Tuesday, April 30, 2019
GAO Podcast on F-35 deficiencies...
via Defense Aerospace!
GAO found that "According to DOT&E officials, since the start of operational testing (IOT&E), four new category 1 deficiencies have been identified, bringing the total to 17."— Giovanni de Briganti (@JoedeBrig) April 30, 2019
That's a 25% increase in Cat 1 deficiencies since December https://t.co/YkkBK2l2J5
We've been toying with armed robotic vehicles for a couple of decades but the Royal Marines actually did an amphibious assault exercise with them...
via National Interest
Robots in the air, on the ocean surface and on the ground guarded British Royal Marines as they stormed a beach during an important April 2019 war game.Story here.
The ground robot, in particular, is a new capability for the Royal Marines. The gun- and rocket-armed, tank-like unmanned ground vehicle could boost the naval branch’s firepower while helping to keep human beings out of harm’s way.
Alpha Company of the Royal Marines’ 40 Commando and their robot guardians stormed a beach in Cornwall in southwest England as part of Exercise Commando Warrior. The Royal Marines’ 1 Assault Group supported the naval infantry.
How many of you remember the Carnegie Mellon Crusher circa 2007...
Or how about the more recent BAE Black Knight?
You don't want to talk about combat vehicles? Well how about the TerraMaxx, basically a robotic MTVR!
The point?
We keep playing with robotic vehicles but we never put them into service. Now? Now our allies and threat nations are putting them into service while we waste what was once a technological lead.
Unmanned ground combat vehicles WILL BE the next wave in armored warfare. We should be on our 3rd generation of such vehicles but bureaucratic stagnation along with two poorly planned and executed wars in the Middle East (or does Syria count as 3) mean that lead no longer exists.
Is this how Rome fell? They became complacent while everyone else stayed hungry?
Australian Tigers deploy overseas .... Aussie Diggers getting their sea legs!
Thanks to Jamie for the pics/link!!!
* Above pics via Defense.gov.au...below story via Shepard Media...
Australia despatched four Australian Army Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (ARH) to join the Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE 19) task force in Malaysia, marking the aircraft type’s first overseas deployment.Story here.
The four helicopters were transported by an RAAF C-17 to Subang Air Base, located near Kuala Lumpur, on 19 April. The Tigers then flew off in two flights on 21 April to land on HMAS Canberra docked at the Boustead Cruise Centre in Port Klang.
HMAS Canberra and the frigate HMAS Newcastle had arrived on 20 April, while two other ships of the task group, the frigate HMAS Parramatta and replenishment ship HMAS Success, were detached from the main group to other locations.
Are you keeping up with the Australian Army's forays into amphibious warfare? It's a sight to behold and they're doing it at a "quick step!"
Monday, April 29, 2019
GAO F-35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER: Action Needed to Improve Reliability.... gives a shocking statement about life support systems...
Life support system: The program has identified over 35 pilot physiological events, of which nearly 30 occurred in-flight. An action team made of government officials, contractors, and doctors completed their work by May 2018. A root cause investigation did not identify any F-35 system deficiencies, but reported it was difficult to fully determine the problem due to a lack of real-time data. Contracting officials stated that this is partially because the technology has not yet been developed to monitor pilot’s health in flight, in real time. The prime contractor continues to try to develop a means to monitor pilot health.Report here.
Kinda let's you know why the Japanese paper speculates that the pilot of their lost F-35 suffered some type of in-flight debilitating incident don't it.
Has this been known cause it's new to me.
I know we're suppose to listen to the pilots so why aren't they telling us about this.
International ‘Maritime Cooperation’ drills kick off in China....
via TASS
Bilateral Russian-Chinese naval drills "Maritime Cooperation" opened on Monday at the port of Qingdao, the press service of the Pacific Fleet reported.Story here.
