Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Germany rejects the F-18 & F-35...goes with more Typhoons...
via BR.DE (translated by Google)..
Billions order for Airbus: Bundeswehr orders 33 EurofightersStory here.
The German Federal Armed Forces want to order jet fighters worth billions of Euros at Airbus, as the Federal Ministry of Defense has decided. The BR learned from government circles. A business from which the locations in Augsburg and Manching profit.
Millions of heavy order for Airbus in Manching: As the Bavarian radio has learned from government circles, ordered the German Armed Forces at Airbus 33 fighter jets. This would secure approximately 5,000 jobs for many years at the Manching site, confirms Airbus Works Council Chairman Thomas Pretzl.
The Ingolstadt member of parliament Reinhard Brandl (CSU), who is also on the defense committee, welcomes the decision of the ministry "very much" to replace the old Eurofighter by the latest generation aircraft. "This is more economical than an extension of service life, which gives the Bundeswehr a Eurofighter fleet with uniform capabilities, which also simplifies operations and logistics."
Total order worth 3.3 billion euros
Predictable. Not much news here.
Complaint about ads...
Got a complaint about ads on the blog. Dude said he's gone if I don't get a handle on it. If he wants to go then cool. I monetized the blog and Google gave me an algorithm that they use to put them on the blog. I'm not in control but they've been doing funky stuff that almost makes it essential to do as they say or the reach of this thing is stifled. Don't believe me? Check out the big firearm/military/fitness apocalypse that Google launched against blogs/videos covering those topics (easy Google search...it was a "thing" among bloggers/video makers).
Long story short?
Turn on your ad blocker. Really don't care at this point. If the ads bug you then you do have options.
It has begun. The Pentagon and the UK Ministry of Defense have started selling the fact that the QE will host USMC jets...
via Washington Examiner.
But that U.S. comparison speaks to a broader point here, because Williamson also recognizes that Britain's power is best served by greater synergy with the U.S. military.Story here.
As a result, HMS Queen Elizabeth's inaugural operational deployment will involve a transit proximate to the contested waters of the South China Sea. And, in an unusual move, the carrier air wing will host a U.S. Marine Corps fighter squadron. This, Williamson says, is about "Enhancing the reach and lethality of our forces and reinforcing the fact that the United States remains our very closest of partners. We share the same vision of the world. A world shaped by individual liberty, the rule of law, and, of course the tolerance of others."
But Britain's new naval strategy isn't just built around aircraft carriers. It's equally focused on the aircraft carrier's escort vessels. After all, those escorts will include Britain's Daring-class destroyers and its Astute-class attack submarines. That matters because the Daring-class are the world's most advanced fleet air-defense destroyers. Armed with the extremely advanced Sea Viper track-kill system, these vessels could defend against Chinese or Russian long-range missile saturation strikes against an allied fleet.
In that regard, the British wouldn't simply complement U.S. forces here but fill in a gap for them. When it comes to China, the U.S. Navy remains far too arrogant about its carrier strike group vulnerability.
What of the Astute-class submarines? Well, they run very quietly and possess highly advanced sonar capabilities. Along with U.S. Virginia-class attack submarines, they could sneak into an enemy's backyard and create havoc.
But there's more: Britain also plans to develop littoral strike ships embarked with Royal Marine commandos. These would complement the U.S. Marine Corps expeditionary units. It's worth noting here that Britain is also considering establishing a new naval base in the Pacific region.
Put simply, this is a plan that is both realistic, thanks to recent British defense spending increases, and potent in strategic terms. Unapologetic about strengthening the U.S. alliance, it shows the special relationship is set to flourish for years to come. At least, that is, unless Jeremy Corbyn becomes prime minister.
The US Navy is arrogant? Don't know who this Tom Rogan (the writer of this piece is) but he should sit down and take his meds.
The arrogance here is breathtaking but it ain't coming from the US Navy.
The Brits are cool. But their military is being ripped to shreds and I don't see much hope for the future. Additionally the reason why the Brits are putting Marine jets on their carrier is because they don't want the optics of the thing sailing around for another year with no planes on it. Worse they don't want the thing to act as a helicopter carrier which is what they'd do if they didn't get the Marines on it.
Still don't know what's in it for the Corps though.
F-35's need to be fully integrated aboard US Navy LHD/LHAs. To divert a squadron for this dog and pony is really doing them a favor.
I guess putting Harriers on board would be a slap in the face though.
Regardless, it seems one thing is certain. The Brits are in a hurt locker despite the chest thumping seen in this article.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Armata Turret on BMP. Test bed or coming attraction?
Pic via Caesar's Twitter Page.
Looks extremely large on that compact vehicle but if it doesn't penetrate then...
Looks extremely large on that compact vehicle but if it doesn't penetrate then...
Blast from the past. Cold War games on the high seas...Russian frigate "bumps" a US destroyer
#OTD February 12,1988 a Mirka-Class frigate SKR-6(CO lieutenant Aleksandr Petrov)bumped to USS Caron DD970 in Soviet territorial waters in the BlackSea with the intention of pushing Caron into international waters.This ship is from my squadron and I knew a lot of officers from it pic.twitter.com/sJ3MCHS1y1— Capt(N) (@Capt_Navy) February 12, 2019
What's going on with China today has happened before with the Soviet Union. The difference? The Soviet Union was much more formidable. We can handle the Chinese but we need to get to work now!
Cold War games on the high seas is nothing new. We just need to relearn our forgotten history!
Riverines...a unit in search of a mission...
Want to see a unit that is in search of a mission? Then take a serious look at the US Navy Riverines.
They cohabitate the mission set of Master At Arms harbor mission and Special Warfare Combatant Craft.
What do I mean? It's really simple.
They claim to do the escort mission of amphibs and other high value ships into and out of harbor. That's also what the Master At Arms do on a daily basis with their patrol boats. They have force protection as one of their primary jobs and they do it well.
Then there is the actual job of their name. Coastal Warfare or "Riverine" work like their ancestors did in Vietnam.
The problem there? Other forces are far better equipped, far more experienced and far more capable than they are. Look at SOCOM's Special Warfare Combatant Craft. Those bubbas operate at a high level and often do more than support inserting US NAVY SEALs on objective. They fight up and down waterways and can easily handle work within 25 miles offshore.
Coastal Rangers as seen in other forces are also trained to a high level and are of the same level of training as our SWCC crewmen (some would say even to a HIGHER level).
So where does that leave our Riverines?
Unfortunately they're a holdover from the war on terror. In the coming peer vs peer fight I just don't see them having a mission.
Hopping aboard amphibs for transport to the fight will be a major league no-go. Boat spaces are limited and every inch of the well deck will be occupied with Marine Corps gear to support the fight.
Riverines have one chance to survive into the future and to give themselves a chance to evolve. They need to make S. America their home. They should embrace the Amazon River, sailing up and down that monster, while hovering off shore to assist the Coast Guard in drug interdiction while at the same time adopting the Special Forces "ambassador in uniform" thing while training with every force available.
But what about the here and now?
Today? Today they're a force in search of a mission and they need to wrap their head around embracing the future.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)