via PressTV.
The United States is set to provide Japan with a number of amphibious vehicles amid tensions between Tokyo and Beijing over the disputed islands in the East China Sea.Why would a nation that that has a technologically advanced military and manufacturing base, is developing stealth fighters and is a leader in electronics put into service a vehicle that the Marines are looking to retire.
A Defense Ministry official said on Monday that Japan plans to buy 52 amphibious vehicles through 2018, but it has not decided on a model yet, Stars and Stripes reported.
The military deal comes as the disputed islands, called Diaoyu in Chinese and Senkaku in Japanese, have been a source of tension between Japan and China for decades.
Japan claimed to nationalize a part of the island chain by buying them back from private ownership.
Last year, China established an Air Defense Identification Zone over the East China Sea, urging all military and commercial aircraft to inform the Chinese government before entering the region.
However, the United States and Japan violated the air zone several times after China’s declaration.
Japan and China have scrambled fighter jets over the islands during the past two years.
The Japanese government now wants to assemble a Marines-like unit within its Self-Defense Forces.
A spokesman from Japan’s Defense Ministry said the Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV-7) is among the country’s options.
“We have purchased four AAV-7s in fiscal 2013 and two AAV-7s in fiscal 2014 as samples for reference,” the unnamed spokesman said.
According to the spokesman, the Defense Ministry started reviewing options in April, but it has not decided on a model yet.
AGB/AGB
It never made sense.
But as a reference vehicle? As a baseline model for desired capabilities?
Yeah.
The news that General Dynamics and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries were teaming to enter the ACV contest now becomes clear. What are the calculations here? Does GD really believe that they need Mitsubishi's help with the ACV or have they done the math and realize that upgrades are the only thing coming from the USMC due to budget constraints and they're trying to tap into greener Japanese pastures for future work...while riding Mitsubishi's coat tails?
I am sure there is at this very moment equal confusion in the Japanese Defence Ministry over what vehicle/upgradation path they should follow on for Amphibious Vehicles. But one thing is certain, no one can now doubt the doctrine and thought process of the Japanese defence forces. The ambiguity and uncertainty are gone. They are trying to create a force that wants to punch way above its weight against China specific to their geography with our without US support.
ReplyDeleteAnd when I mention geography, the Japanese arent talking about grand plans of a mainland chinese coastal invasion or fighting in chinese mega-urban centres. They are specifically limiting it to sovereign Japanese territory, disputed islands and the open sky and sea. So much so that I wont be surprised if their entire military became a clone of the USMC.
I bet they are just about to release to the public, plans about Mini-subs and advanced motor torpedo/motor missile boats.
One of the most significant but most obvious and amazing thing they can do is Navalize their merchant and fishing fleets. The sooner sea gazing nations bordering China realize that this situation will only escalate and not wind down, the better. And with that realization comes old fashioned mobilization of your merchant fleets. The Chinese have already fired the first shot by displaying to the world their "Fishing Fleet". Regular small and large scale exercises with the Navy, a Naval Civilian Defence Association(NCDA) comprising of the civilian fleets, ship/aircraft sighting procedures and protocol, aggresive intimidation manouevres assisted by coast guard/navy etc. Kicking it old school.
can these wheeled gun system fire without toppling over like big gun strykers ?
ReplyDeletenever heard of a MGS Stryker toppling over when firing its gun. i've seen videos where it suffered a bit of body roll when firing over the side but never toppling. do you have a link?
DeleteNo, it's a rumor banded about by anti-Stryker ... can't figure out what to call them, activists? they just hate the Stryker so they tossed about rumors that the gun flips the vehicle. It's all hogwash. And besides, it's buntalanlucu, he tends to toss about hyperbole.
DeleteFrom what I've seen even if the gun is fired perpendicular to the wheels it will only rock severely. Though I imagine if the Stryker is rested on the side of a hill and fired at a low angle the vehicle could roll, though that is a very specific and rare situation.
DeleteI hate the stryker, but the whole tipping over bit was based off of several assumptions made by a published photo from GDLS during a 90 degree stationary firing of the Stryker MGS which had the two rear wheels propped. http://goo.gl/5YWK07
DeleteThere are plenty of other obvious issues with the MGS, but the tipping over part was based upon a hasty assumption.
The Japanese never invent anything.
ReplyDeleteBut they can expertly reverse-engineer and dramatically product-improve the hell out of anything you give them: it's their national forte'.
Back when USA made TVs, Jap cars used to be literally beer can construction. I drove in them and saw them rusted out in Hawaii in the 1970s.
Now their luxury lines outdo Mercedes and BMW. That's just how they roll.
Strictly speaking, we should have sent them half a dozen AAVs two or three decades ago, and told them to get on it, and then shared the upgrades between both countries. Instead of competing with them, put the SOBs on the payroll, and everyone wins.
you're exactly right and it pisses me off! we, the USMC were world leaders in this field and EVERYONE was trying to copy us. a series of STUPID decisions by Commandants (a few I actually admired, one I despised) has us in the shit house looking slack eyed and silly.