"A group of Pacific Fleet ships consisting of the flagship Guards Order of Nakhimov missile cruiser Varyag, the large anti-tank ships Admiral Vinogradov and Admiral Tributs, the corvette Sovershenny, the large landing ship Oslyabya, the rescue vessel Igor Belousov and the sea tanker Irkut arrived at the port of Qingdao on a business call several hours ago, and the official opening ceremony for the bilateral Russian-Chinese naval drills ‘Maritime Cooperation 2019’ was carried out. <...> After the end of the official part of the ceremony the commanders of the ship groups of the two countries received orders for actions at sea," the press service reported.
-------------
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian and Chinese sailors will train to carry out joint maneuvers and establish communication and carry out missile and artillery attacks on sea and air targets, as well as train some aspects of search and rescue support.
This didn't have to happen. Wait. Let me deal with what the trolls will say. No. I am not a mouth piece for the Russians. No. I do not think it was wise to push the Russians over to the Chinese.
Yes. I think if Trump was smarter, more forceful and less prone to deal with the obvious provocation of the psy-ops campaign launched against him....and instead followed his instincts then all this could have been avoided.
There are reports that the Russian defense industry is in trouble. I don't believe it. What I do believe is that they're facing the same issues as we are but are exercising a bit more fiscal discipline.
In other words they're working between modernizing the force and maintaining gear they already have. To be a bit more clear they're trying to balance spiral upgrades with leap ahead technology. Their tank force is a perfect example. So is the work they're doing with their IFVs...both wheeled and tracked. That list goes on.
But China is a different beast. Securing their flank and having Russia at least neutral, if not supportive will go a long way toward making their Belt and Road initiative a reality. Talk of the Chinese moving from a physical presence to a cyber one in many of the "customer" nations should chill your bones.
This shouldn't have happened but it is.
So what do we do now?
Will domestic politics allow us the room to make "frienemies" with the Russians so we can regain strategic dominance in the Pacific?
If not then we're gonna have to strip the other oceans and seas of ships to deal with the Pacific.
Atak-2 Heavy Class Attack Helicopter....
caption via Google Translate...
AnadoluAjansi
Verified Here Turkey's new attack helicopter
The world's leading defense industry activities in place in the areas of International Defense Industry Fair (# IDEF'19) there will be an important first for Turkey. # Atak's "heavy brother", also known as Atak-2 Heavy Class Attack Helicopter, will be showcased at the fair for the first time.
S-500 nears completion of its test phase..
via Janes.
Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov has told media that research and development (R&D) for the S-500 long-range surface-to-air missile system is in its final phase, the TASS news agency reported on 24 April. "I'm talking about the completion of research and development and the subsequent beginning of batch production. I can now say that the R&D work is about to be completed," Manturov is quoted as saying.That's a pretty cut and dry article isn't it. Well I found this on Moscow Times...
TASS also said Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had earlier said that the system would begin to be provided to the armed forces in 2020.
The Aerospace Force Academy in Tver has been training operators for the system since 2017.
The S-500 missile flew 80 kilometers further than any previous test and successfully engaged a target 480 kilometers away, the CNBC business outlet reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of U.S. intelligence about the Russian weapons program.Story here.
Developed by Almaz-Antey, Russia’s largest defense contractor, the S-500 is touted as capable of intercepting stealth warplanes.
Last week President Vladimir Putin ordered defense officials to lay the groundwork for mass production of the S-500, saying the system is “capable of operating at ultra-high-altitudes including near space.”
Impressive range. Question. How do you defeat a system like this? Penetrating an advanced, layered air defense system seems to me to be suicide.
You must do as we've always done.
Peel it back.
That means we need long range missiles capable of at least being able to duel at distance. We need advanced electronic warfare platforms to knock back their detection range. Probably need unmanned aircraft that can get in close without risking aircrew.
And mostly we need the will to do the hard thing instead of always seeking a magic bullet/tech.
Open Comment Post. 29 April 2019
 |
| Hard times make hard men (found the author of that saying and its a former Marine turned apocalypse fiction writer!) and Charlie Brown & Snoopy obviously faced hard times cause ole boy is hard as woodpecker lips now! |
Spring Storm 2019....
French 2nd gen #VBCI 32T IFVs of 3e Cie / #2eRIMa in the ex #Kevadtorm in Estonia. HD version. 🇪🇪🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/jutPvXkKmf— Arto Pulkki (@APulkki) May 26, 2017
Below pics via Cezary Stachniak Twitter Page...
