Launching AAVs from LCACs at Sea.

Sea launch of the mechanized raid force from LCACs.

A concept you might not have heard of but is part of "LCAC Doctrine" and is even part of the manual on the employment of LCACs.  I've never seen it actually employed but according to the book, the operation can only be performed in sea state 1 and there is much talk about safety considerations.  I totally get that but what has me intrigued is the idea of extending the range of our AAVs without having the expense of the EFV's hydroplaning.

With all the experimentation that's going on (or supposedly going on) you would think that the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch along with the Navy LCAC crews at Pendleton could come up with some innovative procedures that could let us make best use of this concept.

The manual states that the LCAC is to come off cushion, remove tie downs, lower stern ramp, get underway at a speed of approx 3 knots and launch the AAV's.

Why can we add some type of cushioning to the interior sides of the LCAC to protect it from a vehicle that might get jostled around...use wheel chocks instead of tie downs and (this is perhaps the hardest part too...how do you launch an AAV from an LCAC without coming off cushion?) launch the vehicles at speed.

Whatever the AVTB and the LCAC crews come up with will be a big improvement over what we have now.  It should allow us to have over the horizon reach with our amphibious vehicles and not just helicopters and perhaps most of all, it'll give us another option to present to the Combatant Commanders.

Oh and did I mention that the LCAC manual also talks about launching small boat raids at sea using a similar technique?

I'm becoming more and more convinced that our LCACs can be a massive force multiplier if we would only get a bit creative.

MCRP 3-31.1A Employment of Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC)

SEAL Author on 60 Minutes..

This guy just won't stop.  I don't know if he's just stubborn, needs the attention or if this is part of his book deal but damn it!

I can't wait to see what the boys over at SOFREP have to say on this one. 

More pics of the F-35B in formation...

F-35B test aircraft BF-2 and BF-4 fly in formation over an Atlantic Test Range on Aug. 22, 2012, to collect data on handling characteristics.

Photo release: F-35B aircraft in formation

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – F-35 test pilots Marine Corps Maj. C. R. Clift and Navy Lt. Cmdr. Michael Burks fly BF-2 and BF-4 during a formation flying qualities test in the Atlantic Test Range Aug. 22. Testing formation flying qualities provides data on handling characteristics. The F-35B is the variant of the Joint Strike Fighter designed for use by U.S. Marine Corps, as well as F-35 international partners in the United Kingdom and Italy. The F-35B is capable of short take-offs and vertical landings to enable air power projection from amphibious ships, ski-jump aircraft carriers and expeditionary airfields. The F-35B is undergoing test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River, Md., prior to delivery to the fleet. (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin)

NAVAIR Clips: AARGM Live Fire

The Navy conducts a live fire test for the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) at China Lake, Calif. in June 2012.

What is up with these idiot reporters?

I just don't get it. 

Why do these idiot reporters insist on being out in the middle of a storm giving us a blow by blow of heavy rain, high winds etc...

I mean seriously!  We all know that!  This is just another one of those stupid things that modern American loves and I'll never understand.

Steppin' Out

Marines attending Marine Combat Training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., conduct an early morning five kilometer hike to the grenade range from range 314 aboard the camp. The Marines are constantly being pushed to their limits and beyond so they are ready physically and mentally for combat.
(U.S. Marine Corps phot by Sgt. Aaron Hostutler)

Embraer R-99. What do they know that we don't?

via Embraer.

PRESS RELEASE | São Paulo, August 16, 2012 | Embraer Defense and Security today delivered the first EMB 145 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) class of aircraft to the Government of India, in a ceremony held at Embraer’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil. The delivery follows successful completion of ground and flight tests of the aircraft which met operational targets established by both Embraer and Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). Later on the aircraft will be delivered to the Indian Air Force after integration of missions systems of DRDO by CABS in India.

What does India and several other airforces know that we don't?  Even with the US subsidizing buys of our products by foreign govts...even with Europe doing the same, Embraer is still kicking everyone's butt.

What makes this concept so damn attractive?

Dogfight of the future. Helo vs. Helo.

Everyone talks about future warfare.  That's understandable and to be applauded but one part of it has been overlooked and quite honestly I can't wait to see how it plays out.

The dogfight of the future is helo vs. helo.  Or helo vs. UAV.  But however you label it, its going to harken back to World War One combat.  Up close and personal, fought in a phone booth and its gonna be a mostly guns affair.

I picked this video because it gives a good view of the size difference between the AH-64 and the AH-6 Little Bird.  The AH-64 is not only going to be dog food in the future fight but I'm not even sure the pilots are training for this type of combat.

Of all the services, only the Marine Corps to my knowledge is prepping its helicopter pilots to fight other helicopters or fighters.  In US service only the AH-1W/Z are equipped with AIM-9's.  Everyone else slams Stinger missiles on their airframes.  That's just not taking the threat seriously.

A fighter will lock on outside of the Stingers pathetic range and get a kill at distance.  Only the AIM-9 gives adequate standoff distance...but that's against airplanes.  Against helicopters it wil be small, fast, hard to see, hard to lock on, able to fly nap of the earth one second and zoom  to the top of a mountain top the next and still be able to keep track of your advesary that will win the day.

