UAVs...Lockheed Style...

I added this just because it was crazy cool...why DARPA wanted to pursue this is beyond me but hey!

Blast from the past. Towed missile barges.

The towed missile barge.

I thought I had hit on something new and unique but as usual...nothing is new under the sun.  The US Navy has more than enough sensors.  From ships to planes to uavs to sats to allied forces...we have enough sensors.  What we might need are more shooters.  A couple of barges in the Pacific and in the Atlantic maintained like our prepositioned ships might be just what the doctor ordered.

Worried about saturation attacks by anti-ship missiles?  Tow a couple of these behind a Burke loaded with about 1000 plus quad packed SM3's.  Want to savage a coast line?  Fill the other half with about 500 tomahawk land attack missiles.  When done, have your crappy little LCS do some real work and tow it back to base for refill so that the real ships can stay in the fight (just joking...had to slam the LCS for fun).

This is a winner.  Admit it!

Musclefest at Marine Barracks

Lance Cpl. John Hartley, Marine Corps body bearer and native of Kalama, Wash., carries two 120-pound dumbbells during Musclefest at Marine Barracks Washington July 30. Competitors had to carry two dumbbells totaling their body weight for 100 yards. Musclefest is the sixth 2012 Commander's Cup event. Four scheduled events remain this year.

Lance Cpl. Gaige Roberts, adjutant clerk and native of Milford, Iowa, flips a 100-pound tire during Musclefest at Marine Barracks Washington July 30. Competitors had to flip the tire without rolling it for a distance of 40 yards for time. Musclefest is the sixth 2012 Commander's Cup event. Four scheduled events remain this year.

Lance Cpl. Ruben Franco, Marine Corps body bearer and native of Montgomery, Texas, pushes a 2.25-ton, pickup truck during Musclefest at Marine Barracks Washington July 30. Competitors had to push the truck 40 yards for time. Musclefest is the sixth 2012 Commander's Cup event. Four scheduled events remain this year.

Lance Cpl. John Hartley, Marine Corps body bearer and native of Kalama, Wash., carries two 120-pound dumbbells during Musclefest at Marine Barracks Washington July 30. Competitors had to carry two dumbbells totaling their body weight for 100 yards. Musclefest is the sixth 2012 Commander's Cup event. Four scheduled events remain this year.

HMS Daring.

The HMS Daring just got back from its first deployment and by all appearances it was quite successful.  But a couple of questions hang out in the ether for me...

Is the Daring the most advanced anti-air destroyer in the world?  By everything I've read (even knocking off a 10% embellishment fee) it is.  Nicely done by whatever design shop did it.  Next, I love the concept of independent operations by warships...but when they do integrate with allied navies why do they always aim to link up with Carrier Battle Groups?  The capabilities that these ships bring would be most useful (especially when I think about the US and the UK teaming up) to Amphibious Ready Groups.  The HMS Daring could almost provide anti-air coverage for almost all engagements up to full fledged warfare against a peer competitor.  An example would be a joint US-UK intervention into Syria.  One Daring class destroyer could protect a combined amphibious group all by its lonesome.

I really like this ship.

Blast from the past. Bring back the MH-53J.

The biggest mistake that US Air Force Special Ops made was retiring the MH-53J.  The CV-22 is great...I like the MH-60s but SOCOM needs the size and space that was lost with the retirement of these helicopters.  Want a perfect example of what a modernized MH-53J could have looked like?

Check out what EADS did for the German's with the CH-53GA.  This is a work of art.

A kick in the teeth to British air power.

This has got to be a kick in the teeth to British air power advocates.  The decision has been made and even though many disagree with it what's done is done.  But to now see US Marine Harriers flying air support for British units must be a serious WTF moment for at least a few Brit flyers.

Generational pussification defined.

We know what the ARMA 8x8 turret isn't.

Lance Turret.

Mizrak-30 Turret mounted on an ARMA 8x8.

PENCE CLAW

We'll my google-foo isn't as strong as it should be but I did find out a couple of things.

