Open Comment Post. April 6, 2017.

I was worried about the cost of M27 for the Infantry while Marine Air wants even more toys!

via The Drive.

In addition to wanting more F-5s spread across key locations, the USMC also wants to procure a light air support aircraft for training purposes. These aircraft could work not just in concert with an expanded F-5 adversary corps, but also for training Joint Terminal Air Controllers (JTACS), airborne forward air controllers, and providing a basic airborne surveillance and fire support platform for other training purposes. This would all be part of a greater shift in tactical air training strategy called the Composite Training Squadron Concept. 

Full story here. 

I was concerned about the cost of equipping Marine Infantry with the M27, worried that we might be wasting money on the ACV when the upgraded AAV might be "good enough", concerned that we would have to acquire new 782 gear because everything we have now is so biased to desert environments...and now we see this from the Wing?

There has to be a serious discussion about the cost of Marine Air and whether or not the direction it's taking is in the best interest of the entire Marine Corps!

I'm not talking about a top down preaching about "aviation centric" being the future, but a real deal no bullshit "talk among the tribe" on if we can afford the Marine Air Wing as its being built.

How did we reach a point where the Marine Corps has gone from taking US Army hand me downs, US Navy cast offs, picking up US Air Force trash and making it shine to where we need unique/boutique...EVERYTHING!!!???

One thing is certain.

We can put the talking point that the USMC is the most cost effective of the military branches in the trash bin of our history.  If you're looking at things from a size vs cost perspective I'm sure that bragging point now belongs to the US Army!

The Marine Corps needs a procurement stand down, a back to basics movement and a reassessment of its future doctrine.

General Dynamics Piranha 5 8x8 IFV ideally suited to "hybrid warfare"?

via Defense News.

The objective of this national program is to obtain an 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle to replace the obsolete 6x6 wheeled Pegaso BMR after 40 years of service.

"The 8x8 armored fighting vehicle will be useful for today's hybrid threat environments, or for the vast majority of scenarios to which current security challenges will lead us. It is especially suitable for current low-intensity operations, especially in Africa", Conde said.

We knew about this purchase a month ago but to class these type vehicles as being especially suited to hybrid warfare and out of area operations is new.

Colombian Army Strykers (pics)

Blast from the past. Dickie Mason's tragic story... via Historical Times.

Dickie Manson, 11 year old Australian boy who was court-martialed for espionage and executed by a Japanese firing squad

Here.

Czech Vera-NG. Passive Detection System. The real stealth killer?

Thanks to Drinas for the link!

via POGO

An even simpler system that is even harder to counter than a long wavelength search radar is a passive detection system (PDS) that detects and tracks the radio frequency (RF) signals emitted by an aircraft—radar signals, UHF and VHF radio signals, identification-friend-or-foe (IFF) signals, data link signals like Link-16, and navigation transponder signals like TACAN.

A good example of a modern PDS is the VERA-NG, a Czech system being sold internationally that uses three or more receiving antennas spaced well apart to detect and track and identify the RF signals emitted by fighters and bombers. The system’s central analysis module calculates the time difference of the signals reaching the receivers to identify, locate, and track up to 200 aircraft transmitting radar signals. The VERA-NG is only one of many types of PDS used throughout the world: the Russians, Chinese, and others produce PDSs, as well, and these have been widely fielded for several years.

Info on the Vera-NG here. 

Forgetting the troubled and horribly broken F-35 for a minute.  Is this system and others like it "stealth killers"?

Neller considers going all M27 for Marine Infantry.

Thanks to AC for the link!

via Business Insider.

The Marines are considering arming more of its infantry with a lightweight, highly reliable automatic rifle, but there’s one catch: It costs about three times more than the rifle that is currently standard issue.

The standard-issue M4 carbine could be replaced by the M27 infantry automatic rifle. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller said the M27s that have already been deployed are "the most reliable, durable, and accurate weapons in our rifle squads," according to Marine Corps Times.