The Night Stalkers have the aggressiveness and experience to win that fight.  Marine helo drivers train to win that fight.  Everyone else?

I just don't know.

Russian Carrier meets US Destroyer.

SEVEROMORSK, Russian Federation (Aug. 26, 2012) The guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) arrives in Severomorsk for a two-day visit after completing exercise Northern Eagle 2012. (Russian Federation navy photo by Capt. 1st rank Anatoly Romanko/Released)

If you look in the background you can see the Russian carrier I referenced in the title.  Of all the bases I thought that I would never see an American Destroyer ever visit, I think that Severomorsk would be on the top of that list.  Ain't peaceful, military to military relations grand?  Right until Russian paratroopers drop into Colorado later this year that is!  I can't wait to hear the invasion USA stories then!

Tuesday Funny.

Courtesy of Bjørnar Bolsøy.  Good stuff ... thanks buddy!

North Sea Boats X3k Trimaran formally launches

via Defense Studies Blog...

The new 63 metre long vessel is a cutting edge trimaran design that it cosidered to be the most advanced naval vessel of its type ever built in South East Asia. It incorporates a radical wave piercing hull form for improved seaworthiness and stability, and has been built from full carbon fibre composite materials, utilising the vacuum infusion process and vinylester resin. This method results in a structure that has increased strength, but also offers the benefits of lower operating, maintenance, and lifecycle costs.

In 2009 PT Lundin signed a contract to build a one of the most advanced “stealth” warship for TNI-AL (Indonesian Navy). This was the result of an intensive Research and Development programme conducted by PT Lundin Industry Invest (North Sea Boats) and TNI-AL that commenced in 2007. Construction commenced in early 2010, but due to the advanced design and construction methods, the project has been kept largely confidential until now.

Members of the press are invited to attend this significant event. The launching ceremony will be held on Friday 31st August, 2012 at PT Lundin’s shipyard facility in Banuwangi, East Java. The ceremony will be attended by dignitaries and senior officers of TNI-AL during which a briefing and Press Conference and interviews will be conducted.

I wonder about this ship.

I wonder about its seakeeping....its armament...its endurance and its overall combat effectiveness.

I don't wonder about its looks. 

It looks cool. 

But it doesn't look right.  So while its certainly futuristic it doesn't meet the standard --- if it looks right it is right.

Mi-38 Impresses.

The Mi-38 impresses me.  The latest feat should have traditional Russian helicopter customers swarming them for new builds.  While its been a long time coming the Mi-38 really does look like worthy successor to the Mi-17.

via Russian Helicopters.

Russian Helicopters, part of Russian state defence holding Oboronprom and a leading global designer and manufacturer of helicopters, is proud to announce that a Mi-38 set a new world altitude record on the final day of the 14th FAI World Helicopter Championship.

The Mi-38, one of the latest Russian models designed for cargo and passenger transportation, climbed to above 8,600 meters, setting a new world record in the E1h class (the FAI category for helicopters weighing 10,000 to 20,000 kg).

The record was set by test pilots from Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, part of Russian Helicopters. The team was led by captain Vladimir Kutanin, and also included Salavat Sadriev (second pilot), Oleg Repitilo (navigator) and Igor Klevantsev (Air Force chief flight test engineer).

The previous record, of 8,500 meters, was also set by Russian pilots during a test flight. The new mark has been officially registered and will go down in global aviation history.

 Go to their website to read the rest...I like this helicopter!

Makassa Class LPD. Indonesian excellence.

You think the Type 71 LPD that China is producing is impressive?  You like the move by Australia to buy used Brit LPDs?  Are you impressed by the Singapore Endeavour Class LPD?

If your answer is the same as mine and you say yes to the above (except for being impressed by the Type 71...poor copy of the San Antonio) then understand something.  They're good but there is better in the region.  And they're not from Japan or Korea.  Check out the Makassa Class that belongs to Indonesia! 

The US is making a late turn to the Pacific.  With the limited research I've done on the subject it really seems like the arms race in that region has been going on for at least 10 years...while we have been in the sand, they've (and I mean all the major players in that region) been gearing up.  We had better be quick.  We're already behind the eight ball when it comes to catching up to events.

Japan really is buying AAVs!

via Hong Kong Times.

Japan's defense department decided to add four amphibious assault vehicle for Ground Self-Defense Force while boosting its defense budget, local meda reports.
The strong stance of China on the disputed Diaoyu islands promtped Japanese government to spend 3 billion yen (HK$295.5 million) to boost defense along islands on southwest of the country by 2013, local media reports, citing government source.
Meanwhile, Tokyo is seeking to buy Diaoyu Islands for 2 billion yen by the end of September, according to the report. Officials are reportedly speeding up the negotiation process with the owner of the isles.

Wow.

When I first heard the news on MarineTV that Japan was looking to buy the AAV I rolled with it but thought that it could be a misunderstanding on the reporters part and that they were perhaps looking to buy LCACs for their amphibs.

