SNAFU!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Historic First

Soldiers from Battery A, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment fired the howitzers on their M109A6 Paladins during the first-ever firing of the Modular Artillery Charge System in the combat zone by an entire Paladin battery March 13 on Camp Taji, Iraq. The MACS is a newly refined propellant that pushes projectiles out of the barrel of the howitzers . The MACS will be used in conjunction with the soon to be fielded Excalibur precision guided munition that the Batt. A Soldiers are expected to receive within the next few months. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp, 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

F-35B test pilots start preparing for ship trials....

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – With flight envelope
expansion for ship trials completed, four F-35B test pilots started expeditionary airfield (EAF)
building up to field carrier landing practice (FCLP) Sept. 14.
EAF and FCLP testing is part of the pilot
certification process for landing aircraft on an
amphibious deck, to ensure pilots are
adequately prepared for the inherent danger in
operating aircraft in a maritime environment.
Four test pilots are scheduled to participate in
initial ship trials, all with significant short takeoff and vertical landing experience in the F-
35B.
“The initial ship trials will demonstrate our
ability to operate the F-35B as the Corps needs
it – in the expeditionary environment,” said
Marine Corps Col. Roger Cordell, military site
director for F-35 testing at Naval Air Station
Patuxent River. “We’re excited about the potential that the F-35B has shown to operate in the
demanding environment at sea.”
The first ship trial on board USS Wasp (LHD 1) for the F-35B is on track for this fall, and is
scheduled to test the first short take-offs, vertical landings, deck handling, landing systems as
well as provide an opportunity to collect deck environmental data.
The F-35B is the variant of the Joint Strike Fighter for the U.S. Marine Corps, capable of short
take-offs and vertical landings for use on amphibious ships or expeditionary airfields to provide
air power to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. The F-35B is undergoing test and evaluation at
NAS Patuxent River prior to delivery to the fleet.

Marines conduct Urban Assault Training

Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)) Operating in Afghanistan

All photos by POA(Phot) Hamish Burke

Monday, September 19, 2011

USAF fully behind the F-35!

After a rough week (all smoke and mirrors) the F-35 got a big boost from none other than the Secretary of the Air Force. This is from the Air Force Association Magazine...

The next few years are going to be tough, but Air Force and Defense Department leadership are committed to protecting airmen, their families, and the service’s core capabilities, said Air Force Secretary Michael Donley. To achieve the reductions outlined in the first part of the recent debt reduction deal, the Defense Department will have “to get savvy” and learn to accept more risk in certain areas. It will require terminating some programs, streamlining others, and “making some tough choices” about the core tenants of America’s national security strategy, said Donley at the Air Force Association’s Air & Space Conference at National Harbor outside D.C., Monday. However, added Donley, as the service works to sustain the oldest aircraft fleet in history, certain programs must proceed. There is no alternative to the F-35 strike fighter. “It must succeed,” said Donley. Similarly, the Air Force is committed to developing a long range strike family of systems, including a new bomber, and to moving forward with a new aerial refueling capability. It also must protect ISR and continue to build on the growth in that area over the last 10 years. In addition, the Pentagon must maintain the nuclear triad, sustain and develop freedom of action in cyberspace, and sustain the Air Force’s commitments to US Special Operations Command, said Donley.—Amy McCullough

And there you have it. The USAF insists that it needs the F-35A. The USMC desperately needs the F-35B and the Royal Navy is waiting for the F-35C.

The critics have lost. Additionally when you add all the jobs that are attached to the program in all the different states then it will be impossible to kill it now. That would spike unemployment and despite the deficit we just can't afford to do that now. Consider it a jobs program with tangible benefits.

Another article on the AFA website caught my attention. This one deals with a Senate Committee slashing the production rate on the F-35.

The Senate Appropriations Committee's defense panel on Tuesday cut $695 million from the F-35 strike fighter program and recommended that aircraft production remains at Fiscal 2011 levels for two more years. These moves are meant "to limit outyear cost growth," said Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), SAC chairman, in explaining the defense panel's mark-up of the Fiscal 2012 defense appropriations bill. Although the panel "strongly" supports the program and is encouraged by its progress since last year's restructuring, it felt that "excessive concurrency in development and production still exists," said Inouye. The defense appropriators also were concerned that the number of production aircraft "continues to ramp up" even though the program is only 10 percent complete. "For each aircraft we build this early in the test program, we will have to pay many millions in the future to fix the problems that are identified in testing," he said. (Inouye's statement)

The highlighted area is the part that was left out of most reports on this event. Additionally Senator Hutchison, Republican from Texas only agreed to the slow down because she was assured that the program is safe and that production will be allowed to ramp up to planned rates.

