When it comes to Japan building a Marine Corps (my opinion) or at the very least developing a credible amphibious force (same thing as a Marine Corps except in name) we know a few things.
They have LCACs, LPDs, LHAs (and developing bigger ones), they're looking at V-22s and they have or in the process of acquiring AAVs.
As far as the AAVs are concerned what we don't know is telling. Specifically since the deal with SAMSUNG Techwin Heavy Industries fell through what does that mean for Japanese procurement of the vehicle.
* Are they going to source the necessary vehicles from Marine Corps inventory? If so then things are extremely bleak for a bunch of Marines and they don't even know it. That would seem to indicate that the drawdown will be deep. No one is talking about it but the threat of involuntary separations hasn't gone away. Want a kick in the teeth. Be the Marine that has deployed a couple of times to Afghanistan and then is notified that for the good of the service he's being released.
*New builds from BAE? That would be a win but I wonder if it would be cost effective for the company. Tooling up to deliver what...100 or so vehicles? I don't know if that would appeal to company execs.
*Licensed production of the vehicles by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries? Seems like a credible option but you have to wonder. The Japanese are well known for paying higher prices than necessary to produce vehicles at home. Doing it in this case would seem wise and it would give them a design base to further develop the class beyond what it is now. The Japanese were once world leaders in the development of amphibious vehicles. With things heating up in the Pacific this would give them a leg up in that arena again...especially if they relax export rules on weaponry.
It sucks but I'm betting on pink slips for Marines and sourcing from Marine Corps inventory. It kills two birds with one stone. The Marine Corps rids itself of unwanted manpower/vehicles and the Japanese get their vehicles at an accelerated rate.
Marines will take the metaphorical bullet again.
Is this photo shown what an updated AAV suppose to look like? I see a different weapon station, not sure what kind cal. weapon that is. Those ugly looking side armor panels are gone!
ReplyDeleteMy sense of scale may be off but it looks like some sort of Bushmaster remote weapon station.
ReplyDeleteits an Elbit RWS sporting a bushmaster 30mm Mk44.
DeleteWell, the Japanese are only buying 4 AAVs. The islands they're talking about having to operate around are extremely small, so 4 would do the trick...albeit, not leave much room for spares.
ReplyDeleteI don't really see the Marine Corps giving up working AAVs, so they're probably going to be drawn from storage and refurbished.
I also think we may see Japan place orders for the ACV when it goes into production. I'm sure it's not lost on them how old the AAV design is, and how minimal a capability it represents right now. I could see them buying more, up to 50.
well Japan already said that they were buying upwards of 40 and maybe more. additionally the ACV in my opinion isn't going to happen. Amos moved back the decision on it till next year...after he said last year that he would decide by last fall.
DeleteACV is dead. MPC is probably dead.