Guess I was wrong.

Japanese Naval Infantry really is making a comeback.

Check out this article from early last year from the Japanese Security Watch (again, I dismissed the assertions...I was hopeful that they were true but didn't believe that the pacifist Japanese would actually follow through)

Iron Fist has always been the most controversial (and, until recently, least publicized) of the joint exercises. Since World War II, pacifist Japan has prohibited itself from having marine infantry, labeling them a military asset that, like aircraft carriers and bombers, only has useful applications in wars of aggression. Marine troops are also heavily associated with Japan’s wartime past; the Special Naval Landing Forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy conducted extensive operations across the Pacific Theater, from China to Wake Island. Necessity aside, this sort of association can make certain ambitions of the Self Defense Forces unpopular to a Japanese public with a deep anti-war and anti-military sentiment.
But slowly, like nearly everything about Japanese defense policy, this is changing. In early 2010, Japan’s two major political parties, the DPJ and LDP, both announced support for the establishment of a marine infantry force. The force, it was explained, would be a marine unit charged with a defensive mission: to take back Japanese remote islands seized by an adversary, a capability the Self Defense Forces currently lack.

Its interesting that the Japanese view a Marine Corps as being an almost totally offensive military force.  In my mind at least some of the US Marine Corps finest moments have been in the defense...Guadalcanal and Chosen Reservoir come readily to mind...
The interesting part will be.

Can BAE get this contract?  An initial run of 4 vehicles will certainly lead to many more (it should at least equal the Brazilian buy of 26) so this will be alot more lucrative than it first appears.  Will Samsung make an attempt to get it?  Or will the Japanese wait to see what the ACV will be?

I though armor sales would trail off drastically once the war in Afghanistan wound down.

I was wrong!

Air Assault! Table Salt!

Wolfhounds from Borzoi Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, air assault from a UH-60 and begin their raid on the objective during training in South Korea.

The Air Assault warrior cry by 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Personnel was always given the refrain of "Table Salt" by the Paratroopers of the 82nd  that I shared a course with while at Ft Campbell.  I never did find out what the deal was with the condiment saying but it was funny as hell.  Army smacking on Army.  Priceless.

Namer APC's of the Golani Brigade operating on the Golan Heights

I just had a startling revelation.

The US Army with the Ground Combat Vehicle competition and the vehicles that have been entered into it, is admitting that technologically its behind the Israeli Army..at least when it comes to combat vehicles. 

Watch Experience in Motion

How did BAE lose to the legacy L-ATV?

L-ATV

L-ATV

M-ATV

M-ATV

Take a close look at the pics above.

Its beyond obvious that the L-ATV and the M-ATV share MANY similarities.  I would go so far to say that the L-ATV is simply a revamped M-ATV...a vehicle that we allready have plenty of.

And that brings me to this disturbing question.  If the L-ATV is simply a revamped M-ATV then how did it beat out the BAE Valanx?

The US Army (lets be honest, the Marine Corps has been a reluctant partner in this program) first wanted cutting edge designs.  BAE provided one.  They wanted MRAP type protection.  The Valanx did that.  They wanted power production...again the Valanx came through....off road ability...yes....

The Valanx.  A new design that provided everything the Army wanted lost out to the L-ATV?  From the outside looking in it just doesn't make sense.  OSHKOSH is extremely vague in their brochures about vehicle specifics but I just don't see any area where it would outshine the Valanx.

This contest should be protested.   I HOPE BAE mans up and does just that.  Seemingly inferior products winning production contest leads helps reinforce the impression that these contests are rigged.

This one I will keep an eye on.  I look forward to reading the rationale for this decision.  Just for comparison sake, below is a picture of the BAE Valanx.  How this clean sheet modern design lost to the legacy L-ATV is beyond me but something is wrong with our system.

AMAZING! McRaven tells Special Ops to shut up.

Thanks for this story John!

via Marine Corps Times.

WASHINGTON — Special operations chief Adm. Bill McRaven warned his troops, current and former, that he would take legal action against anyone found to have exposed sensitive information that could cause fellow forces harm.
"We will pursue every option available to hold members accountable, including criminal prosecution where appropriate," the four-star commander wrote, in an open, unclassified letter emailed to the active-duty special operations community Thursday, and obtained by The Associated Press.
The warning came a day after a retired Navy commando revealed he is publishing a first-hand account of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Pentagon officials say they have not been given a chance to review the book, but Pentagon spokesman George Little said Friday officials expect to receive a copy "very shortly."

I'm laughing my ass off.....

I'm thinking that he's callling the kettle black....

I think this guy is full of shit.

I hate to keep brining this up but a retired Special Forces General spoke up and told the good Admiral to get out of the press.  McRaven laughed in the retired Special Forces General's face along with some idiotic journalist.  I hope the General (whose name I forgot) is pouring himself a double shot of Jack Daniels, calling this son of a bitch up and telling him I told ya so.

NOTE:  He should be directing this message to SEAL teams.  The problem isn't SOCOM wide.