Seems like the bad week has been fully reversed.

Luv it!

UPDATE*
Elements of Power has voiced his opinion on the Senate Committee's action and its a must read. Catch it here.

Marines fast rope from CH-53E...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.-Marines with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment run to a CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 during a fast-rope training event aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Sept. 15. The infantrymen fast roped with HMH-465 to prepare for future deployment-operations., Pfc. Kevin Crist, 9/15/2011 9:41 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.-Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 participates in a training exercise with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Sept 15. The squadron supports infantrymen in fast-roping to prepare them for future deployment-operations., Pfc. Kevin Crist, 9/15/2011 9:45 AM

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.-A Marine with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment fast ropes aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton out of a CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 Sept. 15. The squadron supports infantrymen on the ground, and this type of training prepares Marines for battlefield scenarios., Pfc. Kevin Crist, 9/15/2011 9:31 AM

AAV's training at Fort Pickett...

A Amtrak with the Assault Amphibious Vehicle Platoon attached to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment crosses a swamp on Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 18. More than 900 Marines and sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training. Photo by Sgt. Richard Blumenstein

Amtraks with the Assault Amphibious Vehicle Platoon attached to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, travel drive on Fort Pickett, Va., Sept. 18. More than 900 Marines and sailors are taking part in the Deployment for Training exercise at Fort Pickett, Sept. 6-23. The battalion is scheduled to attach to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as its Battalion Landing Team a few days after the training. Photo by LCpl Michael Petersheim

Pic of the day. Merkava IV storming ahead...

A tank during a training day held in the Golan Heights for the 401st Armored Brigade. The goal of the drill was to test the level of the brigade's combat fitness.

David Cenciotti has a great write up on Italian Typhoons...

If you're a Typhoon fan then you've got to check out David Cenciotti's latest write up on the work that the Italians are doing with these airplanes. Check out the great pix and the article here...

Trimble's back to doing what he does best...

And that would be getting the good stuff before most other aviation writers. He has a great scoop on some advanced concepts that are being shown at the AFA meeting....check it out here....

Hawk AJTS Overview Video

Royal Marines on patrol...

A Royal Marine from 42 Commando Lima Company based at Checkpoint Zarawar in Helmand, Afghanistan is pictured crossing a waterfilled ditch while on patrol. A Military Working Dog can be seen jumping out of the other side.

42 Commando are currently conducting daily patrols which are helping to provide reassurance for the local Afghan population and weekly shuras which are proving to be an important listening post in the communities.
Photographer: LA(Phot) Dave Hillhouse

A Royal Marine from 42 Commando Lima Company based at Checkpoint Zarawar in Helmand, Afghanistan is pictured on watching for enemy activity while on patrol.

A Royal Marine from 42 Commando Lima Company walks back to his base at Checkpoint Zarawar in Helmand, Afghanistan follwoing an arduous day long patrol.

A Royal Marine from 42 Commando Lima Company based at Checkpoint Zarawar in Helmand, Afghanistan is pictured in a corn field while on patrol.

Textron's Humvee Recap Contender...the video!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Air Force birthday today????

The Air Force turns 64 today. Happy birthday!

But a note to all the air guys out there. Your service is older than 64...stop denying the Army Air Force of old! You're cutting out a tremendous part of your legacy by not acknowledging the contributions that they made and are placing those guys in a type of nether world of being US Army but not credited with giving birth to the USAF.

An example is that if you used those metrics the USAF would be slightly over 100 years old. That's more like it....but anyway....happy birthday little brother.

Code One Magazine.

Code One

Pic of the day...Air Force edition.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Angela Pollard (left), a medic attached to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and 1st Lt. Scott Adamson, an engineer, secure a bridge in Mehtar Lam in the Laghman province of Afghanistan, Sept. 7, 2011. A civil engineer team from the PRT traveled to the Jugi bridge in Mehtar Lam to asses the structural integrity following its recent completion, ensuring it will withstand the Afghan weather for years to come. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane)

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Sam Pastor, a vehicle maintainer attached to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, fires the Mk48 "super SAW" machine gun at the off-base firing range near Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam on Sept. 10, 2011. Members from the PRT traveled to the range to practice with primary and secondary weapons along with M203 grenade launchers and fragmentation grenades.(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane)

U.S. Air Force Capt. Jon Polston, the lead engineer attached to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), leans over a ledge to inspect the underside of a bridge in Mehtar Lam in the Laghman province of Afghanistan, Sept. 7, 2011. The civil engineer team from the PRT traveled to the Jugi bridge in Mehtar Lam to asses the structural integrity following its recent completion, ensuring it will withstand the Afghan weather for years to come. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane)

IAR in the fleet.

via the FireArms Blog

Interesting that the IAR has been down range and no reports on its effectiveness has come out.