Below pics via News.err.ee (Estonia News)...
ST Engineering Bronco 3....
I can't help but wonder if this type vehicle has a role to play with the USMC. I am NOT A FAN of the UTV. They're great vehicles for going out on the back 40 and playing or doing labor but on the battlefield? I just don't think so. Additionally these vehicles are amphibious, have a great payload so can carry a ton of supplies, we've seen them mount 120mm automatic mortars and I'd bet other weapons packages can be fitted.
All this and its still light enough to be lifted by the MV-22, CH-53E and the CH-53K (if it makes it into service).
I like it.
I think it should be considered.
Monday Public Service Announcement....Grilled Cheese Hacks...
What's better than grilled cheese? Oh yeah, nothing.— Recipes GIFs (@Thelnteresting) April 28, 2019
By Tasty pic.twitter.com/d8UnrspTGn
Closeup pic of the YJ-12...
pic via Chinese Military Aviation Blog (here)...
 |
| YJ-12 is first of the new generation of supersonic long-range AshMs which just entered the service with PLAN. A model of a mysterious supersonic ASM similar to French ASMP was first unveiled at the 2006 Zhuhai Airshow underneath the wing of a JH-7. However the initial speculation of a twin side air intake design as the possible configuration of YJ-12 turned out to be false. Developed by CASIC, YJ-12 appears bigger than Russian Kh-31 but smaller than Kh-41. It features an integrated liquid fuel ramjet engine with a solid rocket booster. Four long narrow air intakes are attached to the body in an "X" arrangement. The missile is thought to have a cruise speed of Mach 2.5-3.5 and a range of 150-400km, depending on its cruising altitude. It typically flies a low-high-low profile. After launched from the carrier, it first climbs and cruises at a relatively high altitude before diving to a sea-skimming level at terminal stage and performs large-scale/high g maneuvers to avoid interception. Compared to the earlier YJ-83, YJ-12 is thought to carry a large warhead (250kg) capable of inducing substantial damage to large surface ships including aircraft carrier. YJ-12 was believed to have been test-fired from a modified H-6L prototype #872 between 2009 and 2010 and currently is in service with PLAN H-6L (x2) and H-6J (x6). The missile was speculated to be carried by PLAN J-16H (x2) as well. YJ-12 was officially unveiled during the 2015 VJ Day Parade in Beijing. Its export version was first unveiled at the 2016 Zhuhai Airshow as CM-302. - Last Updated 4/27/19 |
Sunday, April 28, 2019
Blast from the past....#OTD in 1944, disaster struck Allied forces while conducting a rehearsal for what would later be a landing at Utah Beach in Normandy, France.
#OTD in 1944, disaster struck Allied forces while conducting a rehearsal for what would later be a landing at Utah Beach in Normandy, France.— U.S. Naval History (@USNHistory) April 28, 2019
Read what happened in Exercise Tiger in our recently published page. https://t.co/Ra13jveuqM pic.twitter.com/NSfgfoMVP1
Muslim Dr. Mengeles: NHS doctor and UK pharmacist were Nazi-style torturers for Islamic State
NOTE! This "Geller Report" is new to me. I do know that the woman running it is quite controversial, but if this info is correct then it's too important to pass up. If this info is correct then one question needs to be asked. Why isn't this more widely reported.
Keep the comments in the proper lane or they will be deleted. Also note that the original info came from the British paper, The Daily Mail.
via GR.com
A picture of NHS doctor Issam Abuanza who deserted his wife and two children in Sheffield to join Islamic State in SyriaStory here.
Two British health workers who sneaked into Islamic State territory carried out ‘Nazi-style’ medical experiments on prisoners, Syrian witnesses claim.
Issam Abuanza, 40, a former NHS doctor who left behind his wife and two children in Sheffield when he travelled to Syria in 2014, was appointed the terror group’s ‘health minister’, the British Government believes.
