Anders Light Tank going into production

Wow.  via DefenseNews.

WARSAW — The Polish Army plans to acquire up to 1,000 new tanks in different variants, reported local daily Rzeczpospolita.
It is expected that Poland’s Ministry of Defense will sign a deal to launch production of the Anders, the tank prototype developed by Bumar Group’s OBRUM Gliwice research unit, according to the Polish newspaper.
“The order will be placed with the Polish defense industry, but to boost the design and production phase, it will be vital to cooperate with top foreign defense manufacturers,” said retired . Gen. Waldemar Skrzypczak, Poland’s deputy defense minister responsible for the armed forces’ modernization.
The Polish tank program is part of a plan to overhaul the country’s land forces. In January, Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said that “launching a national tank program as part of efforts to increase the [land forces’] mobility” is one of the Army’s key modernization priorities.
The amount of the planned purchase was not disclosed by the deputy defense minister.
As earlier reported, the prototype is a 32- to 40-ton vehicle, depending on the configuration. The light tank carries a 120mm gun by Swiss group Ruag, and it can carry a crew of three to seven. The Anders was fitted with a 530-kilowatt engine produced by Germany’s MTU Friedrichshafen, which enables a maximum speed capacity of 50 mph. Its turret was equipped with a Trophy active protection system made by Israel’s Rafael.
The Polish military plans to begin testing the Anders within two years, Skrzypczak said.
Krzysztof Krystowski, Bumar’s CEO, has announced plans to involve private defense companies in what could be one of the largest acquisitions of the Polish armed forces in the forthcoming years.
Set up in 2002, the state-owned Bumar Group is Poland’s leading defense industry player.

Thanks for the news Jonathan!

Fire Support at RIMPAC

Hmmm.  I thought Australia had been using the M-777 in Afghanistan.

RIMPAC 2012 and the Marine Corps story.

Did you know that RIMPAC 2012 just ended?

Did you know that its the biggest exercise in the Pacific with the most nations participating?

Did you know that even more than Bold Alligator earlier this year it highlights the Marine Corps amphibious roots and traditions?

If you didn't I'm not surprised.  Once again others are attempting to label the Marine Corps as just another land force.  Failure to publicize the Marine Corps participation in exercises like this allow the uniformed or the devious to get away with this misconception.

We have got to do a better job at telling the Marine Corps story...not just the story of the Marine Expeditionary Brigade but of the entire REAL Marine Corps.

RIMPAC 2012 - Culminating Amphibious Assault

Around the Fleet Marine Forces (FMF).

U.S. Marines perform rappelling and fast-rope maneuvers at the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, July 25, 2012. The Marines are with Force Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (DoD photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Manning, U.S. Marine Corps/Released)

A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter lands on a beach at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay Aug. 1, 2012, during a training scenario as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012. RIMPAC is a U.S. Pacific Command-hosted biennial multinational maritime exercise designed to foster and sustain international cooperation on the security on the world’s oceans. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Paul Seeber, U.S. Navy/Released)

U.S. Marines with Combat Assault Company, 3rd Marine Regiment drive an amphibious assault vehicle onto the beach at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay Aug. 1, 2012, during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012. RIMPAC is a U.S. Pacific Command-hosted biennial multinational maritime exercise designed to foster and sustain international cooperation on the security on the world’s oceans. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Daniel Johnston/Released)

SNAFU preseason college football picks...

That's right.  Its that time of year again.  If I'm talking to someone from the SEC then its real simple.  

LSU sustains it.

If I'm talking to someone that lives outside the SEC...then I have to ask myself.  Why am I talking to someone that doesn't understand what real football looks like?!

Seems like the Coaches agree.  Check out the poll...

