Thanks Pietro for the link!
Read the story here, but the question of have to ask is why isn't the Marine Corps all over this program with SOCOM? The OV-10G+ has the range to make Amos' SPMAGTF-CR a bit more realistic. At least they could escort MV-22's so the Company Landing Team has a chance at survival once they arrive at objective. Additionally it should be easy to either use the "Cargo" area for extra fuel or to add a refueling probe to the planes.
Once again, light attack seems to be totally out of style with everyone except SOCOM.
Read the story here, but the question of have to ask is why isn't the Marine Corps all over this program with SOCOM? The OV-10G+ has the range to make Amos' SPMAGTF-CR a bit more realistic. At least they could escort MV-22's so the Company Landing Team has a chance at survival once they arrive at objective. Additionally it should be easy to either use the "Cargo" area for extra fuel or to add a refueling probe to the planes.
Once again, light attack seems to be totally out of style with everyone except SOCOM.
What do you make of the ELLIS GROUP's "Forward and Ready for Crisis" in this month's PROCEEDINGS of the US Naval Institute ?
ReplyDeleteThis is apparently a preview of the forthcoming EXPEDITIONARY FORCE 21 out later this winter.
haven't read it. i'm not a fan of the group. they are playing to the Commandant's tune instead of being truly independent like their namesake. their prediction that we shouldn't focus on China but on meshing with SOCOM, depending on the F-35 etc...leave me cold.
Deletei'll read it since recommend it but i go into it skeptical.
Thanks, Sol.
DeleteI find being skeptical near unavoidable.
However, if this piece indeed reflects their 'big one', this USMC group is not about to propose some watered-down 'Ersatz-Corps'. In fact, they may emerge out of this post-wars' era as proposing one of the most robust responses to the austerity-related contraction of all the Services.
Yes, from what I understand (?) they were handpicked by the Commandant to write the Amphibious Capability Assessment study of late April last year. Apparently, that in turn warranted making that group more permanent.
They would be highly motivated folks at their peak of professional attainment, looking to productively leverage the current challenges to actually put the USMC possibly farther ahead than the other services might be able to. A lot is at stake, and seeing opportunities amongst all the problems will be an exercise of individual and collective leadership. This is the time where they can really leave a lasting positive foot-print on the history of the institution. Doing way more with less can be really gratifying, including for the observers of such efforts.
judging by Amos' leadership style do you really believe that this group will produce a product that is truly outside the box in thinking? do you think that a handpicked group by a person that demonstrates Amos' character attributes can truly put the Marine Corps on a trajectory that outpaces the other services?
Deletei think not, but we'll see. i'll probably post on the article tomorrow.
I thought SOCOM was going to go with the A-29 Super Tucano. What's up with that and why bring back the OV-10G+ when the A-29 Super Tucano is more superior to the OV-10G+
ReplyDeletehow do you rate the Super Tucano as being superior?
DeleteAsk Brazil and their use on the Super Tucano
Deletei'm aware that Brazil has used them to great affect. its called salesmanship. it would be like the US Navy saying the Super Hornet sucks. but more to the point, tell me why you think the Super Tucano is superior.
DeleteThe OV-10 has
Delete1. Two engine safety which is important for Low & Slow CAS
2. Belly gun which allows it to orbit the site and attack without flying directly at the target
3. Larger weapons load
4. Large room for growth and weapons versatility
Brazil is pushing for the A-29 because they build it.
The OV-10X PDF is HERE
DeleteThe A-29 can operate in unprepared airfields. Has minimal maintenance and can be used to train pilots.
DeleteThe same is true of the OV-10
DeleteDon't get me wrong, the A-29 Super Tucano is what the OV-10 was in the past. Even my father who flew T-28 trojans knows that the A-29 is the more modern version of the T-28 and OV10. My father has even told me, that if he had the A-29 back in his time, he would make the North Vietnamese cry uncle. The A-29 today is the equivalent of the manned version of the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper. AFSOC gotten the A-29, they would have a Manned LAS and ISR for Special operations.
DeleteThe 6th SOS (the AvFID squadron down at Hurlburt Fld, FL) used to have exactly one fighter guy. "Leaker" was an A-10 pilot that we were able to pry away from Air Combat Command and retrain in the OV-10 so he could go to the P.I. with our UH-1H teams and teach their air force how to fly the Bronco without killing themselves. I fought tooth and nail, as his supervisor, to get another Bronco guy and I was basically told to shut up and color, because AFSOC was using all their new "fighter" guys to fly PC-12s and U-28s, of which we have over fifty and still growing. Apparently, teaching the Filipinos to kill Abu Sayyaff and MILF (heh, I said "MILF") insurgents was way too radical of an idea. Why do that when we can send over F-16s and F-15s to try and do it for millions and millions of dollars and screw it up? I swear to God, the U.S. would rather spend 60 billion dollars trying to use F-22s and B-2s to hit direct action targets around the world than spend 6 million a year to send SOF advisor teams around the globe and work with foreign military forces to teach them how to do it themselves.
ReplyDeleteand now we have a SOCOM program with TWO Broncos and the words "counter-insurgency" used to justify the program. It's deja vu all over again.....
a quick question for you (great comment by the way). how come AFSOC hasn't embraced the A-10 for inclusion in its force? it seems like a no brainer and could operate alongside CV-22s without problem. additionally i know SF Teams and Rangers would appreciate the A-10 as much as it does the AC-130. what gives?
DeleteTwo words will answer that question: "Money" and "Politics." Money-wise, AFSOC has blown a mountain of funding on the CV-22 (with very little to show for it, in my opinion) and are in no position to take on the extra cost of fast-movers (well, faster than a helo or a tilt-rotor.) AFSOC actually looked at grabbing the A-10s back in the early 90s when Skeletor (friggin' McPeak, worst CSAF ever) was trying to get rid of them, but decided to put their money into the new AC-130 (the U model) and upgrade the MH-53Js.
ReplyDeletePolitically, Air Combat Command is dead-set against AFSOC getting A-10s because AFSOC (and SOCOM) would show everyone how screwed up the non-SOF part of the Air Force really is by upgrading the A-10s, treating their personnel like real warfighters and kicking all kinds of ass all over the world. "Leaker," my pet A-10 pilot when I was a flight commander, told me that ACC treats the A-10 community like red-headed stepchildren, all the money and attention goes to F-22s, then F-15s and F-16, then bombers, and finally, at the very end, the Hawg drivers. He thinks the A-10 community would love to be in AFSOC, they would be closer to the teams they support (SF, STS, MARSOC, SEALs, etc...) and they would finally be rid of all those douche-bag fighter pilots in ACC that treat them like crap. If it had been up to me, the A-10s (and OV-10s) would have been in AFSOC since the end of the Cold War. I actually got a ride in an OV-10 with the last AF unit to fly them (at Shaw AFB in 1992.) It is a great platform for counter-insurgency, FID, counter-terrorism, you name it. You can even put a stick of four jumpers in the back and have them slide out for a free-fall insertion, the Bronco is a great little airframe.
Two's in...I agree with John. Money and politics--if it don't cost a lot and look real good (ie CV-22 or Gunships or MC's) then AFSOC don't want it. AFSOC wouldn't want A-10s b/c it's single seat and forward firing. Heaven forbid a SOF centric platform do that.
ReplyDeleteThis OV-10 initiative is right on track, while AFSOC is so far lost it's scary.
As far as the OV-10 vs. the Super T--apples and oranges. Now, the Super T vs. a new OV-10?...OV-10 every single day!!