Deletethe Japanese, S. Koreans, Russians, Chinese...hell even Singapore and eventually Malaysia are going to be drinking our milkshake in this area because no one had a sense of urgency and didn't prioritize a replacement.
excuse me. time to go punch walls.
Well, trivia, but did you know that the Japs invented the modern destroyer?
DeleteBut that was when they were an up and coming power, not an occupied territory. Sometimes, when you are lean and hungry, you can do rather amazing things.
Singapore is one I'm keeping an eye on not only because I know some people there, but because their national arsenal just did a partnership with Gibbs for amphibious vehicles, so basically they have 2 upgrade paths for their amphibious vehicles, trade speed for armour ala MPC, or armour for speed (Gibbs). Or even maybe both, like the USMC, with the MPC as the AAV and the Gibbs as a stand in for LCUs. Tougher front line, faster logistics echelon. No LCACs though, but the mix is something worth pondering about. I mean, 30 knot LCUs?
ST Kinetics really does interesting partnerships. Like Metal Storm, pity it folded, and Tarian. Interesting light weight anti-RPG net they have.
Easy to get on timeline and same gear as USMC.
DeleteHowever, also a reference vehicle to re-engineer their own version at some point. They are masters at it and Deming (An American Mgmt guru) showed them the way after WW2.
The F-35 is the same deal. Get your hands on it, learn from it, make your own.
Walter Shewhart, Joseph Juran and Edward Demming.......Legends. Learnt quite a bit about them and their teachings back in college. Implemented a grand total of Zero of their teachings.
DeleteUnrelated news, it's looking more and more like it's going to be Carter. They are running it on Bloomberg like it's done.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-picks-ashton-carter-be-next-defense-secretary_820513.html
The 52 units mentioned are refurbished AAV-7s. Japan needs them fast because of what is being perceived as an impending war against China(The majority of Chinese public anticipates a war with Japan before 2020) and cannot wait for one to be developed.
ReplyDeleteBeyond the initial 52 units will be Mitsubishi-General Dynamics ACV model, powered by Type 10's 1200 HP V8 power pack and feature Japanese carbon fiber composite hull.
If it goes into production in 2018 that will be before we receive either the upgraded AAV or the MPC.
DeleteThree Japanese sources confirm the official decision to purchase 52 AAV7s by 2018.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sankei.com/politics/news/141202/plt1412020087-n1.html
http://mainichi.jp/select/news/20141203k0000m010072000c.html
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/20141202-OYT1T50101.html
The Mitsubishi-GD ACV will be purchased after 2018, which has 1200 HP Japanese engine + water jet and is positioned between AAV7 and EFV in performance. The USMC would have an option to purchase this ACV as an off the shelf item.
Oh, one more thing.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sankei.com/premium/news/141105/prm1411050003-n4.html
The US said no to a Japanese query on the joint development of a 6th gen fighter jet. Japanese were seeking to merge its F-3 program with the US 6th gen program due to cost issues, but the US side replied no due to lack of funding from defense spending cuts. Japan will have to find another partner nation, preferably Australia, to go forward with the F-3 because Australia's rival Indonesia's planning to buy 80 KFX units.
As of now, only the KFX will be operational in the next decade because only this project has the political will, the minimum production volume of 300 units between ROK and Indonesia, and the funding to go ahead starting next year.
"As of now, only the KFX will be operational in the next decade because only this project has the political will, the minimum production volume of 300 units between ROK and Indonesia, and the funding to go ahead starting next year."
DeleteIsnt the Sukhoi T-50 similarly backed up politically, financially and industrially and in quantity ?
It should be interesting to see what modifications the Japanese make to the AAV. SlowMan mentioned a composite hull as a future possibility. That alone could lighten up it up enough to increase its speed. It should be interesting to see what armament they choose.
ReplyDeleteThe Senkaku islands are pretty small with the biggest less than 5 square Km and some barely bumps above the waves.Taking even Uotsuri-shima (the largest) doesn't require numbers, just good fire support. With the Japanese Carrier/Destroyers, Kongo class (Burke copies) missile destroyers, and perhaps land based air assets, taking one isn't the problem. the bigger problem is keeping it once the PLAN fleet comes to take it back. Although if Japan fights with a tenth the tenacity they showed 70 years ago, I doubt China could re-take it without a severe cost.
Despite the enmity between the two...the Chinese government loves to remind its people of the atrocities the Japanese committed during WW2 (and there were plenty of them)...Japan fears China's numbers, and China fears Japan's technology and close relationship with the US. At the moment, neither wants a fight. If the US continues to fade in capability and China continues to improve its tech then Japan has something to worry about.
milspecmusings
Delete> It should be interesting to see what modifications the Japanese make to the AAV.
It is not based on AAV7. AAV7 is a product of BAE Systems, not General Dynamics(Which was the EFV contractor). Accordingly, this new ACV model will feature EFV technology.