $69 billion.
Story here. 

What happens when you run out of money?

Well if you're govt you have two choices.  You either get smart about spending and live within your means or you do like a criminal and steal it ... I mean raise taxes.

But the US govt has another big problem and the Republicans an even bigger one.

They cut taxes, raised defense spending and now they have ballooned the deficit.

No matter who wins, Republicans or Democrats, a cut in defense spending is assured.

For better or worse we're looking at a time of fiscal responsibility coming and coming fast.

Defense will suffer first but you can bet the "butter" portion of the budget will be coming soon after.

Prototype for the LAV/AD being trialed in 1985 with the GAU-13/A 30mm gun + FIM-92A Stinger 4-unit rack

Hat Tip To ToyotaWars Twitter Page for the pics!





PC-9 Pilatus aircraft from No. 4 Squadron successfully escort USMC MV-22 Ospreys...




Light Attack Aircraft escort MV-22s...

Thanks to Dragoon for the link!!!




Wow.

Why did it take so long to do this?  It's curious when you think about it.  Amos pushed the SPMAGTF-CR which was built around the idea of MV-22s conducting long range mission...missions that would reach too far for the AH-1Z to ride along, and it was too slow too.

My guess?

They pushed for the perfect instead of reaching for the doable now.

I'm not a fan of the concept and I believe that it makes a Marine Corps formation much less flexible and much too light..BUT!

If we're gonna do it then doing it right would mean getting a Super Tucano, AT-6, OV-10 II or some other light attack plane to provide escort and close air support.

This isn't rocket science.

Every person on this blog has at one time or another pushed for it but it took this long?

Oh well.  Better late than never I guess.

Open Comment Post. August 17, 2018


Rafael Advanced Defense System - Trophy Combat Proven Active Protection System

Pic of the day. F/A-18 Super Hornet alongside SU-30!

Thanks to Violet for the pic!!!


I know this might have to do with camera angle but the SU-30 is a big bird!  Especially compared to most western fighters.  No wonder it has such a range advantage without drop tanks...

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Today is National Airborne Day...




Awesome.

So when is National Amphibious Assault Day?

Oh that's right.  Everyday is Amphibious Assault Day!  

Marines do work 24/7!