First the turret mounted on the ARMA 8x8 isn't a version of the LANCE turret.  Second.  The MIZRAK-30 doesn't seem (at least from what I've seen) to be a development version of the LANCE.  Last.  Rheinmetall teamed up with the Turkish company Aselsan to develop the PENCE CLAW.  If you look at it closely the PENCE CLAW does have a couple of design features that show its lineage.  The similarities are probably stronger beneath the skin though.

Research continues.

ARMA 8X8

ARMA_8X8

14th Air Support Operations Squadron.

Airmen enter an obstacle course as they take part in a combat mission readiness evaluation at the Pre-Ranger Course at Fort Bragg, N.C. The Airmen are being evaluated for various skills to ensure that they are ready for deployments with the 82nd Airborne Division. (U.S. Air Force photo by Val Gempis)

Army unit patches hang next to Air Force name tapes and uniforms at the 14th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Bragg, N.C. To match their Army counterparts, tactical air control party Airmen wear different uniforms in theater and in training. At the squadron, Airmen here have their own cage-locker, where they store gear and uniforms for use in training and real-world emergencies. (U.S. Air Force photo Airman 1st Class Alexander W. Riedel)

Maj. Christopher Wright, left, 1st Lt. Bradley Dewees, center, and Capt. Tyler Harman check their location on their maps during a mission combat readiness evaluation at Fort Bragg, N.C. The Airmen are air liaison officers assigned to the 14th ASOS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Val Gempis)

Staff Sgt. Kyle Terry, second from left, listens to instructions from the jumpmaster during a pre-jump exercise with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. Tactical air control party Airmen from the 14th Air Support Operations Squadron support 82nd Airborne Division operations by providing a liaison to close air support. Terry is a joint terminal attack controller and has completed multiple deployments to Afghanistan in support of Army operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexander W. Riedel)

Uniforms and equipment sit inside a locker of a TACP Airman assigned to the 14th ASOS at Fort Bragg, N.C. TACP Airmen have their gear ready at all times to provide air and space power expertise and integration to the 82nd Airborne Division. (U.S. Air Force photo by Val Gempis)

Ooohrah for G/ATOR. WTF is G/ATOR?

Ah that's so goofy its cool.  Uh wait.  What the fuck is G/ATOR?  Read about it here.

Rolling Air Frame missile upgrade and small boat threat.

The U.S. Navy has awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) a $51.7 million contract for low rate initial production of the Rolling Airframe Missile Block 2. The contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to more than $105 million. RAM Block 2 features enhanced kinematics, an evolved radio frequency receiver, a new rocket motor, and an upgraded control and autopilot system.
"This next-generation RAM will enable U.S. and allied naval warfighters to defeat the more sophisticated threats emerging around the world today," said Rick Nelson, Raytheon Missile Systems' vice president of Naval Weapon Systems. "Through Raytheon's collaborative relationship with our German partner RAMSYS, we continue to improve and expand the capabilities of RAM."
The contract award follows a series of key milestones, including successful guided flight tests for RAM Block 2. The program is preparing for another intercept test later this year, as well as initiation of government developmental testing in support of fleet deployment.
"RAM has been fired in more than 300 flight tests with a 95 percent success rate," said Nelson. "We intend to bring the same or even greater reliability to RAM Block 2."
About RAM
RAM is a supersonic, lightweight, quick reaction, fire-and-forget missile providing defense against anti-ship cruise missiles, helicopter and airborne threats, and hostile surface craft. For more than 35 years, the U.S. and Germany have worked together developing and maintaining RAM. Development, production work and funding are shared between Raytheon and RAMSYS.

I wonder if the threat from small boats isn't a bit overblown.

The Navy already has in its arsenal a NUMBER of systems that are capable of dealing with the small boat threat but we're still being hit with the idea that our carriers and large amphibs are vulnerable.

I just don't believe it.  The only weakness in our system is the human element in the form of restrictive rules of engagement and how Commanding Officers interpret them.  Long story short.  If you're on a ship and they person running it has stars in their eyes and love to be called by thier first name when talking to the boss then you're probably screwed.  If he's old skool Navy and protects his ship then you have a better than fair chance of surviving.

