My biggest fear with the ACV & we're getting trolled on Portugal Newscasts...

TRUCK YEAH! posted the above vid on their website which is covering Trident Juncture, supposedly a massive amphibious exercise but something I consider to be an extra large dog and pony with dubious training value.

Let's put that aside though.

Did you watch the vid?

That my friends is my big fear with the ACV and the Marine Corps moving to a wheeled infantry carrier.  Its not IEDs and the work to give them almost MRAP protection...if we need MRAPs we can pull them out of service....AND I wonder if we're giving up too much utility by putting blast seats in them (can't put liters or carry cargo like you could with the AAV).

My concern is getting stuck on the beach because wheels don't like sand and Marines having to dismount early while the enemy is sending rounds.

Once you consider all that, getting trolled by Portugal News is the least of our concerns.

F-35 News. Bogdan gives the news about Canada leaving the program...

Thanks to Don for the info!

A few notes from the F-35 Program Managers testimony to Congress...

Bogdan testified to House Armed Services today.- engine problem is fixed, retrofit complete next June- fix for F-35 ejection seat problems could take another year- work on logistics system may delay AF IOC next year- loss of Canada will increase unit cost of jet one million dollars

How do you spin this shit?  Partner nations will have discussions about taking over Canada's production?  Does that mean that they're going to have to setup tooling?  Will that result in another delay?  How does the loss of these jets equal an increase of a million dollars but supposedly DECREASES in the number of jets purchased by Italy, the Netherlands and others didn't?

A whole lot of questions left to be answered....and a whole lot of spinning.

One question has been answered though.

The Canadians will be buying something other than the F-35. 

Heads up! Did we get a warning about the oft predicted regional war in Syria...from the Qatar FM????

via Sputnik..

But as Russia enters its fourth week of anti-terror airstrikes, Qatar has indicated that it may launch a military campaign of its own.
"Anything that protects the Syrian people and Syria from partition, we will not spare any effort to carry it out with our Saudi and Turkish brothers, no matter what this is," Qatar’s Foreign Minister Khalid al-Attiyah told CNN on Wednesday, when asked if he supported Saudi Arabia’s position of not ruling out a military option.

Ok, its a Middle Eastern politician so they're good for a big dose of...bullshit.  But if he's at all serious about this then that major regional war is about to kick off.

Russia, Syria and maybe the Kurds vs. Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia?

The State Dept and Pentagon better get a handle on this real quick. 

SIDENOTE 1:  Brunswick recommends WarNewsUpdates to keep track of the war in Syria.  I agree.  That is one blog that should be on your daily read list!

Did Lockheed Martin accidentally tell the truth about 5th gen capabilities?

Many thanks to George for the link!

via LM Press Release.

The F-16V, an option for both new production F-16s and F-16 upgrades, is the next generation configuration that leverages a common worldwide sustainment infrastructure and provides significant capability improvements to the world’s most affordable, combat-proven multi-role fighter.
Northrop Grumman’s APG-83 SABR AESA fire control radar provides 5th Generation air-to-air and air-to-ground radar capability. Northrop Grumman also provides AESA radars for the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.

I keep asking what is it that the F-35 has that makes it such a tremendous leap.  Looks like LM just told us that its the AESA....and that 5th gen capability can be mounted on airplane.

Is this the backup plan that they're gonna try and push?  George speculates that it is and I think he might be right.

If true then this is telling.  The USAF and LM are already formulating a plan B.  Is this program in more trouble than we could imagine?

Army officials talk active protection for IFVs/Tanks...

via Army News Service...

"I think sometimes you hear people say if you had active protection, it would change the relationship between weight and protection on vehicles," he said. "I think that's largely a fallacy. Active protection is effective against certain threat sets with certain characteristics. In order for us to be able to take weight out, you have to be taking other armor off that currently protects us against certain threats. That threat is diverse enough that APS isn't going to catch everything. You need a mix of capabilities.

Read it here. 

The article is loosely written so I'm not sure if that quote is attributable to GCS PEO Brig. Gen. David Bassett or  Col. James Schirmer, PM, armored fighting vehicles.

Either way its apparent that fielding an active protection system for US armor isn't a high priority.

China's CH-53K clone...

via Popular Mechanics...

One of China's most prolific aircraft manufacturers, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has announced it's working on a new, locally produced heavy lift helicopter. The as-yet-unnamed helicopter will be the largest in China's inventory.

According to the Chinese web site qq.com, the new helo will be comparable to the American CH-53K King Stallion. It's projected to be a little bit slower than the CH-53K, but the site proudly points out it will have a maximum takeoff weight that's 0.2 tons larger.

