The USMC is about to set a dubious record.
They're about to have a vehicle in service for 60 years. At least that's the plan. via Defense Media Network.
The “limited reset effort” currently envisioned would include a set of actions or processes that would restore the personnel variants “to the level achieved at the completion of the 2007 major rebuild.” In addition to an AAV end life of 2030, other assumptions supporting the effort range from a minimum throughput of 96 vehicles per year to an approved acquisition objective of all 1,064 vehicles.Uh.
Fucking Wow. Sorry. Don't care if Amos is saying that he inherited this situation. I don't care. Its his watch now and this is fucking unacceptable.
This is insanity.
Now who still thinks we need F-35's more desperately than we need to fix the AAV issue?
Side Note: Can anyone think of a military power that still utilizes 50 year old armored vehicles? I'd like to take a look at how it turned out if you can think of one. Personally I can't.
Side Note 1: This basically seals it too. All the talk about a RFI being released at the end of this year is officially bullshit. They won't actually start working on the Amphibious Combat Vehicle until 2020 at the earliest. What this announcement is actually telling us is that the ACV is being effectively delayed until the F-35, MV-22 and CH-53K are purchased. Bend over Ground Combat Element....you're getting fucked again (unless you're Recon or MARSOC that is).
