M1A2 SEPV3 hits deck...Macgregor is not happy!

via Army Times

The first of a batch of upgraded M1A2 Abrams tanks has hit the Army, with more improvements coming in the next few years.

Earlier this month, the first of six M1A2 System Enhancement Package Version 3 Abrams tanks rolled off initial production at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio, the Army announced.

These are the first upgrades to the Army’s 1,500-tank fleet. They fall in line with overall Army plans to enhance lethality and improve its ground combat systems, preparing them for potential fights with near-peer adversaries.

Another such improvement was the recent addition of a 30 mm cannon to many of the Army’s Strykers, which began deliveries last year.

“This version is the most modernized configuration of the Abrams tank, having improved force protection and system survivability enhancements and increased lethality over the M1A1 and previous M1A2 variants,” said Lt. Col. Justin Shell, the Army’s product manager for Abrams.

The version three enhancements address on-board power, electronics, computing, weapons, force protection and sensors. They are primarily a bridge to the version four variant planned for the 2020s, Program Executive Office-Ground Combat Systems spokeswoman Ashley Givens told the media.

Story here. 

I'm of the opinion that this is a common sense approach to our armored force. If you look around the globe you're not seeing any breakthrough in performance, just evolution.  As awesome as the Armata might be its still a variation on the theme, nothing revolutionary.

Macgregor thinks otherwise.  Check this out from his blog, FUTURE DEFENSE VISIONS...

A cautionary tale worth remembering: HMS Hood was the last battlecruiser built for the Royal Navy. Commissioned in 1920, Hood had design limitations, though her design was revised after the Battle of Jutland and improved while she was under construction. Despite the appearance of new and more modern ship designs over time, Hood remained the largest and most powerful warship in the world for twenty years after her commissioning. On 24 May 1941, 8 minutes after the first shot was fired in the Battle of the Denmark Strait with the German Battleship Bismarck, Hood was struck by several German shells, exploded and sank. Due to Hood’s perceived invincibility, the loss affected British morale.
It’s time for new warfighting equipment, not upgrades of old designs. The Army is sinking money and resources into old solutions designed in the 1970s. The handwriting is on the wall. Our soldiers will man the land equivalent of Hoods.

You can check out his blog here. 

I'm not looking to cross swords with ole boy, but I wonder if his complaints are valid.  Quite honestly I think they're overblown.

Could he have fallen into the trap of having made his name with innovative thinking and because of that "rep" he's always having to push the envelope in order to remain relevant?

I wonder.

I consider that a cautionary tale for all "innovators" (and I can fall prey to it too).  You have to honestly look at the landscape, the current state of the art, near term breakthroughs and threat weapons to properly determine whether a weapon system is viable.

I think the upgrade path of the M1A2 SEPV3 and later SEPV4 will keep the US Army's armored force in the lead or at worst equal to the threats they may face.

Macgregor needs to reconsider his critique.

1st Air Cav Brigade shows it's strength...

I keep forgetting the full scale of US Army Aviation.

We're looking at one aviation brigade's worth of helicopters.  Just one.

That's more helicopters than most nations have in their entire armed forces!

I have mixed emotions about this.  We have this tremendous combat power and yet we were slow to deploy forces to help with hurricane relief efforts? We have this many helicopters but we're still told that we should be worried about Russia?

Quite honestly after looking at this I have to wonder if I might be overstating the threat of China.

When it comes to protecting the US we are beyond set.  Covering allies is an issue but when it comes to ensuring the safety and security of our own nation I can confidently say that the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines pretty much have that covered in spades.

DAMN THAT'S ALOT OF HELICOPTERS!

Open Comment Post. Oct 27, 2017

French VABs, Brit BV-210 Vikings, Navy LCACs & Marine AAVs on the beach at Bold Alligator 2017...pics by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kohen S. Gillis

Dawn Blitz 2017...pics by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Sabyn L. Marrs & Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Irwin Sampaga

Small Rant....Exercise overload is real!

Everyone that has spent more than 5 minutes on this blog know I have a few pet peeves that I bang on constantly.  The F-35, the vulnerability of small units, my distaste of the aviation centric Marine Corps concepts are all WELL established on these pages.

But it's becoming obvious that I have to make a little more noise about another issue that I believe is a danger to our military services.

The issue is exercise overload and from my chair it's real!

I keep an eye on the Marine Corps and do my best to keep up with a few Army units.  Most notably the 82nd, Rangers, 101st, 25th ID, and 10th Mountain (although those guys have really disappeared...are they about to have their color cased?).

Additionally I try and look across the pond to the European continent and look at what the NATO forces are up to too.

The 2nd Cav is being run into the ground.  The 173rd are making so many jumps that the whole unit will be wearing master parachutist badges soon and our NATO friends are getting worn out before a single shot is fired in anger.