Even more interesting is the fact that forward deployed units or units that are soon to be forward deployed (11th MEU) are having discussions on how they will incorporate this weapon into the Infantry units. Before you ask if I'm speculating, I wrote the 11th MEU and this is the response I got...

There has been discussion about the new automatic rifle within my unit,
but it is my understanding that we will deploy with our current weapons
- M-4, M-4 grenade launcher variant and M249 squad automatic weapon.

We will maintain marksmanship skills with shoots on ship, as well as
train with different militaries throughout the Western Pacific and
Middle East regions.

Very respectfully,

Capt. Roger Hollenbeck
11th MEU public affairs officer

I understand that public affairs officer's have to be cagey in their responses but my take is that this weapon is still in the 'question' mark stage and no guidance has been issued from HQMC on even a recommended usage (of course another option is that HQMC did offer guidance and 11th MEU simply said fuck that and are going to make it work in the field).

But I'm wandering a bit. Steve at the Fire Arms Blog stated that he thought that this was a back door move by the Marine Corps to get a replacement for the M-16A4 yet be a better performer than the M4.

I shot the idea down at the time but now I wonder if that isn't the way to go. The stats on the M4 and the M-27 (IAR) are from wikipedia.

Service history
Type	Infantry automatic weapon
Place of origin	Germany
In service	2010-present
Used by	United States Marine Corps
Production history
Designer	Heckler & Koch
Designed	2008
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch
Produced	2010 testing
Number built	450 test weapons
Specifications
Weight	7.9 lb (3.6 kg) empty
Length	36.9 to 33 in (94 to 84 cm) w/ adjustable stock
Barrel length	16.5 in (42 cm)
Width	3.1 in (7.9 cm)
Height	9.4 in (24 cm)

Cartridge	5.56x45mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	560 to 640 rpm
Feed system	20-round or 30-round STANAG magazine or 100-round Beta C-Mag
Sights	flip-up Rear rotary diopter sight and front post, Picatinny rail

and now the M4.

Service history
Type	Carbine
Place of origin	United States
In service	1994–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	War in Afghanistan (2001–present) War in Iraq (2003-2010) Colombian Armed Conflict
Production history
Manufacturer	Colt Defense
Produced	1994–present
Variants	M4A1, CQBR (Mk. 18 Mod 0)
Specifications
Weight	6.36 lb (2.88 kg) empty 6.9 lb (3.1 kg) with 30 rounds
Length	33 in (840 mm) (stock extended) 29.75 in (756 mm) (stock retracted)
Barrel length	14.5 in (370 mm)

Cartridge	5.56x45mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	700-950 round/min cyclic^[1]
Muzzle velocity	3,080 ft/s or 939 m/s^[1]
Effective range	500 m for a point target and 600 m for an area target^[2]
Feed system	30 round box magazine or other STANAG Magazines.
Sights	Iron or various optics

Its almost painfully obvious that the M-27 will give the Marines something that we don't currently have. If the M-27 is adopted as the new Rifle for the Marine Corps then we can standardize on a weapon that isn't as long as the M-16A4, has better range than the M-4 and on top of it all we'll be regaining automatic rifle fire for infantrymen when they're in the assault.

If we're going to stick with the 5.56mm round then it makes sense to issue this weapon to an entire rifle squad..keep the grenade launchers but maybe we could then lose a SAW or two.

Its worth considering especially in light of all the urban fighting thats taken place over the years. Add to it the optics that are hitting the market and this is a capability thats too good to leave in the hands a single Marine.

Spend the money and spread the wealth.

Bad week for the F-35? Its all smoke and mirrors!

Last week by all appearances was a bad week for the F-35.

You had reports from the Australian press...

You had reports from the Canadian press...

All singing the same tune. No one knows the actual costs for an F-35. Again. From outside appearances it seemed like a bad week.

It was manufactured and contrived bull shit. But Loren Thompson says it best (read the whole thing but some of the good bits are below).