The M27, a variation of the HK416 built by the German gunmaker Heckler & Koch, sells for about $3,000. The M4, which is used by most Army and Marines combat units, is manufactured by Colt Defense and FN America and costs less than $1,000.

If the Marines equipped 11,000 infantry riflemen — the number under discussion — with the M27, the price tag would be about $33 million.

The M27 is said to be far superior to the M4, but Marine Corps Times quoted Neller as saying that while he is looking at a new weapon for infantry Marines, "we have to balance improved capabilities and increased lethality with cost." But, he added, "our infantry Marines should be the most lethal force we can afford."

I'm conflicted.  I like the M27 more as the standard battle rifle for Marines rather than a SAW replacement but...can we afford it?

The Marine Corps once hung its hat on being the most cost effective military force in the Pentagon.  Those days are close (if they're not already) to being over and I'm not sure how I feel about that.

How many more gold plated solutions can we ask the taxpayer to swallow? Will we reach a point where the Marines aren't worth the cost?  Are we pricing ourselves out of a mission?  How much longer can you justify unique/expensive solutions to problem sets that even the freaking US Army can solve for less money?

Yeah.  I'm conflicted, confused and concerned.  Yet I still want the weapon.  Glad this isn't on my desk waiting for a decision!

Rise of the wheeled tanks...

Japanese Maneuver Combat Vehicle

Italian Centauro II

I just had a "force of connection".  While I have yet to hear an explanation of why fighting in mega cities will be worth the high casualties, protracted conflict, and the impossibility of actually accomplishing a military objective it seems that everyone in our Defense Dept is onboard that train.

With that being the case then the way we think about armored vehicles and especially tanks will shift.

What I'm saying in a drawn out fashion is that we're about to see the rise of the wheeled tanks.

Why?

Think about it.  We've already reached a point where kinetic weapons can penetrate anything on the battlefield.  Even RPG-29's have been shown to penetrate weak points on the M1 Abrams (cool your jets...it was once classified but is in the open now).  So with that being the case what is the answer?  Lighter weight (not that 40 tons is light), higher mobility on roads (remember mega cities are not rural locales) and massive guns to deal with
enemy fortifications.  What will be the protection values?  Probably armored to deal with medium caliber cannons (talking probably proof against 30mm up to 40mm in the future), equipped with APS (to deal with infantry ATGM) and able to deal with IEDs.  What will be the caliber gun?  I'm not sure yet.  We see a couple with standard 120mm cannons.  The future might see an evolution toward even larger caliber guns designed to destroy buildings, fortifications etc.  Think along the lines of the WW2 Sturmtiger but with a turret and of course advanced ammo.

This is of course speculation but we're seeing trends that indicate that planners are seeing the battlefield in a different way.  Away from the countryside and unfortunately in the city.

General Dynamics European Land System's SIAC...state of the art 155/52 caliber towed howitzer with self-propelled capabilities

Gents...you talk about artillery all the time but one offering has hardly been mentioned.  If you're not familiar then let me introduce you to General Dynamic European Land Systems SAIC 155/52 howitzer (page here).

I can't imagine why it hasn't seen more widespread use.  It has limited self propelled capabilities, seems to have superior off road ability...the only thing in doubt is this.  Can you sling load this monster?  Even if you can't I don't see the real problem.  Heliborne artillery raids are a myth.  I don't see it happening in real life (if you can name an example outside of Gulf War 1 then I'm all ears).  So why isn't this large caliber howitzer in demand?

EXF 8x8

Looking for pics of this vehicle undergoing testing and not just on display.  If you have any please share.

Italian Trieste Class LHD

Thanks to Eris for the pics!

I didn't even know this was thing!  Fincantieri is building a mini-aircraft carrier it seems.  Is that where we're going with LHDs?  If so then do they become in essence capital ships too valuable to actual risk in doing their jobs?

I wonder.

Website here.

Open Comment Post. April 5, 2017.