1. LSU (18)  13-1 1,403 2 

2. Alabama (20) 12-1 1,399 1 

3. Southern California (19) 10-2 1,388 NR 

4. Oklahoma (1) 10-3 1,276 15 

5. Oregon  12-2 1,258 4 

6. Georgia  10-4 1,061 20 

7. Florida State (1) 9-4 1,055 23 

8. Michigan 11-2 1,023 9 

9. South Carolina 11-2 981 8 

10. Arkansas  11-2 948 5 

11. West Virginia 10-3 833 18 

12. Wisconsin  11-3 743 11 

13. Michigan State  11-3 717 10 

14. Clemson  10-4 598 22 

15. Texas  8-5 549 NR 

16. Nebraska 9-4 501 24 

17. TCU 11-2 499 13 

18. Stanford  11-2 497 7 

19. Oklahoma State  12-1 476 3 

20. Virginia Tech  11-3 461 17 

21. Kansas State  10-3 398 16 

22. Boise State  12-1 271 6 

23. Florida 7-6 250 NR 

24. Notre Dame  8-5 166 NR 

25. Auburn 8-5 66 NR 

Five of the top 10 teams are from the SEC.  Oregon is LSU Tiger bait.  We chomp on them like a Cajun eats gumbo. But do you want to know the scary thing if you're outside the SEC?  3 of the top 10 teams in the nation come from the SEC West. 

Oh I almost forgot.  Championship game will be between LSU and Oklahoma.  LSU wins 52-24.  The game was over by the middle of the 3rd and LSU started playing freshman and sophmores.

This beast is real. The Italians are crazy!

via Defesa

Finmeccanica´s Oto Melara SpA  has recently showed a brand new VBM Centauro (Veicolo Blindato Medio) 8×8 armoured vehicle modified as a 155mm self-propelled artillery system.

The weapon system comprises a 155mm/39 turreted gun installed in a VBM Centauro 8×8 wheeled armoured high mobility chassis. The protected turret has a stealth design and is fitted with eight grenade dischargers, a digitized suite, a powerful elevation system, an automatic loading system for ammunition and propelling charges and can be equipped with a remote controlled weapon station like the Oto Melara SpA HITROLE lightweight and stealth system which is armed with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun. It can fire the Vulcano family of guided ammunitions and as well as standard NATO shells. It requires less than three minutes to be deployed ready for fire and one minute to abandon the scene after the action.

VBM is the chassis for different specialized vehicles including Freccia infantry fighting vehicle of the Italian Army, VBM Centauro reconnaissance and fire support vehicle in service with the armies of Italy, Spain and Oman which feature the HITFACT turret armed with 105mm/52 or 120mm/45 guns, VBM Explorer which feature a HITFIST turret armed with a 25mm gun and two twin launchers for Horus mini-unmanned air systems, VBM Draco equipped with a 76mm turreted gun, and, VBM Recovery combat armoured recovery vehicle of which Spain has procured four units and a the chassis for the artillery system.

The company also has developed a Dardo tracked infantry fighting vehicle configured as a mobile mortar carrier. The vehicle is equipped with the 120mm 2R2M mortar system from TDA Armements.

I've seen some "interesting" concepts out of the Germans (Donar) and some pretty innovative ones too (Wiesel 120mm mortar carrier) but this design is on a whole new level.

One thing appears certain though.  The Italians are making a run at the traditional powerhouses..BAE, General Dynamics, KMW and Rheinmetall and challenging some of the up and comers like Lockheed Martin.

The armored vehicle market looks to be in the middle of some type of renaissance.

SIGMA 9813 class Corvette

General Dynamics. I figured out your play for MPC!

laviih

I've been scratching my head for months...

I've sent e-mail after e-mail to General Dynamics asking about their offering for the Marine Personnel Carrier...

I got no response and couldn't understand the silence.

Then tonight while surfing the web I took another look at the LAV II High Tech Demonstrator.  Examine that PDF document carefully.

The vehicle carries 9 troops.  Is designed to carry a RWS.  Improves the swim capability of the original LAV-25.  Has blast attenuating seats and extra armor for protection against IEDs (belly armor will help with self righting too).  Has hatches for the crew and passengers (a real big deal in the Marine Corps) and has been tested for transportability by USAF transports and Navy LCACs.

I thought that the Piranha III was the choice.  I think I was wrong.  General Dynamics Canada and USA doesn't have that vehicle in its portfolio.  They do offer the LAV II High Tech Demonstrator.