I know what you're thinking.  What's bringing on this rant fest? Who pissed in my cereal and has me going ape over exercises.

News tonight (and I'm still catching up) in addition to Bold Alligator 2017 being conducted on the East coast, we have Dawn Blitz 2017 being ran on the West coast!

That's two major exercises at the same time by the Marine Corps!

I'm not sure but I believe they're both Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) led exercises to boot.

In essence we have the 1st and 2nd MEF Headquarters both running exercises at the same time, while 3rd MEF is probably on a hair trigger in case stuff goes sideways in Korea.

We're looking at a situation where all three of our highest level HQ units are deployed at the same time.  In short there is no slack in the system because of the emphasis on exercises.

My recommendation and primal scream remains the same.  Take authority away from the Combatant Commanders.  Have a desk established in the SecDef's office to handle all requests for forces with an eye toward ensuring that our guys aren't run into the ground because they're on back to back exercises after coming off deployment.

SIDE NOTE: There is a possibility that this is all happening the way it is because of preparations for a wartime effort in Korea but from my reading they are expecting to do this without committing boots on the ground...in essence a shock and awe Desert Storm style.

Light carriers aren't the answer for Marines...we need to fix the aviation centric LPD/LSD by replacing them with Mistrals!

via USNI News.

The Navy’s director of amphibious warfare warned that pursuing a light aircraft carrier option in lieu of amphibious assault ships would limit the Marines’ options for responding to operational commanders’ needs, and instead urged faster shipbuilding and experimenting with new ship groupings to increase operational flexibility.

Maj. Gen. David Coffman (OPNAV N95) said Thursday at the National Defense Industrial Association’s annual Expeditionary Warfare Conference that “there is a threat from above – ‘threat’ being Pentagon-speak – of the light carrier coming down into Marine trade space and affecting us.”

The most recent iteration of the light carrier concept was raised in a trio of future fleet architecture studies released earlier this year, with proponents advocating something similar to the America-class amphibious assault ship or potentially something that looks more like a conventionally powered aircraft carrier with a catapult to launch planes. Amphibious assault ships USS America (LHA-6) and the future Tripoli (LHA-7) are aviation-optimized ships that trade a well deck in order for added aviation maintenance space and jet fuel storage.

Story here. 

Read the whole story but I consider this talk of building a light carrier to be missing the real problem.

The America Class LHAs fill that role nicely. 

The problem isn't with the LHA/LHDs.  The problem is with the San Antonio class and the upcoming LSD replacement.

Those ships are built to accommodate the traditional USMC, not the aviation centric bastardization that they're pushing today.

So why don't they build ships that could better fit the concepts they're pushing?  Why don't they build Mistrals that would fill the bill perfectly?

I have no idea.

Perhaps its a lack of conviction.  Maybe they think that they can fool the tribe into believing that they aren't seeking a completely different Marine Corps for the future by continuing to buy ship shells that look familiar while trying to flex them into this new role.

Again I have no idea why, but light carriers aren't the solution to the Marine Corps problems.  The solution will be figuring out whether or not we need modern day LPD/LSD that are by form and function designed to support surface assault while leadership is pushing aviation.

The Marine Corps needs Mistrals...especially if they stay the course with the aviation heavy Corps.

F-35 now has a parts problem to go with the development woes.

via Nasdaq.

Spare parts for Lockheed Martin Corp's stealthy F-35 fighter jets are not keeping up with demand according to a report out on Thursday from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

The report said "from January through August 7, 2017, F-35 aircraft were unable to fly about 22 percent of the time due to parts shortages."

Story here. 

This whole program is trash.  They have a limited number of aircraft in service now and they're having problems with parts?  Just plain wow.

Northrop has a patent for an anti-missile missile for aircraft!

via The Drive.

We have been talking a lot lately about some cutting-edge technologies that could be incorporated into the upcoming B-21 Raider stealth bomber or in other future stealthy aircraft designs. Seeing as evolving integrated air defense system technology will continue to slowly erode some of stealth's current advantages, electronic warfare, laser defenses, advanced decoys, and even high speed are potential applications that will bolster the survivability of future American air combat assets. But Northrop Grumman may have another trick up its sleeve—a pop out kinetic kill missile defense system that is especially well suited for installation on stealthy aircraft. 

Story here. 

Wow.  So this is one of the many solutions that we're gonna see heading into the future.

It makes sense and Tyler does a good job of spelling this whole thing out (definitely read it).

For better or worse it seems that manufacturers are locked onto the future alot better than the services.  Stealth is becoming marginalized as we speak and its shelf life can be measured in years, not decades.

That's one pretty athletic sailor!

Wow.  That's one pretty athletic sailor.  Glad he's ok but that could have gone so wrong!  I guess this is why they say the flight deck of an aircraft carrier is so dangerous....wonder if anyone's been blown overboard because of jet blast.