Not the actual costs, that is -- those haven't risen much over the last decade. But the Pentagon's estimates have gone through the ceiling, mainly because it keeps expanding the range of items included in calculations. No kidding: 70-80 percent of all the increases in the cost to keep the F-35 flying are a consequence of changes in the way the Pentagon tracks and manages the program. This is one program where the customer has become the biggest threat to success. Let's take a look at how it has undercut support for the fighter.
First of all, estimators decided to increase many of the quantitative parameters on future operations. Instead of the 33 bases where the original 2002 sustainment estimate said the planes would operate, officials decided 49 was the right number. Instead of a 30-year lifespan, they decided it should be 50 years (without any increase in flight hours, making the whole program intrinsically less efficient). Instead of 253 major items of support equipment, they decided 525 would be needed. They also doubled the number of squadron logistics kits and quadrupled the number of initial training sites. Amazingly enough, estimated sustainment costs went up.
Another thing they decided to do was express long-term sustainment costs in "then-year" dollars, meaning dollars that include inflation. The only problem with that is no one has the foggiest idea what inflation rates are likely to be between now and 2065, the span of time covered by the estimates. So they made them up. Rather than reporting the cost of sustainment in today's dollars -- which would be about $500 billion over 50 years -- they quoted an utterly unprovable price-tag of $1.069 trillion. Needless to say, the latter number increased congressional concerns about affordability.
But the bean-counters didn't stop there. They neglected to mention to Congress in reporting F-35 sustainment costs that the existing fleet of tactical aircraft already costs about 20 percent more to sustain each year than they estimate the F-35 will ($12 billion versus $10.6 billion annually). They also failed to mention how the cost of sustaining the current tactical fleet will escalate using the same counting rules applied to F-35 as cold-war planes grow increasingly decrepit. If that information had been reported, it would have been apparent that the yearly cost of keeping all those ancient fighters flying will be nearly twice the estimated cost of F-35 sustainment by 2020. Follow that same trend-line out 50 years, and the legacy fleet costs four trillion dollars to keep flying, versus barely a quarter of that for F-35.

So just like all the other false debates that we've had, we have a false cost debate. I'd be amazed if I hadn't seen all this before.

Now its just sad.

When the postmortem is done on the F-35 debate I predict that military reporters will be taken to task. Not because they falsified data. I don't believe that anyone would knowingly print lies. But I would bet body parts that I highly value that many of their sources would!

Budget stress is here. Time to remember the Navy and Marines need each other.

I spent some time this weekend reading other military blogs. Blogs that are NOT Marine or Navy centric.

Trust me when I say that the push to position a particular service to avoid major budget cuts has begun. If not actually in the halls of Congress then certainly in the blogging community.

All of this reminded me of an article written by Bryan McGrath for ID. Here's the juicy bits...

Promote Land Power….From The Sea.  While I and others have been advocating for a significant cut in budget share to the Army, it is naïve to think that the country does not and will not have a continuing need for “boots on the ground.”  Increasingly though, America should come to see those boots as belonging to Marines (America’s “911” force) deployed from ships for a variety of reasons and likely to return to those ships in an expeditious manner.  Put another way, Seapower enabling Land Power.
Promote Defense, Development, and Diplomacy.  For a large portion of this nation’s history, its foreign policy was carried out by the Department of State, closely assisted by the Department of the Navy.  An active foreign policy that seeks to assure friends and allies even as it deters adversaries can be greatly enabled and renewed by a new era of targeted, and metered engagement facilitated by the mobility of Naval forces.
Promote Naval Solutions to Naval Challenges.  Two emerging operational problems appear amiable to solutions that demand closer cooperation between the Navy and the Marine Corps: swarming surface craft (simultaneous or near-simultaneous attack) and piracy.

Read the whole thing here, but this is going to get nasty. Instead of wishing the fight away...instead of hoping for inter-service cooperation...I hope our leadership (Navy and Marine Corps) is getting ready for this fight.

With attention turning to China, its essential that the Navy and Marine Corps avoid drastic budget cuts. Its essential that we win this upcoming budget war.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Alternate firing position.

Army Spc. Yuroslav Prikhodko fires his M4 assault rifle from an alternative firing position during a marksmanship course on Fort Bragg, N.C., Sept. 14, 2011. Prikhodko is a truck driver assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division’s Company G, 1st Brigade Combat Team, which provides logistics and sustainment for 3rd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod

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