The Tueller Drill -- Scenario from The Best Defense

Javelin Thrust 2012

Pure craziness.  Not the training.  That's good to go, but the confusion on operational philosophy is annoying.  All the rage was once distributed operations with a focus on small unit tactics.  That even extended to amphibs with distributed Amphibious Ready Groups and Mini-ARGs.  Now we're seeing an emphasis on Marine Expeditionary Brigades ... first with Bold Alligator and now with Javelin Thrust.  The Marine Corps is confused when it comes to future direction. 

Tueller Drill. Why you're screwed in crowds.

Mad credit goes to Ferran for reminding me of this!  Thanks dude!

If you're one of those people that flock to crowds then let me allow the developer of the Tueller Drill explain why you're basically screwed  Also remember that this was developed in the 1980's.  Fast forward to today where you have mob attacks...crowd craziness and a social scene that is becoming more unruly.  If you carry and you're not bumping up on condition red everytime you go out then you're waiting to become a victim.



SIDENOTE:
If you're not working on unarmed self defense techniques then you're beyond fucked.  You have to be able to disengage from the threat and then respond.  If you can't put up a credible unarmed self defense then life will be very interesting for ya.

Revolutionary helmets???

The title of this by British Forces News was "The revolutionary helmets that are changing lives"...Pretty pompous title for pretty standard fare in western air forces.  I wonder where they're getting the idea that this is new and amazing?
That's perhaps a bit snarkey.  Let me restate.  The experience that BAE is gaining from this project should help on work being done for the F-35 alternate helmet.  Good stuff but hardly revolutionary.  Thanks to Grim for bringing me down a bit.  Hate Weds....like he hates Mon.

Landing Craft Wallpaper.

If this isn't the most beautiful landing site anywhere in the world I'd like to see it.  Your Landing Craft wallpaper...

Yeager is right when he talks about big dot front sights.

I'm gonna touch on a subject that many will disagree with me on.

That's ok.  Let's talk and see what happens.

My contention is this.  The close in fight is being bastardized by 3 gun matches.  Instead of studying and learning from history, doing legit lessons learned from those that have survived those encounters we're instead following gear trends/cool boy fashion and equipping our pistols for a fight that they shouldn't be used in.

And this applies to civilian defensive carry users and the military.  Police are operating off a totally different set of principles here.

But back to the subject.  What's the hottest trend with pistols today?

Holographic sights on your pistol.

But that's designed for the wrong fight.  That's a setup for 10 to 50 yards.  Its not a setup for the ranges that most gunfights occur at....3 to 7 feet.

For that fight James Yeager is right.  A big dot front sight is best.  Forget the 3 dot alignment just concentrate on front sight and put the attacker down.  But how did we get to the point of using holographic sights on our pistols?

Is a Marine going to purposely clear a house with his pistol?  Unless he's an MP in one of the Law Enforcement Battalions probably not.  So when will the pistol come into its own?  As his weapon of last resort engaging enemies at close range.  If you're caught in a bad situation with the enemy closing in would you waste rounds unless you knew they were hits?

Same with a civilian.  The situation is similar but different.  How are you going to justify feeling like your life is in danger with the crimminal over 25 feet away?  You probably can't  ( there might be a circumstance where you can but more than likely not) and that makes the holographic sight movement a false one.

Give Yeager credit.  On this one he's as right as rain.

Otokar Arma 8x8. The bar is getting raised.

The wheeled 8x8 market is heating up and the Otokar Arma 8x8 might be the best of the sleeper vehicles out there.  Consider this.  Turkey (which probably should be considered one of the BRIC countries) has a robust defense industry, they're supporting it to the hilt and they're more than willing to team up with any and everyone willing to advance their state of the art.  With comps in S. Africa and the UAE, you can bet that the price will be competitive and the armor protection up to snuff.



Not much info is available on the turret but it reminds me of a German offering.  I'll try to find out more.

Lockheed Martin Air and Missile Defense Radar...the answer to ballistic missile attacks on surface groups.

I continue to marvel at how easily the news has been taken that China is willing to use ballistic missiles against carriers.  The Russians pitched a bitch and even Ronald Reagan backed off on Pershing 2's, yet the Chinese have drastically escalated the stakes in naval warfare and no one bats an eye.  The US Navy considered conventional ballistic missiles for use against hardened land targets and the PUSSIES INSIDE THE PENTAGON killed the idea before the enemy could.

Amazing.