Abuanza, now thought to be hiding in caves near the village of Baghouz, carried out such brutal torture on his victims that even IS fighters opposed it.
He appointed Mohammad Anwar Miah, also 40, a former pharmacist from Birmingham, who helped him remove organs from detained prisoners, the Syrian witnesses claim.
The body parts were either transplanted into injured jihadis, passed on to middle men who sold them on the black market to fund terror, or put in the cells of prisoners to frighten them, it is alleged.
A ten-man medical team headed by Abuanza also allegedly carried out chemical tests on prisoners, it is claimed.
The exact nature of the chemicals are unknown.
Indonesia goes all in on Russian weaponry...
via Shepard Media.
Indonesia inked a $175.2 million deal for two types of amphibious armoured vehicles – BMP-3F IFVs and BT-3F APCs – at a ceremony in Jakarta on 22 April. Once delivered, the vehicles will be allocated to the Indonesian Marine Corps (Korps Marinir).----------
The deal with Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state arms import/export agency, for 22 BMP-3Fs is worth $108 million, while that for 21 BT-3F vehicles comes to $67.2 million. Jakarta will pay for this acquisition via foreign loans, likely from Russia.
This is the third batch of BMP-3F IFVs, built by the Kurgan Machine-Building Plant (KMZ), that Jakarta has ordered for the Indonesian Marine Corps. A total of 17 BMP-3Fs and a single BREM-L recovery vehicle were ordered in 2009, and another 37 vehicles were added in a $114 million deal in 2012.
With this new batch the marines will soon have 76 BMP-3Fs at its disposal. The vehicles will be used across the three divisions of the Indonesian Marine Corps.
This acquisition also helps fulfil modernisation of the Indonesian Armed Forces under Phase 2 of the Minimum Essential Force initiative as part of the nation’s 2015-19 Strategic Plan.
There is high commonality between the BMP-3F and BT-3F, ensuring more efficient training, maintenance and better spare-parts availability.Story here.
This decision for the BT-3F sounds a death knell for the Ukrainian BTR-4M 8x8 amphibious vehicle. Indonesia received five units in 2016, but it was unhappy with the type’s seaworthiness, and a follow-on buy of 50 more BTR-4s was axed.
Always thought the BTR-4M was a weird, frankenstein type vehicle and it looks like the Indonesians have woken up to that fact.
Congrats to the Russians but I will continue to view this as a missed opportunity.
No way in hell they should be tilting this far towards them and not to us. I don't know where things went wrong but its a shame that they aren't operating US systems.
Be that as it may, it does seem like they're building a smart force.
Side note. Can the BMP swim in open ocean? I know the BT-3F is supposedly capable of doing so but I remain skeptical.
CNBC's breakdown of the Pentagon budget request...
via CNBC
----------
- The Defense Department is asking Congress for $718 billion in its fiscal 2020 budget, an increase of $33 billion or about 5% over what Congress enacted for fiscal 2019.
- The Navy and Marine Corps request $205.6 billion, up $9.9 billion from fiscal 2019; the Air Force calls for $204.8 billion, up $11.8 billion from the last request, and the Army asks for $191.4 billion, up $12.5 billion from fiscal 2019.
78 F-35 fighters: $11.2 billion----------
1 B-21 long-range strike bomber: $3 billion
12 KC-46 tankers: $2.3 billion
24 F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet fighters: $2 billion
48 AH-64E attack helicopters: $1 billion
6 P-8A Poseidon surveillance and anti-submarine planes: $1.5 billion
8 F-15EX fighters: $1.1 billion
1 CVN-78 Ford-class aircraft carrier: $2.6 billion----------
3 Virginia-class submarines: $10.2 billion
3 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers: $5.8 billion
1 frigate: $1.3 billion
2 unmanned surface vehicles: $447 million
4,090 joint light tactical vehicles: $1.6 billionStory here.
165 M-1 Abrams tank modifications: $2.2 billion
56 amphibious combat vehicles: $0.4 billion
131 armored multi-purpose vehicles: $0.6 billion
Aviation is getting the lion's share of the budget as usual. Ship building is as slow as ever and the numbers are shockingly low. Vehicle production seems almost stagnate.