I'll bet you body parts that this will be the vehicle they offer. 

Brazil to buy Amphibious Assault Vehicles. BAE gets a nice little win.

via DefPro.

13:57 GMT, August 2, 2012 WASHINGTON | The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified U.S. Congress July 31 of a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Government of Brazil for 26 Assault Amphibious Vehicles and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $233 million.

The Government of Brazil has requested the possible sale of 26 Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs)/Reliability, Availability and Maintainability/Rebuild to Standard (RAM/RS), with ancillary equipment, and machine guns. Also included are the upgrade of Brazil’s existing AAVs to the RAM/RS configuration, weapons and ammunition, spare and repair parts, support equipment, tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $233 million.

The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of Brazil, which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in South America.

Brazil will use this equipment to augment its current inventory of amphibious vehicles and to modernize and strengthen its naval operational amphibious capability in support of national defense objectives. Brazil will have no difficulty absorbing these vehicles into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The AAVs will be procured through a competitive procurement. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Wow.

Just plain wow.  This is surprising news to me.  I assumed that Brazil was on the road to going to an all wheeled force having acquired the VBTP.

What exactly does this mean?  I ask because the Brazilian Marines have operated their Piranha III wheeled APC's in Haiti during peacekeeping/disaster relief and have conducted "internal security ops" inside Rio with those same vehicles.

Did they experience deficiencies that have led them back to tracked vehicles?

But the big winner is BAE.  Even if they rebuild vehicles from Marine Corps stocks (and by this announcement it looks like these are new builds) then they'll gain some pretty solid info for the upcoming AAV upgrade program.

Nice win boys...I heard the design shop likes Jamie almost as much as I do so here's your Friday eye candy.

US Army Combatives goes hard. Pussification halted.

Army Staff Sgt. Glenn Garrison, right, and Army Staff Sgt. Shane Lees grapple during the finals of the lightweight division of the 2012 U.S. Army Combatives Championship on Fort Hood, Texas, July 28, 2012. Garrison, who won the match, is assigned to Fort Carson, Colo. DOD photo by EJ Hersom

Damn.


That looks like full contact combatives to me.  


US Army Combatives you make this JarHead proud.  YOU GUYS HAVE A COMBATIVE PROGRAM THAT GOES HARD!  No marching out to the back forty to get in some real training and hoping that you have a Corpsman (that's a Medic to you Soldier boys) that lives up to the Devil Doc rep and praying you don't have to explain a black eye that comes from building a little unit cohesion.


This is good shit!

First Supersonic AIM-9X

Maj. Ryan Howland of the F-22 Combined Test Force at Edwards AFB, California, was at the controls for the first supersonic AIM-9X launch From an F-22 on 30 July 2012.

Wow.  Too much military fiction for me.  Everyone one of the aviation writers I've ever read always talks about pilots going supersonic or darn near to add umph to their missiles.  I didn't know it was actually done in real life...until now.

Upcoming posts. Plus. JTAC calling in the pain.

U.S. Marines Corps Capt. Rob Gambrell, a joint terminal attack controller assigned to the 1st Battalion , 3rd Marine Regiment, uses a radio to call out target information to a UH-1Y Venom helicopter and an AH-1W SuperCobra helicopter assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169 during a close air support live-fire combat training mission at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, July 23, 2012, during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012. RIMPAC is a U.S. Pacific Command-hosted biennial multinational maritime exercise designed to foster and sustain international cooperation on the security on the world’s oceans. (DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth, U.S. Air Force/Released)

Upcoming posts....


1.  UPDATE on turret system offered by FNSS (the PENCE)...


2.  GEAR REVIEW by a hard charging Jar Head...


3.  UPDATE on Marine Personnel Carrier Program...

Textron's Trident Warrior anti-mine surface unmanned vehicle.

Unmanned vehicle designation are going to get confusing if the Navy and Army ever get serious about getting those systems in their respective elements (Navy-on sea...Army-on land...)

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.