The helicopter comes after the cancellation of a joint Russian-Chinese project to upgrade the venerableMi-26 "Halo" heavy lift helicopter. Capable of carrying over 100 troops or 22 tons of cargo, the Mi-26 has been the largest helicopter in the world since 1977. China will make most of the parts, including the seven composite rotors, transmission, and "other areas." Russia, meanwhile, is expected to provide "some technology." That may be an understatement, as China has never made a heavy lift helicopter of its own before.

Interesting.

Just out of curiosity.  How is that production offset of US helicopters along with tech transfer to China (ignoring the cyber theft of our intellectual property) NOT a major issue for our presidential candidates?

Story here.

Australian Army @ Exercise Chong Ju

Putin's summons Assad to Moscow...

via New York Times.

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia called his counterpart, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, to Moscow for an unannounced visit to discuss their joint military campaign and a future political transition in Syria, the Kremlin announced on Wednesday.
According to a transcript posted on the Kremlin website, Mr. Putin told the Syrian leader during the meeting late Tuesday that Russia was ready to contribute to the fight against terrorism and to a political settlement of the conflict that has raged for more than four years. Mr. Assad, in turn, briefed the Russian leader about the situation on the ground and on next steps.
The surprise visit — evidently Mr. Assad’s first outside Syria since the civil war began there in 2011 — highlighted how the political and military horizon of the long war of attrition has shifted drastically because of Russia’s intervention.

Ok so let me get this fucking straight.

Putin is discussing a future political transition in Syria.  The US wants Assad out of power.  The fucking Russians are trying to kill terrorists in Syria.  And we can't work with these people?

If we want Assad out all we have to do is be patient and talk to Putin.  Apparently he wants the same thing (this isn't RT, Sputnik or TASS...its the nasty ass New York Times!) so what is the sticking point?

Life is hard & people die if you're stupid.  Time for the administration to stop being stupid.

SIDENOTE:  If this is hard for some of you people to understand then let me lay it out for you.  Want to know the biggest foreign policy mistake of the last 50 years?  No, it wasn't the invasion of Iraq.  It was our stance with Russia after the Soviet Union fell.  They were RIPE for inclusion into the Europe.  The EU is suffering right now but imagine if we could have brought Russia into the fold.  It would have been a win-win across the board.  Russia would be an ally in the Middle East and that simmering cesspool could finally be put down.  The rise of China would have been delayed and they'd probably be still rubbing sticks together for heat.  More importantly we could have leveraged the resources, cheap labor AND military tech to push forward a world that would have been dramatically more stable than what we see today.  Unfortunately we did not have leaders bold enough to see a different path and instead reverted back to "cold war" thinking in a new age.  That is what I base my thinking on.  You want a "reset" with Russia?  This is another opportunity.  If we can ally with Saudi Arabia, make NUCLEAR deals with Iran and deal with a China that is LITERALLY stealing our tech/manipulating its markets then WORKING with RUSSIA should be a no brainer!

UK's 16th Air Assault Brigade changes its badge...

16 Air Assault Brigade is changing its badge from the Eagle to the Pegasus. 

The formation is about to undergo changes to its structure and will be marking those changes with its new symbol. 

The Pegasus has an iconic status and is recognised internationally as the defining symbol of British Airborne Forces. The Pegasus to be worn by 16 Air Assault Brigade will be the same design as that worn by the 1st and 6th Airborne Divisions, and the 44th Indian Airborne Division in the Second World War.

The Pegasus was an inclusive symbol, worn by both parachute and glider formations in the War. With its reintroduction, Pegasus will continue to represent all of British Airborne Forces. Every man and woman in 16 Air Assault Brigade is an Airborne soldier, regardless of their cap-badge and regardless of whether they are delivered by parachute, air-landing or ground manoeuvre. 

The Eagle badge has served us well since 1999 and it will be replaced with solemnity, dignity and respect on 25 Nov 2015. 

After that date, maroon Pegasus will be worn by all units in camp, with subdued Pegasus being worn in the field.

Interesting.

I guess the fashion has swung to the reverse now.  Where once it seemed that "modern military forces" were seeking to remake themselves into something new, it now seems that they're trying to re-establish links with the past.  The best example?  US Marine Corps Special Ops.  The World War 2 Marine Raiders happily offered their name to the new unit but the Commandant at the time denied the request.  Only when he was heading out the door did he approve it.  Now we see the 16 AAB doing the same.

'Bout time.

General Dynamics UK Mechanised Infantry Vehicle...

pic via GD UK Facebook Page.

A Piranha 6 that was originally a GD High Tech Demonstrator that is now a Mechanised Infantry Vehicle...well done General Dynamics!