I don't know how we're getting ready for a peer vs peer conflict but if you look at shipbuilding for example, the Chinese are building more ships in one yard than we're building nationwide.
I hope we have some hella powerful secret weapons cause conventionally I don't see us maintaining a lead.
If this budget is as good as it gets then we'll be militarily weaker than China in all areas by 2025.
Kinda depressing when looking at raw numbers. We're squeezing ourselves into a hurt locker.
US Navy sees the Super Hornet filling the same role as the F-35...flying node in the kill chain....
Thanks to Super Rhino for the link!
via FlightGlobal.
Boeing says it has enough business from the US Department of Defense, as well as international customers such as Kuwait, to maintain continuous Block III production until 2033.----------
While the service still has plans to order many more F-35s, it is becoming apparent that it no longer sees stealth technology as a cure-all. Instead, it is buying a mix of aircraft, with no expiration date in sight for classic fighters such as the F/A-18E/F. The US Air Force is pursuing a similar policy by buying Boeing F-15EXs.
----------This is freaking HUGE!
"Being that stealthy didn't help us close the kill chain for the navy nearly as effectively as being a networked fighter," says Dan Gillian, programme manager for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler. "Things like an internal [infrared search and track] or an enclosed weapons pod, they kind of fell to the bottom of the list."
NAVAIR did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Instead of more stealth, the Block III aircraft is essentially a flying and heavily armed node in the USN's network. It comes with an advanced processor, called the Distributed Targeting Processor-Networked (DTP-N) computer and a robust communications link from Rockwell Collins, called Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT). The cockpit also has a large 21in touchscreen display. The aircraft's computer hardware is designed to run next-generation sensors and software, says Gillian.
"It is a very large open-architecture computer, about 17 times more powerful than the mission computer in the platform today, that is open so you can bring apps to the airplane, bring capabilities on board rapidly," he says.
The aircraft's computer systems, with the addition of new software, are capable of controlling Loyal Wingman unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) such ast the Airpower Teaming System that Boeing is co-developing with the Australian government, says Gillian. The aircraft's back-seat weapons systems officer could fly a group of Loyal Wingman UAVs, he says.
Block III Super Hornets also come with an external Block II Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor, which, when used by two aircraft at once, can create a targeting solution for an air-to-air missile. Boeing declines to say what the IRST's range is, but claims it is longer than adversaries' air-to-air radar. The new aircraft also have shoulder-mounted conformal fuel tanks, which reduce drag and carry about 1,588kg (3,500lb) of fuel, extending its range by about 120nm (222km).
The Super Hornet is the airplane that will carry the Navy into the future and the plane that the USMC should buy to fulfill its carrier responsibilities! It will be cheaper to operate and if even HALF THE STATED CAPABILITIES are real then it will fit perfectly into USMC concepts being bandied about.
Sensor fusion...flying computer....node in the kill chain....long range...the Super Hornet covers all the bases except for stealth which NAVAIR apparently isn't all that sold on.
Oh and one last thing. Am I correct in stating that the IRST being mounted on the Super Hornet is degrees better than the one in the F-35?
Nexter Group - Scorpion Programme : Griffon 6X6 Armoured Vehicle & Jaguar 6X6 IFV
Thanks to Gerard for the link!
The armor revolution is here. How do we know? Cause the Jaguar IFV is relatively brand new. When it was first conceptualized that 40mm cannon was considered a BEAST! Now? Now its consider ok, but nothing exceptional. How much "power creep" have we seen? Well the idea of Utility Vehicles running around with different versions of 30mm cannons is now accepted and almost expected!
What has me wondering is how long will the US Army's choice for its next generation combat vehicle be considered the "big dawg"?
Will we soon see a return to a 75mm cannon as we saw on the Rapid Deployment Light Tank?
The armor revolution is here. How do we know? Cause the Jaguar IFV is relatively brand new. When it was first conceptualized that 40mm cannon was considered a BEAST! Now? Now its consider ok, but nothing exceptional. How much "power creep" have we seen? Well the idea of Utility Vehicles running around with different versions of 30mm cannons is now accepted and almost expected!
