That things in my opinion stand where they did 6 months ago. The leaders are still the leaders and it still looks like a two vehicle race.The BAE SuperAV versus the Lockheed Martin Havoc.
The major fly in the ointment is tossed in courtesy of the US Marine Corps and continued vacillation when it comes to the Amphibious Vehicle/AAV Upgrade programs. My suspicion is that the Marine Corps is tempted by the thought of getting a 'good enough' upgrade of the AAV that will supposedly solve the lift problem. No matter how good it might be my mind will always flash to the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. Truck bound Marines struggling to keep up with mechanized Army divisions is nothing that I would want future Marines saddled with. The idea of a good enough upgraded AAV might tickle the accountants fancy but the idea of Marines being killed in the back of MTVRs should chill them at the same time.
There is of course another factor that should be taken into account. A vehicle neckdown strategy. If the Marine Corps could neckdown to one combat vehicle that was able to fulfill a variety of roles then training, maintenance and logistics should be simplified enough to make a huge difference.
I'll ask again. Should the Marine Corps consider an all wheeled force based off the MPC winner?
Mate, i have answered all your questions in the your IDEF 2013 post. Feel free to ask more.
ReplyDeletea new post about IDEF 2013 is going up tommorrow and thanks for your answers...the only other i would have is the status of the T129.
DeleteDefense Industry Deputy Undersecretary Faruk Özlü said "The tests of the first six of Turkish attack helicopters, the ATAKs, are about to be completed and they will be delivered by this summer"
DeleteSource: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-sets-high-arms-export-hopes.aspx?pageID=238&nID=44445&NewsCatID=344
Patria AMV is a relatively bad swimmer ,so unless some volume was added to HAVOC version I would put money on the IVECO in regards to swimming preformance ,SUPERAV on the picts ,probably not a final version,seems to have a really smooth hullshape compared to HAVOC
ReplyDeleteyeah but swimming is important but not the most important piece of the puzzle. we also need a good combat vehicle that can provide protection in a high threat enviroment. in that case, the Havoc has the demonstrated performance, don't get me wrong, i'm not saying that the SuperAv isn't, all i'm saying is that the Havoc has been there and done that in Afghanistan.
DeleteThe Corps should not adopt MPC and ditch the AAV. MPC was created because EFV was too expensive and it's not clear anyone really thought through the implications. Dividing the squad up and requiring two vehicles for transport means the one to one comparisons are problematic.
ReplyDeleteIn any case if ACV is affordable what's the point of MPC? Why exactly does the Corps need a light, medium, and heavy infantry carrier (JLTV, MPC, ACV)? EFV was an IFV, does that requirement still exist and if ACV is cancelled in favor of MPC does the requirement go away?
If the Corps is only going to operate MPC or ACV in my view a few things need to be thought about very seriously such as swim capability and the forced entry requirement, the importance of squad integrity, protection requirements, APC vs IFV, footprint and TO&E of having twice as many MPC vs AAV/ACV, etc.
I agree the Marines don't need so many vehicles. I suggest the Marines make a ACV variant with a light weight 120mm cannon to replace their Abrams. That way they don't need a hovercraft to carry a tank to the beach. Marines need to stay light and fast. They look like a second army more and more every day.
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