What has me wondering is how long will the US Army's choice for its next generation combat vehicle be considered the "big dawg"?
Will we soon see a return to a 75mm cannon as we saw on the Rapid Deployment Light Tank?
Saturday, April 27, 2019
HMAS Adelaide embarks mechanised combat team for the first time
Thanks to Grey Forest for the link!
via Navy.news.gov.au
HMAS Adelaide has for the first time embarked a mechanised combat team including supporting elements to conduct Sea Basing Amphibious Operations over the Joint War Fighter Series in 2019.The Aussies are a stubborn lot but its quite clear. For better or worse they might have an "Army" but the future of that Army lies with amphibious operations.
A mechanised Combat Team from Battle Group Boar, centred on the 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (7 RAR), embarked in HMAS Adelaide during the recent visit to namesake port Adelaide.
The Amphibious Warfare Officer and Head of the Amphibious Department on board Adelaide, Major Charles De-Zilva said the task was complicated by the shallow tidal window of Port of Flinders in Adelaide’s Outer Harbor, during the embarkation period.
“To overcome this constraint, HMAS Adelaide used a pontoon barge to extend the tidal window for its side doors, and a detailed rehearsal and embarkation planning were conducted by the Adelaide Amphibious Task Group and 7 RAR to ensure safe and efficient embarkation.
“For Sea Series components of Joint War Fighter Series 2019, Adelaide is the Primary Control Ship for the Amphibious Task Group. This task is another first for Adelaide as she will be controlling multiple surface connectors from both HMAS Canberra and Adelaide,” said Major De-Zilva.
Commanding Officer 7 RAR, Lieutenant Colonel Adam Gower said throughout the Joint War Fighter Series 2019, Battle Group Boar will conduct Ship to Object Manoeuvre (STOM) and use both a mechanised and Air Mobile Combat Teams from Adelaide.
“This will be the first time that the Adelaide amphibious department will conduct STOM with a mechanised Combat Team and the first time that 7 RAR have conducted Sea Basing Operations with Adelaide.
“This is a step change in the capability that 7 RAR can provide to the Australian Defence Force.
“At the end of these activities we will be able to project and sustain combat power using both air and surface ship to shore connectors,” said Lieutenant Colonel Gower.
The Amphibious Department operates and controls both the heavy and light vehicle decks, the embarked forces accommodation and the Ship to Objective Manoeuvre. The Amphibious Department on HMAS Adelaide has a variety of essential components on the ship for vehicle embarkation and disembarkation, either by ship to shore connectors or while alongside using the ships doors and vehicle ramps.
The Amphibious Department also controls all amphibious Ship to Objective Manoeuvres, by air and surface connectors.
Consider it a form of the Italian Lagunari (Wiki article on them here). I got a nice little chucke (in an ironic kind of way) from the adoption of USMC language.
Then reason took over.
This is a tremendous opportunity. I am not a fan of partnerships as its been conducted over the past 10 or more years. I view it as more fluff than actual "go to war" training.
With the Aussies in the Pacific it would be VERY different.
The opportunity (if we don't squander it) is to fully integrate their Navy and 7th RAR into the US Navy/Marine Corps team.
A solid partnership with the Aussies and Japanese would go a VERY LONG WAY toward being able to contain China in the Pacific.
Of all our allies those are the two that don't appear to be playing both sides of the fence. Additionally Japan and Australia have fairly good relations.
My recommendation?
If exercises in S. Korea are off as long as there is a chance of solving the nuclear aspirations of the little fat madman, then we should press hard for a US - Australia - Japanese full on amphibious exercise (along with the Air Force, Coast Guard and SOCOM...as many bubbas as we can get down there) that rivals Bold Alligator in size and scope and make it a recurring exercise.
Australia is getting ready and it would help them set up their Amphibious Army. Japan has a new Marine Corps that could use the experience gained in a big exercise. The US would benefit from the integration of large, allied forces operating in the field along with what I hope would be a massive interservice effort.
Win, win, win!
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